328 Nikasil problem

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   Surely when this Nakasil problem occurs the car will smoke heavily? If cylinder bores are worn the car should be passing oil, so it will be obvious 

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EIL132 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 02-October-2004 Location: Scotland Status: Offline Points: 19	Posted: 09-November-2004 at 17:48
	Surely when this Nakasil problem occurs the car will smoke heavily? If cylinder bores are worn the car should be passing oil, so it will be obvious

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Mac Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 15-October-2003 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 200	Posted: 09-November-2004 at 07:48
	Hi Killian, Not trying to sound like an idiot, but I don't know. Is there a way of telling? Mac

kbannon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508	Posted: 09-November-2004 at 05:50
	actually - mac - did you get yourself a new M52 single vanos or double vanos (M52TU) in the end?
	Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual

Mac Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 15-October-2003 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 200	Posted: 09-November-2004 at 05:45
	Hi Matt, I've had the Nikasil problem recently, Dergside mentioned my story above. I had been taking my car back to the supplying dealer for months and they were doing nothing but fobbing me off. I tried a dealer in Northern Ireland and after it failed a compression test, they called me the following day to say that BMW would cover the costs. The only charge was for a set of plugs. The dealer was very helpful, and there was no grief from BMW GB either. It might be an idea to have a look on the Forum for a dealer that's near you that has sorted out Nikasil problems in the past. I hope you get it sorted, I was in your shoes two months ago, but it was all sorted out in a matter of days. Best of luck with it. Mac

Leesy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 05-March-2003 Location: Stockport Status: Offline Points: 174	Posted: 09-November-2004 at 04:33
	Best not to mention the dreaded word Nikasil! Act dumb and you'll find the dealers a bit more helpful.
	E46 325 Sport Saloon

MattB106 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 04-April-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 233	Posted: 08-November-2004 at 15:18
	Thanks for your help guys. Need to pick a BMW dealer for the test next. Not sure if i shoudl use Dick LOvetts in Swindon as they took half an hour of rinign people in the dealership to come up with 'oh yeah that engine can have bore wear or something'. The word 'nikasil' drew blank looks from everyone! They also tried to rip me off for �600 on Inspection 2!
	MattB E36 328i Sport in silver www.fotki.com/mattb106

Leesy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 05-March-2003 Location: Stockport Status: Offline Points: 174	Posted: 08-November-2004 at 06:50
	Yep, to re-iterate, don't dispair. I had my block changes at 98k - only paid for consumables (oil and coolant). Make sure you go thru a dealer though and get them to submit the info to BMW GB.
	E46 325 Sport Saloon

kbannon Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group E39 525i Sport Individual Joined: 09-October-2002 Location: 64 Zoo Lane Status: Offline Points: 15508	Posted: 08-November-2004 at 04:40
	aformentioned Nikasil FAQ link:- Nikasil Issue
	Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual

Hans Freikit Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member I Joined: 05-February-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 143	Posted: 08-November-2004 at 04:33
	Matt, Just to offer another glimmer of hope, my 328 had a new block at about 70k miles (which occurred about a month after I bought it). BMW GB were very very helpful, and I only had to pay for the initial compression test, and then the consumables used during the swap. There's a link to a Nikasil FAQ somewhere on this forum: well worth a read, especially the bit that describes how to approach BMW. HF

Dergside Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Really Senior Member II Joined: 16-May-2004 Location: Mid West, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 4000	Posted: 07-November-2004 at 16:16
	Matt Don't despair just yet. Get a BMW dealer to do the leakdown test and push them a bit about it if it fails as you expect. One of the guys on this side had his engine replaced by a dealer in the north of ireland a few weeks back (97 320i with 100k and fsh). The car was sold and serviced in south and the northern dealer had no hesitation in submitting a claim. It seems like there was no real fight from BMW to deny the claim, even though it had never been sold or serviced via a BMW GB dealer. Find a sympathetic dealer and there is a good chance you'll get at least a decent goodwill gesture. In our mans case, he paid for the spark plugs I think.
	Now: BMW 523i SE '00, 318i SE - e91 '07, 325i Coupe '93. Prev: e46 328i SE Touring, 330Ci, 318Ci. e39 523i SE. e36 325i Coupe *2, 323i SE, 316iSE. e30 325iSE 2dr, 320i Conv, 320i 2dr, 316i.

MattB106 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member II Joined: 04-April-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 233	Posted: 06-November-2004 at 16:11
	Yep, looks like my car has started on the symptoms It's had a couple of instances of poor cold start. The idle (warm or cold) can be a little wavy (approx every third time i come to idle) and the oil consumption is about 2L in 1500miles The car has full BMW service history & warrenty up to the last service (done at an Indy in Cheltenham) and is currently on just under 80k miles. I'm going to write to BMW GB and beg beg beg i think and see if it gets me anywhere. Failing that run the car till next bonfire night... I am going to get a proper leakdown test doen just to confrim, but i'm 99.99% sure i'm a gonner. Really annoyed as well because the car displayed no symptoms for the first month or so that i had it. Just seems my luck with cars continues.
	MattB E36 328i Sport in silver www.fotki.com/mattb106