Death by Rod Bearings (again)

[ellekz]

Originally Posted by Kwando

So you found out that your car was totaled after you bought it, you lawyered up, the dealer wouldn't buy it back..then what happened? Did you get anything out of the lawsuit?

Bought the car, engine blew the same day, I lawyered up the next morning (to not get screwed over in some way)... At that point have already thought about maybe trying to undo the deal, who knows what else is wrong. Dealer didn't want to, wanted to fix it. A day later I found out the car was declard a total loss in the US, now I really wanted to undo the buy! Dealer says the car is accident-free (despite the evidence) and still doesn't want to buy it back. Lawsuit has been filed, but this takes a lot of time, I still don't even have a court date yet.
But regardless of the lawsuit, the dealer still has to fix issues with the car.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

I never reported mine here, but my engine failed a few months ago as well. 61k miles, with my original rod bearings replaced by the dealership at 17k miles. I have the extended warranty and still had to fight BMW to get them to replace mine because they said they saw videos of my car on the track and that's considered abuse. Always warm up my engine before pushing it, oil changes every 6-8k miles, and always keep it topped off. It can happen to anyone.

So, your engine had bearings changed twice? Bearing knock both times, or did it blew? Curious about a bit more info if possible mate.

Thanks

[Mvy]

You might want to give this to your lawyer, I thought of you when reading it but I know you are in Germany and it may not apply. Might be helpful:

http://oppositelock.jalopnik.com/the...out-1680132879

[ilikebmxbikes]

Originally Posted by vsix

Alter Schlappen....Sorry to hear that! Hmmm...it look's like all these fail's do happen while driving the car at "higher" speed's. Wow...could you please explain what RPM's you had when you felt something went wrong?
At least that way you can help other user's to prevent their engine failure's.

Let me put it this way:
Only because it say's in your cluster 8-9k RPM doesn't mean you can really hit it without any consequences!
For me, even it is a M-machine, it's still a burbling V8 and V8's have their comfort zone in lower region's. Only because the fact, german engineer's managed and finally allowed you to rocket these engine's into beyond possible high RPM areas, doesn't also mean these car's actually like to be reved that high.
As for me, my car won't see past 5k ...screw everything else what they say, high reving motor and all that jazz? V8 is a V8!

your joking right?

[ilikebmxbikes]

Originally Posted by vsix

I disagree, you also should see it this way:

Only because you had "a service technician" who stated the famous rod bearing doesn't make this assumption legit.
All rod bearing issues are made up, believe me...you are one of the unfortunate people that bought a car without a real record and only god knows how it was treated in his multiple location visits.
You can't compare, as I mentioned earlier, apples with oranges. Your car has been used, probably abused, totalled, fixed, maybe stolen recovered or flooded...who knows...and at the end maybe fixed together in an Ma and Pa backyard shop( not saying they did a bad job but that's were little, tiny mistakes can happen due to people that are not that mechanically inclined as an certified BMW M technician )
So you can't compare your car with an properly from BMW by BMW certified technician's serviced M3 and also spread at the same time the ice cold rod bearing death breath over the forum.
To sum it up to all you grashopper's out there:

It's very unlikely that this will happen to the majority of M3 E92 owner's!
So drive it and enjoy life, instead of beeing constantly in thread, only because a few smart buisenes man found a way to open up your wallet

This is entirely wrong. Premature rod bearing wear is affecting all year vehicles, both supercharged and NA. Street driven and track. Some are worse than others and obviously tracking and superchargers may accelerate wear, but premature bearing wear is present on all S65's.

By premature bearing wear I mean exactly that, I am not saying all motors are ticking timebombs. I will be changing bearings out of both my cars at 50k miles regardless of blackstone reports.

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

So, your engine had bearings changed twice? Bearing knock both times, or did it blew? Curious about a bit more info if possible mate.

Thanks

Ticking the first time. No ticking the second time. The engine just failed one day when I was driving in traffic.

