How reliable is 1995 BMW 540i/6 ????

[jmanzo2012]

I'm asking becuase I just purchased 95 540/6! With 106k. Car needed a clutch and dual mass flywheel. Parts and labor came up to $1759.00 ouch!!

I heard alot of good and bad things about the 1995 540i! Becuase it's a v8 m60 engine it would be more expensive to maintain! Also another thing that still worries me is that it still has the original nikasil block.

This is going to be my daily driver, I just wanted some info on how reliable they are?


Thanks!

[NikosX]

I have an alusil motor if you end up needing one.

[mean green 540]

I'm asking becuase I just purchased 95 540/6! With 106k. Car needed a clutch and dual mass flywheel. Parts and labor came up to $1759.00 ouch!!

I heard alot of good and bad things about the 1995 540i! Becuase it's a v8 m60 engine it would be more expensive to maintain! Also another thing that still worries me is that it still has the original nikasil block.

This is going to be my daily driver, I just wanted some info on how reliable they are?


Thanks!
they are extremly reliable, my friend has a 95, 6 speed with 295,000 miles and he doesnt have the lightest foot. he drives it like bmw's should be driven.

l

[russiankid]

You should be fine. Just don't cheap out on gas and maintenance and it will be a reliable car.

[jmanzo2012]

That's good! I hope is as reliable as my gs400! LOL!!! On the nikasil/alusil issue I read if it the car was manufacture after 4/95 problem was fixed, and bmw continue with the nikasil engine. Well my car's manf. date is 7/95 :-)

[NikosX]

There was no "fix". ALL e34 540i's came with nikasil engines. There is no such thing as a... "after such and such a build date you dont have anything to worry about."

[upallnight]

The fix was if you B!TCH loud enough to BMUU they would replace the Nik engine with an Alum engine.

[free740il]

WTF is a BMUU?

[jac1d]

BM 2XU, BM double U, BMW

You can read up on the standard wear parts in the inspection form in my sig. They all apply to the V8 as well.

-Jeff

[David325e]

Nikasil usually isn't a problem if it hasn't been one already. Have a 94 540 myself. Been run on 89 octane from Va its whole life. Has 178k on it. I got it three months ago with 174 on it. Needs an intake reseal, new valley pan gasket, some suspension work, and maybe new coils. Ran fine on my 4 hour trips to and from college and as a rode hard and put away wet DD. Might ad that it say for 5 months before I got it. Added a battery and changed fluids and took off haha.

Learn to DIY and costs will go way down.

[skylinergtr]

the car itself is very reliable and will last a long time. Maintenance can be expensive because it is a v8 engine. Dont be surprised if you have to drop some coin. It may require you to change things because its wear and tear, but generally nothing should break down.

[NikosX]

You must understand, that preventive maintenance is as important, if not MORE important than waiting until whatever it is breaks.

If you wait for a part to fail, guaranteed it'll take a few hundred dollars of whatever supporting systems there are, down with it.

[free740il]

BM 2XU, BM double U, BMW

You can read up on the standard wear parts in the inspection form in my sig. They all apply to the V8 as well.

-Jeff

That is the most retarded thing. Ever.

[xatlas0]

That's good! I hope is as reliable as my gs400! LOL!!! On the nikasil/alusil issue I read if it the car was manufacture after 4/95 problem was fixed, and bmw continue with the nikasil engine. Well my car's manf. date is 7/95 :-)

As others have said, unless is was already replaced, you do have a nik block. Also, the odds that the E34 will be as reliable as the gs400 are very slim, and it will likely be more expensive to maintain. As others have said,the 540 takes quite a bit of preventative upkeep. Replace parts before they fail. I'd budget about 1-3k per year for upkeep, more if something unexpectedly breaks.