Looking to Buy an E9X M3? Buyers Guide Review - the good, bad and ugly

Pointnshootm3 wrote

The rod bearing issue sucks balls.

Kash wrote

this video did nothing but make M3 owners fear for rod bearing issue further. I lost a good night sleep after watching this video.

Guys... there are things a lot worse than rod bearings, like the oiling issues in 996 generation Pcars.

Rod bearings can be swapped at home over a weekend. People have do it on jack stands.
You swap with the BE bearings and you don't have to worry for 100k miles

At the end of this year or beginning of next I'll do a DIY, just like the E46M one.

It sucks BMW built the car like this but this is not the end of the world. I would still take the S65 over almost every other engine on the planet

Ah......another reviewer who has the attitude just boarding on condescending who then gets his basic facts wrong.

Never gets old how many people think they know it all........and the ones who do you never catch wasting their time making a video because they are too busy out there doing.

I mean seriously, I love him going on about the cruise control......guess he has never been in a Toyota before, but that Toyota company is not very popular with low volumes. This guy sounds like a moron for about 75% of the video.

Cheers,
e46e92

Very informative. Thanks for sharing.

Which rod bearings should I buy? Not looking for performance, just looking for sound

Don't get me wrong, although the E92 M3 doesn't perform as well compared to the other cars he mentioned in the video, it's still the most special to me because of its tie to Motorsport. None of the other cars have even competed at the same level as the E92 M3.

I'm sure you all know in the 2011 American Le Mans Series GT class, BMW Team RLL swept all categories, winning the GT manufacturer, team, and driver championships with an S65 powered M3 GT2, which is equipped with a chassis that is picked up straight off the E92 M3 production line, beating the Porsche, Ferrari, Corvette, and Jaguar factory teams. BMW also took an overall win at the 24 hr at Nurburging in 2010 with this car (http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/05/16/bmw-m3-gt2-wins-the-2010-24-hours-nurburgring/).

Few other more worthy notes that makes the S65 special:

The S65 engine was used in the Z4 GTLM, GT3, GTD race cars all the way up to 2015. The Z4 took the driver's championship in 2014 in the GTD Tudor's United Sportscar Championship class.

There are also many other race cars that are using the S65 engine as their base up TO THIS DAY. (http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1065981)

The S65 engine was also primarily built by hand (), it was 32 lbs lighter than the 6 cylinder S54 engine from the E46 M3, and it won the International Engine of the Year award 5 times in a row (), beating engines from the GTR, Porsche's 911 Carrera S, and McLaren 12c.

Lastly, the E92 M3 GT4, which had the exact same S65 engine as the production car, and won a few championships in various GT4 series:

http://www.bmw-motorsport.com/dam/bmw/sportsmarketing/PDF/BMW_KS_ComM_110822_M3GT4-Vermarktung-Teams-en_dra_SoJ.PDF.download.pdf

In regards to motorsport, no past or present M car comes close to the E92 M3's success apart from the E30 M3, which really blows the E92 and any other car in history out of the water.

MSteve5036 wrote

Which rod bearings should I buy? Not looking for performance, just looking for sound

The important thing is to try a few different kinds, video doesn't really do the subtle changes justice, but luckily this platform gives you lots of opportunity to try them all out! The WPC ones are more of a tickitytickitytickitysound while the be ones are more like a trolllololololollll sound and the OEM ones don't make any sound at all, of course, until they make ALLLL the sounds. All down to personal preference really

MSteve5036 wrote

Which rod bearings should I buy? Not looking for performance, just looking for sound

I answered but then edited my answer to just this: what Richbot said

So change to BE bearings AND change the oil viscosity?

My buddy has an M3 and I need to lecture him on his poor decisions...

Haywood wrote

Can I lay a carbon fibre roof on top on a sunroof? My cousins, nephews brothers wives half brother said I could.

Real carbon fiber is very expensive. I installed an 1/8 inch piece of Luan board on the roof of my M3 using 16 gauge roofing nails and liquid nails construction adhesive. You definitely want to use the liquid nails as it will cut down on any squeaking. In order to make sure it bonds to the roof properly you're going to want to hit the roof with some 35 grit sand paper on a rotary. This luan board smooths out all the gaps around the sunroof so that you can lay carbon fiber vinyl on top giving you the authentic look for under $50.

This is definitely a two person job, so maybe you can get your cousins, nephews brothers wives half brother to help.

