RE: 94'/95' 4.0 V-8's/sulfer problem

["Dana White" <dbwhite@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

A couple of interesting points for anyone interested in this whole sulfur
issue w/the E34 V8's.

No one (including BMW boy-genius Brett Anderson, every BMW tech I have
talked with, and many, many owners of the E34 530i that I have spoken with)
have heard of or claim to know of a way to "speed up" or "slow down"
anything related to the potential sulfur damage that can affect the E34
V8's.  Drive slow, drive fast, take short hops, drive across country - none
of those steps are going to guarantee you any results either way from all
I've heard.  It seems to have much more to do w/where you live (sulfur
levels vary by country/regions in contries), although even that is probably
not any guarantee of safety or danger.  Sulfur is lowest in California
(regulated to 80 PPM, often closer to 30) and highest in the east and south
(as high a 1000 PPM).

So why did BMW use Nikasil in their M60 engine blocks?  Why didn't they know
there might be problems?  From a BMW press release on the 530i in 1994.  (It
speaks of "Galnikal" but the alloy is commonly referred to Nikasil these
days):

A  new technology  further contributes to the V-8's light weight of only
approximately 470 pounds including electricals and cooling.  Instead of the
steel cylinder  liners used by many carmakers in aluminum blocks,
long-wearing  cylinder walls are created by depositing a "dispersion layer"
of nickel on the  aluminum via galvanic action.  Called Galnikal, this
process was used for some years in BMW motorcycle engines before being
introduced in the  V-8 engine, so it's not an untried technology-just an
advanced one.
So the same alloy had been used in BMW motorcycles w/no issues.  From a
conversation between a BMW motorcycle tech and a member of the 530I mailing
list:

I was having lunch this weekend in Big Sur. A BMW motorcycle group pulled in
to the same venue. I asked for the "head gearhead." We had a great
conversation and, of course,  I brought up Nikasil. It turns out the higher
temperatures of the motorcycle engine(air cooled) keeps the sulfur from
doing damage. This fits since one of the things BMW tried was to change the
cylinder temperature by retuning the computer. He said that wouldn't work in
the cars because it would change the engine too much to pass smog
So it wasn't a total stupid move for BMW to use Nikasil in their car engines
in the US - it just turned out that the operating conditions in the cars
were different enough to cause some problems, sometimes, in some places, in
some cars.

The E34 530i/540i are very cool cars, extremely fun to drive and very nice
to look at!  I know some BMW fanatics prefer the traditional straight six,
but the BMW V8 is a wonderful engine to rev/hear/feel! <g>  It seems a bit
extreme/silly to dump one if you own one, or to avoid them out of hand if
you're looking for a used BMW.  You need to understand the issues, your
options, and the potential "up-side" (free new block, crank, pistons, seals,
and sparks ain't to shabby) to make a sound decision.

Visit the 530i home page at http://home.pacbell.net/dbwhite/530i-Home.htm
and read up on the M60 engine, the free E34 530i/540i M60 engine test, etc.,
if you're interested.

Dana
'95 530ia (And loving it!)
BMWCCA

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