Has anyone had any experience with the 3 liter v8's and how do they hold up. I found one with fairly high mileage 180K. Just wondered if anyone had one or knew someone who did.

yeah i have a 530 v8. its pretty much the same as a 540 except slightly better gas mileage and much less power.

I was reading about the Nikasil issues. Worth the headache or should I hold out for something different. Just looking for something fun as a 3rd car.

nikasil is the least of your problems on a v8. what are you holding out for?

nikasil is the least of your problems on a v8. what are you holding out for?

So there is a bigger problem on these motors than your block disintegrating right from under you?

There are a bunch V8 530i regulars around here and they all swear by their cars. I'm sure they will chime in.

The 530i is a great car. But you have to make sure it was meticulously maintained and doesn't have the nikasil issue, if it does you better get it comp. tested. There's really nothing different btwn the 530i and the 540i except massive amounts of hp/tq and mpg. They both have the same problems.

So there is a bigger problem on these motors than your block disintegrating right from under you?

yeah.........10 years ago.

There are a bunch V8 530i regulars around here and they all swear by their cars. I'm sure they will chime in.

Yeah... riiiggghhhtttt (Lumbergh)

Make sure you get the service records from the BMW dealership. If the previous owners had the slightest amount of grey matter they would have brought it into the dealership for the engine recall and had it swapped for free. To some people, free is still expensive, that is why there are some Nikisil enhanced M60 E34s out there still.

I bought my 530i 3 years ago and it still runs strong as the day I bought it. Only problem, thrust arms and the cooling system. The cooling system seems to be a weak point for some BMWs. My 530i has 180k on it right now and it runs better then my Honda with 70k.

I was reading about the Nikasil issues. Worth the headache or should I hold out for something different. Just looking for something fun as a 3rd car.

Nikasil is a knee-jerk reaction for many problems.

"Oh no, my light burned out. Must be Nikasil!"

If it passed a compression test and leakdown test, it should be fine. Just get periodic compression tests, (like once a year) as it should remain pretty stable as long as you don't put lousy gas in it. My Nikasil-enhanced 540 has been running great for the last 140k miles.

Where was your car originally purchased from because that seems to play a big part in a good running Nikasil car and a bad running Nikasil car.

I think the same thing applies to any car - you don't buy a car that has a bad engine. And if you do, you negotiate that in the price. The key is the condition of the vehicle, again nothing new here, same thing applies to all cars - and how it was treated/maintained.

Being aware of the issue is a definite positive. Overeacting as a result is not. A well treated 530 may be a much better can than a mistreated ___ (insert car here), honda for instance.

My 530i has 180k on it right now and it runs better then my Honda with 70k.

Need I say more??

Caution, these have $4,000 transmissions that seem to fail about this mileage.

Caution, these have $4,000 transmissions that seem to fail about this mileage.

If the car is an auto and the PO didn't change the fluid.

Caution, these have $4,000 transmissions that seem to fail about this mileage.

That only gives me 4000 reasons to swap in a 5 speed.

4000$! That's rediculous. The 5-spd can be had for 400-500$, correct?

Need I say more??

Yeah... I'm going to need you to go ahead and come in on Saturday.

Yeah... I'm going to need you to go ahead and come in on Saturday.

I know, the Honda is acting up again.

I know, the Honda is acting up again.

... must be Nikasil.

i've got a moneypit errr 530i. If you want reliability get a 525 or 535. I love my car which is why i constantly keep pouring money into it. If you find one that is very well maintained then I would say go for it, but mine has one problem after another.. ohh yeah and all these problems still happen after i had a alumnum/silicon block swapped in.

... must be Nikasil.

:confused Damn kamikazes have to copy everything.

i've got a moneypit errr 530i. If you want reliability get a 525 or 535. I love my car which is why i constantly keep pouring money into it. If you find one that is very well maintained then I would say go for it, but mine has one problem after another.. ohh yeah and all these problems still happen after i had a nikasil block swapped in.

Any car can be a lemon. From the sounds of it, the previous owner did not keep up with all the regular maintenance.

I love my 530! I just got back from driving it all day, with a big grin on my face :D
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Ask me anything about the engine, I just finished rebuilding it yesterday!

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Ask me anything

when can I get a ride in it???!??!?!?!?!!?!?

vids of antrieb driving around with open headers or bhan! lol.

vids of antrieb driving around with open headers or bhan! lol.

+1 :)

I love my 530! I just got back from driving it all day, with a big grin on my face :D
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Ask me anything about the engine, I just finished rebuilding it yesterday!

