BMW engines/legs

[PaulB]

I have heard that these engines / legs have a poor reputation for something? corrosion? reliability? Can anyone be more specific please, preferably from first hand experience? I am considering a boat with twin 180hp rated diesels and outdrives.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[oldgit]

Re:Good cars but ..........

Can only comment from non ownership point of view,so all very 2nd hand info.
When boat hunting over many years occasionally came across a boats with BMW badged engines and was advised in no uncertain terms to stay well away.Reliability and unavailability of spares was mentioned.The marine world is a very conservative place and the small numbers produced and the very short period of being on the market should give an indication of how sucessful the BMW engine/leg combination was.Normally any boat with this power option will be marked down quite dramaticaly in order to sell the thing.Can think of a particular very well regarded boat,which would sell instantly at a good price were it not for the fact it has BMW badges lurking in the engine room.It has been up for sale for ages.Also well worth remembering that you will have sell on the old girl(your boat/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif) at some point.Wonder if this boat is in one of the upper Thames marinas,if it is, has been up for sale for a fairly long time.

<hr width=100% size=1>If it aint broke fix it till it is.

 

[omega2]

Re:Good cars but ..........

DO NOT DO IT, Had a mate with one fitted in a Hardy 24, it was a nightmare, spares through the roof, even the Marine roof, too complicated by half and as reliable as Thames Link trains. Cost a fortune before it was extracted and Mercruiser unit fitted and even that would not have been my choice.

<hr width=100% size=1>J HAMER

 

[Althorne]

Can't agree with Omega2. I had a 120hp BMW petrol in my boat and was economical, very reliable, easy to work on and took most standard consumable parts. Only problem can be spares as they have not been made them for a while and the leg on mine had been changed for a ZF. Also a great many Renault engines were actually re-badged as BMW so they may not be all they seem. Lancing Marine know plenty about BMW's because they used to race them and actually won the F2 World Championship so they can't be that bad can they. It's your choice but I'd talk to the 'experts' first. If you can supply pic's and engine numbers they may even be able to tell you whether they are really BM's or not. Tel 01273 410025. Good Luck with whatever you choose.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[PaulB]

Thanks for advice. Did not go ahead.

By the way, boat was not on the Thames but on the Brisbane river.

<hr width=100% size=1>