Consensus on rod bearings?

[knicks0819]

I have a 2010 E93, but life happened (good things, couple kids, etc.), and my car sat mostly unused since 2014 aside from a drive here and there to keep everything running smoothly.

Anyway, I remember way back then all the posts here seemed to be about rod bearings and whether it was a real issue or fear mongering. Is there a general consensus on them nowadays or is the same debate still ongoing?

My car has about 45k miles on it now and hasn't had any issues. Now that we're ready to drive it some more, I want to make sure it lasts, but not waste money foolishly either. What are your thoughts? What other things should I take care of on a 10 year old car that only has 45k miles? TIA!

[akkando]

Originally Posted by knicks0819

I have a 2010 E93, but life happened (good things, couple kids, etc.), and my car sat mostly unused since 2014 aside from a drive here and there to keep everything running smoothly.

Anyway, I remember way back then all the posts here seemed to be about rod bearings and whether it was a real issue or fear mongering. Is there a general consensus on them nowadays or is the same debate still ongoing?

My car has about 45k miles on it now and hasn't had any issues. Now that we're ready to drive it some more, I want to make sure it lasts, but not waste money foolishly either. What are your thoughts? What other things should I take care of on a 10 year old car that only has 45k miles? TIA!

Same debate I think. We need a sticky.

Chances of bearing spinning is low. Very few after market bearings have come out of cars but those that have generally look like new instead of beat up like the OEM bearings.

Main bearing could still spin.

I would say the data shows after market increased clearance bearings do have better oil flow.


You have to ask yourself how much is peace of mind worth for this engine.

[SRB_Mpower]

Changed mine at 120K and they had no wear! It's a gamble according to the posts across the forums.

[Scrippy]

RB failure doesn't just happen IMO. I've been fought by many here regarding that but how you maintain and drive is paramount. If you go that 15,000 between oil changes you're asking for it. If you beat the piss out of your car every drive you're asking for it. Allegedly you could be driving normally and it happens is what "they" say. I don't buy it, I think you've been hangin around the 8-8,400 RPM range too long and carelessly at that but that's just my opinion. I won't talk about bearing clearances because I don't buy the claims as I've seen no comparative data with actual vehicles by any of the bearing magicians out there. I've changed my RB's twice and I am well over 200,000 miles and no issues. I consider RB service a 75,000-100,000 mile service. I also change my oil every 5,000. $1,800-2,100 every 100,00 miles ain't shit if you love a car and plan on keeping it. It's a BMW M not a Civic.

[bkfastwagon]

Originally Posted by knicks0819

I have a 2010 E93, but life happened (good things, couple kids, etc.), and my car sat mostly unused since 2014 aside from a drive here and there to keep everything running smoothly.

Anyway, I remember way back then all the posts here seemed to be about rod bearings and whether it was a real issue or fear mongering. Is there a general consensus on them nowadays or is the same debate still ongoing?

My car has about 45k miles on it now and hasn't had any issues. Now that we're ready to drive it some more, I want to make sure it lasts, but not waste money foolishly either. What are your thoughts? What other things should I take care of on a 10 year old car that only has 45k miles? TIA!

If you intend to keep the car for awhile, I recommend getting RBs done. You have to consider the cost of time (which is also = $) and mental energy wasted on this agonizing decision. Just read all the back and forth arguments on this topic, it's astounding.

I got mine done at 50K miles. IMO the more important question is whether you know a competent shop that can get it done right.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by Scrippy

RB failure doesn't just happen IMO. I've been fought by many here regarding that but how you maintain and drive is paramount. If you go that 15,000 between oil changes you're asking for it. If you beat the piss out of your car every drive you're asking for it. Allegedly you could be driving normally and it happens is what "they" say. I don't buy it, I think you've been hangin around the 8-8,400 RPM range too long and carelessly at that but that's just my opinion. I won't talk about bearing clearances because I don't buy the claims as I've seen no comparative data with actual vehicles by any of the bearing magicians out there. I've changed my RB's twice and I am well over 200,000 miles and no issues. I consider RB service a 75,000-100,000 mile service. I also change my oil every 5,000. $1,800-2,100 every 100,00 miles ain't shit if you love a car and plan on keeping it. It's a BMW M not a Civic.

So by your logic, engine builders should not bother measuring the engine clearances?

Statistics is a bitch. Some people get lucky. Some don't. Remove the risk by putting in proper equipment.

[6ixSpd]

FFS.

[pjk380]

Originally Posted by SRB_Mpower

Changed mine at 120K and they had no wear! It's a gamble according to the posts across the forums.

My 2010 had 14,500 miles on it when I bought it in 2017. I believe it was well maintained and oil changes done regularly. I replaced the rod bearings last March and the car had 24,000 mi. All the bearings showed wear, 2 of them showed more wear than the others.

