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ManicAJK 
Newbie
Joined: 18-January-2005
Location: Milton Keynes
Status: Offline
Points: 23
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 Posted: 20-January-2005 at 17:40 |
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i think the solution to this is probably just buy a second hand engine when the time comes, looks like it is going to be cheaper in the long run.
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al325i
Newbie
Joined: 08-January-2005
Location: Glasgow
Status: Offline
Points: 11
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Posted: 21-January-2005 at 08:13 |
Hi
Just a quick note to say the previous owner of my 328 touring had the nikasil problem, his local dealer Premier vehicles (wales) told him there was nothing wrong with the car and wouldn't do anything for him and this was after the car had been fully serviced by them for over 5 years !!
He took it to another dealer Williams of Liverpool who accepted the warranty no problem, end result, new block and no cost to the owner .
This was about 3-4 years ago (Dec 97 car).
Cheers
Edited by al325i
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 16-May-2004
Location: Mid West, Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 4000
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Posted: 21-January-2005 at 09:50 |
 snapon wrote:
So is it time to get shot of my 328 before this problem arises? |
Not necessarily, it seems that the problem isn't universal, i.e. there are a lot of niksail cars that have racked up plenty of miles and never had a problem. If you don't have the problem, you might never have.
However, this can't do the residual values of cars that are still on their original engines a whole lot of good. I can't imagine too many buyers being prepared to take the word of a seller that there are no symptoms. That was always the case, but at least there was a potential safety net there to break the fall of a buyer if the worst happened.
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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.
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snapon
Groupie
Joined: 11-November-2004
Location: Banstead Surrey
Status: Offline
Points: 42
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Posted: 21-January-2005 at 10:51 |
Do we know from what models this niksail problem effects?
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Just Touring....
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dave 328
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 21-October-2003
Location: United Kingdom
Status: Offline
Points: 835
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Posted: 21-January-2005 at 12:27 |
snapon wrote:
Do we know from what models this niksail problem effects?
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All 6 cylinders from 95-98
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328 Coupe Sport, Digital climate, full leather, OBD computer, De-restricted with M50 manifold, big bore throttle, chippeduk remap, custom cold cone intake and X-brace
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 16-May-2004
Location: Mid West, Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 4000
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Posted: 21-January-2005 at 13:07 |
dave 328 wrote:
All 6 cylinders from 95-98 |
Dave
I think there may some exceptions to the generally understood situation that are worth thinking about. I understand that the e36 6's changed to Nikasil from the beginning of '95 (most people think it started with the change to the 170bhp 2.5 and 193bhp 2.8 in 323 and 328 from late 95), so some 95 320i and 325i may be affected. Also, the e34 6's didn't change at all and were the old steel lined blocks until the end, so all e34 520i and 525i should be OK.
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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.
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Starfury
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 16-February-2005
Location: Midlands
Status: Offline
Points: 319
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Posted: 23-February-2005 at 16:29 |
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OK my car was registered in May 99. So am I pretty safe to assume it
was manufactured after Week 10 of 1998 (march 98) as per the
http://www.lestac.co.uk/bmw/nikasil.htm document?
I am going to ring the first garage it was sold from and see if they can give me a manufacturing date to give me peace of mind.
I have until Sunday to return the car for a full refund no questions
asked. I assume if it has got this problem and it rears its head I will
be responsible for all costs from BMW's perspective?
The garage I bought it from have a warranty scheme and the following is
covered by their warranty, could someone tell me if this problem would
be covered or not, this is not BMW specific. Sorry for being a noob,
but I dont want to be lumped paying for a car thats going to die before
I finish paying for it. Ya know?
Engine:
Rocker assembly including hydraulic rockers,
Inlet and Exhaust valves (excluding burnt valves and seats),
Springs and guides,
Cylinder head (excluding cracks and decoke),
Cylinder head gasket (excluding external oil leaks),
Push rods,
Camshaft and followers,
Timing gears and chain,
Oil pump,
Pistons and rings,
Cylinder bores,
Con Rods,
Gudgeon pins and bearings,
Crankshaft and bearings,
Inlet and exhaust manifold,
Flywheel and starter ring gear,
Cover also includes major oil leaks that necessitate the removal of the engine.
Anyone assist please?
Thanks in advance
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 16-May-2004
Location: Mid West, Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 4000
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Posted: 23-February-2005 at 17:17 |
Starfury
You are probably worrying about nothing. Firstly, if your car is an e46, as it is most likely to be if registered in '99, then you have nothing to worry about in terms of nikasil. No e46 cars were affected.
If by chance it is an e36 (maybe a coupe or convertible), then you can check either of the following to be sure. In the engine bay on one or other of the inner wings (I think drivers side, but can't remember for sure) there should be a metal plate that will indicate the production month of the car. If its April '98 or later you are fine. The other way of checking is to get the VIN number and phone BMW Customer Service (you'll get the number on the BMW UK website). They'll confirm things for you.
Your warranty does mention cylinder bores, but if it did come down to having to make a claim I reckon you'd find the warranty company reaching for their smallprint to try and wriggle out.
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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.
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Starfury
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 16-February-2005
Location: Midlands
Status: Offline
Points: 319
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Posted: 23-February-2005 at 17:58 |
Its a 328i SE Saloon, (new shape, 99/T) someone told me it was a
E46/M52 setup. So I am worrying about nothing? :) Good, its better than
worrying about something. I will check the engine bay tomorrow and if
it doesnt say the manuf date I will ring BMW. Ta :) 
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Dergside
Really Senior Member II
Joined: 16-May-2004
Location: Mid West, Ireland
Status: Offline
Points: 4000
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Posted: 24-February-2005 at 05:07 |
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Yes, you are OK. The e46 328i has an M52TU engine to be absolutely correct. This means it has dual Vanos. They didn't change the engine number (i.e. M52) when they changed the block to steel liners in 1998. That's why the manufacture date is of such importance on the earlier cars but no e46's were affected.
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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.
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Starfury
Really Senior Member I
Joined: 16-February-2005
Location: Midlands
Status: Offline
Points: 319
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Posted: 24-February-2005 at 13:05 |
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Thank you for all your help. Taken a lot of worry off my mind :)
Now just got to get this airbag light sorted out. Hopefully it will just be a reset of the light.
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328 Nikasil problem