Hope some of you kind people can help

The Situation:

Last November my wifes BMW 1 series (worth about 5k) had a strange rattling sound coming from the engine. Did some research, spoke to a few people inluding a mechanic who did a quick check and thought it was probably the timing chain. Unfortunately on these cars it is metal and BMW never thought they would fail and the only way of changing it is to remove the engine.

All quotes coming in around £1200 - £1400

Spoke to a colleague at work which is 80 miles away who has a BMW and recommended a BMW Specialist that he uses and has been honest in the past. His quote come in at approx £1350, speak to the wife and decide to use them even though they are 80 miles away. During the work he says the oil pump drive chain is also shot and needs changing at an extra £100 or so which I tell him to do. He also told me all parts were guaranteed

Get the car back beginning of Dec and all was fine for 3 weeks and then just before Christmas my wife was on a dual carriageway to work and she said the oil light came on and the engine sounded horrible like a bag of nails. She immediately pulled over and and luckily I was only 1/2 a mile behind her so I pulled up we called the AA and basically the AA chap said it was very bad and could tow to a garage or home. We decided to get it towed home as they said it would be a few hours for a recovery vehicle to take it all the way to the garage.

The next day I went into the garage and told the owner what had happened and he seemed ok and said he could not do anything until he had looked at it which is fair enough. This was right before Christmas so I could not get it back to him at that time. Rang him last Tuesday and said when can I get it recovered to him and got the feeling he wasnt too keen to have it back but still said he needs to look.

After that conversation I decided to get a local BMW specialist to have a look and at least tell me if its fixable.

My dilemma now

The engine is completely knackered and probably 2.5k for a replacement and fitting

To properly diagnose what has caused the issue will be to remove the engine at approx £500

Cost of transportation to the original garage is £200

I understand that things can go wrong and it could be unrelated but we have never had any engine/oil problems with that car which we have owned for 4 years but I am sure this is something that has happened as a result of the work completed.

Do I get a full report and diagnosis done at £500 and then towed back to the garage for a further £200

Do I just send it back even though I know the engine is now completely shot and they say it is nothing related to their work

Do I write it off and swallow the loss.

I really hate the fact that I have just paid this garage £1500 and they have probably caused me to lose a further £4000 from the value of the car.

Just not sure what to do, car is currently sitting at the local grage. Help

Just a shot in the dark, but these BMW have a oil sensor that gets easily disturbed and gives false readings when connected/disconnected for engine removal.

When this sensor gives false reading, you get oil light in the dash and engine goes in limp mode, make it sound like there's no power anymore.

Could be something as simple as this or maybe something more serious like a faulty seal on the oil pump that was replaced.

The mechanic should be able to rule out simple faults and get to the bottom of the problem.

Bear in mind that it could be something unrelated to the work you had done, like a faulty spark plug or any sensor getting the engine in limp mode.

I would let the garage have a look.

Or you could contact a mobile specialist first who could do a computer diagnostic at your home, just to see if there's something easily fixed.

This will cost you around £50.

If it was a VW/Audi, I could give you better directions, but you really need someone who knows BMW.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. The local garage has specifically said there is no chance the engine can be fixed and will need a new one. They also said that the only reason to get the engine out will be to pinpoint what has caused the failure. My issue is pinpointing the cause of the problem which will cost at least £500 as they will have to remove the engine, they have a very good reputation so I do believe them. Do I spend the £500 for a proper diagnosis hoping they can pinpoint the problem or do I send it back to the original garage knowing the engine is knackered but not knowing what caused it.

Did they run a computerised diagnostic?

What error codes are you getting if so?

A garage wanting to strip an engine to find a fault without running the diagnostic should be avoided at all costs.

We're not in the '70s anymore (unfortunately)

BMW, Independent, Specialist, and Mobile should never be used in the same paragraph........................

H

BMW, Independent, Specialist, and Mobile should never be used in the same paragraph........................

 

H

There are mobile mechanics who have the equipment to plug into the car and check for any error codes.

A simple sensor failure can get the car in limp mode, it does mean that you need a new engine.

The diagnostic is cheap and can't damage the car further.

My friend next door has the vag com for VW Audi (full version).

Surely there are mechanics who own the BMW equivalent.

There's always the option to go to the main stealer, get charged £100+vat and be told that you need a new car or £4k repair without telling you what's wrong.

"By the way, this is Albert from the sale department..."

I don't think a Code Reader will help.

The sound of nails gives it away.

Not going to get into the 'Main Dealer or not' argument but a 'Mobile Independent BMW Specialist' might take three hours @ £34 an hour to diagnose what a Main Dealer will do in an hour. Do the math.

H

To get back to the OP's actual question, you have paid the company and something has gone wrong. You need to get them to resolve the issue rather that "chalk it down to experience" unless you are happy to throw away £1300 plus the cost of a new engine; and if you are can you throw some cash my way too!

Get the car returned and get them to resolve the issue.

Thanks chaps

Sparks, I do not want to write it off, but should I pay for an independent report before it goes back at £500 or send it back to them without any backup knowing the engine is completely knackered and they may just turn round and say nothing to do with what we did guv

I can see the dilemma. In an ideal world, the 'recommended' garage 80 miles away would agree to find the cause of the problem and fix it FOC. However as it's quite expensive even to diagnose will they be co-operative? They could take the car but then tell you it was something else anyway and as they have the car, how can you prove anything? So the options would appear to be:

1) Chalk it down to experience

2) Get an expert opinion as to the cause (costing £500?) and then possibly insist the 'recommended' garage fix it at their expense. They would probably baulk at paying the diagnostic fee arguing you should have returned it to them. They might want to oppose the 'expert opinion' in which case you'd be looking at taking them to court with added expense and risk.

On balance, rather than either option it might be best to return it to the 'recommended garage' to see what their response is. There is always a chance they will admit it was their fault or it could be a part failed in which case the garage might be able to claim from the part manufacturer.

Tough one!

Personally i would be trying to minimise my outlay by returning it to the original garage first.

Cheers chaps but still not sure

£200 each way back to the original garage or chance £500 with new garage to try and find the cause

or save the money stick it on Ebay and hope I get somewhere near this , wish I had done this before I spent out £1500