Engine Mechanical problem
1988 BMW 528 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 250K + miles
I live in Michigan, currently 12*f outside, and I own a 1988 BMW 528e. It has high mileage, but what older BMW doesn't. My problem started back in July after it had been towed to an impound because it was illegally parked. When I picked the car up it started to overheat. Prior to being towed it had never overheated. My girlfriend was driving it a few miles to and from work and it would get hot but not overheat. This, I know didn't help anything. I checked to see if there were any leaks or noticeable issues, but at the time it was okay. Shortly after that the weather got colder and the problem "went away". Once we had the first big freeze of the year the car started running rough. I was out of town while my girlfriend was driving it and apparently she was starting it and driving off without giving it time to warm up. When I came home and noticed her driving habits I mentioned to her to start it first and let it warm up before driving. The next day it died. By died I mean stalled while driving. We had it towed to the house and there it sits. The car will start and run for a good 15 minutes until stalling and may start again after stalling, but quickly stalls again. There is a white smoke coming from the exhaust, but not any leaks under the car. I does need an oil change and a radiator flush as well. I'm assuming its a blown head gasket (worst case in terms of actually repairing), but before I go pulling apart the engine I'd like to get some further input on this. AS IS: car starts/stalls once enginge is warm (about 15 min), white smoke out of exhaust, is NOT overheating, heat and air IS working, oil cap is falling apart (it tightens on, but the plastic toggles and breaking off), maybe have ICE CHUNKS in radiator. POSSIBLE CAUSES I KNOW OF: Blown head gasket, thermostat is broken, bad oil, water in radiator, computer? Any advice on where to start first in diagnosing this problem correctly? Thank you so much!
1988 BMW 528 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 250K + miles
I live in Michigan, currently 12*f outside, and I own a 1988 BMW 528e. It has high mileage, but what older BMW doesn't. My problem started back in July after it had been towed to an impound because it was illegally parked. When I picked the car up it started to overheat. Prior to being towed it had never overheated. My girlfriend was driving it a few miles to and from work and it would get hot but not overheat. This, I know didn't help anything. I checked to see if there were any leaks or noticeable issues, but at the time it was okay. Shortly after that the weather got colder and the problem "went away". Once we had the first big freeze of the year the car started running rough. I was out of town while my girlfriend was driving it and apparently she was starting it and driving off without giving it time to warm up. When I came home and noticed her driving habits I mentioned to her to start it first and let it warm up before driving. The next day it died. By died I mean stalled while driving. We had it towed to the house and there it sits. The car will start and run for a good 15 minutes until stalling and may start again after stalling, but quickly stalls again. There is a white smoke coming from the exhaust, but not any leaks under the car. I does need an oil change and a radiator flush as well. I'm assuming its a blown head gasket (worst case in terms of actually repairing), but before I go pulling apart the engine I'd like to get some further input on this. AS IS: car starts/stalls once enginge is warm (about 15 min), white smoke out of exhaust, is NOT overheating, heat and air IS working, oil cap is falling apart (it tightens on, but the plastic toggles and breaking off), maybe have ICE CHUNKS in radiator. POSSIBLE CAUSES I KNOW OF: Blown head gasket, thermostat is broken, bad oil, water in radiator, computer? Any advice on where to start first in diagnosing this problem correctly? Thank you so much!
Jan 25, 2009 at 7:08 PM
