Rod bearings being changed as we speak [ DONE, Pics inside]

[anom3]

Thought I would start this message now, I'll update it as soon as I get the car back.

Feb 4th 2015:

So I got the car back today.

A) Many photos of my old bearings below. Sorry, no SLR here... Just my iPhone so the pics kind of suck. Also, the old bearings got mixed up on the way home. So no idea what cyl is what bearing, but... The heavily worn ones are the tops, the not worn at all are the bottoms. Ignore any GASHES as I just threw them into a box so they were knocking around quite a bit on the way home. Regardless, I am no expert, but 2 of them are showing signs of copper.

B) I will upload videos later on tonight, but the sound of the motor is almost identical. Tick tick tick (steady, no knock) still coming from the bottom end. Almost not worth taking the video and posting it as its almost identical.

C) One of my engine mounts was blown. Fixed.

Here are the pics:





















As mentioned, the good looking ones are the bottoms, the worn ones the top.

Total cost for this, in USD was... labour and parts included: 1900USD. That including 2 new engine mounts, labor to swap them, and the oil pump chain tensioner, labor included.

Feb 3rd 2015:

Rod bearings being changed as we speak.

a) Have a video of a ticking from the bottom end I was getting before the change. Rythmic, steady and what many of the threads on here state is "normal". No knock. Just a steady tick tick tick from the bottom end. Yes, I know ticking from the upper side of the motor is normal (injectors).

b) I will post pictures of what the removed shells looked like.

c) I ran a bottle of CeraTec about 2000km ago (emptied 2000km ago, added 7000km ago). Also ran a bottle of Mos2 before then. Jimk asked that I show what the shells looked like as they SHOULD have a "yellow" look to them if the ceratec is actually doing what it should be.

d) Car is E92 07.07 production. Running the original (as far as I know) PRE 702/703 bearings (Lead coated I believe?). 77000KM on the motor.

e) Expecting car back in my hands end of day Thursday.

f) While we are there, changing the engine mounts as well as the oil pump thain tensioner. Chain tensioner done due to the cold start GRIND / CLUNK I am experencing. Who knows, maybe it will help. Small investment $$ wise once they have the oil pan off. Thought might as well.

g) Bearings being changed to the "new" 702/703 blues + reds as getting the WPC etc ones into Europe is a pain and takes about a month with the delay at customs etc.

Will post the pre change, post change videos and pics of the removed shells as soon as I have it all compiled together. Pics + videos will be in this post (#1, via edit).

Excited!

[davesaddiction]

I sure hope they look great, but I guess that's wishful thinking... Definitely don't want to hear that a "normal"-sounding ticking might be signs of something bad.

Have you been getting oil analysis reports?

[anom3]

unfortunatley not.

quite a pain in the ass to get an oil sample out of the EU to blackstone.

i have the blackstone kit (black container, etc...) but from what i read its quite difficult to get it shipped.

Originally Posted by davesaddiction

I sure hope they look great, but I guess that's wishful thinking... Definitely don't want to hear that a "normal"-sounding ticking might be signs of something bad.

Have you been getting oil analysis reports?

[Yoddha]

Would you mind if I asked what the costs were behind this?

[Alohaaaaa]

Where I work just special ordered a few tubes of that ceramic stuff... Tempted to add to my M.

[waldron80]

Originally Posted by anom3

g) Bearings being changed to the "new" 702/703 blues + reds as getting the WPC etc ones into Europe is a pain and takes about a month with the delay at customs etc.

!

Are the new bearings that much better? Because you can not trace lead and copper in the oil analysis why wouldn't you want to use the old version so you can track bearing wear?

Just curious.

Thanks.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by waldron80

Are the new bearings that much better? Because you can not trace lead and copper in the oil analysis why wouldn't you want to use the old version so you can track bearing wear?

Just curious.

Thanks.

No, they were measured significantly harder. I don't believe you can acquire the older lead babbitt-faced bearings anymore.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by thekurgan

No, they were measured significantly harder. I don't believe you can acquire the older lead babbitt-faced bearings anymore.

Thought the only reason they changed was because lead is forbidden for the environment .

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Thought the only reason they changed was because lead is forbidden for the environment .

It was, aluminum was the substitute, I would consider that a downgrade for the babbitt.

