Is my new M3 ok?

[JoeFromPA]

Originally Posted by 04cobra

3 inches doesn't seem like a lot of water...I could be wrong though? Should I be avoiding every puddle I see now?

If you are on throttle when you hit a puddle/lake, you've got a strong suction in the intake tract and will suck in water. Enough water will hydrolock an engine.

If you are OFF throttle when you hit the water, there will be very little suction in your intake (still some) and you will be MUCH less likely to suck enough water in to hydrolock the engine.

No disrespect to the OP, but I'm guessing he was still giving it gas when he hit the puddle/lake of water. Also, some puddles look 3" deep but are actually much deeper - the fact that it crested up onto his hood makes me think this was 5-6" deep or more.

[Vectors2final]

Originally Posted by JoeFromPA

No disrespect to the OP, but I'm guessing he was still giving it gas when he hit the puddle/lake of water. Also, some puddles look 3" deep but are actually much deeper - the fact that it crested up onto his hood makes me think this was 5-6" deep or more.

Likely

[/QUOTE]

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by 04cobra

3 inches doesn't seem like a lot of water...I could be wrong though? Should I be avoiding every puddle I see now?

Those were 3 Texas inches, more like a foot in the rest of the world.

Seriously, it does not take much speed for the bumper to start forming a wake in front of the car, raising the water level up towards the grill area. Where the air intake plumbing resides. Once water enter air intake and gets into the engine, very expensive things happen very fast.

If you can't avoid deep water/streams, you have to waterproof the engine bay. And then raise the air intake height with a snorkel. However, that does effect aerodynamics:
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=...d=0CD8QMygUMBQ

a

[FTS]

Similar issue with an M5, might give you some options: http://f10.m5post.com/forums/showthr...ighlight=Water

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by FTS

Similar issue with an M5, might give you some options: http://f10.m5post.com/forums/showthr...ighlight=Water

That would be pretty cool if it isn't hydrolocked but it sounds bad. Wish the OP some luck here.

[Whttiger25]

Originally Posted by PeteM6

I bought it with 10k down. Would still rather them total it. Would have a really hard time finding a buyer when it's time to sell it.

Keep us updated. If you have trouble selling it in a few years I'll take it with a $10k discount, if it makes you feel better...

[CardinalZeus77]

Sorry to hear about this. Hope it gets sorted out soon. Good luck.

[PeteM6]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I'll definitely keep you guys updated.

[Gearhead999s]

Up here the insurance will write off any car that has a water ingestion incident.My wife's 335is was written off when the only damage was to the engine.The dealer & insurance do not want to assume any future liability for problems down the road.I was pleasantly surprised.

[Pharmacist_]

I don't feel so bad about my Houston flight being delayed today after reading this. So sorry OP, hope it all gets sorted and it's running like new again soon. This rain has been crazy in TX.

[ASAP]

I am really surprised... my understanding is hydrolocking a bmw engine is somewhat complicated. Even looking at the F80s intake system, it doesnt seem easy, its not a cold air setup. Is it possible there was way more water than u saw?

[heckyeahbro69]

We had a bad storm down here last year or so and about 20 cars got towed in hydrolocked/flooded inside. All but 1 or 2 were totaled. It came down to the claims adjuster. He didn't want to deal with issues down the road so they wrote them off. I'd bet money you aren't the only one in the dealer right now with a flooded car.

[Miamiboyca]

I get the feeling you're not hydrolocked - but that's just the optimist in me.

Having lived in FL for many years (now just north of you) this happened to me more than once and I came out ok. I am sure you will too.

[JoeFromPA]

Originally Posted by Miamiboyca

I get the feeling you're not hydrolocked - but that's just the optimist in me.

Having lived in FL for many years (now just north of you) this happened to me more than once and I came out ok. I am sure you will too.

The fact he can't start the car does not bode well. And his description of how it went down is consistent with hydrolocking.

Maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised.

[3er]

Stevie Ray wasn't joking when he said, "there's floodin' down in Texas." It was pretty wicked last night. I had to open a gate that was acting like a damn and causing water to rise quite high in our back yard. I likely would've had water in the house had I not acted.

Best of luck to you! As you stated, I hope they total it since the car will take a pretty big depreciation hit. Any chance you can file a depreciation claim? My gut tells me "no" given the circumstances, but it may be worth asking.

[Miamiboyca]

Originally Posted by JoeFromPA

The fact he can't start the car does not bode well. And his description of how it went down is consistent with hydrolocking.

Maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised.

Its amazing what happens when things dry out. One thing to make sure to check is the brake rotors. They usually get hosed when you hit a puddle like that and they cool down rapidly. Usually causes warping so make sure they check it.

[skier]

Originally Posted by 04cobra

3 inches doesn't seem like a lot of water...I could be wrong though? Should I be avoiding every puddle I see now?

S L O W L Y is how you approach puddles of water. Hitting it at sped increase the chance of water getting into the engine compartment.

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by heckyeahbro69

We had a bad storm down here last year or so and about 20 cars got towed in hydrolocked/flooded inside. All but 1 or 2 were totaled. It came down to the claims adjuster. He didn't want to deal with issues down the road so they wrote them off. I'd bet money you aren't the only one in the dealer right now with a flooded car.

The night that the wife played the Commander of the U335 there were 13 other BMWs towed into the dealership and all of them were written off.

[Miamiboyca]

Originally Posted by Gearhead999s

The night that the wife played the Commander of the U335 there were 13 other BMWs towed into the dealership and all of them were written off.

Sounds like your wife was just trying to speed up getting you a new car... Did you say thank you ;-)

[PeteM6]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

OP, was this with an M6?

No. It was my new F80 SO M3

[Warranty P]

Let it dry and you'll be good to go.

[Gearhead999s]

Originally Posted by Miamiboyca

Sounds like your wife was just trying to speed up getting you a new car... Did you say thank you ;-)

Not really as I had a Cayenne diesel for her but it was still 2 months away so we ended up taking an X3 2.8d to fill the gap which she still has which will likely be replaced by a Macan Diesel when they are available.