[nusevad]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

Ticking the first time. No ticking the second time. The engine just failed one day when I was driving in traffic.

What year was your 2nd engine? Scary to hear that they can die without any indication

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by FifthStreetz

What year was your 2nd engine? Scary to hear that they can die without any indication

Not sure. It went in about 2-3 months ago.

[JEllis]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

Not sure. It went in about 2-3 months ago.

I am curious what your oil maintenance was like. When I tracked my 997 the Porsche guys recommended changing the oil after every track day. A giant PITA! When I started tracking my M3, I noticed the BMW community had a much more liberal oil change policy. I doubt it has much relevance here as we know the tolerances on these motors are tight. That being said, I am interested.

[radiantm3]

Originally Posted by JEllis

I am curious what your oil maintenance was like. When I tracked my 997 the Porsche guys recommended changing the oil after every track day. A giant PITA! When I started tracking my M3, I noticed the BMW community had a much more liberal oil change policy. I doubt it has much relevance here as we know the tolerances on these motors are tight. That being said, I am interested.

After every track day sounds excessive. I changed mine every 6-8k miles. I haven't done too many track days. In the 60k miles I did about 30 days.

[JEllis]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

After every track day sounds excessive. I changed mine every 6-8k miles. I haven't done too many track days. In the 60k miles I did about 30 days.

Yeah, it probably was excessive. But like any high performance motor, the M96/7 flat 6s had their weak points. Especially the intermediate shaft bearing. Its amazing, every performance car I have owned has had some kind of "sky is falling" mechanical gremlin.

Thanks!

[jacobe92]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

I never reported mine here, but my engine failed a few months ago as well. 61k miles, with my original rod bearings replaced by the dealership at 17k miles. I have the extended warranty and still had to fight BMW to get them to replace mine because they said they saw videos of my car on the track and that's considered abuse. Always warm up my engine before pushing it, oil changes every 6-8k miles, and always keep it topped off. It can happen to anyone.

I'm curious how they got a hold or saw your track videos. Did they actually do an actual search on YouTube?

[TommyLights]

Any update OP?

[MasterP]

I change my oil every 160 Track minutes. So that's typically Two track Days.

My car does not see street miles unless it's headed to a shop or headed to the track.

But I always put fresh oil for COTA - that's a lot of High RPM's with the long straights.

It's a little maniacal and not cheap but better safe than sorry. But it also allows us to keep a really close eye on the engine when we examine the oil and the filters. It may not be run long enough to be conclusive, the oil comes out clean enough you could put it in another car.

The replacement engine I got after mine blew was a 2011 with ~44K Miles. We put new bearings in it before putting the engine back in. The bearings pulled out of that engine we already very worn.

[crypticc]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

Not sure. It went in about 2-3 months ago.

So still breaking the new engine in again when they became shot? What did those bearings look like when they came out?

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by ilikebmxbikes

This is entirely wrong. Premature rod bearing wear is affecting all year vehicles, both supercharged and NA. Street driven and track. Some are worse than others and obviously tracking and superchargers may accelerate wear, but premature bearing wear is present on all S65's.

By premature bearing wear I mean exactly that, I am not saying all motors are ticking timebombs. I will be changing bearings out of both my cars at 50k miles regardless of blackstone reports.

All ///M3s? I didn't realize they pull the engines on 60,000+ M3s world wide to check this. Well, there is at least 1 out there they missed, mine.

If BMW used the analysis techniques used on this forum, I can guarantee none of their cars would work.


Cheers,
e46e92

[ellekz]

Originally Posted by Tomz_M3

Any update OP?

Not really. But I'm so p*ssed. The dealership is trying a new strategy now - the silent treatment. They're not responding to any deadlines or messages from my lawyer (not even their lawyer responded to a mail). The car has been sitting in BMW's loft for 3 weeks now and looks like it will be there until summer (still no court date, but probably June ).

