Hydro locked 330I

Originally Posted by bluebee

I cross referenced the wonderful pictures of the M54 engine in the E39 side as much as I could.

Meanwhile, I wonder ... how DEEP was that puddle that the kid drove into?

I mean, that's a LOT of water to bend 5 piston rods!

I was not with him when he drowned it.. he called me to help him get it out of the water.
It was about 16-20" deep and 50 yards across. I am sure he hit the water going too fast and the wave came over the front getting sucked into the stock inlet at the top of the grill.

There was a 5" thunderstorm downpour and we use the streets for drainage in west Texas.. when you see a river where a street was.. TURN AROUND

Originally Posted by jpdunn101

It was about 16-20" deep and 50 yards across.

Thanks. I tend to avoid puddles but this is just simply amazing.

I'm also amazed that the engine appeared to run afterward, as one of those pistons is so bent I can't imagine it traveling up and down without supreme friction.

Simply amazing. You're one of the FEW people here who can rebuild an engine. I'm impressed. That's why I tried to link this thread with as many relevant E39 threads as I could (same M54 engine).

thanks.

Originally Posted by bluebee

Thanks. I tend to avoid puddles but this is just simply amazing.

I'm also amazed that the engine appeared to run afterward, as one of those pistons is so bent I can't imagine it traveling up and down without supreme friction.

The bottom of #3 piston was hitting the balance lobe on the crank as it passed through the cycle it was so bad that it cracked the piston at the wrist pin bore.. (#3 was the only piston replaced) only 2 cylinders had decent compression.

Not only did it run but it had good power. I was really surprised to find so much damage inside... These are great engines

Should have my computer back from the programmer this week.. Eager to get it on the road!

Originally Posted by jpdunn101

Should have my computer back from the programmer this week.. Eager to get it on the road!

Good luck!

Received the module yesterday and everything works perfectly. I took the car out to run through the break in.. WOW, I forgot how smooth and even the torque is on the 330... break in can be a lot of fun

Congratulations on a job well done. I hope that you have many happy miles and smiles.

Congrats !

Glad to hear you`re back on the road !

Awesome man!. Good work.

I read the entire thread and just congrats)
You did it. Fixing something makes someone feel much better than simply replacing it.

Though I didn't understand how the stuck injector(s) burned up the DME
Why did the injectors get stuck at first try and then they worked properly after you put in a new DME?

Could you care to share a bit more info with us?

Well done! I'm impressed.

Originally Posted by iskoos

I read the entire thread and just congrats)
You did it. Fixing something makes someone feel much better than simply replacing it.

Though I didn't understand how the stuck injector(s) burned up the DME
Why did the injectors get stuck at first try and then they worked properly after you put in a new DME?

Could you care to share a bit more info with us?

I really can't imagine how the injector relays were fried.. so for a moment I considered a stuck injector as a possible explaination but after thinking about it.. there is no way. Somehow that circuit grounded out and cooked #5 relay which in turn cooked #4 and #3 above it from the heat/fire.

I tested every part of the injector circuits twice before reinstalling the DME.. all is well now.
I always disconnect and reconnect the battery as the first and last step of any remove/replace.. considered the possibility that it happened when he hit the water but it still ran ok.. may have just lost #5 then and it cooked the other 2 upon restart

Thanks to all for the congrats, the most satisfying part of this project is the end result... a fresh engine in a sweeeet 330I 100% paid in full!

Congrats

Excellent! Having paid off vehicles is a very nice bonus.

Thought I should post up the pics..

Nice looking car. Would have been shameful to crush it. Again, very impressed.

Originally Posted by FredoinSF

Nice looking car. Would have been shameful to crush it. Again, very impressed.

Thanks, I agree it would have been a shame to scrap it.

I still have some work to do.. it seems the water killed my idle control valve as well. I have a new Bosch oem unit on the way.

Also leaning toward new drilled rotors and ceramic pads... it could use them

Since the car has the premium pkg, sport pkg, 5 speed and new tires it may have been more than a shame to scrap it... it would have been a SIN!!
... or at least that's how I view it