nikasil - exhaust smoke

[e.caden]

Hello everyone

I know we all know about the nikasil, compression loss, exhaust smoke, yada yada yada situation. I have a 95 740il for the last 7 years and it has blown exhaust smoke about 15% of the time. I currently have 170,000 (purchased at 32k miles) miles on this vehicle and each year I have the spark plugs changed (costs approx $450) to stop the extremely rough idle. If you do not have the plugs changed regularly they will become flooded and will not start. I just wanted to let everyone know that the 95 740il is a great vehicle, but be prepared for additional costs.

[adam699]

Hello everyone

I know we all know about the nikasil, compression loss, exhaust smoke, yada yada yada situation. I have a 95 740il for the last 7 years and it has blown exhaust smoke about 15% of the time. I currently have 170,000 (purchased at 32k miles) miles on this vehicle and each year I have the spark plugs changed (costs approx $450) to stop the extremely rough idle. If you do not have the plugs changed regularly they will become flooded and will not start. I just wanted to let everyone know that the 95 740il is a great vehicle, but be prepared for additional costs.


Dude, Changing spark plugs on a 95 is a breeze. Takes about an hour and I don't think it would cost more than $100 in parts.

[e.caden]

Yeah Adam699, I was told it's easy, I'd rather not do any further damage trying to do something new. I was born and raised in Chicago, I truly miss those White Castles at 4am.

[dwightf]

Yes, the '95 is still a great e38 (even with the over hyped Nikasil block). I had one and sold it at 155K miles with original block. No rough idle and no smoke. I never even changed the plugs since I had bought it. Who knows how old they were. They are a good value for the money, but try going to an '01 Sport and its a WHOLE other world!!!

[Shak. G]

Hey Dwightf, i have a 95 740il that idles rough which progresses as the engine gets hotter. Two days ago after i started it up, she put out some smoke for about 10 seconds and after that no more since. What i want to know is that if with this nikasil problem, would the car still be able to do up to 206 KM/H effortlessly as my car does??

[dwightf]

Did you have a compression test done? If not, there are many reasons the M60 motor can put out blue or black smoke at start-up. My '95 put out a HUGE amount of blue smoke at start up for 10 seconds and it idled poorly when my PCV valve failed (also known as oil separator). Replaced that and it was new again. As for speed, I doubt it would have much effect at all. It would effect the "off the line punch" and acceleration.

[Shak. G]

Thanks dwightf, i will follow up on this issue. However i don't think i will change to a 01 740 for now simply because of how much the girls around here love it and what they give in return for a ride in it with some reggae music pumping from the 15" subs.