'95 530i

[DueyT]

that would be cool

Jeff, that's a great idea!

Maybe I can get the artistic juices flowing to come up with something...

Cheers,
Duey

The Big Nickel

[Warren N.CA]

Autotrans and nikasil blocks are both risks. Once we have elected to take a particular risk, no amount of worry is of any use or positive value.

I sold my 530 for $18,000 2 years ago and bought my 535 for $3000 last month. The guy who bought the 530 is still very happy with it. I didn't sell it because of the engine, it's because I was retiring and wanted to cut my overhead and get a wagon for my junkyard running. I stumbled on the 535 and it is nearly the car the 530 was and has a 5-speed trans for autocross. I would not hesitate to buy another 530 with a 5 speed manual trans. I'd be more worried about the automatic trans than the motor!

Mike Holbrook
Spring Valley

[Warren N.CA]

BAD GAS!" The preceding is an unequivocal assertion from a salesman at our local BMW dealer.

Any common issues? (aside from the block) How can you tell the 2 blocks apart? easiest way?


a buddy's brother is looking at getting one and just wants to make sure its in good shape. Anything i should tell him to be wary of?

[632 Regal]

skydiving but I think id worry a bit more about that.

[632 Regal]

on the side of the block. If you put the car on ramps and crawl under it, put your head right below & just infront of the starter and look straight up. Dont forget your flashlight, pencil and paper.

[paul p (chi-town)]

(aside from the block) How can you tell the 2 blocks apart? easiest way?

Don’t forget the ‘Power Bar’ method.
No seriously.

On a cool or cooler engine.
Take an energy ‘bar’, flatten it out a bit.
Caress it lightly w/ some form of organic lubricant.
Press lightly on to the casting #s.
Read backwards
React appropriately.

I tried, the car was on a lift at least twice. And i couldn’t read see the #s.
From the top, w/ a mirror...............while i was doin the thrust arms.
I could feel the damn things w/ my hand but i could not see then to save my life.
But the power bar worked like a charm once i tried it on a cold engine.
I keep one in the glove box.

Can’t quite remember who came up w/ this the 1st time. A certain Joe Ording mentioned it on the old board.



93 SE-R---94 530iT&A---92 325i ….”Hang up & Drive!”
”It is not the function of our government to keep the citizen from falling into error;
It is the function of the citizen to keep the government from falling into error."--Robert H. Jackson.

[Warren N.CA]

deserves whatever fate may befall him , as a result, IMHO.

skydiving but I think id worry a bit more about that.

[632 Regal]

Baseball/Hotdogs Cookies/Milk Men/Women Dogs/Bones Kids/Candy Socks/Shoes Auto trans/Nikasil, all perfect combinations... as if there is no such problem as replacing worn clutches, pressure plates and or gearboxes, shift linkages etc. Whats the difference? Replace or rebuild, cant rebuild a worn clutch or pressure plate but rebuilding an auto trans is possible... I'm just defending my beautiful 530i. (I would rather have a 6-speed manual)

[DueyT]

.....I'm just defending my beautiful 530i. (I would rather have a 6-speed manual)

...and it doesn't sound like it's missing on two of its cylinders!