noticed Coating bubbled on engine during tear down to replace plugs (photo)

TX · 01-10-2014, 09:58 PM

So I got down to the coil packs to do the plugs and I saw this:

Any ideas? If it's steel then rust under the steel, that's my guess. If Aluminum then just coating is bubbled off? Anyone notice this on their cars?

SilentAttack · 01-10-2014, 10:19 PM

scratch a bubble and see what kinda surprise you get...? That seems a lil odd

TX · 01-10-2014, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentAttack

scratch a bubble and see what kinda surprise you get...? That seems a lil odd

problem with breaking the bubble is that if it turns out to be rust, it will spiral out of control once it is exposed. I don't know what metal that is made out of. If it turns out to just be aluminum it wont be a big deal I hope.

RR-NYC · 01-11-2014, 01:00 AM

BMW warranty for the bodywork is twelve years and three years for the paintwork

US///M3 · 01-11-2014, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX

problem with breaking the bubble is that if it turns out to be rust, it will spiral out of control once it is exposed. I don't know what metal that is made out of. If it turns out to just be aluminum it wont be a big deal I hope.

I dont think it's rust but if it was rust, you want to fix those areas.
I've seen rust spread underneath bubbled paint.

mkPOTO · 01-11-2014, 10:59 AM

subscribed, might have to check mine when i start taking my car apart

TX · 01-11-2014, 12:27 PM

appears to be steel, I stuck a magnet to it. So that would be rust under the coating then. Must defect in manufacturing if there is moisture under the coating which led to rust in 5 years. it's not torn in any way so I don't see how moisture could have worked its way in there otherwise. I'm not going to pop the bubble and expose the metal since it will spiral out of control then. There is no rust or corrosion anywhere else under the hood. The car has been well maintained. Never even taken near the beach due to salt spray. Bummer.

thai357sig · 01-11-2014, 07:15 PM

Pop the smallest one and take it to the dealer as soon as possible.

TX · 01-11-2014, 07:29 PM

yes, I was wrong. It is aluminum which is powder coated. The coating is bubbled up in various spots on both of the valve covers. Guess they goofed during coating mine. It's only 5 years old.
Edit: Any thoughts on if it will make it if I keep the car another 3 years? I love it too much to part with it.
Also, I wonder if that would be covered under my BMW extended warranty.
Thanks,
-X

Arben72 · 01-12-2014, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX

yes, I was wrong. It is aluminum which is powder coated. The coating is bubbled up in various spots on both of the valve covers. Guess they goofed during coating mine. It's only 5 years old.
Edit: Any thoughts on if it will make it if I keep the car another 3 years? I love it too much to part with it.
Also, I wonder if that would be covered under my BMW extended warranty.
Thanks,
-X

Rust perforation is covered under a 12 year unlimited mile warranty. It won't hurt to go to a dealer and ask.

TX · 01-12-2014, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arben72

Rust perforation is covered under a 12 year unlimited mile warranty. It won't hurt to go to a dealer and ask.

ok thanks for the info. I'll try that on my next visit.

Tradin1 · 01-12-2014, 06:01 PM

I believe the covers are magnesium if they are like the E39 M5. I can almost assure you that they are not steel.

-R

TX · 01-13-2014, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tradin1

I believe the covers are magnesium if they are like the E39 M5. I can almost assure you that they are not steel.

-R

Yes you guys are correct, I was detecting some steel with a magnet from interior parts or other areas. It's either aluminum or magnesium. Still doesn't tell me if I should be worried about it or what the dealer will say.

TX · 01-15-2014, 10:01 PM

well looks like it will be going to the dealer sooner. I pulled the oil fill cap off to inspect the inside and noticed areas of what looked like coffee grounds stuck to the inside near the gear and chain so I scratched it with my finger. What came off was some sort of textured coating or corrosion that felt like sand when rubbed between my fingers. It was black and not brown like the oil. There is now a nice clean spot of metal where I wiped this stuff off. Can't be good if I've got sand like stuff floating around in my oil.

