'95 530i

[TheGeak]

Any common issues? (aside from the block) How can you tell the 2 blocks apart? easiest way?


a buddy's brother is looking at getting one and just wants to make sure its in good shape. Anything i should tell him to be wary of?

[Beachcomber]

www.koalamotorsport.com/tech/misc/v8shortblock.htm

[TheGeak]

awesome! thanks!

[632 Regal]

he will love the smell of Nikasil in the morning, nothing like it on earth!

[DueyT]

he will love the smell of Nikasil in the morning, nothing like it on earth!
Hear, hear! :D

[mholbrook]

My 530 v8 was the best car I ever had and I wonder how many of the nay-sayers of the nikisil v8 have never owned one. The high sulfer gas days are long behind and if the car is not exhibiting any problems now and passes a leak down test, there is really very little to fear. I see a lot more 2.5 and 3.5 liter sixes getting new head gaskets than v8's being replaced. The big six has a very good long life reputation but it is not being made anymore. The v8 which began in the US around 1994 has only had about 10 years to make it's bones. I for one would not hesitate to buy a nikisil v8 with good leak down numbers.

Just my .02 worth.

Mike Holbrook
Spring Valley, CA

[G Feller]

Those guys below are sincere - they both have Nikasil blocks!

Guys, does it really have a special smell?


My 530 v8 was the best car I ever had and I wonder how many of the nay-sayers of the nikisil v8 have never owned one. The high sulfer gas days are long behind and if the car is not exhibiting any problems now and passes a leak down test, there is really very little to fear. I see a lot more 2.5 and 3.5 liter sixes getting new head gaskets than v8's being replaced. The big six has a very good long life reputation but it is not being made anymore. The v8 which began in the US around 1994 has only had about 10 years to make it's bones. I for one would not hesitate to buy a nikisil v8 with good leak down numbers.

Just my .02 worth.

Mike Holbrook
Spring Valley, CA

[MikeV]

Yeah, I feel like I'm missing out somehow (45k on Alusil block) ;)

It's all about the leakdown test....

[scott540]

I've even heard the Nikasil engines not only smell better, they're faster too. Nikasil rocks.

[Super90]

My 530im has the nikasil block, still! 108k mi. on the clock, two sets of leakdown tests, one at 80k and another at 100k, both very good. It won't fail the tests!!!

Yes, I wake up in cold sweats some nights afraid I am going to get the bad news one day, but I recently had the car into my indy for a new clutch and several of the guys drove the car and told me it is one of the nicest running M60s they have seen in a long time, Nik or Alu.

Now, if you have the documentation from the dealer or a good independant, you might be OK. For some reason the four liter motors seem to have more problems than the three liter motors and the auto trannies more than the manual gearboxes. Why, I don't know but that is what I have heard from multiple sources.

In the mean time, I will keep driving mine in the quest for the Holy Grail: 200k mi. + on the original Nikasil block!!!

But, I think a good ole 535 or an E39 528 would be a better car long term than the M60. They are far easier to work on; more space in the engine bay! Don't have the problems with p/s hoses, valve cover gaskets, galley covers, PCV plates, intake gaskets, etc. that the M60 is notorious for.

[632 Regal]

Isnt that a team of some sort? The Niks? I hope theyre as good as my Nik.

[Messerschmitt]

Do I hold the current record or does someone have more?

Tom
1994 530ia
164,720 miles on original engine and tranny.

[Mike 'n AZ]

1994 540i
Borbet Wheels
Clear corner lights
Crystal tail lights

I have 109,000 miles on the original Nikasil block, and I hope mine gets to 200,000 miles as well. I had the valve cover gaskets done at 100,000 and other than that, it runs great with no problems. It would be cool if there was some sort of Nikasil badge we could put on the back of our cars. -- Mike

[MBXB]

Nikasil 4.0 Liter 140,000 miles. Leakdown tested three times at 50K, 75K and 99K
Still running strong!!

MBXB
94 540iA

[Warren N.CA]

They are common as dirt, for cheap prices.

I don't think anyone doubts they drive better than the sixes. It's just that if your assessment of the risk turns out to be erroneous, we are talking about a $10000 hit (A 100K+ car will need more than JUST a short block.- The head will also need work, while it's out.) A head gasket is only a thousand or two. Each person needs to have his own risk management philosophy. If you choose to be less conservative than others, that is your prerogative.




My 530 v8 was the best car I ever had and I wonder how many of the nay-sayers of the nikisil v8 have never owned one. The high sulfer gas days are long behind and if the car is not exhibiting any problems now and passes a leak down test, there is really very little to fear. I see a lot more 2.5 and 3.5 liter sixes getting new head gaskets than v8's being replaced. The big six has a very good long life reputation but it is not being made anymore. The v8 which began in the US around 1994 has only had about 10 years to make it's bones. I for one would not hesitate to buy a nikisil v8 with good leak down numbers.

