Falcon 22

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D3B

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A friend has just asked me about one of these as he is thinking about buying one.

I know nothing /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

1989/1990 model
apparently has 3.5 litre BMW petrol engine.
he says its 4 berth.

I have of course suggested he gets a survey done.
 
Great boats, but the BMW engine may be a problem. BMW engined boats are usually quite difficult to sell, parts may be hard to come by.

3.5ltr also seems a bit small. Boats of this size normally have a 5.0ltr or 5.7ltr V8
 
[ QUOTE ]
Try here for some further information

http://www.fairlineholidayclub.co.uk/Html%20Pages/index.htm

[/ QUOTE ]

You seem to have the wrong boat /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

If this is the one he is looking at, it seems a very reasonable price as they normally go up for nearer £15k with a mainstream engine.

I would say as long as the mechanics are in good condition, it may be worth a punt, especially if he can make an offer on that price.

Falcon 22
 
Great Starter boats....wrong engine /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Plenty around with the Volvo Petrols in or a few have been re-engined.

I would worry about the BMW unit, although at the right price if he is mechanically minded it would be good.

Cheers

Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Oh, just seen there is a problem with the outdrive on that one. In that case I would run, not walk away from it. BMW sterndrive parts and expertize is going to be in very short supply.
 
There are quite a few in the channel isalnds normally with 5litre or 5.7 litre Volvo Penta Units and secondhand in good nick they go for between 12 and 18 K depending on condition and age.

If it is the one at 8700 it might be worth a punt with a view to re engining . Give me a pm if you want furter details.

I would advise a survey.
 
Hi there,

I'm not quite sure which Falcon 22 is being discussed on this thread but I can try and help set some things straight.

The Falcon 22 range was first produced in 1984 and I actually own hull number 001. The initial production runs were slower and I'd suspect that I probably own the only one built in 1984.

Mine has got a BMW220 engine which is the 3.5 litre unit referred to in the earlier post. Parts for these units (and drive legs) are easy enough to come by and can be sourced in the UK from PH Marine. The reason my boat has the Beemer unit is because BMW marine were offering a years credit to builders on these units and not surprisingly, the newly formed company Falcon took them up on their offer.

It would be unusual to find a 1989/90 Falcon with a BMW unit as they were building the Falcon 23 at that time and most were fitted with Volvo or Mercruiser units. The Falcon 22 range was produced from 1984 to 1988 after which time they were re-branded as the Falcon 23 which had some modifications.

I'm in a good position to get further information if anyone needs it as the manager of the marina where mine is moored was one of the founding partners of Falcon and actually built my boat.

Which Falcon with the outdrive problem was being referred to in the earlier posts?

Regards

Jim
 
I'd agree the BMW unit is actualy a very sound engine, the outdrives are fixable for similar costs to Volvo, but its not as unreliable generaly as a Volvo drive. I ran a B220 for many years with no major problems, another forumite is still zipping around the solent in it quite happily.

As with any boat of that age though, check carefully as condition is everything.
 
Hi Chris,

I've not had an ounce of bother with my BMW220 or the outdrive in the 4 years I've owned the boat. Sure, mine has only done 800 odd engine hours from new in 1984 so I daresay the real test will come with time.

Neale, is the Falcon in the link you posted the boat in question? If so, it is very lowly priced considering the probs with the outdrive are probably easy to fix and wont cost an arm and a leg.

As to it's age, I can tell you it's an early model 22 and was probably built in 1985/6. From then on, all the later 22 models had a different pulpit rail arrangement, Lewmar portlights and a few other subtle differences and the boat shown is pretty much the same as mine
 
I don't think these BMW engines are BMW engines!
I seem to recollect that basically they are Italian VM's?
From Memory (don't scoff!) during the late 80,s early 90's builders like Sealine and Falcon etc stuck these "BMW"s in their Craft.
I also seem to recollect that there were some sort of outdrive probs or maybe probs with obtaining bits or maybe there was a dealer Network prob ref backup etc.
The Stigma the VM unit has stems from the days when Land Rover used them in their Rangies etc.
Similarly Jeep Uk (before it was Chrysler Jeep) stuck the 2.5 lump in the Cherokee and some Grand Cherokees.
Probs Range Rover had was overheating resulting in damaged heads.
The unit has an individual cylinder head for each"pot" and the Rangie set up did not cool the job properly.
The situation was a lot better by the time Jeep stuck the lump in the Cherokee but the same achillies heel if overheating took place.
Cos in the Marine installation (no radiator etc and lots of water about) I don't think the snag appeared.
So if the VM based "BMW" eng is cooled properly there is no prob.

The unit itself, be it the 4 or 5 cyl is a proper piece of engineering.
Twas the cooling that knackered the cyl heads in My experience.
"What experience have You got Kwak" ? I hear You ask.
Well, 25 years floggin 4 wheel drives and 10 Years in the Jeep job.
Plus lots of Years looking at the same type of boat with the same eng that D 3 Bott's is Mate is!
Bits for the Diesel at least ,are availably from PH Marine.
I don't know much about the Petrol jobbie but I would expect the probs with those, if there is any will be down to the Marinisation maybe?
There is a Sealine about that era in My Marina with an origional petrol which seems to work OK.
By the way, I aint no BMW fanatic Automotive or Marine, just calling it as I see it.
By the way, I am a self confessed Mobo "Anorak" and remember studying said Craft quite a few Years back.
Sad ,I know but there it is /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Oh they are BMW alright.

Identical engine to that used in the 5 series car apart from the marinisation.
3 or 5 series manual from Haynes is all you need for basic servicing and you can get all the parts easily enough.

Biggest difference between the marine and standard engine is that all the marine units have a timing chain instead of a cambelt
 
Present day Mercruiser diesel engines are VM based and engine spares are available direct from VM in Chesterfield. Its a lot cheaper to replace one small ally head with 2 valves than a compleat heavy iron block with 12.
 
BMW diesels were built by Italian firm VM. As already mentioned VM also supply engines to Mercruiser and in the past Land Rover, Jeep, Ford and Vauxhall.

The petrol units I believe were the same as those in some BMW cars.

I don't think there is a problem with the engines as such, but more about the expertise in sorting any problems, especially with the legs. I knew a chap once that had BMW drive problems and despite numerous attempts, couldn't get it sorted.

Having said that, it is a case of buyer beware and make sure you pay the right price, that is, alot less than the same boat with a more mainstream engine and drive.

Regarding the one on ebay, again you have a problem with the engine and drive. OMC went bust and although parts are still available, the expertise on these old Cobra units is hard to come by, I know I used to own one. OMC's also had their fair share of problems, mostly relating to setting up the shifting cables which required good knowledge of the design.

I would also have reservations about having a 3.0ltr engine in a two ton boat. Just seems a whole heep underpowered to me.

Again it's all down to price. Buy it cheap enough to factor in a repower if required, and you get yourself a bargain if it ends up not needing one.
 
thanks guys.

i will get my friend to register and see the thread for himself as there is a lot for him to see.

the boat he is being offered is in Scotland (i think) thats where he lives anyway.

having seen a few pics now, i do know them and its probably a good starter boat.

Doug
 
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