Is it possible for a Nikasil engine not to go bad?

BigDToronto · 06-11-2007, 02:56 PM

Hi all.. I'm Dan and new here. I've got a line on a 1995 540 with only 120,000km. It is in great shape body wise with no rust and the seller has kept all of his repair records for as long as he has had the car here in Toronto. It originally was his dearly departed aunt's from a Ottawa dealer...registered in Quebec for a while and landed here in Toronto. He is a doctor and his wife drove the car.

All the info I can find (Carfax) says that the mileage is correct and the car is cherry...BUT nobody can tell me if the engine was changed out.

I've called the original Ottawa dealer...his records do not go back that far
The local Mississauga dealer who has been servicing the car can't tell me
I've called BMW Headoffice and they can't find records of the engine being done...
AND I've even called two Quebec dealers near where this guy lived and they don't have any records of this car.

It drives like a dream, seems very strong, just purrs at an idle.

The price is right...but not if I have to change the engine soon.

Any advice????? Please help...I'm suppossed to pick it up on Wednesday

By-the-way everybody I've talk to have been really great...even for an old car they have treated me as part of the BMW family...I love this marque!!!

Thanks Dan

mirek · 06-11-2007, 04:40 PM

haha BigD.

BigDToronto · 06-11-2007, 05:01 PM

Thanks for the reply...I think...How does this help me? Do you have an answer or just trying to crap on my parade?

Desisuperman · 06-11-2007, 07:00 PM

try bimmerfest.com. Not many 5 series owners here. you'll get a quicker resppnse there

BigDToronto · 06-11-2007, 07:05 PM

Thanks... I had some other replys that lead me to believe that if I don't have problem now (gas is much better shortly after the problem appeared) I should be good to go. Glad to be back in a Bimmer

northern_bmw · 06-12-2007, 04:48 PM

it is possible....i have heard that premium gas didn't damage those engines back then, and the gas today won't hurt them. Can't say that this is the case for this car, but it is possible (from what i've heard...no personal experience tho).