NHTSA Complaint #10199160 — 1994 BMW 740I

LTR FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER REGARDING THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWING BMW TO IMPORT AUTOMOBILES INTO THE US MARKET WITH A DEFECTIVE ENGINE**CC THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1994 BMW 740I WHICH HAD A PROBLEM KNOWS AS A LEAK DOWN PROBLEM WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER USED NIKASIL, AN ALUMINUM NIKEL AND SILICON ALLOY TO LINE THE CYLINDERS OF THE M60 ENGINE. THE CROSS-HATCHED NIKASIL LININGS REACT WITH HIGH SULFUR CONTENT GASOLINE. THE REACTION CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE VERY TOP OF THE CYLINDER BORE, WHERE THERE WAS MOST CONTACT OF THE BURNING MIXTURE AND CYLINDER LINING. THE DAMAGED PREVENTED A GOOD SEAL FROM FORMING BETWEEN THE PISTON CYLINDER WALL WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. *JB