We want to see the burnout from the barn! :D

To the OP - get as many records on the car and check to see if any of the normal V8 issues have been dealt with:

Intake gaskets, PCV valve, Aux water pump, Oil pump bolts (check em every 50k) and rad expansion/overflow tank and powersteering hoses weaken due to heat soak

At over 100k miles I would make sure each one of those items has been done or plan on doing it yourself real soon. And as others have said, radiators are considered consumables on these cars. Plan on replacement every 100k.

Personally, I am not a buyer into this Nikasil thing given how many stories on loose oil pumps and backed out bolts have been found on these motors. Can anyone say LOW oil pressure? Anyway, just get a compression test and leakdown and if it passes, drive it hard.

Great engines but they also have some issues.

Make sure the heater functions properly. The heater core is a common prob and a PITA to change. It is something you might forget to check on a FL car. ;)

I have a 530 with all service records from the original owner. They date back to the first oil change. Alusil swap done at 66K or 88K miles (can't remember).

150,000 miles on the clock and it runs like butta.. ;)

Pretty much the same here. Every older BMW that was well kept should have a book of service records. But a car without service records can be just as good as a car with service records. You just take the chance of having a lot of problems with it. A car with service records can do the same, but the chances of that happening are pretty slim.

I had an interesting experience with mine. I purchased it for my birthday in March, from the dealer near me. It was the head salesman's personal ride. Meticulously maintained, beautiful, fast, and a five speed. Unfortunately, I've found that he always took it to the dealer, and wasn't too informed about what was needed mechanically. I bought it with 98k miles and now I'm at 113.5k and in that time I've replaced the control arms, thrust arms, radiator, water pump, clutch and flywheel, suspension (that was totally worth it), pads and rotors at all four corners (not that big a deal) and I still need to do the tie rods and idler arm. That front end wiggle is a bitch. I've spent as much money on repairs as I paid for the car originally. And dammit, i couldn't give two shits. I love my car and appreciate getting to see it in the garage every day right before I get in it. I look back at it as I walk away. I admire others when I'm away from it. When I was stretched thin from repair costs a few months ago, I considered selling it. I realised that if I did, I'd just buy another one. There's nothing else I would rather drive.

^^^ ditto. I don't care about the costs anymore. I know i got taken on the sale and paid WAY over value for it but it was worth it in the end. I love driving my car everyday.

I had an interesting experience with mine. I purchased it for my birthday in March, from the dealer near me. It was the head salesman's personal ride. Meticulously maintained, beautiful, fast, and a five speed. Unfortunately, I've found that he always took it to the dealer, and wasn't too informed about what was needed mechanically. I bought it with 98k miles and now I'm at 113.5k and in that time I've replaced the control arms, thrust arms, radiator, water pump, clutch and flywheel, suspension (that was totally worth it), pads and rotors at all four corners (not that big a deal) and I still need to do the tie rods and idler arm. That front end wiggle is a bitch. I've spent as much money on repairs as I paid for the car originally. And dammit, i couldn't give two shits. I love my car and appreciate getting to see it in the garage every day right before I get in it. I look back at it as I walk away. I admire others when I'm away from it. When I was stretched thin from repair costs a few months ago, I considered selling it. I realised that if I did, I'd just buy another one. There's nothing else I would rather drive.

+1 FTW :)

I had an interesting experience with mine. I purchased it for my birthday in March, from the dealer near me. It was the head salesman's personal ride. Meticulously maintained, beautiful, fast, and a five speed. Unfortunately, I've found that he always took it to the dealer, and wasn't too informed about what was needed mechanically. I bought it with 98k miles and now I'm at 113.5k and in that time I've replaced the control arms, thrust arms, radiator, water pump, clutch and flywheel, suspension (that was totally worth it), pads and rotors at all four corners (not that big a deal) and I still need to do the tie rods and idler arm. That front end wiggle is a bitch. I've spent as much money on repairs as I paid for the car originally. And dammit, i couldn't give two shits. I love my car and appreciate getting to see it in the garage every day right before I get in it. I look back at it as I walk away. I admire others when I'm away from it. When I was stretched thin from repair costs a few months ago, I considered selling it. I realised that if I did, I'd just buy another one. There's nothing else I would rather drive.
I agree too. Shortly after I bought the car the blower stopped for the heating and AC. There were other things wrong too with the system which totalled a little over a grand from the stealer. It's a tough pill to swallow at first but it was so satisfying when I got my car back. I upgraded the suspension with new shocks and Eibachs afterwards. It rode good before the suspension swap but now it rides even better. The car has transformed. I am not letting this one go.