NZ00Z3 187 Report post Posted July 21, 2018 Hi A mate and I have been discussing purchasing a car with a S54B32 engine. While we are familar with the maintenance costs of the M54 engines, we don't know what added maintenance costs there are involved with the S54. We plan to do the oil services ourselves. Are there any other maintenance costs we should factor in? Regards Murray Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
M3AN 4016 Report post Posted July 21, 2018 VANOS seals - that's a one off if replaced with uprated versions Bottom end bearings - big job but again, a one off if done properly. Other that I think it's just feed it good oil (10w60) regularly and drive it like you stole it. Eventually the cooling system will explode but that's no different from any other BMW of the era, best to do it before the explosion of course. What type of car if it's not an M3? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted July 21, 2018 Cooling system!!! Pipes, thermostat... If it's misfiring that's often due to gummed up lifters (due to poor oil maintenance). Replacement is the answer. Oil consumption - often due to worn piston rings. OK - that makes it sound bad, but they're not. The S (&M) 54 engines are great. Long-lived, typically reliable, and fun to drive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lubed 55 Report post Posted July 21, 2018 14 hours ago, gjm said: Cooling system!!! Pipes, thermostat... If it's misfiring that's often due to gummed up lifters (due to poor oil maintenance). Replacement is the answer. Oil consumption - often due to worn piston rings. OK - that makes it sound bad, but they're not. The S (&M) 54 engines are great. Long-lived, typically reliable, and fun to drive. S54 engines do not have hydraulic lifters, they are shimmed. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gjm 3258 Report post Posted July 21, 2018 16 minutes ago, Lubed said: S54 engines do not have hydraulic lifters, they are shimmed. Of course - apologies. I drawing on knowledge of the M54. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NZ00Z3 187 Report post Posted July 21, 2018 (edited) Hi Thank you for the replies. The car is a Z4 M coupe. Looks like the only items to be aware of (different to owning a M54 BMW) are: - VANOS as the engine gets older - Shimming the lifters when they get noisy - Big end bearings, I was thinking that the age of the engine took it out of the big end bearing problem of the M3? Regards Murray Edited July 21, 2018 by NZ00Z3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Matth5 471 Report post Posted July 21, 2018 This one?https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-1688348155.htm?rsqid=a657ad04bdf248f9b51a9b1bfa9a227e Only one on Trademe I can find right now. At that mileage I'd say it'll be a while before you have any engine issues to worry about. They're quite rare and I think they're a bit more special than an M3 because of this. M3 engine and drivetrain in a smaller, lighter body to make it even more of a sports car... it's kinda like a Toyota GT 86 but with a proper engine fit for a sports car Damn this makes me wish I could buy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
