would you buy a Texas lived 1995 540i w/ 180k miles and a nikasil block for $8000? I have read a lot about the nikasil block being very bad but most of the reports were in the UK. My knowlege is only based on these articles and I'm wondering if the fuel was ok in the US around these times? Also some of the articles I read say that if the block has over 150k miles on it, it should be ok.

what are your views? maybe reduce the price? bad idea alltogether?

Thanks
-nate-

I think that is quite a bit much for that many miles. There is one here in PHX with 110k they are asking 7800, would imagine you could get em down from that. I have also seen others here in az for around 8-8.5 with the alusil block. Also check what they have been selling for on ebay for a rough idea. As far as the nikasil, I heard the same thing about the miles and possibly being okay, but I have also heard of unconfirmed reports of em failing very recently.

would you buy a Texas lived 1995 540i w/ 180k miles and a nikasil block for $8000? I have read a lot about the nikasil block being very bad but most of the reports were in the UK. My knowlege is only based on these articles and I'm wondering if the fuel was ok in the US around these times? Also some of the articles I read say that if the block has over 150k miles on it, it should be ok.

what are your views? maybe reduce the price? bad idea alltogether?

Thanks
-nate-

You should be fine. Do not forget to get it thouroughly inspected and just for the hell of it get a leakdown test. It should be fine though. I would get him down on the price a little more.

I've got a nik block myself with 120k miles, and it's fine. Just had a comp test done with only one cylinder being at 170 instead of 190. America switched to lower sulfur gas back in 97 or so, thusly most of the blocks that were going to fail already have.

If the compression test checks out ok, then you should be fine. The price is pretty high unless it's a manual.

6sp manual :)

thanks for the info guys.

I paid 8k for my 95 540i-A with 107k miles on it. The 6 speed does add a certain price tag to it, but I think you need to be ok with what you pay.

If 8k sounds good to you, go for it. If the guy/gal is flexible, it never hurts to try and bargain with him/her....

Good luck!

sounds like too much to me but that is my opinion.