so if you hit a big mud puddle you might blow your car up?  Sheesh.. and
the intake is down there I guess you don't want to drive on dusty roads
very often or you'd be changing the air filter every couple of weeks.

Come on guys - Really how many of you realised that all the NEW BMW and Mercedes
had the air intake below the Axle centre?  If you are really honest none of you
did.  The air filter is still on the top and there is no mention in the hand
book regarding rivers, streams and fords. There are many such things in the UK
and other places in the world.  the Handbook mentions other things to be wary of
like snow chains and when to use DTC etc.  So why not mention something that is
blatently different from what is/was considerd the NORM for best part of 100
years.  We all know that the coolest air is near the ground but at what cost -
good god we might just suck up a Kamakazi Water Ouzel and block the air filter!

I feel sympathy for the guy --------------- Good job you didn't buy an X5 and
expect it to go anywhere

-----

No offense, OP, but if you cannot breathe water, what makes you think your
car can?
Brings to mind the movie line, "So, who's the U-boat commander?". Me thinks
someone has seen too many wilderness treks where the "specially-outfitted"
trucks go through water up to the windshield and keep on moving. STOOPID.

Bill in Omaha
'86 535i

And yeah, I said that!

It's happening because drivers who don't THINK are driving into water
too deep for the car. What made you think the car works like a boat?

Manufacturers cannot protect vehicles against all stupid moves by their
drivers - and this qualifies.

Due to the recent downpours we have had there has been lots of flooding
country wide. Unfortunately I drove my 6 month old BMW 335d Coupe into
such a flood. Other cars were passing through it and once my turn came I
atempted to go through the flood about 1foot high. My car stopped dead
about 5m into the flood and I phoned BMW emergency who took my car to a
dealer. I have since found out that the engine as been wrote off along
with turbo's and intercooler and the bill is above 15k to repair the car.
At the BMW garage they have had above 10 cars this week with the same
problem and my friend who is the head mechanic at the local Mercedes
garage has had over 40 with the same problem. Apparently the water goes
through the air intake into the engine prevents the piston compressing and
then the con rods go through the engine sides. What I cannot understand is
why do they not tell you this? If you new the damage that could be done no
one would attempt to go through floods. The other thing is this is a modern
car problem as older cars air intake was on top off the engine and no such
damage ever ocurred. I am covered by my insurance but have obviously got
to pay my excess. I feel this is a scam by the car manufacturers and
dealers because there must be a way of preventing this from happening but
its obviously not in there interest to prevent it as the income that it
generates for the garages is an income paid by the insurance. I.e free
turnover! I would just like someone who as expierenced this or nows more
about it to enlighten me as to why this is happening???