But BMW does not allow me to have my car parked there anymore. They said they tolerated it for 1-2 weeks so my dealer could come pick it up. BMW now wants 305 EUR per month for parking (never mind the fact that their parking lot is almost as big as a football field and half empty).

My options now are:

1. pay 305 EUR every month until the court date (that'll probably total to $1400 USD for parking, lol)
   
   
2. I can't have the car towed to the street because it'll probably be broken into, wheels stolen, (with the blown engine they at least can't steal the whole car, lol), and I'd have to continue to pay taxes and insurance on the car since it can't be on public roads without a valid registration and insurance (200+ EUR per month)
   
   
3. I can't have the car towed to my garage because it's an underground garage with a lift
   
   
4. I can however have the car towed to my parent's BUT I just put on a brand new set of winter tires (Michelin Pilot Alpine 19") and replaced the exhaust with a OEM modded one - I want both these things back before the dealer picks it up after he loses the trial)
   
   
5. So I thought why not have BMW change the tires and exhaust, they can roll the car into their shop and then I can just have it towed, right? right??? NO! Why? Because f*ck you customer! They don't wanna do it, "we can't install parts you bring, only parts you buy here".

So I'm probably gonna have the car towed to my parents and hope nothing happens to the car there during the next 4 months. At some point I'm gonna have to get 4 bricks or wood blocks or something to put under my car so I can get all 4 wheels off and drive them somewhere to have the tires changed somewhere.
This bullsh*t is such a headache I've already made peace with the fact that I'm not gonna have any car at all for the next months, but now these logistical problems are really driving me insane.

I didn't expect BMW to allow me to have my car parked there for such a long time but I at least hoped for some little bit of courtesy. But once again BMW Deutschland AG is giving me the finger (if you thought BMW of North America's customer service is bad - don't even dare come here!).
After being so loyal for so long, I'm seriously considering a brand switch. Not just because of that, but also a lot of other stuff (partly because their marketing people are ruining the company). So far, I can't imagine what else kind of car to have, the E92 M3 is pretty special But I'm hoping something else will show up that'll blow my mind, visually as well as dynamically.
/rant

[Helmsman]

Oh boy, I do feel your pain and crazy frustration. The dealer is obviously out on deep water and you will nail them. The situation they force you into mean while is just outragous.

Bad people needs to be fought down. These guys are worse, evil.

Wish you all strength needed bro. You'll ger there.

Cheers

[SenorFunkyPants]

ellekz - Did you buy your car from a BMW dealer?

[aussiem3]

This stuff is crazy

[ellekz]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

ellekz - Did you buy your car from a BMW dealer?

No, they're far too rare here for that. The dealership I bought it from however exclusively sells BMWs and most of them are low mileage (<10,000 miles) and only the higher priced models. When I bought the M3 they also had two other M3s, two M6 and an X6M that day. It wasn't some dealer with the cars parked on some gravel but everything inside (parlor) and located in the second richest town of the state. Nothing seemed shady at all

[SenorFunkyPants]

Originally Posted by ellekz

No, they're far too rare here for that. The dealership I bought it from however exclusively sells BMWs and most of them are low mileage (<10,000 miles) and only the higher priced models. When I bought the M3 they also had two other M3s, two M6 and an X6M that day. It wasn't some dealer with the cars parked on some gravel but everything inside (parlor) and located in the second richest town of the state. Nothing seemed shady at all

Its a nightmare when things like this happen. I bought a 911 with a shady past from a main Porsche dealer that ended up needing a fortune spending on it to make it run OK but it was never right, That took nearly a year to resolve and the intervention from the importer to force the dealer to buy the car back. It was all very stressful.
If your car had come from a main BMW dealer you would at least be in a much stronger position.
It is a shame that BMW AG aren't offering much assistance but I guess they don't want to be in the middle of it if it goes to court. It would not have killed them to store your car though.