Db750 wrote  

Haywood wrote

Can I lay a carbon fibre roof on top on a sunroof? My cousins, nephews brothers wives half brother said I could.

Real carbon fiber is very expensive. I installed an 1/8 inch piece of Luan board on the roof of my M3 using 16 gauge roofing nails and liquid nails construction adhesive. You definitely want to use the liquid nails as it will cut down on any squeaking. In order to make sure it bonds to the roof properly you're going to want to hit the roof with some 35 grit sand paper on a rotary. This luan board smooths out all the gaps around the sunroof so that you can lay carbon fiber vinyl on top giving you the authentic look for under $50.

This is definitely a two person job, so maybe you can get your cousins, nephews brothers wives half brother to help.

Or:

Haywood wrote  

DSilk wrote

If you want to keep your sunroof, forget about carbon fibre. First of all, it is unlikely that anyone mahes a true cf roof panel with a hole in it for a sunroof. Secondly, what would be the point, given the size and weight of the sunroof mechanism and tracks?

You do realize I was joking right?

Hahahahh

I don't think he did.

So about the RB? Do you have to change them all out or just the ones that look worn out?.... I would hate to go through that break-in period if that's the case :

Damn wish I kept my e92m and did the rod bearings......scared me away on my 09 with 38k and I sold it. Sucks.

So... Is the point to get the 335i instead?

Long videos drive me crazy. If it was presented as text with a few photos, I could read it in a few minutes.

Very informative. Great review.

MSteve5036 wrote  

Which rod bearings should I buy? Not looking for performance, just looking for sound

The Carbon fiber rod bearing that DINAN sells is your best bet for build quality and it doesn't void factory rod bearing warranty and also Increases 20 HP.

If you want rod bearings upgraded for cosmetic purpose (for the subtle sound difference it makes) then any replica will do for cheap.

Its about time someone come-up with coding options to nullify bearing noise by increasing cold start to 2x (or 3x if you are manual and true enthusiast).

Rod bearings is one of the best MOD for aggressive stance as well added with spacers.

Lot of posers now-a-days with replica rod bearings that one could callout just by exhaust note.

I am glad that BMW fixed this issue in latest F80 models with augmented sound reality by piping in E92 PURRRR... Via amplified DIRAC audio channels to the cabin so you don't notice bearing noise and lose a good night sleep.

BTW, rod bearing issues are occurring more in E90/92 compared E93 as the top down and increased air volume to engine makes it easily noticeable and possible for early detection of such issues to remediate.

I am just kidding....been subscribed to lot of threads lately in various topics.

Guys, I just replaced my rod bearings with oil impregnated bronze bushings, problem solved!

lastMleft wrote

I have two friends that own e92's one an 08 the other a 2010 and both have never had issues with bearing's or actuators the vehicles were bought new. They drive there cars pretty hard and track them at times. Both vehicles are over 60k now.

All three of us have owned e46 M and we think that the e46 was way more problematic then the e92.

Here's the thing about statistics: your sample size of two is irrelevant.

Bottom line is that the S65 has had enough rod bearing failures for it to be a concern, but that's about the extent of it. Note that there's a difference between something being a concern and "ZOMG I'D NEVER OWN THIS MOTOR". The biggest challenge is that it's effin' rod bearings. If they go, your motor is done, and you're stuck sourcing a donor ($$$$).

It's crazy to me that people go all nuts over rod bearings. I'm no master mechanic, and I've replaced rod bearings in three different motors: Chrysler 360, SBC, and an I6 out of an old ass Chevy flatbed truck. Granted, I was working along side a very experienced old man, but honestly, the hardest part is getting access. The actual job of replacing the bearings is dead simple.

It's just a cost of ownership. Many high-performance cars have their idiosyncrasies. Look at the number of 996 Porsche owners who budget for an engine-out IMS bearing replacement as a preventative measure. Is it really all that crazy to budget for a rod bearing replacement if you're in the market for an S65 powered M3? If you do think that's crazy, then maybe you'd be better of shopping something more conservative, because motors like the S65 don't come without their own baggage.

kb9uwu wrote

Guys, I just replaced my rod bearings with oil impregnated bronze bushings, problem solved!

Did you DIY or have a shop do it?

Haywood wrote

Did you DIY or have a shop do it?

just slapped em on in the driveway. sounds way better than oem. lots more low end torque, too.

Guys I am confused. I thought rod bearings was a part inside the Engine. What does it have to do with the way the car sounds. That's more to do with exhaust right. Can someone please help clear my doubt??