Questions and Answers
BMW Engine Fire
Q. Hi, Actually I am facing problem in my car BMW 318i model 1992.
The problem appeared when the threads of timing belt that connected between crank shaft and crank rod are damaged due to damage happened in some bearings and that prevented timing belt to rotate.
I put it in garage to repair and all damaged parts in engine were replaced such as valves, crank rod, petrol hose, and of course timing belt.
That cost me to much plus extra labor cost. But after three days of driving and during those days it run few kilometers because at second day it stayed in agency to replace brake pads.
At the third day in the evening about 4 pm when I start the engine and put the gear on R to go back some people saw flame appear under the engine I quite run out from the car and stopped the fire by safety gas cylinder.
That fire made a lot of damage in engine and a lot of parts around engine.
My questions are:
1. Is the reason of this fire in engine due to bad repairing in garage such as unconnected timing for engine or uncorrect assembly for some parts such as petrol hose, fuel injector.
2. If this is could be the reason how I can prove that for police ?
3. What are the reasons or possibilities to accure fire to engine?
This fire first time happen in the car during all date of using. Please I want help or suggestions from experts to help me with that bad garage. The case now between me and them in the police station.
A. First off, that engine does not have a timing belt. It has a timing chain. But since that is not germane to your questions, I won't get into that.
In response to your questions, the most likely cause of an engine fire (and I have seen this first hand on a BMW 530) is a leaking fuel line. It is possible that whoever did the repairs left a fuel line loose or damaged a fuel line in the process of making repairs.
Proving this will be difficult, what you can do is hire an accident investigator who specializes in the automotive sector to look at the car and determine where the fire started. It may look like a total mess under the hood, but a good investigator will be able to determine the cause and document it for you. If you have comprehensive insurance, your insurance company's investigator will be able to do this for you.
A fuel leak is the most likely possibility of an engine fire. Another possibility is engine oil leaking onto the exhaust manifold from a leaking valve cover gasket. Another possibility, but far less likely, is an electrical fire.
Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA
