I'm looking in to buying 1995 540i and now after some research, I came across Nikasil/Alusil issues.. The car I want to buy is 4/95 production, low mileage. So it's Nikasil engine...:( but
I was wondering how many of you have had real problems with those engines ???? Any experience ???? I don't want end up with a car that in 6months will require new engine.......
I live in California and I red that here it should not be a problem, but I would like hear it from you guys :)
If I'll go that way I'll have my 1995 525i with 66000miles for sale if anybody is interested:)

just because of it's production year doesn't mean it's nikasil(if im wrong correect me, and if that's what it means, it means i have nikasil, and i have 107,XXX and im fine)

anyways, what is the accual mileage? If it is pretty low, then i would assume you wouldnt have a problem. But if its like 80k, and there isn't a problem yet, you may find out a problem in 20k, once an engine with nikasil reaches 100k and it's still fine, it will stay fine, as the gas regulation's have been changed, and fuel is no longer a problem.

My 540i is on the original Nikasil block, and it's now close to supassing 157,000 miles. Idles fine, starts up quick when it's cold/warm, has great power, and the temperature gauge is exactly in the middle when I drive it around.

Apparantly us West Coasters have lower sulfur fuel, so it's supposed to not be a problem.

Don't quote me on this, but I think BMW switched to Alusil blocks around 10/95, so your chances of finding an Alusil block that came from the factory that way is going to be tough. My dad had a 540i back in 2001 with an Alusil, and it was a very late build (10/95), and it was an Alusil block.

They changed from Nikasil to Alusil in 05/95:mad

They changed from Nikasil to Alusil in 05/95:mad

If that was true, there's still a chance a 5/95 car could have a Nikasil block. There's no way to tell if it has an Alusil block until you look at the engine code.

I really think the whole Nikasil/Alusil issue is overhyped. Chances are, if its still on the road today, it's not going to be an issue. If it was an issue, what owner wouldn't want to go to a BMW dealership and have a brand new engine installed?

The Nikasil block is just as sturdy as the Alusil block in normal conditions, it's just when some crappy gas finds itself into the engine is it going to manifest a problem.

If it was an issue, what owner wouldn't want to go to a BMW dealership and have a brand new engine installed?



Wow, you've completely missed the point.

When the recall was issued, many owners did not want to deal with bringing the car to the dealer, sorting through paperwork, and being with a loaner for a month or whatever. Hell, they're only leasing so it won't affect them...why should they care?

That's why many of the cars are still on Nikasil blocks...the original owners simply didn't care.

Hah, you're right. I need to stop thinking about what I would have done and put myself in other people's shoes.:eyecrazy

Wow, you've completely missed the point.

When the recall was issued, many owners did not want to deal with bringing the car to the dealer, sorting through paperwork, and being with a loaner for a month or whatever. Hell, they're only leasing so it won't affect them...why should they care?

That's why many of the cars are still on Nikasil blocks...the original owners simply didn't care.

excellent point.

They changed from Nikasil to Alusil in 05/95:mad

Actually, they didn't fully understand the problem until 1997. All E34 V8 cars originally had nikasils. The first alusil M60s were cast in 1997.



I really think the whole Nikasil/Alusil issue is overhyped. Chances are, if its still on the road today, it's not going to be an issue. If it was an issue, what owner wouldn't want to go to a BMW dealership and have a brand new engine installed?



The engine had to fail for it to be warrantied. You couldn't just take the car in because you wanted BMW to pay a tech to do 18 hours worth of work on your car. Plenty of people took them back (multiple times, even) and the engines passed leak down tests or some other fault was located for rough idle issues.

There are also cars out there that have had multiple engine replacements, with new nikasil blocks....so you really have to check the casting numbers.

I think it's a relevant issue because I see a few of them fail every year. My theory on it is that if the car had high quality gas from the start, and you continue putting high quality gas in it, you should be fine. People seem to run into trouble when they buy the car from the first or second owner and start putting poor quality gas in it.




That's why many of the cars are still on Nikasil blocks...the original owners simply didn't care.

That, or they were ignorant. I saw a failed nikasil 540 a few years ago....with the engine warranty extension letter sitting in glove box.

That, or they were ignorant. I saw a failed nikasil 540 a few years ago....with the engine warranty extension letter sitting in glove box.

What were the warranty particulars?

They changed from Nikasil to Alusil in 05/95:mad

yeah my build date is 6/95:eyecrazy:eek:

yeah my build date is 6/95:D:cool

Why don't you read lowell's post and edit out the smiley.

Why don't you read lowell's post and edit out the smiley.
there i did now im goin to move my ass and look at my block # :comp: