Who has actually replaced their rod bearings??

[PACarGuy]

Originally Posted by zipper228

Its really case-by-case. My 2011+ bearings were changed at 44k, estimate is that they MIGHT have made it through another oil change or so..

Agreed. I've just seen a few posts lately that seem to point to 2011+ as being somewhat less worn. Obviously just a random sampling and not a scientific analysis, but I'm starting to wonder if there's anything to that.

[XKxRome0ox]

how much do the replacement bearings (and hardware?) cost?
trying to get a range for how much i need to set aside for this

i'm just starting to look ... i see most people going with BE bearings? and ARP bolts?

[Blackhawk2914]

I'm trying to compare some brands with the rod bearings. does anyone have a brand that they would recommend for a stock vehicle that gets driven a lot? I would imagine there are different bearings for certain situations the engine could be in like high hp or extensive use.

[BayE30]

HOLY HELL, there have been sooooooooo many threads about RB already.


BE bearings with BE ARP bolts. end. done. stop. please.

[Larsim]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

PS. Your gear box comparison doesn't make sense at all in my eyes but different story.

Well buddy, let's see if the transmission comparison is really a different story:

- Let me open my engine to change a part that could or could not be worn to address an issue that affects less than 3,250 of all 65,000 E9x M3s built.

- Let me open my transmission to change a part that could or could not be worn to address an issue that affect less than say 1% (?) (or) 650 of all 65,000 E9x M3s built?

Sure, one can than argue that the transmission on these cars are very reliable but they still fail.

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

You probably have life insurance even though there is about a 0.01% chance you will die prematurely and lose your ability to provide for your family.

Not sure what the mortality rate amongst humans in NH is like but here in Florida the mortality rate has remained steady for a few years now - it is to the point that one can easily predict that 10 out of 10 people will die sooner or later somehow someway whereas the rod bearings on M3's have an estimated "mortality/failure rate" of 1 out of every 20 built (IF it is even that high).

In other words, a human here in Florida has a 100% chance of death with no exceptions while an E9x M3 has a 4.7619% chance of death due to a rod bearing failure. Hmmm...

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

"
Half the owners I rebuild or install new engines for didn't "buy into the hysteria" either. It keeps shops like mine busy.

Of course it does and who can blame you.

If I too had an auto shop I would be advertising that every M3 built has this issue (without mentioning of course that in reality less than 5% really do have this issue) and I would put a picture of a grenade (just like in the Tom & Jerry cartoon) next to an E9x M3 and say, "... THIS is your car, your pride and joy, replace your rod bearings today or it will suffer a horrible death..."

Peace

[pbonsalb]

I did not know 100% of humans die prematurely in FL. Seems like a lot of old people down there to me.

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I did not know 100% of humans die prematurely in FL. Seems like a lot of old people down there to me.

Well all of the smart people move out of Florida, leaving the dumber ones to die prematurely cutting avocadoes, attempting to have friends cut sausages out of their mouths with Samurai swords after one too many Natty Ices, walking outside at 2pm in the middle of July, etc....

[deansbimmer]

(Flame suit on) Maybe I haven't had enough coffee yet, but I see some interesting similarities. I propose that all S65 engines will suffer a 100% mortality due to rod or main bearing failure at some point and mileage if left unchecked. Just as Humans have a 100% mortality rate.

-Some engines will live longer, just as humans that die of old age.
-Some engines receive replacement rod bearings and live longer just as humans with preventative healthcare.
-Some engines die young...

Nobody, not even BMW can know how many have actually failed. It could be 20%+ for all we know. There have been 4+ thousand bearing sets that have been sold in the USA alone (according to my research with vendors). Who knows how many engines those bearings have saved. I can't be the only shop around that sees 2-4 destroyed S65's every month.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

Nobody, not even BMW can know how many have actually failed. It could be 20%+ for all we know. There have been 4+ thousand bearing sets that have been sold in the USA alone (according to my research with vendors). Who knows how many engines those bearings have saved. I can't be the only shop around that sees 2-4 destroyed S65's every month.

2-4 blown engines a month in your shop only… What the heck do you do with them mate, building a steel crap mountain??

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

2-4 blown engines a month in your shop only… What the heck do you do with them mate, building a steel crap mountain??

Technically it would be an aluminum crap mountain...

[PACarGuy]

I'm sure it's been posted before, but it's easy to see the number of complaints of RB failure over the years on the NHTSA website:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2008/BMW/M3
https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/BMW/M3
https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/BMW/M3/C/RWD
etc.

Obviously these folks are motivated to report to NHTSA because of the issue, but this is still only represents the USA and likely many of these go unreported because they are out of warranty and people know BMW will likely do nothing about it.

[Dracula]

I’ll have my rodbarrings changed in 2 weeks on my 2008 s65 with 140k km. I’ll post photos.
On another topic can ayone recomand a brand for the throttle body actuators gears?
txs

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Dracula

I’ll have my rodbarrings changed in 2 weeks on my 2008 s65 with 140k km. I’ll post photos.
On another topic can ayone recomand a brand for the throttle body actuators gears?
txs

If you're in Europe I'd check these guys out: http://www.rebuild.org.uk

[Audioslave686]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Wow!! Audioslave686 also had those spots but yours look even worse!

Amazing! and my car has 86K, not 26k.
That's really a lottery...

[Dracula]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

There are a LOT of owners who have done the service. I've done almost 70 by now and I'm only one of the many shops in the world who do a lot of them.. Thousands of sets of VAC/BE/WPC have been sold. So, more people than you think. The vast majority I've done were for people not on the forums.

Your bearings may be "safe" this week, but what about next week? Pay a little now, or pay a lot later when you or the next owner have to replace an engine.

Hi there!
what kind of bearings do u recomand on a 100k s65 and what about the oil pump? should i replace it as well? txs

[whats77inaname]

Originally Posted by Dracula

Hi there!
what kind of bearings do u recomand on a 100k s65 and what about the oil pump? should i replace it as well? txs

The oil pump isn't the issue.
Bearings: BE.
Rod bolts: ARP.
Method of exhaling: your choice.

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by whats77inaname

The oil pump isn't the issue.
Bearings: BE.
Rod bolts: ARP.
Method of exhaling: your choice.

This. And the oil pump isn't an issue unless your bearings have failed. I have a DIY I'll post some time documenting an oil pump rebuild after bearing failure so you can see what happens inside them.

[xeux]

I used BE Bearing and ARP bolts. My bearings were trashed with only 56k Miles, MY2011.

[m3gasm]

Got mine changed at 138k

[admranger]

Originally Posted by ZombieM3

I have a 2011 with about 50k miles and have contemplated replacing them since I purchased it. Currently, I drive the car about 2k miles a year and rolling the dice.

Almost every thread I’ve read where someone is asking for advice on a prospective m3 purchase someone always says “get the rod bearings replaced and enjoy”.

Who here has actually replaced their rod bearings? My guess is the actual percentage is low.

I did mine.

2011 M3 Rod Bearing Change

[Richbot]

I just changed the bearings on Bank 1 because Bank 1 is where all the problems are. Saved a ton of money.

But I spent it all on blinker fluid. That’s that gearhead life though

[SSMCM3]

I ordered a set of BE bearings and just received them. The lower and upper bearings or package separate The lower bearings are marked standard however the upper bearings are marked went 0 25 mm. This does not seem right however the vendor swears this is the standard set up