Confused.........Nikasil or not?? Pictures

[Simon13]

I'm in the middle of an engine swap on an M52 car.

I thought my donor M52 was a nikasil donk according to BMW customer services? but i just noticed that it has 02 99 stamped on the block?! and a lug with an allen key bolt holding it on? You can see it in the corner of this picture below







This picture is of 100% a nikasil block 97 stamped on it and no lug in the corner?








I'm secretly hoping i've bought a alusil lined 2.8 for £350! Which would mean the donor cars milege of 138k is correct i expect but the engine has done less milege

[nickso]

looks to be right enough.

strange how BMW didnt know that though. ive just got my engine out of my donor today and mine is also an alusil replacement. i noticed the ecu had the same date stamped stickers on it, presumably it was changed at the same time, might be worth checking yours.

[B7]

Result if thats the case!

[Ant]

Steel linered rightness there Simon.

nothing = nikasil
bolt only = alusil
bolt and tag = steel linered alloy block.

[nickso]

bugger, mines a steely then

[Simon13]

Thanks Ant, get in. A bit of luck then!!

[bss325i]

Maybe it had the block change not done under waranty.

This might explain the lack of record with BMW.

[Andyboy]

No such thing as an Alusil M52! Alusil was V8 and V12 only.

The plain lug is Nikasil. Nikasil is a coating on the bores. Alusil is no coating at all. It's a special alloy used to make the block and the bores are just machined in the block and honed. The silicon content comes to the surface when the bores are machined. Like Nikasil, the pistons have teflon pads on the sides.

Steel liner blocks have the rusty steel tag and bolt. These are not quite as great as they're made out to be because once linered, there's not a great deal of alloy left between the liners. The alloy can sink between the liners and cause the gasket to blow.

If you didn't know what that lug on the block is for - it's for US spec engines which used a different management system where the TDC sensor fits into the back of the block to read from a trigger ring on the back of the crank. All in vain because US market cars (E36 and E39) used an iron block until the steel liners were introduced in 1998. That's why steel liner blocks have the plate and bolt - remove these and there's the hole where the TDC sensor fits!

On the M52TU double Vanos and M54 donks, the TDC sensor was rear mounted on everything. BUT...you will find late 1998 and 1999 built E36 Convertibles, Coupes and Tourings for Europe with the M52 and rear mounted TDC sensor. Not saloons though as they'de been replaced by the E46 which used the M52TU.