[Kimberlina021]

I have a 2000 BMW 323 I, That I bought back in February 09, I have had a few issues with it but they have been relatively minor. I had my thermostat replaced, then a few weeks later my service engine light came on and I drove on it for a few days and while I was driving I heard this very strange gurgle ripping clunking noise and my car just shut off while driving. Would not restart. I had it towed to a shop and he said it was my water pump, some belt that ripped off, and my battery had been drained or something. So I had that all replaced. Then TWO days later I'm driving and my coolant light comes on. I drove it home, parked it and looked at it about 30 minutes later and it was leaking in two different spots. Now I don't know what it was leaking, I know nothing about cars. SO I drove it back in and the guy said it was my expansion tank, it had a crack. I have a hard time believing that this just happened. Is there anyway that they could have caused this while fixing the water pump? Why wouldn't they have noticed that two days ago!!

I love my car and I want to do whatever it takes to get it back running, it jut sucks because I feel like this repair place is shady and that I am being taken advantage of cause I'm a girl and know nothing about cars. :eek:

Can anyone help me?

[TxGreaseMonkey]

At this point, it's hard to know what they did or didn't do. It often takes a bad experience to get into preventive maintenance, by turning a short-term negative into a long-term positive. Problems and bad experiences are always opportunities for growth. Here are 10 tips to help keep your car out of the shop for major repairs in the future:

1. Oil and Filter--Use full-synthetic 5W-30 engine oil (e.g. Mobil 1). Change oil and premium filter (e.g. Purolator PureOne) every 6,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.
2. Manual Transmission Fluid--Amsoil Synthetic Manual Synchromesh Transmission Fluid (5W-30). Change every 30,000 miles.
3. ATF--Mobil 1 Synthetic Multi-Vehicle ATF or Amsoil Universal Synthetic ATF. Change every 30,000 miles, along with filter.
4. Coolant--50/50 mixture of manufacturer recommended antifreeze and distilled water. Change every 3 years.
5. Brake/Clutch fluid--Valvoline Brake Fluid or ATE TYP 200 Brake Fluid. Change every 2 years.
6. Fuel Filter--Change every 60,000 miles or 48 months, whichever comes first.
7. Spark Plugs--Only use the exact plugs that came in the car. Change platinum plugs every 48,000 miles or 48 months, whichever comes first.
8. Belts--replace serpentine belt and idler pulley at least every 80,000 miles.
9. Coolant and Heater Hoses--replace every 80,000 miles.
10. Power Steering--change fluid every 50,000 miles. It appears that you can use Mobil 1 Synthetic ATF or Amsoil Universal Synthetic ATF in your power steering unit. If nothing else, use a battery squeeze bulb (similar to a turkey baster) and partially change the fluid.

The objective is to maintain "like new" performance for years and years. A well-maintained BMW should be able to go 400,000 miles. In the future, I recommend that you have major work done at the dealer. They often are no more expensive than "no-name outfits" and they specialize in your car. The outcome will likely be more pleasant.

It's crucial on a BMW to only use full-synthetic engine oil and synthetic ATF. If you take care of the engine and transmission, everything else is relatively minor. Start a Maintenance Log (Date, Mileage, Maintenance Performed) and do things "by the book." It's the cheapest route, in the long-run, and allows you to play good defense in life and hold onto your money. If you don't have a copy of the Owner's Manual, try and get one.