This could turn out to be a real mess.
I'll try to get some photos up.

01-10-2014, 09:58 PM	#1
TX Captain 366 Rep 860 Posts Drives: 2009 ///M3 E92 APW 6MT Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: South FL iTrader: (0)	noticed Coating bubbled on engine during tear down to replace plugs (photo) So I got down to the coil packs to do the plugs and I saw this: Any ideas? If it's steel then rust under the steel, that's my guess. If Aluminum then just coating is bubbled off? Anyone notice this on their cars? __________________
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01-10-2014, 10:19 PM	#2
SilentAttack Lieutenant Colonel 163 Rep 1,790 Posts Drives: 08 E90 Jerez Black 6MT Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (0)	scratch a bubble and see what kinda surprise you get...? That seems a lil odd __________________ Stupid Photobucket
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01-11-2014, 01:00 AM	#4
RR-NYC Captain 154 Rep 663 Posts Drives: 2020 X3MC Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: NYC / Miami Beach iTrader: (0)	BMW warranty for the bodywork is twelve years and three years for the paintwork
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01-11-2014, 10:59 AM	#6
mkPOTO Mr. Nice Says Hello 636 Rep 16,662 Posts Drives: BMW M3 \| X5 xdrive 35i MSport Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (25) Garage List 2002 Lexus GS300 [0.00] 2008 BMW E92 M3 [5.58]	subscribed, might have to check mine when i start taking my car apart
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01-11-2014, 12:27 PM	#7
TX Captain 366 Rep 860 Posts Drives: 2009 ///M3 E92 APW 6MT Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: South FL iTrader: (0)	appears to be steel, I stuck a magnet to it. So that would be rust under the coating then. Must defect in manufacturing if there is moisture under the coating which led to rust in 5 years. it's not torn in any way so I don't see how moisture could have worked its way in there otherwise. I'm not going to pop the bubble and expose the metal since it will spiral out of control then. There is no rust or corrosion anywhere else under the hood. The car has been well maintained. Never even taken near the beach due to salt spray. Bummer. __________________
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01-11-2014, 07:15 PM	#8
thai357sig Lieutenant 30 Rep 409 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Amerika iTrader: (0)	Pop the smallest one and take it to the dealer as soon as possible. __________________ 09'M3 JerezB/Tech/Cold/Prem/PDC/SR/Black Leather/ANTHRACITE Sycamore/IPOD/USB/Rear Sunshade/Premium Sounnd/6MT*Just Hit The Ground! Delivery 02/25/2009*
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01-11-2014, 07:29 PM	#9
TX Captain 366 Rep 860 Posts Drives: 2009 ///M3 E92 APW 6MT Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: South FL iTrader: (0)	yes, I was wrong. It is aluminum which is powder coated. The coating is bubbled up in various spots on both of the valve covers. Guess they goofed during coating mine. It's only 5 years old. Edit: Any thoughts on if it will make it if I keep the car another 3 years? I love it too much to part with it. Also, I wonder if that would be covered under my BMW extended warranty. Thanks, -X __________________ Last edited by TX; 01-11-2014 at 08:46 PM..
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01-12-2014, 06:01 PM	#12
Tradin1 First Lieutenant 24 Rep 311 Posts Drives: m5 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: keller tx iTrader: (1)	I believe the covers are magnesium if they are like the E39 M5. I can almost assure you that they are not steel. -R __________________
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01-15-2014, 10:01 PM	#14
TX Captain 366 Rep 860 Posts Drives: 2009 ///M3 E92 APW 6MT Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: South FL iTrader: (0)	well looks like it will be going to the dealer sooner. I pulled the oil fill cap off to inspect the inside and noticed areas of what looked like coffee grounds stuck to the inside near the gear and chain so I scratched it with my finger. What came off was some sort of textured coating or corrosion that felt like sand when rubbed between my fingers. It was black and not brown like the oil. There is now a nice clean spot of metal where I wiped this stuff off. Can't be good if I've got sand like stuff floating around in my oil. This could turn out to be a real mess. I'll try to get some photos up. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote