Re: it's a 95 with a nikasil block...should i buy (archive)

First of all, the year of the car has nothing to do with the risk of the engine being bad. Same goes for smooth idle, it means nothing, and the car could still be due for engine replacement.

If the car is still under warranty for the engine (6 years/100,000 miles), you MUST get a leak-down test before you buy it. If a dealer refuses to do it because it idles smooth, go somewhere else. Be persistent, tell them you know for a fact several cars failed the leak-down even if they were running smooth (mine did!). Many dealers/service centers do not have enough knowledge, so you have to approach them knowing everything yourself. Also check out www.530i.org for more info in the "M60 engine test FAQ".

If the car fails the test - and it's still under warranty, buy the car! Then you'll get a car with 36,000 miles and engine with 0 miles. A great deal indeed!

Best of luck to you , hope it works out.

Big-T

i have the opportunity to purchase a '95 740i with just under 36k miles for $26,000...
the block has not been replaced--the current owner, who is an older individual,
is slightly aware of the nikasil problems but hasn't driven it enough in the last
couple of years to be very concerned about it...it recently had an inspection 1,
but did not have a leakdown test done...the owner insists that there are no
problems with the idle and that he has always run premium--said that his
service manager had commented that the majority of block replacements he
had done were on 93's and 94's...

since the car is about a 6 hour drive away, my plan is to ask the current
owner to request a leakdown from his dealership before making the drive
to see it...

considering the mileage and price, would i be stupid to pass on this--even if
the block ends up going south in a couple of years?

thanks for your insight...

bert
90 535i
46k miles

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