540i died on the motorway.... any ideas?
Discussion
So... we get to Cornwall, dirve round lots and several days later whilst driving home the unexpected occurs...
Whilst going up the M3 we hear a droning/groaning noise similar to an air con compressor on its way out or possibly a bearing... more groan/droan than a grind... this is fast lane at 0.85 leptons...
So I tell the missus to get over to the hard should tout suite (her turn to drive) and as soon as we get there the car cuts... engine stopped.
Wondering what on Earth I check under the bonnet and see nothing untoward, no fluid leaks, no gases out of the exhaust at the time, no mayo in the oil.
Tentatively we start the car again.... about 15 seconds of smooth running (seems fine) then it all goes mental again... moan/groan kaput.
Thinking timing chain tensioner or similar? Any ideas? and if so damage?
Got the car towed (not renewed RAC since the M6 so that was a £250 closing bill to my holiday!) and will get hold of Bexley Motor Works to start the next stage of this saga.. :-(
Whilst going up the M3 we hear a droning/groaning noise similar to an air con compressor on its way out or possibly a bearing... more groan/droan than a grind... this is fast lane at 0.85 leptons...
So I tell the missus to get over to the hard should tout suite (her turn to drive) and as soon as we get there the car cuts... engine stopped.
Wondering what on Earth I check under the bonnet and see nothing untoward, no fluid leaks, no gases out of the exhaust at the time, no mayo in the oil.
Tentatively we start the car again.... about 15 seconds of smooth running (seems fine) then it all goes mental again... moan/groan kaput.
Thinking timing chain tensioner or similar? Any ideas? and if so damage?
Got the car towed (not renewed RAC since the M6 so that was a £250 closing bill to my holiday!) and will get hold of Bexley Motor Works to start the next stage of this saga.. :-(
Recovery driver suggetsed giving it another start and he placed his hands on the engine block right hand side and suggested it may be the timing chain from the vibration...
Thing is... if it had lunched the engine at 85mph then we'd know about it... there was no real discernable noises from the engine prior and it had run fine since.... could hear a very quiet knock now and again when the engine had been running a while but certainly wasn't something on the radar as an issue.. just something to check at service (was due in when I got back anyway). That noise hadn't got louder during the weeks of ownership and really wasn't a concern.
Turning the car over again, the engine would sound fine but after 15 seconds or so you'd hear what sounds a bit like a bearing or similar, and the groan/whine. Either turn off or it'd just stall.
It displayed this on 2 restarts - I won't be doing it again!! Far too risky of more damage.
Bearing in mind the engine sounds fine on first start it could possibly be fuel pump although I'd expect that to quit then just be unusable. All fluids are fine, no major leaks or anything.
Thing is... if it had lunched the engine at 85mph then we'd know about it... there was no real discernable noises from the engine prior and it had run fine since.... could hear a very quiet knock now and again when the engine had been running a while but certainly wasn't something on the radar as an issue.. just something to check at service (was due in when I got back anyway). That noise hadn't got louder during the weeks of ownership and really wasn't a concern.
Turning the car over again, the engine would sound fine but after 15 seconds or so you'd hear what sounds a bit like a bearing or similar, and the groan/whine. Either turn off or it'd just stall.
It displayed this on 2 restarts - I won't be doing it again!! Far too risky of more damage.
Bearing in mind the engine sounds fine on first start it could possibly be fuel pump although I'd expect that to quit then just be unusable. All fluids are fine, no major leaks or anything.
dubbs said:
It's the alternator giving up the ghost.
Apparently the alterantor on these is water cooled!! £700+ BMW part or a £425 pattern part made by same co. with 12 month warranty.
Also been quoted £400 for a full inspection II - sound reasonable?
What are the details of your car? If its E39 (I would assume), then the alternator would indeed cost around £450-500 for a Bosch replacement alternator from ECP. I wouldn't bother with the BMW one at +60% of the price. Apparently the alterantor on these is water cooled!! £700+ BMW part or a £425 pattern part made by same co. with 12 month warranty.
Also been quoted £400 for a full inspection II - sound reasonable?
My own garage that I use in Sidcup (and have been for 3 years on all cars apart from the GT3) charged me around £300 or just under for Inspection II around a year ago on my old E39 540, but £400 is certainyl a bit better than it would be at BMW. FWIW and IIRC, Stephen James BMW in Blackheath quotes £580+VAT for Inspection II on a 4 plus car.
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