Just my .02 worth.

Mike Holbrook
Spring Valley, CA

[mholbrook]

I sold my 530 for $18,000 2 years ago and bought my 535 for $3000 last month. The guy who bought the 530 is still very happy with it. I didn't sell it because of the engine, it's because I was retiring and wanted to cut my overhead and get a wagon for my junkyard running. I stumbled on the 535 and it is nearly the car the 530 was and has a 5-speed trans for autocross. I would not hesitate to buy another 530 with a 5 speed manual trans. I'd be more worried about the automatic trans than the motor!

Mike Holbrook
Spring Valley

[l8apex]

Do I hold the current record or does someone have more?

Tom
1994 530ia
164,720 miles on original engine and tranny.

[NoSpeedLimits]

Awesome....you guys have given me reason to believe! ('94 540IA w/ 121K original miles on Nikasil block)

[DueyT]

Actually, I think Jon is in the lead...

Johnny's Nikasil 530 (http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=164)

[632 Regal]

that would be cool

[DueyT]

that would be coolJeff, that's a great idea!

Maybe I can get the artistic juices flowing to come up with something...

Cheers,
Duey

The Big Nickel (http://www.bigthings.ca/ontario/sudbury.html)

http://www.bigthings.ca/ontario/pictures/nickel1.jpg

[Warren N.CA]

Autotrans and nikasil blocks are both risks. Once we have elected to take a particular risk, no amount of worry is of any use or positive value.



I sold my 530 for $18,000 2 years ago and bought my 535 for $3000 last month. The guy who bought the 530 is still very happy with it. I didn't sell it because of the engine, it's because I was retiring and wanted to cut my overhead and get a wagon for my junkyard running. I stumbled on the 535 and it is nearly the car the 530 was and has a 5-speed trans for autocross. I would not hesitate to buy another 530 with a 5 speed manual trans. I'd be more worried about the automatic trans than the motor!

Mike Holbrook
Spring Valley

[Warren N.CA]

BAD GAS!" The preceding is an unequivocal assertion from a salesman at our local BMW dealer.



Any common issues? (aside from the block) How can you tell the 2 blocks apart? easiest way?


a buddy's brother is looking at getting one and just wants to make sure its in good shape. Anything i should tell him to be wary of?

[632 Regal]

skydiving but I think id worry a bit more about that.

[632 Regal]

on the side of the block. If you put the car on ramps and crawl under it, put your head right below & just infront of the starter and look straight up. Dont forget your flashlight, pencil and paper.

[paul p (chi-town)]

(aside from the block) How can you tell the 2 blocks apart? easiest way?Don’t forget the ‘Power Bar’ method.
No seriously.

On a cool or cooler engine.
Take an energy ‘bar’, flatten it out a bit.
Caress it lightly w/ some form of organic lubricant. ;)
Press lightly on to the casting #s.
Read backwards
React appropriately.

I tried, the car was on a lift at least twice. And i couldn’t read see the #s.
From the top, w/ a mirror...............while i was doin the thrust arms.
I could feel the damn things w/ my hand but i could not see then to save my life.
But the power bar worked like a charm once i tried it on a cold engine.
I keep one in the glove box. :)

Can’t quite remember who came up w/ this the 1st time. A certain Joe Ording mentioned it on the old board.


http://homepage.interaccess.com/~motria/sign05.jpg (http://homepage.interaccess.com/~motria/pablosgarage.html)
93 SE-R---94 530iT&A---92 325i ….”Hang up & Drive!” (http://homepage.interaccess.com/~motria/pablosgarage.html)
”It is not the function of our government to keep the citizen from falling into error;
It is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error."--Robert H. Jackson.

[Warren N.CA]

deserves whatever fate may befall him , as a result, IMHO.




skydiving but I think id worry a bit more about that.

[632 Regal]

Baseball/Hotdogs Cookies/Milk Men/Women Dogs/Bones Kids/Candy Socks/Shoes Auto trans/Nikasil, all perfect combinations... as if there is no such problem as replacing worn clutches, pressure plates and or gearboxes, shift linkages etc. Whats the difference? Replace or rebuild, cant rebuild a worn clutch or pressure plate but rebuilding an auto trans is possible... I'm just defending my beautiful 530i. (I would rather have a 6-speed manual)

[DueyT]

.....I'm just defending my beautiful 530i. (I would rather have a 6-speed manual)
...and it doesn't sound like it's missing on two of its cylinders! http://www.dodge-charger.com/Charger/BoardImages/cheesy.gif