Hey guys -- seems I have a pretty bad situation here.

I have a 2002 BMW 325CI that I purchased with 89k miles. It now has 100k miles. Last week I had the thermostat replaced due to the Check Engine ( or Service Engine) Soon light coming on intermittently. I had a local BMW specialty run the code a month earlier and it came back that the thermostat needed replaced. The repair guy told me that I could wait a while to replace it cause it was the middle of the summer and I obviously didnt need heat. The light doesnt stay on all the time and actually wasnt on the 2 previous days before I took it in last Thursday. So i went back last week and had it replaced. Well I took the car on a road trip 300 miles roundtrip. On the return trip today I looked at the dash and my temperature gauge was past red and I immediately pulled off and shut the car off. Then the smoke came billowing out of the engine. I was hoping I just had an overheat but then discovered the huge pool of oil under the car as well as the radiator fluid (which I expected.)
My first thoughts are that this is due to something caused from the thermostat being repaired and hopefully I wont be responsible for paying for the repair costs and the towing bill. Does anyone have any idea as to what might have happened? Obviously I think the engine is unfortuantely blown.
I trust the guy that was working on the car, but with such a big bill at stake im worried that the repair shop might try to get out of being responsible.
How can I protect myself and doesnt this sound pretty cut and dry?

Please help guys

Thanks
Justin

Check your condition of you engine oil, if it is very brown and gungy it has mixed with the water, then definately the headgasket has blown. You should never leave a faulty thermostat in place especially in summer. In some cars a faulty thermostat can be totally removed and it would take longer for car to warm up but risk of overheating removed but ive never heard anyone leaving a faulty thermostat in the car in summer time!!!!

That was just on the recommendation of the auto mechanic. He said Id be ok for now but I just might want to fix it before winter or else I wouldnt have heat.

That was just on the recommendation of the auto mechanic. He said Id be ok for now but I just might want to fix it before winter or else I wouldnt have heat.
I'm certain that your problem was air in the system. Perhaps your mechanic is not aware that he has to bleed the system once you change the thermostat and add coolant. I'm not sure about the extent of the damage but I will hold the mechanic liable. Also if ever the thermostat goes bad again, replace it right away. You should not be driving a car with a bad thermostat. Let us know how it turns out. Good luck!