Power steering outage destroys engine??

When my power steering suddenly went out on a road trip, I thought it wasn't a big deal. Although the steering wheel was difficult to turn at slow speeds, it wasn't unsafe and I planned to take the car in for service once I returned to my home city the next day. Well, the next day, when I was about 20 miles from home and cruising down the highway, suddenly there was a grinding noise, a pop, and white smoke started billowing from the engine compartment. No warning lights had come on to indicate a problem, and aside from the power steering outage, there was nothing wrong with the car. I immediately pulled into the emergency lane and called for help. A tow truck came and took my car to a BMW dealer not too far from my house.

The BMW dealer now tells me that when the power steering went out, the pump kept turning but had no lubrication and, over time, tore itself apart, sending the pulley or other parts of the pump flying around, damaging the water pump and the radiator, which lost its fluid. This, in turn, deprived the engine of coolant and destroyed it. Again, I had no warning of any kind that this was taking place until it was too late.

The dealer says that even though my car is still under warranty, the warranty is inapplicable because I should have pulled the car over as soon as the power steering went out. The cost of repairs is $10,000., which I cannot afford. Has anyone heard of such a problem? Do you think the warranty should cover the damages? How was I supposed to know that a simple power steering outage could cascade into such a catastrophic problem? Thanks for your suggestions.

From that story thats one of those things that happen 1 in a million. Ive just never ever ever heard of a PS pump exploding. I can see if it did it blew holes into the radiator but the water pump? The water pump is incased in the block and cant be touched unless taken out. But your car should of told you that your engine collant was low if all the Antifreeze drained out through the hole in the radiator. So it should be covered under warrenty but it was user error I guess.

I don't really see that happening.....

Even if the PS pump blew apart and hurt the wp & rad it would not instantly destroy your engine. You would loose your coolant and then it would overheat.

The temp gauge would have buried itself on that one and unless you just ignored everything (noise, steam & gauges) and kept the hammer down I can't imagine that much damage....

That sucks, if there's a way to rape you, the dealer will surely find the time, place, and method. This is a seriously weird case, I'd get a second opinion on it. I hope everything pans out better than 10 grand out of your pocket. Good luck.