| Author | Message | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 942 Registered: 2-2003 |
Kenny, thank you for the info. I found out he has a 540i, and is looking at a $2-3k fix for the transmission. I'm trying my best to talk him into a relatively new M5 and he might go for it if the prices drop when the new one hits the streets and his has any more problems. He's had electrical, tranny, and problems starting to creep up. It has 116k miles. Sunny | ||
| Kendall Kim (Kenny)
Member Username: Kenny Post Number: 545 Registered: 9-2001 |
As James stated about the 911's regarding engine temperature,, I know the air cooled engines tend to run hotter thus burning off excess sulfur...The oil serves dual purpose, lubricating the engine as well as cooling it off... | ||
| Kendall Kim (Kenny)
Member Username: Kenny Post Number: 544 Registered: 9-2001 |
Sunny- The BMW tranny on the 6 cylinder engines are relatively inexpensive to repair compared to the V8 version.. Many of the 525i's had a GM designed tranny... The 8 cylinder versions came with a ZF transmission with lifetime fluid... This transmission tends to be more problematic and expensive to repair (approx. 3 times the cost for a replacement transmission)... You can check out www.roadfly.org E39 board and ask the folks there, they will give you more accurate detailed information. | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 938 Registered: 2-2003 |
James, thank you much for the info!! We (Jag) went through a hotter plug stipulation as well in an attempt to combat any future problems and as a result, helped smoothen out the idles as well (for the straight six's anyway). I'll keep the info under my hat in case I see these issues come up from the areas you mentioned. BMW content: My manager just had 3rd gear go out in his 525i and is thinking of a replacement car or sinking in the cash to have the tranny rebuilt. It was bought when it was 2 years old and its a '97 or a '98. I suggested go for a 750il and his eyes lit up saying that would be nice. He will likely stick with BMW. Does anyone know if this is a common tranny issue or simply normal wear and tear? Cheers, Sunny | ||
| James Dunne (Audiguy)
Member Username: Audiguy Post Number: 305 Registered: 6-2003 |
Sunny, The problem was limited to certain geographic areas of the US. Principally the Gulf Coast states and the upper Northwest. The US was getting their crude from Venezuala and it had higher levels than crude brought in from other countries. Subaru had the same problem in the same geographic areas. The engines were tested in Europe before production was officially begun and had over 1 million cumulative miles put on test engines before release with none of the damage appearing that hit the US cars. After the engine blocks were replaced (notice, I said engine blocks, not entire engines) the cars also had a higher spark temp put in that would assure burning off the sulfur before it could cause the damage of the lower heat range engines. I do not know the spark temp that Porsche was running in their cars, but it could have been enough to burn off any sulfur residue. BMW met with the oil exporters from South America and persuaded them to include another step in their refining process to reduce the amount of sulfur in their crude. I was GM of a BMW dealership in West Texas at the time and sat right in the big middle of the refineries of West Texas. BMW sent engineers to our area to examine the crude coming out of our refineries and found it to be of a higher quality than what was being imported from South America. I accompanied them on two of their visits to the refineries. The crude coming in from the Mideast was of higher quality also. I hope this might help clear up some of the questions surrounding this occurence. You will not get a stated, written explanation from BMW because of liability and just the German way of keeping a lot of info from the public. Believe me, I was much involved in accompanying them as we had a number of engine blocks to replace and the people of West Texas were not so understanding about the crude oil for their gasoline came from South America and not a local refinery. | ||
| Ronny Jones (Ronny)
Junior Member Username: Ronny Post Number: 55 Registered: 6-2003 |
Ross Here in the Uk there is www.bmwland.co.uk When I bought my wife a 320d they were very helpful. Ronny | ||
| chris cummings (Entelechy)
Member Username: Entelechy Post Number: 513 Registered: 5-2001 |
Ross, try www.bimmerforums.com | ||
| ross koller (Ross)
Intermediate Member Username: Ross Post Number: 1349 Registered: 3-2002 |
sorry to use the thread in this way but seemed like a good idea: can anybody tell me what the fc equivalent is for bmw fans? i need to ask some of their tech heads a question. thx | ||
| Andrew S. (Andrew911)
New member Username: Andrew911 Post Number: 43 Registered: 9-2003 |
Kendall- actually, I wasn't interested in the early 530- I was giving some info to Jerry, and clairifying a technical point that some 530s were V-8 (although not many of these around). Yes, a good number of these early v-8 BMW motors were replaced under warranty due to the engine block composition. I did find it interesting that BMW had such a small v-8 for the US market- kind of like a 308 motor  | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 930 Registered: 2-2003 |
