Rat Causes Engine Replacement

zakyzozo · 12-13-2013, 08:53 PM

I purchased a 2011 135i two months ago, it originally had 12K miles. It is an absolute pleasure to drive. While trying to leave work one afternoon, my car would not start. At first it made a clicking noise like my starter had died. The third time, it sounded like my engine through a rod. I had it towed to the dealer. Two days later, they contacted me and said that a rat had chewed through my wiring harness, and had got caught in the serpentine belt causing it to twist. To make things worse, it caused one of the pulleys to break, and when it did, it took a part of the block with it. Therefore, I will need a new engine. The dealer suggested I contact my insurance company and open a claim, as this was not covered by warranty. After almost two weeks, the insurance company agreed to replace my engine at a cost of $18K. So I called the dealer today and approved the work to be done. I am excited to finally make some progress, as I was hanging in limbo not knowing whether the insurance company was going to total my car or pay for a new engine. Although my original engine only had 15K miles, it will be nice to have a new engine and know exactly how it was taking care of from the beginning. And I assume since the new engine should come with the flywheel attached, I will also get a new clutch. Attached is a picture of the rat and the cracked block. I appreciate anyone's opinions regarding having a new engine installed, how this may or may not impact the resale value, and anything else I should be aware of, or would like to comment on. More to follow.

Elsabor67 · 12-14-2013, 10:50 AM

That is a STRONG ASS RAT!!!!!!

Good thing that the insurance was able to work it out.

Overpar56 · 12-14-2013, 07:31 PM

One hell of a rat trap.

Downeaster1 · 12-14-2013, 08:50 PM

No joke, I actually see this all the time at our dealership. More specifically with the F10's though. never on a E9X/E8X car.

drum3rjay28 · 12-14-2013, 09:28 PM

Omg that little rat! Serious (unfortunate) perfect storm situation--I'll be watching this thread for sure!

Dmacc · 12-15-2013, 01:23 AM

WOW!

What a nightmare! Glad insurance is covering it.

zakyzozo · 12-19-2013, 11:52 PM

Went to the dealer today and they ordered the engine. Fortunately for me there was one in the states, the unfortunate is that the wiring harness is being shipped from Germany. So perhaps in three weeks I will have the red beast back. It really sucks driving the loaner car. Needless to say I am dreaming about adding an alcantara performance wheel and BMW PE when I get it back. Cannot wait to be able to wash and wax it again.

RimasRS · 12-21-2013, 06:23 AM

Damn...

flinchy · 01-01-2014, 05:29 AM

Lucky your insurance covered it!

Many normal engine failures and they wont!

Do you get a brand new 0km engine? If so nice!!

Downeaster1 · 01-01-2014, 11:46 AM

Well most of the components will be carried over from your old engine. Your flywheel, clutch, etc will be from your old car. When we are doing an engine swap and order a factory new engine, all they ship us is the actual engine. Good to hear insurance is covering it though. We had one guy who bought an F01 with an N63 and his insurance company denied the claim. That must have been fun to pay.

zakyzozo · 01-01-2014, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flinchy

Lucky your insurance covered it!

Many normal engine failures and they wont!

Do you get a brand new 0km engine? If so nice!!

Yes it will be a new engine, the original one only had 15k. The big pain is having to go through the break in period.

zakyzozo · 01-01-2014, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Downeaster1

Well most of the components will be carried over from your old engine. Your flywheel, clutch, etc will be from your old car. When we are doing an engine swap and order a factory new engine, all they ship us is the actual engine. Good to hear insurance is covering it though. We had one guy who bought an F01 with an N63 and his insurance company denied the claim. That must have been fun to pay.

My SA said that it will come with a new flywheel, therefore they would have to install a new clutch, so we shall see. I was thinking about doing the M3 subframe bushings, do you think the labor will be alot less since they are pulling the engine?

moveswiftly · 01-01-2014, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zakyzozo

My SA said that it will come with a new flywheel, therefore they would have to install a new clutch, so we shall see. I was thinking about doing the M3 subframe bushings, do you think the labor will be alot less since they are pulling the engine?

Shouldn't be much less since they probably aren't touching the rear axle o the car at all

Artemis · 01-02-2014, 10:28 AM

Sorry to read about the 'Ratatouille' mishap.
More about this issue: "How to Keep Mice, Rats and Other Rodents Out of Your Car Engine" (Nov 26, 2013): http://hubpages.com/hub/Mice-in-Your-Motor

Artemis · 01-02-2014, 10:34 AM

On a lighter note: have a closer look at the BMW i8 dashboard.

