Nikasil strikes again
Printed From: Bavarian-Board.co.uk - BMW Owners Discussion Forum
Category: Technical & Model Specific Forums
Forum Name: BMW 3 Series
Forum Discription: This forum will deal with any issues on the BMW 3 Series (E21, E30, E36, E46, E90, E91 & E92)
URL: http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=6400
Printed Date: 23-June-2024 at 04:10
Topic: Nikasil strikes again
Posted By: Hans Freikit
Subject: Nikasil strikes again
Date Posted: 20-March-2004 at 12:14
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My E36 328 has been running a bit noisily recently, and seems to be using a fair bit of oil too... Car was booked in today to get outstanding service campaigns done, and I asked for a compression/leak test to be done while it was there. Just heard back from the dealer that compression is down on number 3 cylinder and it seems more than likely that it's the Nikasil problem on the M52 unit :( Dealer is going to apply for a goodwill contribution from BMWUK, so I'll hear on Monday what the bill is likely to be. Fortunately, the car has a full BMW service history, and 65k on the clock. Fingers crossed ! On the bright side, I got a brand spanking new '04 plate 520i SE to use for the day, and it's verrrrrrrry nice. HF |
Replies:
Posted By: Danny_boy
Date Posted: 20-March-2004 at 14:33
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I reckon they will foot the bill - from what I have heard cars with less than about 85K on the clock are usually done for free. Fingers crossed. Dan PS - found out my engine was replaced at 35K about 5 years ago - excellent. |
Posted By: Dave
Date Posted: 20-March-2004 at 16:04
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Mine was done last year 85K on the clock and no recent history. Imo the Dealer is the one you want on your side he is the one to hassle BMW Dave. ------------- Dave E |
Posted By: Leesy
Date Posted: 22-March-2004 at 16:53
| Mine was done at 96k miles but with FSH. I reckon you should be okay but my opinion is that you have a better chance if you're using a good dealership. |
Posted By: Hans Freikit
Date Posted: 22-March-2004 at 20:21
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Looks like the finger crosing has paid off. My dealer has done an excellent job on my behalf and BMWUK are going to cover the bulk of the cost. I won't know exactly what that means until the car goes in, but it's good news so far. I'll post back here once the work has been done (car booked in for a couple of weeks time). HF |
Posted By: dimension
Date Posted: 22-March-2004 at 20:44
| mine was done at around 40'000, with the previous owner, is the new block they fitted prone to do it again, or are they newer design on the replacement bottom ends? |
Posted By: alarustic
Date Posted: 23-March-2004 at 00:58
Nothing to worry about if a replacement has taken place 
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Posted By: Leesy
Date Posted: 23-March-2004 at 09:06
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Hans,
They'll probably make you pay for consumables ie oil and coolant. Still manage to charge around £80 though! |
Posted By: Hans Freikit
Date Posted: 23-March-2004 at 09:08
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If I understand correctly, even if they didn't fit an Alusil block, the better quality (low sulphur) fuel we have these days means that the problem is unlikely to occur with Nikasil liners again. HF |
Posted By: Hans Freikit
Date Posted: 23-March-2004 at 09:09
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Leesy - you're right - dealer has already mentioned consumables to me - oil and possibly plugs too, they said. Still a bargain IMHO HF |
Posted By: Badger 540
Date Posted: 23-March-2004 at 09:16
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I thought that Nikasil blocks were replaced with Alusil on the V8 engines, (M60) and the M52 blocks were replaced with a steel liner block rather than alusil. Andy West Midlands ------------- Badger540 West Midlands |
Posted By: Hans Freikit
Date Posted: 23-March-2004 at 09:20
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My mistake, does seem like they use steel on the M52. Extract from http://www.lestac.co.uk/bmw/nikasil.htm#cost_block_replace - http://www.lestac.co.uk/bmw/nikasil.htm#cost_block_replace follows: "The new M60 V8 is an Alusil bock and comes complete and built-up with a new pistons and a new crankshaft. The replacement M52 is an alloy bock with steel liners ..." HF |
Posted By: ivas
Date Posted: 26-March-2004 at 16:28
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Hello! Last week I installed an 328 engine from germany which has approximately 90K miles on the clock. It is a 1996 engine and it is the M52. So it is possible that it will have the nicasil problem... Does anyone know if the nicasil was an issue in germany too? It seems ok, the idle is stable and it runs very smoothly. Should i be prepared for the issue to arise, or not? please help.... Here in greece I asked a bmw dealer about hte nicasil problem and he said he never heard of it... what should i do? |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 26-March-2004 at 16:39
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As far as I am aware the nikasil problem only affected cars in the UK. It was supposedly caused by low quality high sulphur fuel. In any case if the engine is fine at the moment as long as you use good quality low sulphur fuel every thing should be ok ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: Dave
Date Posted: 26-March-2004 at 17:14
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First let me say glad to hear you got a result When I was researching the Nikasil issue I read that when the problem was first encountered the Nikasil blocks WERE replaced with blocks that were again Nikasil lined. BMW did not see it as a major problem thinking it was only a few blocks that had a problem. When more and more engines started to suffer with the problem, the blocks were changed to the steel lined ones (apparently the American engines had steel liners so did not suffer with the problem). Don’t know about the German ones though. Don’t even know where I read about this, Just thought id share it with you. Dave. ------------- Dave E |
Posted By: mogart1
Date Posted: 26-March-2004 at 22:59
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From what I have heard, from the fine chaps at BMW Munich themselves, if the engine is from the German market, it will not be an issue. BMW do the majority of their validation in Germany and the South of France (Miramas), so this would have been picked up. The UK market was a freak issue due to the high sulphur content causing corrosion of the liner material. The issue took a little while to resolve as the warranty data was collected, hence most of the first replacements would have been like for like. Doea anyone know which year the UK reduced its sulphur content in fuel? ------------- M3 S50 Saloon 'Individual' |
Posted By: ivas
Date Posted: 28-March-2004 at 13:58
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Thank you The car is so faster now and i'm so happy I installed the engine and everything....