Could the car have gone another 30K-40K miles without an issue? Maybe, who knows? I'm not much of a gambler.

I replaced them because I am going to keep the car and wanted that piece of mind instead of worrying about the issue.

My 2 cents is get them replaced if you plan on keeping it.

[Qikish]

Honestly it’s one of those things, if your able to afford an M3 and we are talking about a 10 year old car now, it’s not your daily driver. It’s a passion car now, or even a collectable, treat it like one, do the bearings they are cheap comparatively and at the very least they won’t make things worse and they will give you a little piece of mind.

[decimation1]

Here we go again.......

[tdott]

Consensus among more established owners that have been around since these cars were still in production is to change them preventatively.

But there seems to be a crop of new owners that are in denial and making up all kinds of theories that were debunked early on.

Eitherway educate your self, the bearing wiki is a good place to start. Then make your own informed decision based on the risk you are willing to accept.

[Denny347]

If you plan on having it for a long time, go ahead and change them. Cheap insurance as opposed to what happens when you spin one.

[amrazM]

how are these questions still being asked

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by amrazM

how are these questions still being asked

Search functions are hard to use.

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

So by your logic, engine builders should not bother measuring the engine clearances?

Statistics is a bitch. Some people get lucky. Some don't. Remove the risk by putting in proper equipment.

Never said that. In fact I trust BMW's motor manufacturing more than a bearing manufacturers. I did say in my opinion people thrash their cars and then throw their arms up.

[tdott]

Originally Posted by Scrippy

In fact I trust BMW's motor manufacturing more than a bearing manufacturers.

Well then why have you changed your rod bearings twice as you claim?

Also why bother changing any of the lifetime fluids in the car. Your transmission fluid 6mt or dct better still be original if you trust BMW so much.

[LakeSurfer]

Anytime someone states a bunch of "facts" and follows it up with "that's my opinion", you can throw their "facts" out the window for starters.

Honestly, I don't mean to be or sound like a dick but you knew what the debate was like 5 years ago and you probably know what it's like today. Nothing's changed and nothing's gonna change.

So do them or don't do them, you're the only person who gets to make that decision.

[Scrippy]

1st time- I am the 2nd owner and wanted no worries about what was done before me. I did this based off hysteria I found here.

2nd time-road deformity hit my oil pan and insurance was handling it so I paid for bearing again at a ver reduced price to see what my WPC RB's looked like from the first time.

I have all my bearings to compare them. I do consider RB's a service item like I already said not for shortcomings in build quality but because of the high redline. You're mad if you think a motor can constantly be up in 8,000 without something wearing PERIOD. And if you want to compare apples to oranges yes I changed my trans fluid twice as well. All and all I daily and have tracked my car a handful of times and will do more in the future and have had zero problems and I have more miles than most of you. I've used WPC & OE bearings and my car hasn't blown up. So if you and everyone else want to fight about clearance this and that.....feel free to wank on! Just do them should be the message.

[MechEngineer408]

The only consensus on rod bearings is that there is no consensus on rod bearings.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by Scrippy

1st time- I am the 2nd owner and wanted no worries about what was done before me. I did this based off hysteria I found here.

2nd time-road deformity hit my oil pan and insurance was handling it so I paid for bearing again at a ver reduced price to see what my WPC RB's looked like from the first time.

I have all my bearings to compare them. I do consider RB's a service item like I already said not for shortcomings in build quality but because of the high redline. You're mad if you think a motor can constantly be up in 8,000 without something wearing PERIOD. And if you want to compare apples to oranges yes I changed my trans fluid twice as well. All and all I daily and have tracked my car a handful of times and will do more in the future and have had zero problems and I have more miles than most of you. I've used WPC & OE bearings and my car hasn't blown up. So if you and everyone else want to fight about clearance this and that.....feel free to wank on! Just do them should be the message.

But, but, but...

Bearings are not wear items. Well, hydrodynamic bearings with proper flow are not wear items. I doubt that many owners spend most of their day at 8400RPM. That said, AP1 S2Ks do not eat bearings. 911 GT3s do not eat bearings. Audi 5.2 V10s do not eat bearings.

So "just do them" does not suffice. Replace them, once, with something that guarantees proper clearance - that logic I can get support. Then rebuild your engine once actual wear items, such as the rings, are finally worn out.

For example, if your IMS bearing has a design flaw, is it better to:

• constantly replace the bearing before it fails?

or

• put an upgraded IMS bearing into your engine that will not fail?

[Scrippy]

The motors you mention either have lower redlines or half the rotating mass. I hear ya though.

[GotV8?]

here we go again!!! lol

I just had mine done as a preventative @94,000 miles and I hang around 8,500 rpm many times after proper warm up thanks to BPM tune!!! when the old ones came out!!! they still look great and I change my oil every 5k miles religiously !!