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Experimental · 01-02-2014, 11:13 AM

Wow! First off...my condolences for the fallen engine. $18k rat trap...who knew?

But one thing you can rest assured about - that rat will NOT do that again.

zakyzozo · 01-02-2014, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artemis

Sorry to read about the 'Ratatouille' mishap.
More about this issue: "How to Keep Mice, Rats and Other Rodents Out of Your Car Engine" (Nov 26, 2013): http://hubpages.com/hub/Mice-in-Your-Motor

Informative article. I did not know this problem was so common.

zakyzozo · 01-08-2014, 11:30 PM

Dealer said they will have my car ready this Friday. Looking forward to finally driving the beast. I was hoping to buy the PE exhaust and have them put it on before I picked it up, but I decided to wait a few more days. Going to go visit Active Autowerke on friday, hoping to hear their exhaust in person.

Dackelone · 01-09-2014, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zakyzozo

Dealer said they will have my car ready this Friday. Looking forward to finally driving the beast. I was hoping to buy the PE exhaust and have them put it on before I picked it up, but I decided to wait a few more days. Going to go visit Active Autowerke on friday, hoping to hear their exhaust in person.

Good to hear you will be back on the road soon. I would also recommend you to change the oil and filter after say 1K miles. You might do that a few times before going back to your regular OCI.

stangman · 01-09-2014, 09:45 AM

Very clever staging of the "rat issue" !! Would not have thought of that angle.

Can you share the web site where I might get me a rat too !!

zakyzozo · 01-09-2014, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stangman

Very clever staging of the "rat issue" !! Would not have thought of that angle.

Can you share the web site where I might get me a rat too !!

Funny. I was thinking the dealer had a box of rats in their shop for this very issue.

Tony135 · 01-09-2014, 01:34 PM

Wow...that rat wanted to make a statement.

