Final Diagnosis - car needs new engine. help before I sell or part

[Allstarsrd12]

Thats what I've been told by three different mechanics that have taken a look at my X. Its a 2001, 3.0i, (canadian), 119,000 K, silver.
So after two weeks of agony of the darn thing, I have been told now by the third place that the engine is toast, and I just need a new one. No explaination, no part to say that was the cause, no concrete reason as to why I just drove my X straight from NYC to Miami, upon which it performed like a dream, to now where I'm being told that it needs a new engine.
Long story short, during the drive crossing into hotter climate nearly instantly it felt like, noticed a small coolant leak, which to mean flagged thermostat. In miami, car taken to a shop, told rad has crack in a different spot then where I told them the original coolant was seen dried up, which they never found even. r/r rad, told it overheated after a test drive, no smokes when it runs, yellow mustard good on cap, car is done, needs new engine. Super.

Had old radiator put back in, obviously didn't need it if the cars done-for, then drove it home upon which it drove fine. Thought about thermostat, 2nd opinion said same thing, new engine. Got car back again, r/r thermo after seeing it drive around town with no overheating if the t-stat was unplugged. All set after that, gas up, took for a test drive. 30-45 after running like a beast again, albeit starting problems, it just died on the highway, and would start. Sounded like water pump had been almost about to fail as it happened too, so I pulled over immediately to avoid it. Nothing happened, just wouldn't start back up. told coolant on plugs, as its in combustion chamber.
Below is the DME report the day or two before it all went south. Seems almost as though there might have been an underlying electrical issue?

I could be way wrong on this one, so if thats the case, its up for sale. Thanks all.

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by Allstarsrd12

Thats what I've been told by three different mechanics that have taken a look at my X. Its a 2001, 3.0i, (canadian), 119,000 K, silver.
So after two weeks of agony of the darn thing, I have been told now by the third place that the engine is toast, and I just need a new one. No explaination, no part to say that was the cause, no concrete reason as to why I just drove my X straight from NYC to Miami, upon which it performed like a dream, to now where I'm being told that it needs a new engine.
Long story short, during the drive crossing into hotter climate nearly instantly it felt like, noticed a small coolant leak, which to mean flagged thermostat. In miami, car taken to a shop, told rad has crack in a different spot then where I told them the original coolant was seen dried up, which they never found even. r/r rad, told it overheated after a test drive, no smokes when it runs, yellow mustard good on cap, car is done, needs new engine. Super.

Had old radiator put back in, obviously didn't need it if the cars done-for, then drove it home upon which it drove fine. Thought about thermostat, 2nd opinion said same thing, new engine. Got car back again, r/r thermo after seeing it drive around town with no overheating if the t-stat was unplugged. All set after that, gas up, took for a test drive. 30-45 after running like a beast again, albeit starting problems, it just died on the highway, and would start. Sounded like water pump had been almost about to fail as it happened too, so I pulled over immediately to avoid it. Nothing happened, just wouldn't start back up. told coolant on plugs, as its in combustion chamber.
Below is the DME report the day or two before it all went south. Seems almost as though there might have been an underlying electrical issue?

I could be way wrong on this one, so if thats the case, its up for sale. Thanks all.

Well, I have a couple questions. At any time during all those cooling system failures did you overheat even for just 15 to 30 seconds? I've been told by my Indie mechanic, after I busted my coolant resvoir, that you have about a 30 second window after your radiator gauge gets over to the exreme right. to shut the car off. these engines have alluminum heads and are intolerant of extreme heat. I was lucky my resvoir blew and drained for a few miles before I noticed the steam I was 3 blocks from the indie shop. I rolled into the parking lot and shut it off just as the gauge was getting into the red hot area.

A rebuilt head is about $2500, I'm guessing the labor has got to be 1200 to 1500. So you could have $4000 to get the head replaced. another $2000 and you have a rebuilt engine installed. How's the rest of the car? do you like the X?
Personally I would talk to a shop that not only swaps engines but, can replace components. A new head and new rings while it's apart.

or one of these $3500. get a friend to help install it.

plus at least 20 hrs at $90 per hour labor if the indie does it.

rebuilt engines 2002 BMW X5 Engine Sales > Buy High Quality Used Engines/Motors at Great Discount (Huge Selection)!