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for the replies... I cross my fingers that everything will be ok with this engine....Posted By: B 7 VP
Date Posted: 28-March-2004 at 17:31
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Excuse my late question, Why was the Uk Fuel "High Sulphur" content, when everyone knows the uk fuel is the greatest ever refined , (thats what we are told ), and BMW Engine Dept designed an engine which is Not suitable for World Markets due to differant Fuel mixtures, around the world.?So as the product was not fit for consumers due to defective Fuelmixtures, Why are ANY owners being asked to pay Any expence whatsoever in putting right, the damage to engines??.Does it matter if the Prob was a 1st owner issue, or a 6th owner , they ALL paid their money, which keeps the used market flowing, so that New cars can be sold. 
We should be told!!!!!!Posted By: Mac
Date Posted: 29-March-2004 at 13:22
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I have a 97 320i and it looks likely that it has bore wear. The problem is very rare here in Ireland and after having a compression test done, the (Authorised BMW) dealer who did the compression test wants €640 to strip the engine down to find where the problem is. I'm not too happy about this as you can imagine !! I'm taking it back to where it was bought and hopefully they might be more sympathetic to my case. The car has a few months warranty left and they say that the problem might just be down to "normal wear and tear" I'd hope a BMW Engine is good for more than 99K. My old XR3i did more mileage and had no engine trouble at this stage. Any thoughts or suggestions welcome... Cheers Mac
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Posted By: mogart1
Date Posted: 29-March-2004 at 17:42
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Crap fuel UK -I'd heard this was down to legislation / the oil companies offloading their crap on us - and there was also regional variation - the North West being worst afflicted - crazy like you say when we have oil with ultra low content in North sea oil. I agree with B 7 VP, this is a design flaw which should be FOC, however I would imagine this has cost BMW an absolute fortune in warranty already and like any business they are here to make money, but approached correctly they will do the work. A friend of mine had a '97 523 with the problem - no service history. The local dealer was a bit iffy, but after contacting HQ at Bracknel, the work was done for free (apart from a charge for 'consumables'). To put this in perspective though, and to give BMW their dues, imagine approaching a Ford dealer - or even more laughable an Alfa dealer- hahahahahahaha. ------------- M3 S50 Saloon 'Individual' |
Posted By: Peter Fenwick
Date Posted: 30-March-2004 at 09:24
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If you approached a Ford dealer or and Alfa dealer with a car that had bore wear after having covered 80K + mls they would just say that this was normal and that engines don't last forever. ------------- Entering an age of Austerity and now driving a Focus Diesel. |
Posted By: Hans Freikit
Date Posted: 09-April-2004 at 18:29
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Got my car back today, final bill was approx £160. Having to keep the revs under control, but it's certainly a much happier car. Links to pics of the cleaned engine bay below, and one of the exterior (new wheels have gone on too!) (56k warning: pics are 500K each) http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=4fd05169-60bd-77af-107b-7fa52a885366&size=lg - http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=4fd05169-60bd-77af-107b-7fa52a885366&size=lg http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=75c97c73-491f-3e67-40a8-76844f452ce1&size=lg - http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=75c97c73-491f-3e67-40a8-76844f452ce1&size=lg http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=71f624e8-160a-64df-3f24-430f4c3e748c&size=lg - http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=71f624e8-160a-64df-3f24-430f4c3e748c&size=lg http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=5ce014af-3355-2e03-50bc-24a040513f5e&size=lg - http://www.hpphoto.com/servlet/LinkPhoto?GUID=5ce014af-3355-2e03-50bc-24a040513f5e&size=lg HF
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Posted By: Andy T
Date Posted: 28-April-2004 at 00:43
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Hey All 22/04/04 NIKASIL?? My car just been for an engine check regarding the Nikasil issue,it needs a new engine,Wollaston BMW Northampton ,gonna apply for Goodwill payment for cost,1996,N reg,e36,328i se saloon ,70,000 on the clock,last 2 years non BMW dealer history,fingers crossed for replacement.BMW Head Office seem sure it will be OK but will let you know the result!!! Thanks Andy |
