The Death of Helga

junior1954 · 09-27-2018, 07:14 PM

Had a '17 M240i x silver over black leather with a Dinan Elite, Helga. LOVED the car but she was cursed. Early July a gal made a right from the left lane and I must have been in her blind spot. $8500.00 damage, all paid by her company. They also coughed up $3300.00 when I put a claim in for diminished value.

Got her out of the body shop and decided to get a mid-cycle oil change. Tech. pinched an "O" ring resulting in catastrophic loss of oil-no low oil warning, only red "No Oil Pressure". Pulled over and shut it off within 20 seconds, no lifter noise. Towed in to dealer and asked them to take photos as I'd just had the oil changed. Metal shavings in oil, motor totaled, car totaled and paid for by the insurance company of the service facility that changed the oil. I miss her.

Gretchen, my '19 M240i x in Estoril Blue over black leather, black grill/rims and staggered summer tires is on order and due in 6-8 weeks. I'm jonesing!

Lipper · 09-27-2018, 07:40 PM

Like Shakespeare says - All's Well That Ends Well!

Congrats on the new ride!

XutvJet · 09-27-2018, 08:36 PM

Uhhh....that's kind of scary that merely pinching the oil filter housing o ring could result in so much oil being lost that the motor is toast. Yikes.

morphomeman · 09-27-2018, 08:54 PM

Best argument yet against a mid-cycle oil change, especially by an independent.

B58togo · 09-27-2018, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morphomeman

Best argument yet against a mid-cycle oil change, especially by an independent.

Not sure I follow. This could have happened at the "non mid-cycle" oil change just as easily. You really think certified BMW techs don't ever screw up? I know some seriously good indy techs that I'd trust ten fold over BMW techs.

OP, at least you got $3300 for diminished value, so you're a little ahead of the 8 Ball, no?

Tony88 · 09-28-2018, 11:05 AM

So what O-ring was pinched that let out that much oil but go unnoticed until the car finally realized there was no pressure? It's hard to believe that the oil filter cap O-ring could let that much out that quickly.

aerobod · 09-28-2018, 12:01 PM

With a gap of about 10mm^2 (the screwdriver slot to remove the O-ring in the filter cap is about that size), with enough space when the O-ring is compromised under the edge of the cap to not restrict the flow much through the slot or screw threads, the flow rate when the oil is hot and at 4 bar (~60 PSI) pressure will be up to 0.2 litres per second, based on calculations for liquid flow through an orifice. It is therefore possible to empty the oil pan in as little as 40 seconds at medium engine revs and above with hot oil and just a small gap.

09-27-2018, 07:14 PM	#1
junior1954 Vader 8 Rep 11 Posts Drives: '19 M240i xDrive/Estoril Blue Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Inverness, Il. iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW M240i xDrive [0.00]	The Death of Helga Had a '17 M240i x silver over black leather with a Dinan Elite, Helga. LOVED the car but she was cursed. Early July a gal made a right from the left lane and I must have been in her blind spot. $8500.00 damage, all paid by her company. They also coughed up $3300.00 when I put a claim in for diminished value. Got her out of the body shop and decided to get a mid-cycle oil change. Tech. pinched an "O" ring resulting in catastrophic loss of oil-no low oil warning, only red "No Oil Pressure". Pulled over and shut it off within 20 seconds, no lifter noise. Towed in to dealer and asked them to take photos as I'd just had the oil changed. Metal shavings in oil, motor totaled, car totaled and paid for by the insurance company of the service facility that changed the oil. I miss her. Gretchen, my '19 M240i x in Estoril Blue over black leather, black grill/rims and staggered summer tires is on order and due in 6-8 weeks. I'm jonesing!
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09-27-2018, 07:40 PM	#2
Lipper Private First Class 42 Rep 105 Posts Drives: 2015 M235i 6MT Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (0)	Like Shakespeare says - All's Well That Ends Well! Congrats on the new ride! __________________ 2015 M235i 6MT \| Alpine White/Black Dakota \| MPerformance Body Kit \| 19" M-Sport 359s w/Pilot Sport 4S (r:255/30 f:225/35) BMS JB4 w/Bluetooth\| Wagner Competition IC \| Wagner DP \| Evolution Raceworks IC Pipes \| Dynan CAI \| BMS Catch-Can \| Active Autowerks Axle-Back \| ECS 2-Piece Rotors/Hawk HPS 5.0 Pads \| Full MP Carbon/Alcantara Trim \| M-Performance Alcantara/LED Steering Wheel
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09-27-2018, 08:36 PM	#3
XutvJet Major General 5577 Rep 5,381 Posts Drives: 2011 Cayman Base, 2016 M235 Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Kansas City iTrader: (-1)	Uhhh....that's kind of scary that merely pinching the oil filter housing o ring could result in so much oil being lost that the motor is toast. Yikes.
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09-27-2018, 08:54 PM	#4
morphomeman Major 593 Rep 1,219 Posts Drives: 2015 M235ix Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (1) Garage List 2016 BMW X3 [0.00] 2015 BMW M235ix [0.00]	Best argument yet against a mid-cycle oil change, especially by an independent.
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09-28-2018, 11:05 AM	#6
Tony88 Private First Class 45 Rep 109 Posts Drives: M235ix Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Fairbanks, AK iTrader: (0)	So what O-ring was pinched that let out that much oil but go unnoticed until the car finally realized there was no pressure? It's hard to believe that the oil filter cap O-ring could let that much out that quickly.
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09-28-2018, 12:01 PM	#7
aerobod Car Geek 3706 Rep 3,619 Posts Drives: Caterham R500, M2-G87, Macan S Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	With a gap of about 10mm^2 (the screwdriver slot to remove the O-ring in the filter cap is about that size), with enough space when the O-ring is compromised under the edge of the cap to not restrict the flow much through the slot or screw threads, the flow rate when the oil is hot and at 4 bar (~60 PSI) pressure will be up to 0.2 litres per second, based on calculations for liquid flow through an orifice. It is therefore possible to empty the oil pan in as little as 40 seconds at medium engine revs and above with hot oil and just a small gap.
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