Loose bolts inside a motor

[632 Regal]

Nikasil is a trophy in disguise.

[Spasso]

If you want to hear about arrogance from another car maker go to www.Ferrarichat.com.

The 355 has a list of chronic design short comings that Ferrari wouldn't admit to for a long while even though they have replaced many parts on warranty.
Some examples,

The exhaust headers crack and burn through repeatedly because the material is too thin from the beginning but Ferrari refuses to replace them with anything else but OEM when there are better aftermarket pieces available.

Early models had valve guide problems (too soft). VERY expensive fix on a 5 valve head (10 to 12k). After years of harrassment Ferrari finally gave in and started fixing them, for a little while. Now the owner gets stuck with the bill.

Exhaust diverter valves jam, 3k fix at the dealer.

Catalytic converters burn up on occasion, another 3k EACH.

Transmission in the 456 is non-rebuildable by anyone outside of the factory. It is strictly R & R with a new one costing 40k.

It goes on and on. It's not just BMW.

Ironically, I dropped the pan on the Touring used to have and there was an oil pump bolt laying in the pan. The only thing holding the pump up was two finger loose bolts, the chain tension and the oil pick-up strainer riding on the bottom of the pan.

[BlueM60]

I agree the pump bolts issue is a problem, but not even close enough to drive me away from a Bimmer. I think BMW, especially in the earlier cars (e28, e34 etc) builds one of the strongest, best engineered engines around. I have seen multiple M20's and M30's, even M50's survive years of torture by many of my very immature buddies who own these cars. I dont know many engines that can have over 250k and still see redline on a daily basis with no problems. I will admit the new N-series engines with Valvetronic are over engineered and I wouldnt have one. The early V8's had the nickasil issue but many are still running reliably today, My M60 is Alusil and I run it hard with no problems. I remember early Toyota engines blowing headgaskets left and right in the early 90's, and they still hold a rep for being a bulletproof brand. As already stated every make has its issues, anything mechanical will have to be looked after and parts will wear and break. Sorry for the long post.

-Ben

[632 Regal]

Nikasil? is that a fuel additive or something?

[Stacy (Sydney)]

Cars are junk slowly falling apart. Some fall apart slower than others. Drive a car you enjoy, and Ross is correct - to hell with any idolisation of brilliant engineering/mechanics and keep in mind that time and money is what keeps our 'hobbies' on the road. Sure, some are well built - to a price.
Car makers and mechanics love to hear enthusiasts wax lyrical about their beloved machine - ching ching - price premium.
Hunks of junk I say- but hell, they can be fun and make getting around easier at times.

[rob101]

Nikasil? is that a fuel additive or something?

don't you know anything? its a town in bavaria!

[Gene in NC]

Ross, you deserve support for your post. Right on! I don't own any stock in BMW, but if I did my question would be, "What the **** do you think your engineers are doing? I understand that you can't fire them in Germany, but try an American/Mafia solution, put a contract on the worst offenders. If not that, introduce them to the Japanese concept of Hari Kiri. Those bastards that the commit the most atrocious engineering sins should at least be offered a way to atone."

As per the Roman motto, can't remember the Latin, "With your shield or on it".
If BMW doesn't weed out this shithead engineering it will never end.

Think about Audi, saddled with the same German employment policies, all they did was win Le Mans for the nth time, but this year with a diesel, for Chrissake!

Yeah, it's 3:15 am edt, but that doesn't obfuscate the truth.

If the engineering wasn't bad enough, there is that bastard, Bangle. Probably had his pen in his one hand and his dangle in the other while drawing the recent monstrosities. Shades of the "new" Coke that damn near ruined Coke until they went back to the original recipe that they now call "Classic".

[Gene in NC]

How many BMWs do I, have I owned, prob far too many. Experience goes all the way back to '68 2002 with all aluminum rockers w/o bushings. Aluminum, with any assist it could gather from engine wear, lapped (wore out) the steel rocker shafts and itself.

Factory did stand up for this one with newshafts and rockers. Definition of standup: Takes your car out of service for a week for the repair.

Wouldn't it have been great to have been a user of BMW aircraft engines?

[Evan]

I've never heard of Toyota having this problem... or any other Japanese carmaker

[94_e34_525i]

Yes, BMW's aren't perfect but they are known for one thing building magnifacent engines. I dont have expereince in the M30 so I dont know, but I dont think its a common problem. And the Nikasil was just a experimantal thing to save weight it didn't work so they stopped. The cooling system is annoying because you have to use $20 coolant but hey its better than a $1500 dollar engine.