2010 BMW engine failure

Illusion

Illusion

Illusion

Associate
Joined
31 May 2007
Posts
1,153
Hi all

This is a rather random thread but I was chatting to my uncle yesterday, he drives a 2010 BMW 320Ci convertible. He had it in at kwik fit for some bushes replacing and asked them to do an oil change while it was there and two days later the car failed while he was on the motorway.

I don't have any specifics but BMW have told him the engine has failed (he said blown up but that might be a bit extreme) and it needs a whole new engine basically at a cost of 10k

Here's the interesting bit. BMW drained the oil and said 9 litres came out which suggests an idiot at kwik fit just poured fresh oil in without draining the old.

What would the people of motors do in this situation? Is overfilling the oil likely to destroy an engine? Do you think there is even a remote chance that kwik fit would accept some blame?

My uncle seemed willing to pay for the repairs and I didn't get the impression he was going to push matters with kwik fit which is pretty crazy but I am intrigued what other people's opinions might be...
 
To much oil can be just as damaging as too little.

He needs to get an engineers report from BMW and he should then ask to speak with the manager of that Kwik Fit branch about a resolution, if that fails the only option is to go legal.
 
I can't see kwikfit owning up TBH. Who's to say your uncle didn't stick more oil in after he left (I know, but..)
 
I would see what the Kwikfit branch had to say tbh. If BMW are right then too much oil was put in though I am surprised that the car started so easily and that there were not plumes of smoke from the exhaust. As 9 litres of oil, especially first start would make the engine drag turning over and car would feel heavy on a run.
 
Last edited:
Op, if your uncle is the type to seemingly be willing to pay £10k for an engine repair without challenging Krap Fit, it begs the question why he was cheaping out by taking it to them for work in the first place....?

I suspect there's more to this than meets the eye.


Not related really but checking the oil on a truck the other day, I noticed it was about three inches over the full mark in the dipstick, full to empty on the Volvo's stick is roughly three inches, it had at least this measure again....

Whilst I'm not sure to how much that equated to (the capacity of the system is 33litres) when I reported it to management I was told "it'll be fine, it'll burn it off" (which it wouldn't!) and the fitters in the workshop said it wouldn't do it any good but they still sent me out in it! tbh the truck drove fine and the oil pressure seemed normal from the gauge, I reckon it won't be long before it blows a seal or whatever mind you!
 
Fairly sure that engine needs 6.5litres, 9 is a bit of an odd number, get report, go to Kwik **** and ask what they're going to do about it

*edit* Also overfilling by 50% will definitely cause problems
 
Cheers for replies all. Agree with all comments really.

He is getting a report from BMW and said he will discuss with Kwik Fit but said they are unlikely to accept any blame and suggested he wouldn't bother taking a legal route with them.

I'll ask him how it's going in a couple of days..
 
This is why after every service I check levels myself and a quick look around to make sure nothing had been forgotten. Even the best garages make mistakes so it is always worth 5minutes of your time to check so you can go back immediately.
 
You could take it up with kwik fit head office who will filter it down the chain. I had to do this years ago with the old E46 when it went in for a simple coil pack and spark plug swap. They were supposed to swap all of them, but only swapped out a few, so the car still idled rough/lean.

Complained to head office, they refunded me and lodged the case against that branch.

Head office no doubt gets a lot of complaints, so they would be in a better position to help than the branch direct. Send them the report from BMW, and explain what's happened. Then let them take it from there.
 
slick rick said:
It seems the engine uses 4.25-4.5 litres of oil so not draining the old oil does sound plausible. How they can **** up such a basic procedure is beyond me.
Click to expand...

How about....

They used a vacuum extractor via the dipstick tube rather than the drain plug

(Removing and replacing the under-trays on modern cars can be quite time consuming so fast fit places doing cheap oil changes will often use these)

For whatever reason, it failed to remove all the old oil.

Oil was then just topped up using data on oil capacity.

No check was made of oil level, or car had electronic oil level sensing system (No dipstick) which noody had the patience to use (Because they are a complete PITA)

(If latter, it should have warned of overfilling of course)
 
I wouldn't be paying £10k for a new engine. He can buy another example of the exact same car for around £12k so this seem a little silly to do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom