Bad News Today

[Calpilot]

Hi everyone,

Long time lurker, first time poster.
Hate use the dreaded N-word...Nikasil, but I think my luck ran out.
Mine is a '94 530i purchased from 2nd owner in late 2000 in Greenwich, CT.
Bought with 48k miles, now has 84k. Always used premium fuel since I owned it. And it does have the Nikasil block.
Started idling rough about 2-3 years ago. I took it to my personal mechanic last year who did a leakdown and said it passed. After that took it to a dealer who couldn't find anything wrong with the car...they said. Happy that it passed a leakdown and probably just needed an Inspection II with the valve adjust, I waited for the next Oil Service light.
Took it to a different dealer this week and requested an Inspection II. The service writer immediately noticed the idle, called it a "miss" and said he wanted to look into it before doing an Inspection II. He called the next day to get my OK for a $440 leakdown test. I was suspicious, but Ok'd it.

He and the mechanic called back today with the bad news. Cylinders 7 & 8 had a 60-70% leakdown and every other cylinder but 1 failed as well.

I've read all the posts and websites I can find regarding the problem, but it seems to me that if it passed leakdown within the last 2 years, the other dealer didn't find reason to do a leakdown, and now we have 2 cylinders with high fail rates (but the engine runs and starts fine), that something or someone is or was wrong.

I'd appreciate any input and am happy to provide any additional info.

Jeff

[632 Regal]

lets see here....it had a bad idle for a few years...passed leakdown both times cept the dealership...did you EVER replace your intake gaskets and check for other leaks such as the PCV plate???

i dont buy it.

[winfred]

ditto, i've stomped on the dealers wrong estamates many times, they are not the end all be all masters of bmw

lets see here....it had a bad idle for a few years...passed leakdown both times cept the dealership...did you EVER replace your intake gaskets and check for other leaks such as the PCV plate???

i dont buy it.

[632 Regal]

I was waiting for you to see this Win

[winfred]

the only thing the dealer's shop is good for is waranty work

[Calpilot]

lets see here....it had a bad idle for a few years...passed leakdown both times cept the dealership...did you EVER replace your intake gaskets and check for other leaks such as the PCV plate???

i dont buy it.

Hadn't done either. It supposedly passed one leakdown test at an independent...the first dealer to look at it said that there was nothing they could find wrong.

Thanks for the info!

[Tiger]

I don't believe this dealer... engine can't die that fast.