BMW engine block question

jellycopter

Does anyone know how to get hold of a genuine bmw engine block for a 320i 1996 model. A new one would be preferable, if pos. Cheers for any help.

MercMad

Are you serious ?

If you want a new engine then the obvious place is a BMW dealer, why try anywhere else ??

The only thing is it will no doubt cost you in the region of €8,000 !!

What wrong with the one you have ? Cheaper to fix it or get a second hand lump from a scrapper !

Owen

Did an engine recently for a 98 318 and it cost about 3000 for the engine itself (plus vat and labour).

Avns1s

NEW = Dealer

2ND HAND = Breakers Yard.

REBUILD = Engine remanufacturer.

rebel.ranter

Was it a UK import with the Nikasil issue? If you get me an M3 engine, diff and gearbox you can have my 1996 320i engine!! (only kidding, not ready for that job.....yet!)
Why not take the opportunity to get a bigger engine in to the car now e.g. M3, 323i, 328i??
Only a suggestion. The M52 engined 320i seems to be a rare enough car to find, I'm always watching out for them and I see plenty of everything else, bigger and smaller engined versions.
best heading to UK to a place like Quarry motors or similar.

jellycopter

Apparently BMW have admitted that there was a problem with this particular engine block as it was too soft and they warped ie. piston holes went oval shaped.

I'm told BMW manufactured a batch of heads to cure this problem at about e850 and am basically afraid that if I use a 2nd hand one that same prob will develop.

rebel.ranter

The problem was related to the linings of the bores in all the 6 cylinder engines between 1996 and March 1998, also some v8s as well. They used a special coating in the bores consisting of Nikasil, unfortunately the high sulphur content in UK petrol reacted with the Nikasil in the lining leading to problems like rough idle, reduced power increased comsumption, poor economy. It did not affect all the the engines either.
You mention the block warping, it's normally the cylinder head that is associated with warping, usually this happens when the engine overheats.
What are your symptoms?

jellycopter

Apologies, not a mechanic - am trying to relay what was said by a bmw mechanic "off the record".

Your diagnosis sounds as he said and it may be wrong for me to say the block is warped, but I think he mentioned that the bores became oval as opposed to circular and tightening the bolts to the right torque on these heads created a pull through of same.

I was also told that somebody tried to cure this by reboring the engines in a specialist tool shop, without great success. So am presently stuck with a nice cabriolet I love, but am not going to pay bmw prices to repair it!!! Is there any other solution out there...???

The bmw mechanic also told me, bmw charge about 3.5k for the improved head.

Kimbot

Ring IVI engines and see how much they would replace it for!!

Seth Brundle

jellycopter wrote:

Apparently BMW have admitted that there was a problem with this particular engine block as it was too soft and they warped ie. piston holes went oval shaped.

They have in their bum!
It was never officially admitted that there was a design flaw but some engines were replaced either under warranty or for the cost of the engine fluids.
I am not aware of any nikasil replacements done by BMW Ireland. I know of a few cases where they washed their hands of the case. In one case the owner went up North after BMW Irl denied a problem. BMW GB fixed it.

@ jellycopter - some places such as Euro Car Parts offer reconditioned heads - may be an option

Other options include a reconditioned or used engine from places like a scrappie. Get prices off the following:
www.traynors.co.uk
www.fabdirect.com
www.bordermotorworks.co.uk

jellycopter

Cheers for all the advice folks!

unkel

BMW North America did send a letter to all nikasil car owners noting the sulphur issue and extending the warranty from 4 years / 50k miles to 6 years / 100k miles. They replaced a lot of engines free of charge

As for design flaw (or who's to blame if you like) - There is no nikasil problem with "normal" petrol (as tested in Germany one presumes), just with dirty high sulphur petrol as used in parts of the USA and the UK at the time

Funny enough, BMW had used the same Nikasil in motorcycles in the US. The sulphur never did damage in them because of the higher engine temperature in motorcycle engines

Seth Brundle

Porsches used the same nikasil linings in their engines and didn't have a problem.