[ecproductions143]

These are solid motors i think your dealing with retards. I would have never bought a bmw if i couldnt work on it. This forum and a lot of time spent in the garage will tell you that its usually something simple that fails. These bmw are for people who have plenty of money to have it worked on or someone with some patients and xoutpost

[Ghost-Flame]

Originally Posted by ecproductions143

These are solid motors i think your dealing with retards. I would have never bought a bmw if i couldnt work on it. This forum and a lot of time spent in the garage will tell you that its usually something simple that fails. These bmw are for people who have plenty of money to have it worked on or someone with some patients and xoutpost and a Bently manual

I agree. I would put the car in the garage or since you are in Miami under a shade tree and start trouble shoting the engine. I would not accept the 3 opinions. Without arun down of what specifically, has failed. Most things on these engines are fixable.
Do you have any idea so far what might have failed.
I was told back in november that I needed anew vanos and head. I took it to another mechanic. He put in a new vanos sensor, then cleared the code. I've put 4800 miles since...no problems since.
It's worth trouble shooting, I think.

[ecproductions143]

I think hes dealing with some coolant issues. If you run your climate control on auto its a good posibility that your aux/heater water pump will circulate enough water and keep the X at a normal operating temp. I drove like this for about 400 miles( easy miles ) if i turned off climate control i could watch temp guage climb. Run the heat up and it would go back to dead center on the gauge. Took water pump out and see that impeller has stripped off he shaft.

[Allstarsrd12]

Yes thank you guys. Its just that gut feeling that no matter what, its hard to ignore. And to make things even more interesting, the check engine light hasn't been on during this whole process. I feel like a busted engine would throw a code, considering these cars thrown one for the gas cap. I LOVE the car, absolutely couldn't see myself in anything else.
I had suggested, after the first new radiator install, that they just drain everything out, flush and refill w/bmw coolant, do an oil change, and just drive it out, let it clear itself out. they said nope, not gonna do anything, im just dreaming.
I guess I dreamed that the yellow mustard goop dissapeared after i had drove it around for a little and let the oil temp heat up to burn off anything in there.
But still, no definite diagnosis, but for some reason I doubt you can drive a car with a bad engine around town, with no cel, or any blatant noises or acceleration problem that would make one think,'' hmmmm, maybe I had a bad engine"

I'm thinking -
new rad, water pump, check ccv valve, spark plugs, oil + coolant change, whatever cooling components exist behind the engine,
or maybe its just some stupid little hose off somewhere, who knows. I just know I'm not an idiot, and if the car were over heating, its not like I would say "Oh whats that pretty color light mean, oh well, guess I'll just keep going" and destory the car I love. A low coolant message is usually the idiot-proof way to avoid overheating, and I didn't even get that.

Just a time consuming thing, and I do need to get around.... oh what to do.

if anyone has any ideas on specific parts to check, please let me know. Last 7 of the VIN are

[Allstarsrd12]

Yes, thats exactly what had happened. Drove 1350 miles to miami, everything fine till I get to a starbucks drive through and I remember I touched SOMETHIGN on the climate control. I believe it was the a/c button, cause in NYC, obviously don't need a/c, so was the first time it had been on in a couple weeks.

Had water pump done 12/5 ish. Maybe a bad one or they threw in a refurbished one? Any way I can look into that. Have all records of course

[bastereo]

I remember your other thread. So you drove back from NYC to Miami with a coolant leak, never bothering even to top it off. Your lucky you even made it. But that is besides the point.

It still sounds to me most like a blown head gasket...

But they should be able to give you a good explanation of what is wrong.
That sucks that you have got 3 half ass descriptions of failure. Maybe read the paperwork and see if anything is noted in there?
Sounds like you need to pick better shops, night cost more but you might get competent answers and troubleshooting.

Sent from my SGH-i917 using Board Express

[Allstarsrd12]

my heat sucked major butt the entire winter as well. would have been better with a freaking lighter under my hands.

[Allstarsrd12]

no i didnt drive to miami with a coolant leak.

and sure doesnt drive like a car with a broken head gasket...

picked the apparent 3 highly recommended shops. Kind of racking up big bills with a rental car and farting around with tow trucks and what not. I love the car, but I do have a life ya know