So, on the way to work today, BMW 328i on fire!

[Joemonkey]

It was sprinkling and I was behind a BMW 328i thinking "that's a pretty nice looking car!"

I had the wipers on because huge clouds of what I thought were water were spewing from behind the car, but the wipers never actually "wiped" anything, and i was kinda confused

Car slowed down to 30mph in a 55, then stopped at a light, and the cloud kept coming out, blowing across the side of the car, and it limped into a gas station... I can only assume something was on fire, but i never smelled anything. Do those cars have a known history of smoking like that? It was all white or bluish/white smoke, looked like water coming off pavement to me. Kinda odd

 

[Shockwave]

Engine probably went on him

 

[Thegonagle]

Probably just coolant from a ruptured hose or radiator.

Of course, if it was a fire, pulling into a freaking gas station wasn't the smartest possible thing the driver could have done.

 

[StageLeft]

Hmm

 

[Shockwave]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle


Of course, if it was a fire, pulling into a freaking gas station wasn't the smartest possible thing the driver could have done.

It is from a spectator standpoint. 😀

 

[fs5]

worthless.... I mean pic-less thread.

 

[DrPizza]

I'd be willing to wager it was just a blown head gasket...

 

[radioouman]

Might have been a cracked radiator.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: Shockwave

Originally posted by: Thegonagle


Of course, if it was a fire, pulling into a freaking gas station wasn't the smartest possible thing the driver could have done.

It is from a spectator standpoint. 😀

<grin> (But from at least a block away!)

 

[TechnoKid]

the blinker fluid tank, which is under pressure, undoubetdly blew.

 

[Nebor]

Probably never changed the oil in his life.

 

[geno]

If he's right in saying that the smoke was bluish, I assure you it wasn't just a coolant problem 😉

 

[StageLeft]

Probably the last guy to refresh the throttle pumps over-tightened the B-clamps and his engine's running rich. I've seen it before, but it's no big deal ;p

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Probably the last guy to refresh the throttle pumps over-tightened the B-clamps and his engine's running rich. I've seen it before, but it's no big deal ;p

That'll happen when you don't get your maintenance done at the dealership.

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Hmm

heh, my bad

and as far as pics go, here is an artists representation of what happened, using my horrible image editing skills. If you don't like the pic, use your damn imagination

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Joemonkey

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Hmm

heh, my bad

and as far as pics go, <a class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.joemonkey.com/bmwfire.jpg" target=blank>here</A> is an artists representation of what happened, using my horrible image editing skills. If you don't like the pic, use your damn imagination

That picture is just absolutely terrible 😛

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Joemonkey

Originally posted by: Skoorb Hmm

heh, my bad and as far as pics go, here is an artists representation of what happened, using my horrible image editing skills. If you don't like the pic, use your damn imagination

That picture is just absolutely terrible 😛

hehe yep, kinda the point... i didn't have my digicam w/ me on the way to work, and i wanted to make fivespeed5 regret asking! [/quote] heh, my bad and as far as pics go, here is an artists representation of what happened, using my horrible image editing skills. If you don't like the pic, use your damn imagination[/quote]That picture is just absolutely terrible 😛[/quote]

hehe yep, kinda the point... i didn't have my digicam w/ me on the way to work, and i wanted to make fivespeed5 regret asking!

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Joemonkey

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Joemonkey

Originally posted by: Skoorb Hmm

heh, my bad and as far as pics go, here is an artists representation of what happened, using my horrible image editing skills. If you don't like the pic, use your damn imagination

That picture is just absolutely terrible 😛

hehe yep, kinda the point... i didn't have my digicam w/ me on the way to work, and i wanted to make fivespeed5 regret asking!

heh, my bad and as far as pics go, here is an artists representation of what happened, using my horrible image editing skills. If you don't like the pic, use your damn imagination[/quote]That picture is just absolutely terrible 😛[/quote]

hehe yep, kinda the point... i didn't have my digicam w/ me on the way to work, and i wanted to make fivespeed5 regret asking![/quote]Man that post just did NOT work out well!! :Q EDIT damn now it's fixed.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Probably the last guy to refresh the throttle pumps over-tightened the B-clamps and his engine's running rich. I've seen it before, but it's no big deal ;p

It could be a loose torsion tensioner too. That will cause the brake sustainer to rub against the rear pressure reservoir ---> big leak.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Probably the last guy to refresh the throttle pumps over-tightened the B-clamps and his engine's running rich. I've seen it before, but it's no big deal ;p

It could be a loose torsion tensioner too. That will cause the brake sustainer to rub against the rear pressure reservoir ---> big leak.

I thought that in the early 90s BMW switched over to a systemic fluid regulator, thus negating the well-documented rear pressure reservoir rubbing that was known to plague earlier models...?

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Probably the last guy to refresh the throttle pumps over-tightened the B-clamps and his engine's running rich. I've seen it before, but it's no big deal ;p

It could be a loose torsion tensioner too. That will cause the brake sustainer to rub against the rear pressure reservoir ---> big leak.

I thought that in the early 90s BMW switched over to a systemic fluid regulator, thus negating the well-documented rear pressure reservoir rubbing that was known to plague earlier models...?

the systemic fluid regulator was only available on models with the compressor gizmo comfobulation cylinders. of course, these cylinders were revolutionary at the time and was a pricy item to replace. usually they were included with the windshield wiper oil cooler kit.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Probably the last guy to refresh the throttle pumps over-tightened the B-clamps and his engine's running rich. I've seen it before, but it's no big deal ;p

It could be a loose torsion tensioner too. That will cause the brake sustainer to rub against the rear pressure reservoir ---> big leak.

I thought that in the early 90s BMW switched over to a systemic fluid regulator, thus negating the well-documented rear pressure reservoir rubbing that was known to plague earlier models...?

the systemic fluid regulator was only available on models with the compressor gizmo comfobulation cylinders. of course, these cylinders were revolutionary at the time and was a pricy item to replace. usually they were included with the windshield wiper oil cooler kit.

Good points there guys.
But after some investigation I suspect it could be the swaybar differential latch that came loose.

 

[CraigRT]

did you smell anything?

there are a lot of different smells which could help narrow down what actually happened... what color was the smoke? blue? white? black?

 

[TitanDiddly]

I heard that the flux capacitors in those can go bad early. I bet that's what it was.

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: CraigRT
did you smell anything? there are a lot of different smells which could help narrow down what actually happened... what color was the smoke? blue? white? black?

dang did you even read the OP?