[anom3]

my understanding is the old ones, the lead coated ones, are no longer available. thats what the bwm ordering system at the mechanics stated, as well as countless threads here.

the 702/703 ones are the 'correct, latest' replacement when doing an OEM based bearing swap.

Originally Posted by waldron80

Are the new bearings that much better? Because you can not trace lead and copper in the oil analysis why wouldn't you want to use the old version so you can track bearing wear?

Just curious.

Thanks.

[Helmsman]

OP, where in Europe are you based, and what is the cost quoted for the job?

Thanks

Good luck!

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by anom3

unfortunatley not.

quite a pain in the ass to get an oil sample out of the EU to blackstone.

i have the blackstone kit (black container, etc...) but from what i read its quite difficult to get it shipped.

if you're in Europe, I would find an industrial oil/engine testing lab locally to do the test. I'm sure there's got to be a company out there. I would also call up companies who service large industrial trucks, tractors, or farm machines and ask them where they send in their oil samples. Or you can also ask companies that service or sell diesel generators or marine/ship engines.

Also a racing shop also would use this service as well, so call a well-known race shop like Prodrive.

All these types of companies use oil samples to analyze their motor, you don't have to use a US company to run the tests.

[tam099]

ARP bolts?

[SenorFunkyPants]

As a point of interest BMW could under EU regs have the old style lead faced bearings manufactured for cars build before the date that the exemption expired (around june 2011 IIRC). Shame they don't.

[anom3]

negative, everything oem.

new bolts of course, just oem.

Originally Posted by tam099

ARP bolts?

[anom3]

i was not aware the lead coated ones were actually better...

regardless, everything is being replaced with the recommended newest part #'s as per the bmw ordering system.

got a call today at about 15:00 asking if i wanted to go with 10w60 or 0w40 (as i had a while ago...), went with 10w60 tws (or whatever it is now...).

guessing that means it will be ready tomorrow

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

As a point of interest BMW could under EU regs have the old style lead faced bearings manufactured for cars build before the date that the exemption expired (around june 2011 IIRC). Shame they don't.

[SenorFunkyPants]

Originally Posted by anom3

everything is being replaced with the recommended newest part #'s as per the bmw ordering system.

got a call today at about 15:00 asking if i wanted to go with 10w60 or 0w40 (as i had a while ago...), went with 10w60 tws (or whatever it is now...).

guessing that means it will be ready tomorrow

Excellent...it will interesting to see how your old bearings look.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

Excellent...it will interesting to see how your old bearings look.

+ 1 .
Also because the car is Euro/Spec , pics of the used bearings can serve as an comparison vs the US/Spec/car bearings .
And one word just crossed my mind that I said before => "Fuel quality" !
Mmm...Interesting ...We will see

[rsr552]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

+ 1 .
Also because the car is Euro/Spec , pics of the used bearings can serve as an comparison vs the US/Spec/car bearings .
And one word just crossed my mind that I said before => "Fuel quality" !
Mmm...Interesting ...We will see

As per the fuel quality part....is this more so to do with octane rating? Or fuel additives? Also, what about the effect of ethanol? Seems like a lot of places are running 10% ethanol mixes in the states.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by rsr552

As per the fuel quality part....is this more so to do with octane rating? Or fuel additives? Also, what about the effect of ethanol? Seems like a lot of places are running 10% ethanol mixes in the states.

It's because last year my friend and ///M mechanic received the thread of the blown engines and bearing failures from me .
After he said to me fill her only up with 98Ron and from a good brand such as Shell V-Power,Esso or Total ,and you will never know what bearings are !
So....Who knows ? I was telling this on here but the comment of the US guys was....We have other Octane/Specs than in Europe ...
So I was again back to off !
But one thing is for sure that Ethanol s@cks of our S65 because it attracts moisture and that s@cks again for the detonation ,and I know there is a lot of Ethanol in the US fuel .
That's why I'm curious to see Euro/Spec bearings with xxxxxx miles on it and driven in Euro conditions...

[Z K]

Ethanol content is fine if you use your gas quickly. Because it is organic, it will go bad over time.

Lots of turbocharged cars are converted to run E85 (85% ethanol) gas and they run fine. Ethanol is very high octane so it allows for higher horsepower and performance. That is why it is used in turbocharged cars so it can run more boost and more power over regular gas. It's racing fuel on a budget.

[anom3]

Pics uploaded in post #1.