Oil Cooler Smashed - UPDATE 12/19: Increased to $35k in Damages

[jmg]

UPDATE 11/9

I just got the estimate. $28k in damages. Here's a partial list:

Front Bumper
Front L and R Combination Lamps
Engine Oil Cooler
Trans Oil Cooler
Steering Gear Assembly
Front and Rear Catalytic Converter
Exhaust (MPE = $5k)
Rear Diff

$21k in parts, $7k labor - $28k

Damn. I'm really glad I have insurance. $500 deductible.

Stupid rocks.

edit: In case you were wondering, the rock was the size of a football with a similar shape. Imagine how erratic that thing will bounce around.


Original Post:

PICS ADDED.

On the way home from a really great day on the track. Got 75 laps in (180 miles) no incidents, kept all the wheels off the dirt... packed up and call it an extremely successful day and head home. Then BAM a rock comes flying out of the car in front of me and goes right under my car and makes all kinds of sickening crunchy noises. Immediately I thought of the oil cooler. Pulled off as soon as I could and found a large pool of oil and trail to boot. Nice gash on my bumper too. I swear, going 138 mph on a track is safer than going 25 on the road. FML



Car is on a flatbed and we're 100 miles from home. Pics to come.



Unfortunately I didn't get a shot of the front end damage, but you can see the oil spill left behind.


UPDATE 11/30

Looks like the car will be ready next week! It's been month in the shop, I hope everything is up to snuff. Here's some pics they sent me and honestly it doesn't look like $28k in damages but okay:

IMG_1647 by JMG, on Flickr

IMG_1970 by JMG, on Flickr

IMG_1976 by JMG, on Flickr

IMG_1982 by JMG, on Flickr

IMG_1988 by JMG, on Flickr

IMG_1989 by JMG, on Flickr

IMG_1990 by JMG, on Flickr

UPDATE 12/19

Well, it's been a long month and a half, but I finally got my F80 back! The grand total was $35,000 compared to the initial $28,000. I haven't completely gone over the invoice because honestly it's pages and pages long and I'm just glad to have it back. Apparently something to do with the Air Conditioning. Maybe the condenser? No pic but some bad news: Just after 2 days of driving I hit one of those truck tire treads on the freeway as I was changing lanes. It was laying almost flat on top of the lane button reflectors, so it was hard to spot. It made some black marks on the new front bumper and side skirt. FML I guess I just can't catch a brake. I think it might just rub off though.

[minn19]

Ouch sorry man, hopefully the engine is ok.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by minn19

Ouch sorry man, hopefully the engine is ok.

Thanks. I pulled off right away and it was still leaking even as it was being pulled onto the flatbed so there was probably still oil in it for the 100 or so yards I drove it to get off the road.

On a side note, anyone know if there is a way to put a DCT in neutral without starting the engine?

[Suds]

Holy Crap!!
I hope you caught it in time and we're able to save your motor. Thanks for sharing a story like this will make all the F8x owners wince.

[BzsBimmer]

Originally Posted by jmg

Thanks. I pulled off right away and it was still leaking even as it was being pulled onto the flatbed so there was probably still oil in it for the 100 or so yards I drove it to get off the road.

On a side note, anyone know if there is a way to put a DCT in neutral without starting the engine?

Need to go under the car and disconnect. There’s a lengthy discussion if you search. Pretty bad design for this DCT generation imho

[KevinM]

Sorry to hear. Glad you pulled over so quickly!

[maniz]

Oh my. Very sorry to hear. Good to see you had the presence of mind to shut it down immediately. Could've been much worse. It'll be back to perfect in no time. And with a new bumper too!

[Brasko]

Great reaction time! Hopefully there isn't any serious engine damage.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by pheerIx

Hopefully turns out better than this
Had to purchase a new engine oil cooler https://f90.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1548650

tl;dr F90 M5 hits road debris, low oil light comes on. Owner had to drive for a few mins because on one lane mountain road. Too late engine is toast. Once that low engine light comes on you have literally only a few minutes to shut off the engine.

This road facing oil cooler is a really bad idea BMW. Anyone listening?

Wow that would suck. I immediately switched to the vehicle info screen and the oil level screen. Even after I turned the engine on for a second to get it into neutral, no warning lights came on. Also, when we dropped the car off at the dealer it was STILL leaking oil, so hopefully the oil leak is slow enough that there was still enough oil to not completely fk my engine.