12-13-2013, 08:53 PM	#1
zakyzozo Captain 34 Rep 627 Posts Drives: 2017 X3 MSport Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Florida iTrader: (12)	Rat Causes Engine Replacement I purchased a 2011 135i two months ago, it originally had 12K miles. It is an absolute pleasure to drive. While trying to leave work one afternoon, my car would not start. At first it made a clicking noise like my starter had died. The third time, it sounded like my engine through a rod. I had it towed to the dealer. Two days later, they contacted me and said that a rat had chewed through my wiring harness, and had got caught in the serpentine belt causing it to twist. To make things worse, it caused one of the pulleys to break, and when it did, it took a part of the block with it. Therefore, I will need a new engine. The dealer suggested I contact my insurance company and open a claim, as this was not covered by warranty. After almost two weeks, the insurance company agreed to replace my engine at a cost of $18K. So I called the dealer today and approved the work to be done. I am excited to finally make some progress, as I was hanging in limbo not knowing whether the insurance company was going to total my car or pay for a new engine. Although my original engine only had 15K miles, it will be nice to have a new engine and know exactly how it was taking care of from the beginning. And I assume since the new engine should come with the flywheel attached, I will also get a new clutch. Attached is a picture of the rat and the cracked block. I appreciate anyone's opinions regarding having a new engine installed, how this may or may not impact the resale value, and anything else I should be aware of, or would like to comment on. More to follow. Attached Images
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12-14-2013, 10:50 AM	#2
Elsabor67 aiming for 450..... 303 Rep 2,910 Posts Drives: Totaled :-( Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Louisiana iTrader: (28) Garage List 2009 135i [10.00]	That is a STRONG ASS RAT!!!!!! Good thing that the insurance was able to work it out. __________________ Quote from Ezeedee regarding car mods: "you're only done when you sell the car "
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12-14-2013, 07:31 PM	#3
Overpar56 Proud AARP member in good standing 28 Rep 635 Posts Drives: Me nuts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Skyline, Chile iTrader: (0)	One hell of a rat trap. __________________ 2012 135i DCT, Lemans Blue/black leather, PPK1, PE, Stoptech Sport rotors and Sport pads, unhealthy crackles and burbles and an aging demonic driver.
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12-14-2013, 08:50 PM	#4
Downeaster1 BMW Master Tech 587 Rep 850 Posts Drives: E30, E36, E82, E90, F10, F80 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Aston Martin V ... [0.00] 2010 Lamborghini LP ... [0.00] 1985 Alpina C2 2.7 [0.00] 2017 BMW M3 [0.00] 2008 BMW 128i [10.00] 2013 BMW 135is [0.00] 1992 BMW 325i [0.00]	No joke, I actually see this all the time at our dealership. More specifically with the F10's though. never on a E9X/E8X car.
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12-14-2013, 09:28 PM	#5
drum3rjay28 Enlisted Member 4 Rep 36 Posts Drives: '09 135i Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Westchester, NY iTrader: (0)	Omg that little rat! Serious (unfortunate) perfect storm situation--I'll be watching this thread for sure!
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12-15-2013, 01:23 AM	#6
Dmacc Colonel 200 Rep 2,799 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 1M Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: So Cal iTrader: (1)	WOW! What a nightmare! Glad insurance is covering it. __________________ thanks to MGallop
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12-19-2013, 11:52 PM	#7
zakyzozo Captain 34 Rep 627 Posts Drives: 2017 X3 MSport Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Florida iTrader: (12)	Went to the dealer today and they ordered the engine. Fortunately for me there was one in the states, the unfortunate is that the wiring harness is being shipped from Germany. So perhaps in three weeks I will have the red beast back. It really sucks driving the loaner car. Needless to say I am dreaming about adding an alcantara performance wheel and BMW PE when I get it back. Cannot wait to be able to wash and wax it again.
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12-21-2013, 06:23 AM	#8
RimasRS Colonel 85 Rep 2,438 Posts Drives: BMW X3 SD Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Europe iTrader: (0)	Damn...
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01-01-2014, 05:29 AM	#9
flinchy Brigadier General 126 Rep 3,099 Posts Drives: E82 135i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: QLD, Australia iTrader: (0)	Lucky your insurance covered it! Many normal engine failures and they wont! Do you get a brand new 0km engine? If so nice!!
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01-01-2014, 11:46 AM	#10
Downeaster1 BMW Master Tech 587 Rep 850 Posts Drives: E30, E36, E82, E90, F10, F80 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Aston Martin V ... [0.00] 2010 Lamborghini LP ... [0.00] 1985 Alpina C2 2.7 [0.00] 2017 BMW M3 [0.00] 2008 BMW 128i [10.00] 2013 BMW 135is [0.00] 1992 BMW 325i [0.00]	Well most of the components will be carried over from your old engine. Your flywheel, clutch, etc will be from your old car. When we are doing an engine swap and order a factory new engine, all they ship us is the actual engine. Good to hear insurance is covering it though. We had one guy who bought an F01 with an N63 and his insurance company denied the claim. That must have been fun to pay.
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01-02-2014, 10:28 AM	#14
Artemis Moderator 29418 Rep 13,107 Posts Drives: BMW M2 Competition Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	Sorry to read about the 'Ratatouille' mishap. More about this issue: "How to Keep Mice, Rats and Other Rodents Out of Your Car Engine" (Nov 26, 2013): http://hubpages.com/hub/Mice-in-Your-Motor __________________ ///M is art ↔ Artemis
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01-02-2014, 10:34 AM	#15
Artemis Moderator 29418 Rep 13,107 Posts Drives: BMW M2 Competition Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	On a lighter note: have a closer look at the BMW i8 dashboard. __________________ ///M is art ↔ Artemis
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01-02-2014, 11:13 AM	#16
Experimental Second Lieutenant 31 Rep 297 Posts Drives: '14 328d M-sport Wagon Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Canton, GA iTrader: (0)	Wow! First off...my condolences for the fallen engine. $18k rat trap...who knew? But one thing you can rest assured about - that rat will NOT do that again. __________________
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01-08-2014, 11:30 PM	#18
zakyzozo Captain 34 Rep 627 Posts Drives: 2017 X3 MSport Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: South Florida iTrader: (12)	Dealer said they will have my car ready this Friday. Looking forward to finally driving the beast. I was hoping to buy the PE exhaust and have them put it on before I picked it up, but I decided to wait a few more days. Going to go visit Active Autowerke on friday, hoping to hear their exhaust in person.
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01-09-2014, 09:45 AM	#20
stangman Private 8 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 2011 135i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: SE Michigan iTrader: (0)	Very clever staging of the "rat issue" !! Would not have thought of that angle. Can you share the web site where I might get me a rat too !!
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01-09-2014, 01:34 PM	#22
Tony135 Lieutenant Colonel 178 Rep 1,516 Posts Drives: ‘22 Model 3 Join Date: May 2011 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	Wow...that rat wanted to make a statement.
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