Ferrari Reliability > BMW Reliability! (now with video)

"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
03/07/2016 at 03:10 • Filed to: None

This actually happened last week in a fast-food lot here in the Bay Area.

In my 355, I was queued right behind an E46 330i sedan, when I suddenly heard a loud POP.

White smoke belched out of the front end of the poor BMW, and in seconds a pool of coolant formed on the ground.

Employees came out to help push the car out of the way, and I had clear evidence to convince a few high schoolers that Ferraris are more reliable than BMWs.

I did make it home without my car melting or catching fire.

Edit: Now with video.

DISCUSSION (29)

EL_ULY > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/04/2016 at 18:50

cooling systems and BMW have never been the best of friends. It will happen to all of our cars eventually tho.

S65 > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/04/2016 at 18:50

10/10

Berang > EL_ULY
03/04/2016 at 18:51

Unless you own a real porsche.

Berang > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/04/2016 at 18:52

The BMW didn’t catch fire though, so it’s not a real breakdown.

MultiplaOrgasms > Berang
03/04/2016 at 18:57

Or a Tatra.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/04/2016 at 18:58

But when your Ferreri burns it will take the whole nighborhood with it.

MultiplaOrgasms > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/04/2016 at 18:58

Hypocrite

-this space for rent- > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/04/2016 at 19:07

After the pop, how long did you freak out before realizing it wasn’t you?

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > EL_ULY
03/04/2016 at 19:39

I’ve heard that the coolant expansion tanks on E46s frequently fail and split right open. That is mildly terrifying.

But since coolant hoses are inspected and replaced fairly frequently on cars with major services as intensive as the 355, this is [hopefully] relatively unlikely.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > -this space for rent-
03/04/2016 at 19:42

Not too long. It was clearly from in front of me, and my car has nothing but a trunk up front. I’m surprised I even heard it over my idle exhaust drone. At first I thought somebody’s aged-out tire had failed.

The one time my water pump seal failed, I didn’t hear it. I was incredibly lucky that my car was already in the shop and the trail of coolant had just appeared under my car.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > MultiplaOrgasms
03/04/2016 at 19:47

Um........yes?

Jdrentarol > -this space for rent-
03/04/2016 at 20:07

Ummm... the Ferrari is mid-engined... so correct me if I am wrong, the POP would be behind him if it was his car. But it was in front! Haha, logic FTW

DipodomysDeserti > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/04/2016 at 20:51

I had the expansion tank on my wife's 2013 X1 split and slowly start losing coolant. The car warned me it was low, and I had it replaced under warranty. Still, WTF BMW?

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > DipodomysDeserti
03/05/2016 at 02:17

Lowest-bidder Chinese supplier.

DipodomysDeserti > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/05/2016 at 10:23

You’d think, but it said “Made in Germany” right on it.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > DipodomysDeserti
03/05/2016 at 14:03

Ugh. German engineering wins again.

I only suggested Chinese supplier because I know BMW now uses glass from Fuyao, one of China’s largest glass suppliers. Probably not a big deal since they are large and relatively experienced, but price would definitely be a factor there.

LeadfootYT > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/07/2016 at 03:25

Well, yeah. But they made a ton of them, and it happens after 90,000-100,000 miles. Sure, the plastics aren’t great quality, but it’s not going to just split open on a whim—and if you replace your cooling system every 80,000 or 90,000 miles, you’ll never encounter a failure. Plus, a lot of the ones that I’ve known lasted past 130,000 miles. It’s a game of statistics—people in LA get shot “all the time” too, but there are a lot of people in LA.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/07/2016 at 03:35

funny!

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/07/2016 at 03:40

When you put a BMW in reverse, the exhaust comes out the front. It’s by design. (Kinda thought everybody knew this?)

That was just a guy shifting into park to get his wallet out. I think his reverse lights might be broken tho.

. . > Berang
03/07/2016 at 04:04

Or a proper Fiat. :D

d15b > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/07/2016 at 04:37

Ughhhhh. I wouldn’t mind moving back home. Actually, I wish I could move back home. :(

torque > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/07/2016 at 11:25

Any BMW drivers try using Evans Waterless Coolant?

Apparently it has a higher temp. boiling point (375 F), very low pressure in your coolant system (when running it), zero corrosion,

Jay Leno approved (nice review here)

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > d15b
03/07/2016 at 19:39

Pony up for the California tax!

d15b > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/07/2016 at 21:23

I actually live in San Diego, so I am paying sun taxes! I dunno, I just miss the City.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > d15b
03/09/2016 at 04:42

Not a good time to try to get back to the Bay Area. Housing costs have run away for everyone that actually works for a living.

d15b > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/09/2016 at 09:28

Here is the rub.. it hasn’t been working out in terms of housing costs for quite some time now. It doesn’t look like it will get better any time soon.

Also, that looks like the In-and-Out off Whipple.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > d15b
03/10/2016 at 14:46

Negative. This is in the south bay.

I’m looking for property as well. I’ve been taught that the key is patience. We know economic boom-bust cycles occur on a decade-ish cycle. Don’t fight with everyone else buying stuff on the upswing, especially for commodities like housing, agriculture and oil. Patience, and savings / investment in other things that you can afford.

d15b > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever
03/10/2016 at 14:57

This is true.

From what I understand, there seems to be a lot of foreign purchases in the area, driving up costs. It’s a great way to park wealth out of their native country.

Le sigh.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > d15b
03/10/2016 at 15:05

The Chinese government under the Xi administration began cracking down on $$$ outflow several years ago. There are various reports that the foreign cash influx is starting to dry up, but that still doesn’t affect the huge local money floating around in the Silicon Valley.

Nobody wants billions of cash just flying out of their country in checked baggage. It harms their home country more than it harms the US.

Both my brother and I went to UCSD, and he still lives there. I miss that place too.