[Poochie]

Originally Posted by jmg

Wow that would suck. I immediately switched to the vehicle info screen and the oil level screen. Even after I turned the engine on for a second to get it into neutral, no warning lights came on. Also, when we dropped the car off at the dealer it was STILL leaking oil, so hopefully the oil leak is slow enough that there was still enough oil to not completely fk my engine.

You did the smart thing, I am sure there was no oil starvation, from what you described. Just a replacement oil cooler..

I doubt the warranty would cover this but you could make a claim on your comprehensive coverage and get it paid for..

[dsmclark]

Similar thing happened to me on my old f10 M5 but it was a nail that went through the grill hitting the oil cooler! claimed on insurance as it is technically a collision

[Poiseuille]

I really have to stop reading these oil cooler threads. Seems like Russian roulette tbh. On one of the other threads a guy posted a picture of an entire box cutter stuck into his cooler, oil all over the place. Anybody have first-hand experience with either the Turner or the Fall Line solution?

[damageprone]

Originally Posted by Poochie

You did the smart thing, I am sure there was no oil starvation, from what you described. Just a replacement oil cooler..

I doubt the warranty would cover this but you could make a claim on your comprehensive coverage and get it paid for..

This would be considered a collision in the eyes of insurance.

Originally Posted by dsmclark

claimed on insurance as it is technically a collision

Yes, very much this. I wouldn't claim this on insurance and risk the jump in premiums unless the damage to your bumper in addition is pretty bad too. If it's just the oil cooler, just take the out of pocket hit. I think it's ~$1000.

[hooligan317]

Sorry this happened to you.

(goes to IND to buy Fall Line's oil cooler guard)

[backagain]

Originally Posted by jmg

Wow that would suck. I immediately switched to the vehicle info screen and the oil level screen. Even after I turned the engine on for a second to get it into neutral, no warning lights came on. Also, when we dropped the car off at the dealer it was STILL leaking oil, so hopefully the oil leak is slow enough that there was still enough oil to not completely fk my engine.

To avoid restarting, you'll need to shut it off to neutral then pull the hand brake, no locking the car. When reading previous threads, I've made such a mental note to myself. But honestly I'm not sure I'll be collective enough to remember this when in a haste to stop the engine.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by damageprone

This would be considered a collision in the eyes of insurance.

Yes, very much this. I wouldn't claim this on insurance and risk the jump in premiums unless the damage to your bumper in addition is pretty bad too. If it's just the oil cooler, just take the out of pocket hit. I think it's ~$1000.

Since the rock was flying at me I was under the impression it was comprehensive. I hope this is the case!

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by jmg

Since the rock was flying at me I was under the impression it was comprehensive. I hope this is the case!

That's what it should be. I had a big rock gouge my hood and insurance covered it under comprehensive.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by jmg

Since the rock was flying at me I was under the impression it was comprehensive. I hope this is the case!

Nope. Collision because you were in motion when it happened. You can try it as comprehensive, but usually anything that hits your car while it's in motion is a collision claim.

[farg]

It will be comprehensive and it does not make any difference if YOU were in motion. If the rock was in motion and not stationary, it will be comp. If the rock was stationary and you hit it, it will be collision. Explained to me by an adjuster who was evaluating my claim for hitting a tire tread on the freeway in my E46M3, that was kicked up by the car in front of me. It was covered as comp.

[Poiseuille]

Regarding how oil cooler damage is covered under insurance policies and while I have no experience with the specific damage discussed in this thread, the last two times I had a windshield broken by airborne rocks it was covered under comprehensive. Knocking on wood right now so that I never find out for sure which it is.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

Nope. Collision because you were in motion when it happened

Collision is usually with another vehicle or stationary object isn't it? Comprehensive is for road debris, fire, theft, vandalism, etc

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by jmg

Collision is usually with another vehicle or stationary object isn't it? Comprehensive is for road debris, fire, theft, vandalism, etc

I'm just telling you what I have experienced. A long time ago, I had road debris fly out from under a car and hit my car requiring a new headlight and bumper cover. My insurance company told me it was a collision claim because I was in motion when it happened