Am I being paranoid ?????

ToadVine

Ok, here's the story. I have a BMW 320i (2006) with 137,000km on the clock. About 3 weeks ago I had a rocker cover and a pump replaced in a well known BMW garage, the whole job cost just under €1000.

The car has been giving trouble since then, and it lost all power last Tuesday and left me stranded. I brought the car to the garage yesterday and now they are telling me I need a new timing chain and cogs (I think that's what they said) at a cost of over €1200.

I was wondering if this is a coincidence, or if there is something the garage did wrong with the original repair which could have caused this. The garage is a big BMW franchise, and I'm fairly sure they wouldn't do anything like this on purpose. However, they might have done this by accident when doing the other repair.

Opinions from you experts please ..

Ronnie Beck

which pump?

ToadVine

I'm not sure what pump ... I think it might have been a water pump. I do know the car was fairly well pulled apart to do the original repair job.

Stallingrad

It stinks when this happens, something failing soon after a service. I had a gearbox go bang within a week of a slave cylinder and clutch change. Bottom line is it will be hard/impossible to establish a connection. I would certainly be looking for a second opinion elsewhere on the most recent fault though.

Also for a 2006 there is no reason to pay over the odds at a BMW dealer, find a good indy.

Sorry for you trouble OP.

Alanstrainor

Get a second opinion from a good Indy, BMW will charge you mental money.

Fiona

Lost all power?

Any noises?

Did it get going again after a short while or did it have to be towed to garage?

Was it just full loss of power whilst driving including electrics?

What prompted the pump to be changed in the first place, is it water or petrol pump?

ToadVine

Fiona wrote: »

Lost all power?

Yes .. everything ... I couldn't even open the boot or lock the doors.

Fiona wrote: »

Any noises?

There was a whirring or clacking noise from the engine. Not loud, but sounded like something not spinning correctly, or something spinning and rubbing off something else.

Fiona wrote: »

Did it get going again after a short while or did it have to be towed to garage?

I had to get it brought home on the back of a rescue truck. Another rescue truck to the garage the following morning.

Fiona wrote: »

Was it just full loss of power whilst driving including electrics?

I lost all power. Not even the radio would turn on. I got a jump with jump leads and that got it started again, but it lost all power again almost immediately. The rescue truck guys got it started just long enough to get it onto the back of the rescue truck, but it almost immediately died again.

Fiona wrote: »

What prompted the pump to be changed in the first place, is it water or petrol pump?

I think it was a water pump. There was smoke/steam coming from under the hood and when the car was diagnosed by the BMW garage it showed a cracked rocker cover and a water pump leak (at least I think it was a water pump).

repsol

Sounds like the alternator is not charging the battery.The car will disable unnecessary items like the radio in an effort to save the last bit of power in the battery.A good auto electrician or mechanic can diagnose and repair easily and relatively cheaply.:)

Fiona

Hummmmmmm

Could be alternator but I would be asking for them to check the crankshaft or the camshaft sensor can never remember which once it is that went on my E46.

Loss of power while driving, leave it for an hour it would start again and then just die after about 5/10 mins of driving.

Ask them for a detailed assessement of all the work and as them to explain their findings as to why they think it could be the timing chain, never be afraid to question the people doing the work on your car and to ask why it is being done!

Are you sure it wasn't your expansion tank that went first, that is a commen thing to need to be replaced on an E46.

Have you got the invoice to show what inital work was done on your car?

Stallingrad

If it was a simple as the alternator I am sure the Recovery service would have identified this.

I can't see any link between the described symptoms and diagnosis of timing chain and 'cogs'???

Keep us posted OP.

Fiona

Sorry one more note if you want clarity on the situation I would recommend going to the following mechanics:

Conor Healy in Scully Autocare in Clontarf D3

or else

Valdas in Motor Confidence in Rosemount Business Park D15

Fiona

DavidBrady38 wrote: »

not being rude but i heard of few people that healy boy in clontarf was a cowboy

Thats what i heard could be bs though

He has worked on my E30 and E46 and never any issues with him.

Also does a lot of work for people on www.bmw-driver.net.

Not every mechanic will please every punter but thats life.

Fiona

DavidBrady38 wrote: »

e30 and e46???

Yes they are cars??

Not sure why your asking that question, tell me and then I will answer.

Alanstrainor

DavidBrady38 wrote: »

e30 and e46???

Are you unemployed by any chance?? no offence intended

wtf? PM if you want to ask things like that man.

repsol

DavidBrady38 wrote: »

e30 and e46???

Are you unemployed by any chance?? no offence intended

Model numbers of BMW to differentiate newer versus old models of the same type eg 3 series.Cannot for the life of me work out what unemployment has to do with it though!

Shakti

db38 is 2 day old troll

Ronnie Beck

P45...:rolleyes:

why are BMW generation numbers so all over the place. whats wrong with 1,2,3,4...

OP your information is a little all over the place. It's impossible to say anything for definite if your not sure what pump they replaced and what work is being done.

The best advice given there was to find a good independent BMW mechanic.

Fiona

Alanstrainor wrote: »

wtf? PM if you want to ask things like that man.

Hahah I hope he does I would love to see where he is going with it!

bazz26

It's just madness bringing a nearly 7 year old car to a main dealer, you'll get fleased with their labour rates. Find yourself a good indy, preferably a BMW one who can properly diagnose the problem rather than just throwing new parts at it in the hope that fixes it.

ants09

Fiona wrote: »

Hummmmmmm

Could be alternator but I would be asking for them to check the crankshaft or the camshaft sensor can never remember which once it is that went on my E46.

Loss of power while driving, leave it for an hour it would start again and then just die after about 5/10 mins of driving.

Ask them for a detailed assessement of all the work and as them to explain their findings as to why they think it could be the timing chain, never be afraid to question the people doing the work on your car and to ask why it is being done!

Are you sure it wasn't your expansion tank that went first, that is a commen thing to need to be replaced on an E46.

Have you got the invoice to show what inital work was done on your car?

Your taking about the crankshaft sensor fiona but it's not the problem here as the op is loosing everything and the crankshaft sensor would only cut the engine out

Fiona

ants09 wrote: »

Your taking about the crankshaft sensor fiona but it's not the problem here as the op is loosing everything and the crankshaft sensor would only cut the engine out

When mine went everything went on my car, all lights on the dash power steering the whole lot

ants09

Fiona wrote: »

When mine went everything went on my car, all lights on the dash power steering the whole lot

Engine cuts out on E46 powersteering doesnt work and headlights go onto side lights as engine died.

As for everything the crankshaft sensor doesnt cut out the radio or the lights on the dash.

If i remember your car also had other problems namely a woman driver :P ops you didnt use it that often sorry

Fiona

ants09 wrote: »

If i remember your car also had other problems namely a woman driver :P ops you didnt use it that often sorry

Oh that's harsh! But its ok cos you know i would run rings around ya love!

ants09

Fiona wrote: »

Oh that's harsh! But its ok cos you know i would run rings around ya love!

Fiona

Any update on this?