540i touring - 1996. 115k miles. OK for 30K more?

[shadowfax]

Chance to buy at oiro £3.5k. Serviced i.e.oil changed by private seller twice from purchase as 4th owner at c100k. Other issues remain unconfirmed
- including the 'nikasil repair', which, if a 5mm "plug" is the standard repair, as per this site, seems ambiguous as a repair for dubious cyl linings.

How to get peace of mind when buying?

Aha! Found info on searching previous (so dont all rush!)

>>> Edited by shadowfax on Monday 18th October 10:39

[XM5er]

[redacted]

[rich_b]

The plug means the repair has been done or the engine is non nicasil.

For a repair they replace the whole block - not sure if they replace it with another nicasil one or the steel lined one (as on later cars). However, if you always use good low sulphur fuel i'll be fine.

[Andrew Noakes]

Job 1: drop the sump and tighten the oil pump bolts. On the V8s they silently loosen up over time, until one day your oil pump drops off the bottom of the engine, which isn't good news.

[shadowfax]

Thanks chaps.

Current owner says it is E34 type. Done 122k, last serviced at 105k, but he's changed oil evry 4thouish since. Any rectifying work to engine, if done, was done by 'Atkins Independent Racing Services' of Stone in Staffs, but it is NOT certificated. (Plus Atkins of Stone are not listed anywhere and it aint the truck racing firm). Eng no: 51481093 . Chassis: BH15049

Aint rushing cos there's lots of nice cars out there to see and no offer made as yet. (How I wish I'd followed that advice I gave myself before so many times over the years...) Off to look at 740 4.4 today on a P, 2 owners, 103k. think it's 96 too. Are these bored out 4.0? Nikasil check again?

>> Edited by shadowfax on Saturday 23 October 04:47

[Andrew Noakes]

From memory the 4.4 is the M62 engine, essentially the same but with steel liners - so Nikasil isn't an issue.

FWIW when I bought my 540i I phoned BMW GB to see what they said 'officially' about Nikasil. They checked the VIN against their records and stated categorically that my vehicle 'was not affected'. Wouldn't say if that was because it had been fixed in the past or because it had a non-Nikasil block from new, but they were adamant it was OK.

[shadowfax]

Andrew Noakes said:

FWIW when I bought my 540i I phoned BMW GB to see what they said 'officially' about Nikasil. They checked the VIN against their records and stated categorically that my vehicle 'was not affected'.

What's that phone number please, Andrew?

Right now it's between the late '96 740 4.4 on 103k with a need for possibly just new tyres and/or adjustment to tracking (or expensive suspension correction) at £5.4k + inspection 'peace of mind' expenses OR the '96 E34 engine 540 4.0 on 122k engine number 51481093 Chassis BH15049 at £3.6k.

I have no experience so reassurance is going to cost and I am NOT taking any more eeny meeny minee mo dips

[Andrew Noakes]

BMW GB Customer Services 01344 426565. They can also tell you if the car has any outstanding recalls on file.

>> Edited by Andrew Noakes on Monday 25th October 14:00

[shadowfax]

Andrew - thanks for that. Bmw confirm the engine is within nikasil range but records do NOT show it has been repaired.

And the 740 is too sus to take a chance with also. Have resolved to renovate and upgrade Vera in the cubes and pace stakes, so the search is now on for a daily runner.

Fahren sie gut mein herren!