Newbie w/ a '95 540i

[CheapCheap1]

Hello there,
I just got a '95 540i (w/ 65K miles) from my friend. I would be appreciate, if anyone can give me some advices on any "common" problem found on this model & what DO & DON't.
Many thanks,
CC1

[Wengenstein]

Check out bmwe34.net (http://www.bmwe34.net).

Maybe we ought to start a sticky "where to look first" thread in this forum :)

Hello there,
I just got a '95 540i (w/ 65K miles) from my friend. I would be appreciate, if anyone can give me some advices on any "common" problem found on this model & what DO & DON't.
Many thanks,
CC1

[Bob in San Jose]

If the trans fluid hasn't been changed, and it probably hasn't, change it and the filter.
These trans are "liftetime fluid" type, i.e. no dipstick filler tube, so you have no way of telling what the fluid looks like without draining it.
The valve cover gaskets are usually leaking oil into the spark plug wells and need to be replaced. Pull the spark coils and look into the wells for any oil. There shouldn't be any.
Radiator should be replaced if not already done. They typically haven't survived 10 years so this may have already been done.
Check for any vacuum leaks as these engines do not idle well when vacuum leaks are present.
Which brings up the Nikasil block question. Check this site for info on it.
http://www.koalamotorsport.com/
Look under the Most Requested Pages section for M60 Nikasil vs. Alusil.
With some luck you have the Alusil block, if not there are many of the Nikasil blocks still running strong with 150K+ on them.

These are great cars.

Good Luck.

[CheapCheap1]

Thanks a ton...Wengenstein & Bob. I'll start checking my horse as you've pointed it out.

Huuhhh...the nikasil story is really giving me a nightmare...!!! :mad:

Oh, well...at least, the idle on my 540i is still smooth. (Knock...knock...knock on wood)! Anyway, I just wonder if any current owner (M60 engine w/ a nikasil block) has successfully claimed the warranty & get the stupid block replaced by BMW lately. B'cuz it seems to be the case of a defective engine caused by a major screwed up from BMW's engineering/designer team. BMW still still has to be responsible for the block replacement if it failed before 100K miles (though it already past 6 yrs).

Happy bimmering,
CC1

(OMG...hopefully, the freakin price of the gas will drop very soon...!!!)

[giafreeze]

Heh.. Ive made so much money replacing those blocks with the updated ones...

I have one in my 540.. just makes it idle rough is all easy to counter with some DME hacking
and boosting the idle 100 rpm. I would not touch the auto tranny. lifetime fluid and if its not
broke don't fix it as the saying goes, those ZF transmission are touchy,

around 100,000 miles, be ready to replace the valvebody in it and the reversve clutch drum
major problem with both in that tranny, i just replaced my valvebody and my reverse just
went to **** because I blew the snap ring out of the reverse clutch drum/pack.
so im going to order the parts to fix it, ****ing ZF they knew about this problem to and BMW shoulda ****ing recalled it.

[bimmerider2004]

BMWE34.NET!!! It's got everything you need to know. By the way, expect your radiator / water pump to crap out if it hasn't already. I just recently found this out when I decided to vent a little anger out on a an empty stretch of highway. :tsk:

-Nick