Just bought a 94 740i - United Bimmer Community

**litespan** · 11-22-2006, 09:02 PM

Hello to all...

I just bought a 94 740i. The car is in great shape with low miles for the year.. 41k on the clock. I have heard lots of info about the M60 4.0 having problems with Nikasil cylinder liners... Would like to hear from other owners on how prevalent this problem is...

I have no experience with the BMW marque. Infact this is my first. So far I love the car. Great perfomance for such a large vehicle. With great comfort to boot.
My other ride is a AP1 Honda S2000. Fits like a glove but rides like the pedigreed sport car it is. The luxury of the 7 is nice to have when you just want to lay back.

Your help in my quest is well appreciated in advance...

Patrick

**Dudesky** · 11-22-2006, 09:27 PM

Welcome to UB.c

Where are you located? The reason I ask is that (if I recall correctly) the Nikasil issue is typically seen in the European variants, not the US spec versions.

**litespan** · 11-22-2006, 09:45 PM

Thanks for the welcome...

That information is great to hear...
Im from NW Indiana

Patrick

witeshark · 11-22-2006, 10:02 PM

Welcome and congratz! What a sweet ride

**Numark318i** · 11-22-2006, 10:04 PM

welcome. sounds like a great car. You have any pics to share?

**c1apton** · 11-22-2006, 10:29 PM

Welcome. Re: your question contact your local dealer w/ your VIN # and have them run it. It will come back with "open campaigns" (recalls) if any they will fix recall stuff free, even that far back. The Nikasil problem was a "campaign issue" - if your VIN falls in that range they will fix it.

**xsperf** · 11-22-2006, 10:39 PM

dudesky, not to be argumentative, but nickasil i think was used in all the bmw 4.0 and 3.0 v8s, its just that we've had a problem here in the US b/c of some kind of sulfur in the gasoline. However i know someone who had a 530 with 144K on the clock and said he never had any problems whatsoever because he always used high octane gas, so i would just do that

oh and the reason i know this is b/c im looking into this right now...

**celsdogg** · 11-22-2006, 10:49 PM

^^^ i read all the same stuff. and bmw were to fix all the probs with nikasil coatings, but i thought that the time period for that had passed.

i think if your not having problems now, you can continue to not have problems by using higher octane gas.

oh, and sweet E38's. . . my favorite 7er so far.

**litespan** · 11-23-2006, 12:04 AM

I have the car in for a tune up at the moment. Wont have it back till next week. So no pics as of yet.

No stranger to premium fuel. That wont be a problem...

Thanks for the info

Patrick

**xsperf** · 11-23-2006, 12:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celsdogg

^^^ i read all the same stuff. and bmw were to fix all the probs with nikasil coatings, but i thought that the time period for that had passed.

i think if your not having problems now, you can continue to not have problems by using higher octane gas.

oh, and sweet E38's. . . my favorite 7er so far.

e32?

**Dudesky** · 11-23-2006, 06:06 AM

You guys could very well be right. I'd done some research on this long ago, and off the top of my head I was thinking the reaction with the nikasil was with Euro gas.

BTW, corrections=good. We always want the right answers

**celsdogg** · 11-23-2006, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsperf

e32?

oops. year didnt register. . . my mistake.

**TerryY** · 11-23-2006, 11:35 AM

Hi
The Nicasil was attacked by high sulphur levels in the US gasoline. Grade of gas used made no difference. There were problems in Europe too but they did not draw as much notice.

But if it is good now it will stay good because all of the US gasoline now seems to be low enough in sulphur to avoid damage.

Have whoever is doing your tune-up tell you about the condition of the back two sparkplugs on the passenger side of the engine.
If they are the same color as the rest of the plugs you have a good engine. If they are really dark or oil fouled you probably don't have a good engine.

BMW was quite cagey about the service action. It was not broadly announced to the owners and the original replacement blocks were Nicasil lined too. Later replacements blocks were Alusil.

The running test that BMW service writers used (but only if YOU complained about rough idle) was to open the drivers door with the car idling. If it was wagging up and down at the outer end they would start the process of testing and part replacement. That would continue on to block replacement if deemed necessary.

The Warranty was extended to 6 years from in service date or 100,000 miles which ever came first. So ALL E31s, E32s and the 1995 E38 are all beyond the extended warranty period. BMW will not bend at the moment

The PCV valve on the back of the intake manifold and all of the original intake manifold seals tend to dry up and also cause the same symptoms.

I had a '94 740 that was BAD

If you put Mobile 1 15/50 in it and changed often it only smoked a little on startup and at full throttle. But would foul the back plug in about a month. With conventional oil it was a mosquito fogger on start up.

My '95 840 is also a Nicasil V8. At 144,000 miles I pulled the spark plugs that had been in for the 20,000 miles that I had owned the car and they were all uniform in color with no signs of oil

The difference was where the cars were operated in their early years. The 740 came from the midwest and the 840 was a California car.

Now that I feel that I have spread enough depression for the Holiday I suppose that I can quit typing.

Good luck and hope yours is OK

BTW the next Sedan I buy will probably be another E32 740.

**beem** · 11-23-2006, 01:03 PM

hey where about in NW Indiana are you?? South Bend area by any chance??

**litespan** · 11-24-2006, 12:05 AM

Thanks Terry...

The guy I have tuning it ran the exact check of the plugs you mentioned.. He said I was good to go.. It runs very strong. With no smoke and no rough idle. the car originally came from Las Vegas. I have all the records.

I do have a few parts to replace. Front driver side rotor(warped) and a tail light bulb. not bad for a car that sat for 4 years.

Im in Hobart.

Patrick