▀▄ eas | S65 Rod Bearing Replacement: An ongoing "Journal"

[tom @ eas]

Here's a new report just received on a 07 M5:



That has to be a new record on lead readings.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Here's a new report just received on a 07 M5:



That has to be a new record on lead readings.

I'm sure it's just a particle streak

[tom @ eas]

Another report, 09 M3 @ 57K:

[SenorFunkyPants]

Something way wrong with the viscosity...its completely out of range for any previous sample of 10W60.

[M3thodical]

Ok, I'm sure this is going to sound stupid but I'm looking to get educated here on the oil weight. Why the heck are we using something so heavy on these motors?? I'm not even close to being an expert about all of this but it seems like the oil is too thick for this motor. Would this engine benefit more from a lighter weight? 10W50 perhaps? Maybe a little less than that? I'm thinking out loud on my keyboard here so I'm sure I'm missing something. I'm sure one of you guys can school me on this though.

[pbonsalb]

Have you read any of the other posts on this subject?

[checkmate]

Originally Posted by chris719

This is just like the E46 subframe issue. BMW knows this is a problem but doesn't care because the majority of these engines will run past 100k miles without failure. Once you are out of warranty, once they no longer have to foot the bill, they do not care what happens to you. This is why they didn't change the bottom end when they went from S85 to S65. It was "good enough" and BMW would prefer you to buy a new M3/M4 anyway.

That's pretty much every manufacturer these days. An engine like the S65 running upto 100k miles is pretty commendable. This is especially if you track the car or rev the beans out of it frequently.

[M3thodical]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Have you read any of the other posts on this subject?

I have read many things about this but there doesn't seem to be a conclusion of what's really causing the problem. Is it the bearings or is it something else causing the bearings to break down like this? Could it be the oil, could it be the return ports for the oil are too small? I've heard that other manufacturers have made the return ports smaller than they used to and perhaps this is the case here as well? But with this engine you are reving much higher. I really don't know, I'm just wondering if anyone else has some real thoughts about whats truely going on here. I'm an electronics tech for my profession and typically when something fails it was caused by something else, not the part that blew up. Cause and effect, they don't usually happen in the same spot. Just my thoughts.

[4corners]

Originally Posted by M3thodical

I have read many things about this but there doesn't seem to be a conclusion of what's really causing the problem. Is it the bearings or is it something else causing the bearings to break down like this? Could it be the oil, could it be the return ports for the oil are too small? I've heard that other manufacturers have made the return ports smaller than they used to and perhaps this is the case here as well? But with this engine you are reving much higher. I really don't know, I'm just wondering if anyone else has some real thoughts about whats truely going on here. I'm an electronics tech for my profession and typically when something fails it was caused by something else, not the part that blew up. Cause and effect, they don't usually happen in the same spot. Just my thoughts.

I'll add perhaps the oil is cooking at high revs/temps and burning or flashing: re flashpoints

[Mvy]

Originally Posted by M3thodical

I have read many things about this but there doesn't seem to be a conclusion of what's really causing the problem. Is it the bearings or is it something else causing the bearings to break down like this? Could it be the oil, could it be the return ports for the oil are too small? I've heard that other manufacturers have made the return ports smaller than they used to and perhaps this is the case here as well? But with this engine you are reving much higher. I really don't know, I'm just wondering if anyone else has some real thoughts about whats truely going on here. I'm an electronics tech for my profession and typically when something fails it was caused by something else, not the part that blew up. Cause and effect, they don't usually happen in the same spot. Just my thoughts.

Check out war and peace, aka this thread:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...892838&page=70

[squartus]

Originally Posted by M3thodical

I have read many things about this but there doesn't seem to be a conclusion of what's really causing the problem. Is it the bearings or is it something else causing the bearings to break down like this? Could it be the oil, could it be the return ports for the oil are too small? I've heard that other manufacturers have made the return ports smaller than they used to and perhaps this is the case here as well? But with this engine you are reving much higher. I really don't know, I'm just wondering if anyone else has some real thoughts about whats truely going on here. I'm an electronics tech for my profession and typically when something fails it was caused by something else, not the part that blew up. Cause and effect, they don't usually happen in the same spot. Just my thoughts.

This will tell you everything you need to know about it in detail http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=892838
Not just the bearings that's the issue, or the oil. All facts in this post with no hearsay/gossip.

[kawasaki00]

Originally Posted by Mvy

Check out war and peace, aka this thread:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...892838&page=70

Originally Posted by squartus

This will tell you everything you need to know about it in detail http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=892838
Not just the bearings that's the issue, or the oil. All facts in this post with no hearsay/gossip.

[M3thodical]

WOW! Ok thank you guys very much! This tells me A LOT! Would it be in my best interest to contact my dealer and discuss this situation? My car is still under warranty so I wonder if they could determine bearing breakdown and REPLACE the bearings. Obviously put a larger size in. Or am I nuts to try and talk to them about this??

[Z K]

Originally Posted by M3thodical

WOW! Ok thank you guys very much! This tells me A LOT! Would it be in my best interest to contact my dealer and discuss this situation? My car is still under warranty so I wonder if they could determine bearing breakdown and REPLACE the bearings. Obviously put a larger size in. Or am I nuts to try and talk to them about this??

Good luck with that... the dealer won't do anything.

Short of your engine blowing up, they won't do anything under warranty.

[chadwick]

Has there been any capture of the DME's freeze frame data on cars where bearings have been removed and they are worn? It would be interesting to compare the overall mile to max RPMs/redline counts over the fleet.

[4corners]

Have them give u a free extended warranty

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by 4corners

Have them give u a free extended warranty

Tell them to throw in one for me while you're at it

[4corners]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Tell them to throw in one for me while you're at it

I looked quickly didn't find it but one owner with ~54000 miles, 4000 out of warranty had a blown engine and BMW gave him an extended warranty and it covered the new engine under the warranty.

[M3thodical]

I guess it's worth a shot, worse thing they could say is no but I can't imagine that they would brush off a legitimate concern. My car only has 23,600 miles on it but I bought it used and have ZERO idea of how is was treated by the previous owner. The dealer went through it and said it was rock solid. But reading all this info about the bearings does have me a little nervous, I must confess. It seems like a luck of the draw when and where these things will go on you. Thanks for all of the information guys, greatly appreciated!

[chris719]

Originally Posted by checkmate

That's pretty much every manufacturer these days. An engine like the S65 running upto 100k miles is pretty commendable. This is especially if you track the car or rev the beans out of it frequently.

It's commendable for a street car engine making barely over 400 hp to last 100k miles?

Audi 4.2 and Porsche Mezger engines don't seem to have any problems breaking well past 100k.

[SenorFunkyPants]

Get an extended warranty and don't read threads with the word "bearing" in the subject and you will have years of happiness.

[M3thodical]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

Get an extended warranty and don't read threads with the word "bearing" in the subject and you will have years of happiness.

Sounds like great advice and I think I'll go with that. Would you recommend a warranty from the dealer or one of those other outfits?