In 1992, BMW introduced a V8 again after decades: the M60, as a three-litre with 218 PS and as a four-litre with 286 PS. Technically ambitious, smooth-running, modern — and with an Achilles’ heel that lay not in Munich, but at the fuel pump.
What Nikasil is
The M60’s cylinder liners carried a nickel-silicon coating, known under the brand name Nikasil — low-wear, low-friction, proven in racing. The problem: sulphur. In markets with sulphur-rich fuel — the English Wikipedia names the USA, the United Kingdom and South America — sulphur attacked the coating. The result was gradual compression loss: rough idling, poor starting, and eventually an engine that had to be replaced.
How BMW responded
BMW replaced affected engines under warranty or as a goodwill gesture — complete units, not a minor intervention. Later, Nikasil disappeared from BMW’s V8s: the successor material was Alusil, an aluminium-silicon alloy without the sulphur sensitivity. In regions with low-sulphur fuel, including Central Europe, the problem barely appears in the source material.
The engines at a glance
| Engine | Displacement | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|
| M60B30 | 2,997 cm³ | 218 PS (160 kW) at 5,800 rpm | 290 Nm at 4,500 rpm |
| M60B40 | 3,982 cm³ | 286 PS (210 kW) at 5,800 rpm | 400 Nm at 4,500 rpm |
The M60 was used, among others, in the 740i of the E32 series, the 540i E34, the early 740i E38 and the 840Ci. Anyone buying one today will find practically only vehicles whose history has been clarified — German first deliveries were, according to current sources, rarely affected in any case. When importing from the markets mentioned, however, it is still worth looking into the history.
Source: Wikipedia (EN): BMW M60 — quotes on affected markets, goodwill replacement and Alusil. Photo: JonneRacer (public domain), Wikimedia Commons — 740i E32 with M60B40 in Lazur Blue.
Bildnachweise
- Lizenziert · JonneRacer · Public domain