Jag along with BMW had nikasil problems in '98 through early '00 based on the sulfur content in European fuels. The solution was to switch to iron liners rather than engineer a nikasil compound to withstand the higher sulfur contents. US Jag engines were not affected unless put through extended oil drain intervals in severe service areas. If sulfur can affect engines in the UK and mainland Europe, like you said, based on where the supply of fuel was received from, why didn't they break down in the US if we have high sulfur content? It may be an apples to oranges engineering comparison, but I'm curious to know if BMW had this problem internationally or if it was limited to only the US. If it was limited to only the US, you can see where I'm going with this. It makes a big case if the sulfur levels in the US are on par with those supposedly found in Europe. There are people with blown engines starting to come forward out of the woodwork and are getting no support because the US "supposedly" has a lower sulfur content and the factory blames the owner for lack of maintenance. David vs Goliath. Would be nice to see if manufacturers with the same problem shared info on this sulver vs nikasil problem and how much is being kept hush hush. Jag sent out 1000 initial engines as spares and any blown engine that comes back is refurbished with new liners and sent back out into the pool. If an engine under warranty has excessive blow-by, its replaced with one of these refurbs. The new engines have already been used up and installed, which accounts for small, but noticible percentage of the 2 year x month production run! Sunny (with nikasil free engine) P.S. I'm not going to involve F-chat or anyone who posts in any sort of activism effort, I want to understand the facts from a different manufacturer's and enthusiast's perspective. | ||
| Kendall Kim (Kenny)
Member Username: Kenny Post Number: 541 Registered: 9-2001 |
The explanation can be the engine temperature the blocks run... BMW chose to use Nikasil coated blocks on their early V8's because they successfully ran them in their motorcycle engines.. Unfortunately, BMW engineers didnt realize that motorcycle engines run at higher temperatures burning off the sulfur before harm can be done than automobile engines.. I'm not sure where you heard that european fuel has higher sulfur content.. It depends on where the fuel is distributed from.. | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 929 Registered: 2-2003 |
I find the claim the US has high sulfur content in its fuels when Porsche and others use nikasil with no problems a little odd. The content of sulfur in European fuel is much higher than the US, so I'd be very interested in some hard evidence (factory acknowledgement/letter issued to owners/lab tests) that proves we have a high enough level to be detrimental. | ||
| Kendall Kim (Kenny)
Member Username: Kenny Post Number: 539 Registered: 9-2001 |
Andrew- if you're interested in the 530i V8 E34 BMW, make sure the engine block has been replaced to the alusil one instead of the original Nikasil... The nikisal blocks eventually go bad from the sulfur content of US fuels, it wears out the cylinder walls.. The 540 and 740 series of this vintage had the same problem.. There is a serial number you can check at the bottom of the engine block to verify this or you can call BMW NA with a VIN #... The transmission fluid is also not lifetime as found in the 540i.. It needs to be replaced at its regular interval.. Many owners and dealers are misinformed thinking it's the same lifetime fluid transmission as found in the bigger 540i.. Good Luck | ||
| Andrew S. (Andrew911)
New member Username: Andrew911 Post Number: 42 Registered: 9-2003 |
540 is 4.0 V8 from 1994 or so, then around 1998 or 1999 (not sure which), motor was increased to 4.4L V8, but no name change. In the earlier cars the 530 was a 3.0l V8- by that I'm referring to 2 models ago when including the new ugly model 5 that just came out. All other 530s are 3.0 six cylinder. The V8 530 I'm talking about looks like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6008&item=2434144283 Its an 8-cylinder, despite this seller checking off 6-cylinder... | ||
| Kendall Kim (Kenny)
Member Username: Kenny Post Number: 538 Registered: 9-2001 |
The 525i 528i and 530i are basically designed from the same inline 6 engine with slightly different displacement. The inline 6 5-series come with rack and pinion steering with a 4 speed auto or 5 speed gearbox, the 540 series has recirculating ball steering and a ZF designed 5speed automatic or 6 speed... Some BMW purists prefer the rack and pinion steering for it's more precise feel and feedback over the recirculating ball steering box... | ||
| Jerry W. (Tork1966)
Intermediate Member Username: Tork1966 Post Number: 1005 Registered: 7-2001 |
Thanks John, clear as a bell now!!! | ||
| John Delvac (Johndelvac)
Member Username: Johndelvac Post Number: 429 Registered: 11-2001 |
Mostly the engine. The 540 has a V8 like the 7 series and is top of the 5 series line (except for M5). The 540 is the replacement for the 535. 6 cyl engines are 2.5L, 2.8L & 3.0L, respectively. | ||
| Jerry W. (Tork1966)
Intermediate Member Username: Tork1966 Post Number: 1002 Registered: 7-2001 |
Can someone please tell me the difference between the 525, 528, 530 & 540. Thanks in advance for the help!! |