Pictures of engine rod bearings on a 75k mile 2008 daily driver with oil report

[kkhurr]

So Ive decided to supercharge the car with an AA gen 2 level 2 and put on KW V3 and pretty much overhaul a lot of the car since i plan on keeping it for a bit. This includes the engine bearings to be done.

Appreciate Andrew at Active Autowerke and Active Autowerke and in helping, keeping me informed, and great customer service.

Im not an expert on how they should look but figured id post images of them for the forum to show you guys since Andrew took pictures

Had the car since 2008. Driven across country and has been to Arizona, Georgia, Texas, and spent most of its time in South Florida as a daily driver. Garage kept but also driven properly like an M but never abused.

Oil report done at 72k miles

[Leonardo629]

Looks like smearing of bearing material on the uppers, lack of oil film.

[Ashley Schaeffer BMW]

Look good to me!


The engine prob would have blown after another 10 miles of driving, good thing you did the swap!!
-M3post

[cenix]

What did Active Autowerke say about the bearings that were pulled?

[admranger]

Any oil analysis pre teardown?

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by Ashley Schaeffer BMW

Look good to me!


The engine prob would have blown after another 10 miles of driving, good thing you did the swap!!
-M3post

Maybe longer than 10 miles but multiple levels of bearing material worn through with some copper showing is not what you want to see.

[kkhurr]

Originally Posted by admranger

Any oil analysis pre teardown?

updated with oil report at 72k miles

Active told me bearings were really bad especially number 7 and copper showing was a bad sign.

[IIAp3x]

I look at this example and I can't help but to wonder if pre-detonation contributed to the many cases similar to this- all the upper halves showing cavities?

Shitty gas + hot temps outside + lethargic knock detection system = predetonation

I only say this because even with a new engine in my car, I still sometimes hear my engine pinging... It does not last long before the ECM pulls timing, but the fact that I can occassionally hear it on really hot days tells me that the ECM/knock detection is not as fast reacting as everyone thinks it is...

I stopped using "M" mode when its over 90 degrees outside just so that I am not pushing the cars limitations... It's 96/97 everyday here in Florida right now!

[Amirsm3]

What does M mode have to do with timing? That's all throttle response in terms of your right foot.

[squartus]

Its been 95/100 every day here in south Mississippi and even SC im not getting any pinging whatsoever.
And yea M button has nothing to do with anything, simply increases throttle response changes traction control and suspension settings. Right foot is only thing affecting engine.

[Killerfish2012]

Another bearing thread? Yep it's just another day on M3post. Bearings look just like the one in picture number 8 from the top:

http://www.agkits.com/bearing-failure-analysis.aspx

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by Ashley Schaeffer BMW

The engine prob would have blown after another 10 miles of driving, good thing you did the swap!!
-M3post

Wrong! 5 more miles tops. He'd have to push the car for the other 5 miles.

[Killerfish2012]

OP you do realize supercharging affects the rods, and main bearings as well right? What did AA have to say about your main bearings?

[IIAp3x]

Originally Posted by Amirsm3

What does M mode have to do with timing? That's all throttle response in terms of your right foot.

I dont mean it has anything with timing, it is just too much throttle for daily traffic congestion... I typically would not bury the throttle in day to day traffic when it's 97 degrees out and the a/c running, so I dont use "M" mode for that reason...

[Amirsm3]

Originally Posted by IIAp3x

I dont mean it has anything with timing, it is just too much throttle for daily traffic congestion... I typically would not bury the throttle in day to day traffic when it's 97 degrees out and the a/c running, so I dont use "M" mode for that reason...

Ah okay. I saw timing and stuff and figured you were associating M mode with different timing maps. Just thought I'd ask.

[GRUESOM3]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

OP you do realize supercharging affects the rods, and main bearings as well right? What did AA have to say about your main bearings?

As long as we can't see the main bearings they are fine ?

[Amirsm3]

Originally Posted by GRUESOM3

As long as we can't see the main bearings they are fine ?

Out of sight, out of mind

[pbonsalb]

How many engines have failed due to bad main bearings? 2? Not a worry for me.

[Doc Oc]

Originally Posted by Ashley Schaeffer BMW

Look good to me!


The engine prob would have blown after another 10 miles of driving, good thing you did the swap!!
-M3post

Oh yeah, they look great. They're supposed to show copper...it is great for the crank. Polishes it nice n smooth for you.

[Killerfish2012]

How many engines failed due to bad rod bearings? ~1%? Not a worry for me.

[Doc Oc]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

Another bearing thread? Yep it's just another day on M3post. Bearings look just like the one in picture number 8 from the top:

http://www.agkits.com/bearing-failure-analysis.aspx

They dont look the same to me but a comparison is useless anyway as, unless I missed it, we have no idea what the babbitt on those bearings in your link is. Normal wear looks different on lead, aluminium, tin, bronze, etc. Those bearings don't look to have a lead babbitt IMO so a comparison is kind of useless.

[Doc Oc]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

How many engines failed due to bad rod bearings? ~1%? Not a worry for me.

How many of the engines that have had their bearings swapped had good bearings come out? I'd be surprised if that number was higher than 10%. Just because it hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. Jury is out.

The bigger question is, what is causing the abnormal wear and will if actually lead to failure? Unfortunately the only way to know is wait til it blows up.