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Engine seized

Tiny
BEEMER70
  • MEMBER
  • 2013 BMW 750LI
  • 4.4L
  • V8
  • TURBO
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 140,000 MILES
Will the engines computer tell me why the engine seized?
Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 AT 9:16 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,573 POSTS
Not very likely. It may store an overheat code or low oil pressure but depending on what the actual problem was they may just be side effects. For instance, run over something and puncture the oil pan, the oil dumps out and the engine sets an oil level or loss of pressure code. If it was something like a timing belt or internal failure there won't be a code.
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Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 AT 3:08 PM
Tiny
BEEMER70
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  • 5 POSTS
The car has always been serviced at the same dealer where I bought it new. Never been taken to anyone since 2013. Every appointment the car ever had whether warranty work or simple maintenance always checked out running great. I took it in for the twin turbo coolant hoses which had a minor leak I was told and after the repair the tech took it for a ride and I was told had to be towed in with the engine locked up.
This prompted the question you answered for me. I was told the engine just gave up and it happens. No signs of distress at all.
I really have my doubts about that happening just like that on a car like that.
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Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 AT 4:24 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,573 POSTS
Well it can happen that way, A crank bearing failure or a rod failure or similar can cause an engine that is running perfect to turn into scrap in less time than it takes to snap your fingers. Neither would give any codes just bang and dead. About the only way to tell would be to tear it apart and inspect every part to determine what failed any why. That can be a hard thing to do unless you get someone else involved to do the work.
That said the 4.4 liter does have a reliability issue of the engines failing from internal problems and without much if any warning.
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Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 AT 4:40 PM
Tiny
BEEMER70
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  • 5 POSTS
Steve thank you for taking the time to answer. I really appreciate it.

Yes I agree with that. My problem is that the dealer is acting kinda funny with all this and my car is a 2013 after July as I've been told by cooperate and the dealer numerous times I am lucky to have the new version of the N63tu and not the older problem prone N63. I just can't comprehend the engine going just like that always babied and the service department always telling me the engine is running strong.
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Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 AT 5:05 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,573 POSTS
Could be the dealership knows they have an issue, either with the tech or something done wrong and are trying to get under cover about it. Then again it could all be coincidence. Maybe tell them you're thinking of having it looked into legally or something like that. The biggest thing would be determining what really happened. Then see what can be done.
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Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 AT 5:34 PM
Tiny
BEEMER70
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
I did take the coincidence under consideration. That's the main reason I didn't flip out when they told me the tech took it for a ride and had to tow it back because the engine locked up. I just need peace of mind. Plus they offered a new engine for $13,000.00 all in the same phone call and every time I ask for the ECM download they send me nonaense print out. I did tell them if they can't give me the reason why it died then let me pull it out for a second opinion. I contacted their major competition and the service manager told me he would have a cooperate BMW tech come and download the codes if any that dealerships can't see.
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Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 AT 5:56 PM
Tiny
STEVE W.
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Sounds like you have the situation covered. The ECM will likely have codes in it, the trick then is which came first, the code caused a failure or the failure set the code, freeze frame data could help there. Could you take a picture of the printout and post it? Maybe I can translate some of it.
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Wednesday, May 27th, 2020 AT 7:41 PM
Tiny
BEEMER70
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This is one of the several pages they sent me. Other pages have technical data that doesn't make sense. It's like pulling stubborn teeth getting any info from them.
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Thursday, May 28th, 2020 AT 2:00 AM
Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
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Well that page has a lot of fault codes which is typical of BMW's, never seen one that didn't have a page of misc. Codes stored, but the cylinder 8 misfire could be an indication of a bad injector or coil. Or it may be the cylinder that failed and locked it up. Injector faults are an issue with this engine though so it's possible an injector failed and dumped extra fuel into the cylinder and it misfired. Then it shut off the injection system. Nothing on that page other than the misfire to indicate a problem though. Look over them and see if you can find any mention of rpm or engine load. That would be from freeze frame data.
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Thursday, May 28th, 2020 AT 6:32 AM

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