Another Cracked S65 - Main Bearing Failure

Scrippy wrote

I’m reading this post and shitting myself! I have 265,XXX on my S65 and this is scary stuff! I wonder who can be relyed on for proper main bearing jobs in LA area? I emailed EAS to see what they offer. Sorry you’re going through this OP. I’ve done RB’s twice and only use BMW 10-60 every 5k but I’ve done nothing for mains.

Call Maleek at MRF Engineering in Irvine. I had him to by RB. Very knowledgeable and hoped he can guide you.

So seems like I’m running across posts and few YouTube videos of No. main bearing failures and not sure how far back this issue started manifesting itself. For a few years I didn’t keep up much on the forum so have been out of the loop until recently as I’m starting to upgrade may M3 and just recently got my RB done at 99,000 miles. They were warn but still probably had another 10-20k before failure so luckily had the means to address it. The shop I got them done at mentioned not to stress too much about the no.1 main.

My M3 was tracked some years ago and I used to drive it more and harder than now. I’m the original owner and maintained it very well with oil changes at 3-5k intervals, oil filters inspected and no metal found ever. Oil samples come back very favorable. I don’t get on it much, probably because In the back of my head I’m cautious of a failure. I’m at the point that I wonder if I’m just eating money upgrading the idrive to CarPlay, getting new wheels, suspension refresh, etc. just to suffer a bearing failure down the road. I don’t have the means to rebuild the engine or pull it.

Does anyone know if these no.1 bearing failures were on cars mostly tracked? Supercharged? Etc. or is it just a matter of approaching 100k+ no matter the driving conditions?

Im on the fence now of selling it and getting a new M4 (wishful thinking lol!) and cutting my losses before it blows up on me.

BimmerRob08 wrote

So seems like I’m running across posts and few YouTube videos of No.[1] main bearing failures and not sure how far back this issue started manifesting itself.

......

Does anyone know if these no.1 bearing failures were on cars mostly tracked? Supercharged? Etc. or is it just a matter of approaching 100k+ no matter the driving conditions?

......

In our blown engines list (see my sig) their are 2 sections for Mains failures and likely mains failures, this covers 39 cases. 3 stated they tracked the car, 5 were supercharged (2 of which were tracked). Where mileage is stated, only a few of the 39 were over 100k miles.

If you find YT videos of failed M3 S65 engines which are not already listed in my blown engines thread (linked in my sig), please could you post a link to them there .

Assimilator1 wrote

In our blown engines list (see my sig) their are 2 sections for Mains failures and likely mains failures, this covers 39 cases. 3 stated they tracked the car, 5 were supercharged (2 of which were tracked). Where mileage is stated, only a few of the 39 were over 100k miles.

If you find YT videos of failed M3 S65 engines which are not already listed in my blown engines thread (linked in my sig), please could you post a link to them there .

I’m sure there were more world wide that dust get reported. Still not sure if that is a concerning number. Thank you for quantifying it.

Dust?? You mean doesn't I assume .
Know of any that I don't have in the list?

BimmerRob08 wrote

I’m sure there were more world wide that dust get reported. Still not sure if that is a concerning number. Thank you for quantifying it.

From deansbimmer (Mporium shop) knowledge regarding MB failures, the mains wear at a much lower rate than the RBs and it makes no sense to perform a MB preventative service because to do it correctly and accurately it requires disassembly/reassembly of the s65 out of the car. At that point, it makes more sense to just perform a complete s65 engine rebuild.

What does our community feel is a good price to drop the engine and do main bearings and rod bearings? Knowing it would be done right!

Assimilator1 wrote

Dust?? You mean doesn't I assume .
Know of any that I don't have in the list?

Typo, yes. Lol! I hate my phone sometimes. Haha

BimmerRob08 wrote

Typo, yes. Lol! I hate my phone sometimes. Haha

Same, always need to watch your phone for forced typos!

Oh, just thought, if you're using your phone (only?), then you won't have seen the link in my sig? (although I would've thought you'd ask?).
Anyway, this thread for (the latest) blown engines list here - https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2093339