Reliablility of the M50

[DarkWing6]

So I am in the process of searching for a daily driver and am thinking about getting a 525iT as my daily. I know there are a lot of you out there with this motor in your car or that just plain know more about these than me. How many miles can I feasably get out of one of these motors? What kinds of problems should I watch out for? Any other good info on the motor would be appreciated.


Thanks!

[egk2]

I had about 211K on my m50 when I sold my e36. It blew smoke, valves
tapped, oil pan leaked but it still ran pretty good Trouble free for the most part, all I did was change the profile gasket and rubber doughnut seals.
Weak motor imo, sounds really good with a catback though.

[Mless5]

bulletproof.

[DarkWing6]

bulletproof.

Meaning....? If I buy a car that has been cared for at least preatty good but has 180K on it how many miles will this baby go if I care for it?


Also, what kinds of things should I be looking for?

[James Crivellone]

plastic impeller waterpumps, chain guides, coil pack failures, vanos unit failures.

Nothing really crazy overall, they can run forever, they just have more technology to fail.

[e34john]

My nonVANOS have been great, still runs awesome with about 130K. Someone mentioned water pump which is true but I think another 16 good years is going to be easy the way it started up and drove yesterday.

[FredK]

A car that is still running to this very day with 180K does not have a plastic impeller waterpump, otherwise it would have overheated a long long time ago. Get the OE BMW composite impeller waterpump and you should be good for at least 75K.

Non Vanos M50s were more susceptible to coil pack failures.

Vanos unit failures are fairly simple to deal with. Just replace the Vanos unit with a good used one or one that has been reconditioned by Dr Vanos.

I have not heard of any chain guides failing prematurely. That seems to be more common in the M42. That said, replace the timing chain tensioner every 75K or so.

My buddy ran his NV E36 325i until the rear subframe mounting points ripped out at 280K. The engine still ran fine.

[PiercedE30]

check the gasket for the oil filter housing, they tend to leak a when they get older and start to harden.
also, if there is bad/come valve tick when you start it up, then the oil pressure check valve in the head is bad, but I wouldn't worry about it until you have to pull the head off, if and when.

[mudflaps]

nv ftw

Mine has a miss under low RPM loads though. What should I try looking for first?

[SchnellerVert]

Coil sounds like it is dying. Check coils and the rubber connector to the plugs to make sure they are good.

[fwappy]

The M50 in my 94 has almost 290,000 miles and runs strong!!

[mudflaps]

Coil sounds like it is dying. Check coils and the rubber connector to the plugs to make sure they are good.

not familiar, how do i do this?