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.

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.

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

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!

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

Hi Killian,

Not trying to sound like an idiot, but I don't know. Is there a way of telling?

Mac

I never saw any smoke on mine: even the idle door shake didn't show up.

Most obvious symptoms on mine were a nasty smell from the exhaust after some enthusiastic driving, and the fact that I was putting a litre of oil in every five days.  She's a much happier baby now...

HF

Ì would agree with the above comments regarding smoke. The only symptom I had was excessive oil consumption.

The BMW dealer where I bought the car thought I was insane when I suggested that a BMW might have a manufacturing fault. They wanted an oil consumption test carried out over 3000 miles. The first thousand used 1.2 L, the second thousand 1.5L and 3L over the last 1200 miles.

kbannon wrote: actually - mac - did you get yourself a new M52 single vanos or double vanos (M52TU) in the end?

Killian, I'd guess that the M52tu would require loom changes, etc. to run on an M52 car (for the extra gadgetry around the 2nd vanos, etc.).  I doubt BMW would have done more than necessary since they were footing the bill.  Wouldn't be too surprised if they re-used some of the original ancilliaries as well.

I'd agree with Dergside, it looks the same as before from the top but there are shiney new parts down below..

Driving well, MPG getting a bit better all the time, and no oil issues..

Mac

Matt,

The UK Dealers have proceedure to follow if a BMW of a certain age and criteria has a potential Bore wear problem.

A compression test and/or leak down test is performed and if the car fails and if the dealer is up to speed on his technical know how, he should know what to do. BTW, make sure the engine is cold going in, as I've noticed that the Nikasil symptoms seem to improve once the engine is warmed up. Then near normal compression is restored and you have a service manager telling you "There's nothing wrong with it sir, now please go away.."

I'd say to go with the dealer on this, BMW GB are still carrying out replacements but they're unlikely to do it for just about anyone who rings up and complains about oil consumption.  Even if you do approach them, the first thing they'll advise is to have the tests carried out by one of thier Dealers. I spoke to them when I was unsuccessful with my dealer but they said that they could do nothing until a dealer submitted a request for a goodwill gesture. (Sorry to rain on your parade....)

Hope this helps,

Mac

Mac wrote: Ì would agree with the above comments regarding smoke. The only symptom I had was excessive oil consumption. The BMW dealer where I bought the car thought I was insane when I suggested that a BMW might have a manufacturing fault. They wanted an oil consumption test carried out over 3000 miles. The first thousand used 1.2 L, the second thousand 1.5L and 3L over the last 1200 miles.

If the car is using that much oil because of blow through, then it burns. No matter what kind of car, it burns with the petrol in the cylinders therefore causing smoke.  I still don't understand how it can be that bad and not have some form of symptom that every other vehicle does when it has worn bores/rings

Hi Matt,

Hope you get the result you (and the rest of us) want!

Don't be fobbed off by "its not unusual for your car to use oil" They used that on me but I still had to push for a compression test.

Mac

Well the technician agreed with me and it's booked in for a compression test etc on Fri 3rd December.

Just to annoy me further the ABS fault light came on on the way to the dealership. They checked it out for me for free and quoted just short of £900 for the pump plus labour. Dear god

Well i had the compression test today and it failed on number 4 cylinder :( I didnt ask for the figures they just told me it would need a new engine (which i knew). I've asked that they put in a good will request to BMW GB so they have taken a copy of my service history. The lady ont he service desk wasnt very confident after seeing that the last service (inspection 2 3k miles ago - just befor ei bought the car) was done by an independant. Hopefully BMW are feeling generous seeing as the car has done 73k miles out of 77k through their dealers not to mention full warrenty upto summer 2004.

We shall see i guess :( 

Fingers firmly crossed for you, Matt

HF

Hi Matt,

Well it failed the compression test, the ball is in thier court now so i suppose you'll have news early next week. Just remember that it's not the first request they've had, and you have Service History and the car's mileage isn't huge. So in comparison to others I've read about on the forums, you have as good a chance as anyone else.

Fingers Crossed, hope it goes your way

Mac.

Well i finally got the results today... BMW will pay 50% of the parts cost. I have to pay the rest + labour etc. I think the total bill will be around £3000 and the parts probably only £550 of that (unless i misheard). Not very happy to be honest. £275 off is very marginally better than nothing

To be hones ti have no idea what i'm going to do now. Sell teh car for sod all and get another cheap 205 GTi maybe. God knows

Hi Matt,

That's disappointing news, I had been wondering if there was any outcome. There seems to be somewhat of a grey area regarding the goodwill gestures at the moment, there is a post on the 5 series forum about an owner having the same trouble, but no-one conencted to BMW wants to bite the bullet and give him an answer. Might be worth giving BMW GB a call and asking as to why only a 50% contribution when so many have had better results.

Mac.

Right we have a solution. Basically i'm ignoring BMW, getting the block kit ordered via my mate who works in a dealers in Bath then getting my Indy (PC Autocare) to fit it. Also getting the big bore throttle body & manifold fund allowing.

The block kit is £550+ vat but i wont be paying that. Will be mrre than the BMW discounted one but i can get it fitted where i like.

Some VERY (if not alarming) interesting info copied form my mates post on http://www.e36coupe.com - www.e36coupe.com regarding BMW and Nikasil:

info for everyone else about Nikasil;

after BMW group supporting the Nikasil issue for almost 7 years, its now coming to an end

where as before they wre quite helpful to customers ie; paying for all of it or just labour etc, over the last few years we've been seeing less and less cases as they are dying out so to speak.
But i read an report on wednesday that officially from 1st Feb 2005 (in a few weeks time) the block kits, that bmw reduced in price to help customers, will be non supported and going back to the original cost.

there are 3 kits for the effected M52 engines.
11.11.0.438.624 2000cc
11.11.0.438.625 2500cc (including 2.3 obviously)
11.11.0.438.626 2800cc

IIRC these kits include block & pistons (already assebled - which saves hours and hours on labour), head set including head gasket. sump gasket etc etc

Currently these 3 kits are priced at £560.00 + vat each
as from the 1st Feb 2005 (when bmw are dropping their support for this problem) they are going back to the revised price of £2600.00 + vat each

I'm not sure whwere this would have stoody me if i got it done through the dealer. If i booked it in mid feb would i be paying £2k extra on parts?! Be interesting if someoen in the club with BMW GB contacts could find out what's happening. Woudl be useful for the club mag maybe.

Just another update for those interested...

I'm ordering the block kit via a friend at a BMW dealers tomorrow for £509+VAT. They are delivering it fro free to a specialist in Bristol who has done the work before. They are doing me a deal of £700 all in inc oils etc. It will total a fraction under £1300 all in.

Matt,

glad to here you're getting it sorted. It's amazing that the dealers charge £2500 for the labour and a speciallist will do it for £700.

That BMW seem to be drawing a line under goodwill gestures is worrying for those of us that have nikasil cars but haven't had a probem YET.

Makes me wonder if I should just go ahead and buy a kit just in case?

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

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.

Do we know from what models  this niksail problem effects?

snapon wrote: Do we know from what models  this niksail problem effects?

All 6 cylinders from 95-98

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.

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.