Quote Originally Posted by Vanguard
What about a M62 replacement engine? I was wondering about this very thing. My '94 had the Nikasil engine replaced in '96 by BMW. My uncle said it was a '96 motor.

The last time I had her in for an oil change, they had to go find a different filter as the '94 filter from the book didn't match.
The M60 Nikisal engines that were replaced with Alusil (by BMW)...received the M60 B40 or M60 B30 Alusil engine block...NOT the M62 Alusil engines (even if it was 1996)

(this applies to the e34s imported to the USA...I'm not sure what happened in other markets)

And as far as the oil filter...when you look at the parts diagram (ETK or RealOEM.com)...you'll see that for cars with a 9/95-up prod date...there is an alternate oil filter: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...11&fg=30&hl=12

So if you originally had an M60 engine produced prior to 9/95...then replaced it with an engine after 9/95...you may have gotten an engine that has an oil reservoir with the "modified dome" which requires the different oil filter.