Nikasil problems

Ok I have just received a reply from BMW GB. Its does look as if I am not going to be able to get anywhere with this other than 50% of parts.

Also, now my anger has susbided, I have asked my dealer to fix the car and it should be ready for collection tomorow.

On the positive side, at least we now all know where we stand with this issue and what BMW will contribute to fixing it. Also I don't have to worry anymore as to whether my car will have a nikasil problem in the future!

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Dear Mr Kennerley,

Thank you for your Email dated January 19, 2005, informing us of your disappointment regarding the need to replace your vehicles engine block and pistons as a result of cylinder bore wear.  Please accept my apologies on behalf of BMW Great Britain for the inconvenience this matter has caused. 

The aluminium engine cylinder bores on some of our six cylinder vehicles are lined with Nikasil, and it has been determined that fuel containing high levels of sulphur can react with the materials of the engine causing the cylinder lining to wear prematurely.  This can cause high oil consumption, poor engine idle and can have a negative effect on engine performance as you describe.  We have found that the sulphur content in British petrol can vary and there is no specific brand which will necessarily exacerbate or reduce the potential bore wear.

A great deal of investigative work has been carried out in to the cause of this problem by BMW AG and there appears to be no pattern concerning age, mileage, driving style.  Indeed there are a great number of regions of the country which remain largely unaffected.  I can assure you that this problem only occurs in isolated cases and does not affect every car with the six cylinder engine, indeed there are a great many vehicles which have now covered well in excess of 100,000 miles with no sign of deterioration, it is for this reason that we have chosen not to inconvenience customers and recall all vehicles which may potentially be affected.

As you are aware BMW have now produced modified cylinder blocks with iron liners which are guaranteed to be unaffected by varying fuel quality.  Should a customer experience a deterioration in their vehicle's performance, irrespective of service history and up to 150,000 miles, BMW will contribute 50% of the cost of the part for the engine block replacement.

Mr Kennerley, the warranty supplied with your vehicle from new has long since expired and therefore our contractual obligation has ceased.  My offer to you is of a goodwill nature and I apologise if it has not met with your expectations but I can confirm that this is our final position in this matter and therefore this goodwill gesture will remain in place should you wish to accept.

Yours sincerely

Mike Allen

Customer Service Manager

Well, you tried Marky....

You going to get the work done or just "out it"?

Gutted for you mate

If i really didnt have the cash to fix it, Id have to sell it on privately

Having said that, the car should last years and years after the work!

ohh Wheelbases number if you want.. 01179 656007

The guys are ex-BMW and were recommended by a guy on E36coupe who works at Wellsway BMW in Bath.

Hey Marky,

Would you mind publishing a breakdown of the costs of your replacement engine & installation, & confirm wheter or not you used a BMW main dealer, if so who & where?

Many thanks mate

Short answer is yes, the M60 is affected by the Nikasil and AFAIK all M60 engines were!

See if there's any history of the block being changed as a 1st port of call!!  BMW can tell you this! phone customer services with the reg number and ask if it had a warrenty claim RE the Nikasil issue!

Hi Marky,

Just read your story here, gutted for you. This might be too late now, but, surely, regardless of the warranty that BMW offer on their cars, as has been suggested by at least one other poster here, their product should be of "merchantable quality" - it would seem that it should be reasonable to expect a BMW vehicle, serviced in line with the manufacturers recommendations, and run on petrol meeting the standards specified in the owners handbook (so I'm guessing just 95 RON UL, no mention of you having to get your chemistry kit out to check the sulphur levels), to continue to work correctly. Yes there is the "reasonable wear and tear issue", but this clearly isn't reasonable wear and tear, otherwise BMW would not be making a goodwill gesture offer towards the cost of repairs.

As I understand it, it doesn't matter what period of warranty or guarantee was offered, if the issue comes down to a manufacturing/design issue, you in theory have reasonable grounds to make a claim on the manufacturer/supplier (in fact, I think it's the supplier, not the manufacturer, who has the liability).

Don't know if there any posters around who have a good grounding in consumer law, who might be able to clarify these points, but have you tried the consumer association (i.e. Which Magazine) - I belive that once you join them for a year, about 30 quid, you have access to a helpline who can raise your queries with a solicitor/lawyer.

D