Posted By: Andy T
Date Posted: 28-April-2004 at 00:44
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Update!! NIKASIL ISSUE 27/04/04 Hey All Again Good and Bad News Been told today by Dealer that BMW Uk will pay for the engine about £3,500 but not the labour which is about £900.00 As I was told by Customer servivces at Head Office last week that a regional manager would agree 100% parts and labour on only learning of the cars nikasil issue and 70,000 miles without knowing any other details of the car you could say I'm disapointed to say the least. I won't be leaving it there will be on the phone to BMW UK Head Office again tomorrow as this regional manager is coincidentally the regional manager for Wollaston in Northampton so cannot understand why he did not agree to cover labour aswell. Surely if they agree to replace the engine (As there was clearly a Nikasil issue)they cannot expect labour to not be included. Will let you know the outcome Thanks Andy |
Posted By: Andy T
Date Posted: 28-April-2004 at 00:49
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Hey All Thanks to this forum and others for ALL the information about this issue of which I had no previous knowledge and for guiding me in the right direction on how to deal with this issue. Will of course let you know how the work progresses Many Thanks Andy T |
Posted By: Andy T
Date Posted: 28-April-2004 at 00:51
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Hey All Andy T |
Posted By: alarustic
Date Posted: 28-April-2004 at 07:15
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Congrats Andy, I know what a good feeling it is to have your engine replaced under warranty! Keep us posted with progress. Mine has covered about 2.5k since the change and is still guzzling - but the performance is awesome, it really is! Alarustic. |
Any update on yours HF?Posted By: Hans Freikit
Date Posted: 28-April-2004 at 09:33
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Alarustic - I've set my OBC to count down the distance until the "running in" period (2000km according to the Owner's Manual) has elapsed. After today's drive to work, there are 333 miles left to cover.... Otherwise, my 328 is purring away nicely. Engine is a lot smoother, seems to pull away more cleanly from standstill. And no massive oil consumption, which has got to be a bonus ! Fuel economy is down a little, as discussed elsewhere, but not to any worrying extent. I also had a slight shudder coming through the steering at about 50mph. This has completely gone now, but I don't know whether that was down to the new alloys or the engine refit. Reckon I've got two weeks max before I can open her up properly again - can't wait HF |
Posted By: Scott328i
Date Posted: 06-May-2004 at 15:20
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This is all a bit new to me, but I have bought a 328i Sports Coupe 1996, 65k and FBMWSH. Since reading the Nikasil issue, I have naturally become a bit concerned. I rang BMW(GB) Ltd and gave them my vehicle details and they told me that my engine was not effected. Whilst in my local BMW dealer, they checked all the tech specs on my car and found that my engine IS the type that suffers with Nikasil problem, but as it has spent all it's life in Bonny Scotland it should be ok coz they did not have the low sulphur fuel. Just to make sure, it goes in tomorrow for a compression check as there does seem to be a slight dip in 1st gear. Hopefully it will be ok, but will let you know. ------------- Scott E36 328i Sports Coupe |
Posted By: alarustic
Date Posted: 06-May-2004 at 15:47
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Yes the fact it's in Scotland means it should be ok. My dealer in Edinburgh said they'd only seen one fail before mine, so it is pretty rare up here and your car should be ok. Intersting BMW(GB) told you your engine wasn't affected, that's kind of them!!!! The compression check is the way to go, then you can have peace of mind! |
Posted By: Scott328i
Date Posted: 07-May-2004 at 17:56
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Thanks mate. Picked it up from BMW today. Compression fine - firing on all 6 cylinders!! Only cost £75 including new set of spark plugs. Perhaps I should just stop worrying and enjoy driving the car. They assure me not to worry about it. Best Wishes Scott
------------- Scott E36 328i Sports Coupe |
Posted By: kbannon
Date Posted: 07-May-2004 at 18:22
Glad to hear all is well!
That's the spirit! ------------- Current: 2009 E60 520d "Sport" tractor Previous: 1989 E30 320i SE 1997 E39 523i 2003 E39 525i Sport Individual |
Scott328i wrote: