Nikasil question

[junglie]

I have been offered a 1998 328i Touring from a local dealer who has sourced the car for me. I have not yet seen it but he says it is a good example (he would though wouldn't he!) with 72k, aircon, leather etc but I am worried about potential nikasil issues. Is there somewhere I can check on a database if the car had the issue or had an egine change or is there anything I can check, shy of stripping the whole engine, that will provide a tell tale sign? It is up for 2000 pounds, hopefully with a full MOT and limited warranty - a good buy for the motorway commute if it has no issues?

[trickywoo]

There is a bloke who posts all the time on here about nikasil, saying don't touch it with a barge pole. However, IMHO as long as you don't pay too much for the car ie would a steel block car with twice the mileage be much cheaper, then you will be ok if it idles smoothly and passes a compression test with no issues showing up.

The market tends to reflect the price of the nikasil issue and as far as I'm concerned there is an equal chance of having to rebuild a higher mileage steel block car as there is with a low mileage nikasil one that is OK when you buy it.

edited to say if you email BMW customer service with the reg no and ask if they have it recorded as having any nikasil related work done under warranty they will tell you within a few days.

Edited by trickywoo on Friday 3rd October 11:39

[largerandrock]

Get me the chassis number and ill find out for you

[Crombers]

Production of Nikasil lined engines ended in week 10 of 98 I think, so best to check the build date.

We have an E39 528 in drive which has the Nikasil block and the car runs perfectly well considering it has clocked up 150k. If the engine runs well now then I don't see it failing in future due to nikasil related issues.

[Egbert Nobacon]

Crombers said:

Production of Nikasil lined engines ended in week 10 of 98 I think, so best to check the build date.

We have an E39 528 in drive which has the Nikasil block and the car runs perfectly well considering it has clocked up 150k. If the engine runs well now then I don't see it failing in future due to nikasil related issues.

Yep, you are right on both points.

However, if considering purchasing a Nikasil era car one needs to be aware that getting hold of a replacement straight six steel block, should you need one, can be very difficult/expensive.

Edited by Egbert Nobacon on Friday 3rd October 16:13

[M5Dave]

Easiest way is to get the chassis number and contact BMW customer services, or your local dealer, and they will be able to tell you straight away if the car's had a replacement block fitted.

Also Total BMW magazine have done a few articles on the Nikasil thing and there's a way of telling by examining the block, something to do with a metal tag being on the replacement ones, although I can't remember any more than that.

Maybe worth emailing them on: [e-mail], or contact a specialist who knows about these engines and get them to look the car over for you.

[sniff diesel]

If it had any Nakasil problems they would have manifested themselves before 10 years and 72k.
That's a good price for a great car with a great spec.

[duff]

sniff diesel said:

If it had any Nakasil problems they would have manifested themselves before 10 years and 72k.

Not true, mine was affected at 8 years old and 90k.

[BountyHunter]

lots of duff information in here.

i. the non nikasil blocks were steel linered, NOT steel blocks
ii. you dont need to check on a database - 30 seconds looking at the car can tell you if a car has a nikasil or non nikasil type block fitted (join the free forum at www.e36coupe.com and look in the faq section)
iii. nikasil and non nikasil replacement engines are readily available s/h (check ph classifieds, ebay and e36coupe.com)
iv. they can and do still fail even now - BUT any car can fail.
ive seen 250k nikasil cars with no issues and 100k non nikasil that are knackered.

Edited by BountyHunter on Saturday 4th October 11:49

[junglie]

Thanks for all the feedback - confirms what I thought and I will try the E36 website. Have been tempted with a 325I Convertible, black, leather, 12 month MOT, FSH, 128K for 1500 pounds and a 328I Convertible, light green, 98K, FSH, 12 month MOT but electric roof is not working (poss relay) and rear screen is cracked but up for 1800 pounds. My head says go with the Touring mentioned earlier in the thread but what would you all go for if you went down the convertible route?

[chrisr29]

Sounds like a bargain for 2k! I have a 328 Sport and they really are fantastic cars for the money. Mine's done 145k now and drives like it's done 45k. Keep thinking about selling it but don't think I'd ever find anything for the money that's better. Drove back home from Bath to Chichester today, mostly cross country, and enjoyed every mile of it.

It's a 98 car and as far as I know it's a steel liner block. Never bothered checking, it just runs so well I don't want to tempt fate by knowing!