2008 535i Hyrdr locked. Need some advise

Drove over 6inch standing water & hydro locked the engine.
Dealership checked the engine & it needs to be replaced along with the 2 turbos & o2 sensors.
Cost will be 20K approved by my ins. I also have a 6yr/70K extended warranty bought this year.

I am concerned about amy hidden damage which might crop up later. Like, transmission, wires, rust, etc resale value?

Should I try to get the car totaled? If so my blue book is:

$26,162 (PRIVATE PARTY VALUE)
$23,000 (TRADE IN VALUE)


What should I expect. any thoughts?

I would take a brand new 535 engine and turbos any day rather than starting over with another used one.

To add BMW does not sell new engines (I am told) it will be a re-build one.

Originally Posted by bamin1966

Drove over 6inch standing water & hydro locked the engine.
Dealership checked the engine & it needs to be replaced along with the 2 turbos & o2 sensors.
Cost will be 20K approved by my ins. I also have a 6yr/70K extended warranty bought this year.

I am concerned about amy hidden damage which might crop up later. Like, transmission, wires, rust, etc resale value?

Should I try to get the car totaled? If so my blue book is:

$26,162 (PRIVATE PARTY VALUE)
$23,000 (TRADE IN VALUE)


What should I expect. any thoughts?

Insurance should total if the damage is 75% or higher of the book value (Retail though..) With the incidentals....it's probably very close. I'd ask for a check, I wouldn't want the vehicle back at this point.

Surprised that 6" of standing water would enter the air intakes. The bottom of the intakes is 10" and top is 14" off the floor. How fast were you going? Anyway, sorry you had this problem.

Originally Posted by legend700

Surprised that 6" of standing water would enter the air intakes. The bottom of the intakes is 10" and top is 14" off the floor. How fast were you going? Anyway, sorry you had this problem.

Might be 8" not 100% sure but other cars were going thru fine. Might be the wake pushed the water into the intake.

it's easy to misjudge the depth of water.

Originally Posted by pcy

it's easy to misjudge the depth of water.

Yes it is, my issue with BMW is I sat there for 4 hrs (AAA / tow companies were backed up) & while waiting not one car had a this problem.

Bishop709 from Tampa had a similar experience to to yours:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=629439

He stated that six more BMWs were at his dealer's with hydrolocked engines.

I was unaware of the low air intakes on our cars. Took a look under the hood to check how to disconnect the two intakes near the air filter, just in case.

Just to chime in here. I have a 08' - 535XI complete engine and trans bolted together on a crate I bought from a salvaged car withjust a tic over 30k. I bought it and was going to transplant in my 06 - 525XI to find out it needs the whole wiring harness and all control modules replaced in my car and oh, 5 grand in labor to top that. I am looking to sell engine alone with turbos, water pump, relays complete with or without transmission. Engine and trans cost me $5,000. just trying to get my money back

I'm not understanding how this can be so "easy". The intake on the 535 is about at the center of the kidney grill on front of the radiator.

The whole Area is sealed to force air through all the intercooler, radiator, oil coolers. Maybe the lower grill is scooping up the water and it has no place to go so it goes "up" ??

Driving in 6 inches of water is not going to cause enough water displacement to hydrolock an engine

More like 18 inches and folks don't want to fess up to the deed.