Is My Engine Nikasil Or Alusil? - BMW Forum

jayd540 · 08-20-2005, 03:13 PM

I have a 95 540i, and im trying to figure out if the engine is Nikasil or Alusil. The only numbers i found on the engine are- 11.61 1729 529. I looked everywhere else for a number but couldnt find anything. Can someone please help me?

Torque · 08-20-2005, 03:38 PM

That looks like a part number for whatever part you read it off of. Even as a part number, that number is not detected by BMWs ETK or BavAuto ... which means you probably wrote it down wrong.

The nikasil/alusil difference can only be found by looking at the Serial number on the block itself.

Serial number differences (according to wikipedia):

Quote:

Originally posted by Wikipedia
The composition of the engine can be found by checking the serial number stamped into the engine block:

M60B30:

* 1 725 970 - Nikasil
* 1 741 212 - Nikasil
* 1 745 871 - Alusil

M60B40:

* 1 725 963 - Nikasil
* 1 742 998 - Nikasil
* 1 745 872 - Alusil

EDIT: And we are looking at a M60B40 here, so disregard the first chart pertaining to the M60B30.

jayd540 · 08-20-2005, 04:33 PM

I just double checked, i didnt write it down wrong. Thats the number i got off of the engine block underneath the coolant. If that isnt the serial number, where is it? Thanks

Torque · 08-20-2005, 05:16 PM

I don't know, but there is no website that mentions the number you have.

From this page: http://www.koalamotorsport.com/article-m60v8.asp

Quote:

How do you tell which material is in your short block ? That part is fairly easy. But it requires getting under the right front of the car. All M60 and M62 blocks have casting numbers on the right side, directly alongside the 3rd cylinder, slightly above the coolant drain bolt.

Cambridge · 08-21-2005, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Torque@Aug 20 2005, 05:16 PM
I don't know, but there is no website that mentions the number you have.

From this page: http://www.koalamotorsport.com/article-m60v8.asp

Quote:

How do you tell which material is in your short block ? That part is fairly easy. But it requires getting under the right front of the car. All M60 and M62 blocks have casting numbers on the right side, directly alongside the 3rd cylinder, slightly above the coolant drain bolt.

[snapback]371196[/snapback]

Yep, that's where I found it on mine. Same side of the car as the air filter. I looked on the wrong side at first...

Torque · 08-21-2005, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cambridge+Aug 21 2005, 10:11 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cambridge @ Aug 21 2005, 10:11 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Torque@Aug 20 2005, 05:16 PM
I don't know, but there is no website that mentions the number you have.

From this page: http://www.koalamotorsport.com/article-m60v8.asp

Quote:

How do you tell which material is in your short block ? That part is fairly easy. But it requires getting under the right front of the car. All M60 and M62 blocks have casting numbers on the right side, directly alongside the 3rd cylinder, slightly above the coolant drain bolt.

[snapback]371196[/snapback]

Yep, that's where I found it on mine. Same side of the car as the air filter. I looked on the wrong side at first...

[snapback]371425[/snapback]

[/b][/quote]
I wanted to say this the other day, but I got carried away with other things...

Beautiful 540, and a excellent website.

da_bull · 08-21-2005, 09:59 PM

my M20 is a slowusil

Torque · 08-21-2005, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by da_bull@Aug 21 2005, 10:59 PM
my M20 is a slowusil

[snapback]371436[/snapback]

Did you check your blocks serial number ?

Mine says 5L0W ... I guess that's slowusil as well.

da_bull · 08-22-2005, 05:12 AM

I checked again, thats what I've got too. I was told thats what the 5LOW stands for, if I'm wrong let me know.