2007 BMW 325i

[A Guy Out West]

My 19 y/o has one these that he accidentally put 3 quarts more oil in than he should have. He drove it for a little while, it started making “whirring” noise followed by foul smelling light smoke coming from engine. Kid parked and shut off the car. Now it won’t start or even turn over. I’m guessing some kind of idiot switch was tripped which is keeping the car from starting? Does anyone know? If it is a kill switch, will it have to be reset after draining the oil? If so, does anyone know where the reset switch is? I know nothing about this machine. Could this cause any permanent damage? If yes what? Danka

 

[Rusty Gate]

Diesel or petrol. If petrol good chance its in the air flow meter & plugs are fouled, would keep running hot but allowed to cool a restart is prob not going to happen.
Drain it to level. Check the air intake & manifold for oil & clean out. Air flow meter can be cleaned with electical/brake cleaner but may need replacement sometime. Check the plugs & may be just easier to pop new in.

 

[starr shot]

may be it’s got oil on top of the pistons and now it’s hydraulic ing

 

[A Guy Out West]

How would we have to fix that? Take heads off?

 

[Rusty Gate]

How would we have to fix that? Take heads off?

Take plugs out & wind it over.
Sorry, missed the wont turn over bit

 

[A Guy Out West]

Diesel or petrol. If petrol good chance its in the air flow meter & plugs are fouled, would keep running hot but allowed to cool a restart is prob not going to happen.
Drain it to level. Check the air intake & manifold for oil & clean out. Air flow meter can be cleaned with electical/brake cleaner but may need replacement sometime. Check the plugs & may be just easier to pop new in.

It’s petrol.

 

[A Guy Out West]

Take plugs out & wind it over.
Sorry, missed the wont turn over bit

He’s getting the oil level to proper level. I told him to only put in 6 quarts. Do you think it will turn over when oil is at correct level? Is there a reset?

 

[A Guy Out West]

He’s getting the oil level to proper level. I told him to only put in 6 quarts. Do you think it will turn over when oil is at correct level? Is there a reset?

If he takes the plugs out, do you think that will allow it to turn over?

 

[A Guy Out West]

This is happening real time. It’s 10:53pm here and car won’t turn over after unhooking and re hooking up the battery. Oil is 1 qt. Less than full. Kid is on other side of town in a parking lot. I looked at the car this afternoon and could not see a tow point. Does anyone know if this car can be towed with a tow strap and not mess up the plastic flaring around the bumper. I’m thinking a tow truck is the only way to tow this thing. For the life of me I couldn’t see anything to attach the strap to. Tow truck is out of the question for the kid $$$$.

 

[Jamsie]

If he takes the plugs out, do you think that will allow it to turn over?

If all of the plugs are out then there should be no compression. Providing the battery and starter are both in good condition, then it ought to turn over. Assuming that it does and you get the proper oil level established, it's generally a good idea to put the plugs back into their respective cylinder heads. Question! How much is your 19 year old lad paying in insurance for a 325i ... and why isn't he driving a Corsa / Polo / Golf like every other young un when building up his no-claims? Just asking out of interest.

Jamsie

 

[A Guy Out West]

If all of the plugs are out then there should be no compression. Providing the battery and starter are both in good condition, then it ought to turn over. Assuming that it does and you get the proper oil level established, it's generally a good idea to put the plugs back into their respective cylinder heads. Question! How much is your 19 year old lad paying in insurance for a 325i ... and why isn't he driving a Corsa / Polo / Golf like every other young un when building up his no-claims? Just asking out of interest.

Jamsie

Great question Jamsie, short answer is he is a spoiled entitled feeling brat, sorry to say. I don’t have clue one how he turned out this way. I told him to buy a car of the type you suggested. The genus wouldn’t listen, his old man knows nothing. Insurance is over $200 per month and only covers the other car, not his and it’s the bare bones minimum. I just heard from him, it’s too dark and cold for him to try to remove the plugs tonight. We will have to get it home somehow tomorrow. As I told him not to buy it, I’m not paying for the tow.

 

[Jamsie]

Great question Jamsie, short answer is he is a spoiled entitled feeling brat, sorry to say. I don’t have clue one how he turned out this way. I told him to buy a car of the type you suggested. The genus wouldn’t listen, his old man knows nothing. Insurance is over $200 per month and only covers the other car, not his and it’s the bare bones minimum. I just heard from him, it’s too dark and cold for him to try to remove the plugs tonight. We will have to get it home somehow tomorrow. As I told him not to buy it, I’m not paying for the tow.

A valuable lesson there for him then. His decision - his responsibility when things go wrong. Such is life!

Jamsie

 

[J.kerslake]

It must have a tow point. Look on the front bumper for a removable circle of plastic, probably 2 or 3 inches across, remove it and some where there should be a towing eye that screws in, probably with the Jack/tool kit.

 

[gerarddwatts]

Could even take a look in the handbook...radical I know.....

 

[Scandially]

Crankshaft can break when immersed in overfill.

 

[JTO]

may be it’s got oil on top of the pistons and now it’s hydraulic ing

=my first thought!

 

[ciscokid]

Be careful about towing an automatic gearbox vehicle.
( how far can you tow an auto gearbox car without causing problems to gearbox)?

 

[Scandially]

Proof that checking oil, coolant and tyre levels should be part of driver training or testing?

 

[Fair Hill]

Be careful about towing an automatic gearbox vehicle.
( how far can you tow an auto gearbox car without causing problems to gearbox)?

Wouldn't it be okay if it's in neutral?

 

[A Guy Out West]

It must have a tow point. Look on the front bumper for a removable circle of plastic, probably 2 or 3 inches across, remove it and some where there should be a towing eye that screws in, probably with the Jack/tool kit.

Jack, tool kit and manual did not come with the car when he bought it. I will look for it again in the morning. Thanks.