who is still on original rod bearings?

[SenorFunkyPants]

Originally Posted by WhatsADSM

Sure its no Honda.. But at 75k do those really seem that bad? Hard to tell from the pics but those look like they could have gone quite a bit longer before any gross failure.

Indeed...nothing on those pictures indicate anything other than normal wear.

[saxodreng]

Originally Posted by SenorFunkyPants

Indeed...nothing on those pictures indicate anything other than normal wear.

So this means that we all should change to VAC coated bearings - just in case... ??

It is still cheaper to maintain rather than repair...

[gsxrliterbikz]

I'm about to leave this group

[m3london]

2013 m3 w/26K and original bearings as well (6k oil change intervals). I only know one person who had a bearing issue with their '10 m3 but they only did an oil svc every 12-14k miles and they beat on their car more then their 🍆 while going through puberty!!! The bearings finally wore out at 79k, but a very abused 79k

[regular guy]

Originally Posted by saxodreng

So this means that we all should change to VAC coated bearings - just in case... ??

It is still cheaper to maintain rather than repair...

Only if you're not taking OEM bearings and having them coated. The older VAC bearings were OEM with Calico coating -- which reduced clearance. The new VAC coated bearings are a custom Clevite design with Calico coating on top of them -- and slightly increases cleareance.

[saxodreng]

Originally Posted by regular guy

Only if you're not taking OEM bearings and having them coated. The older VAC bearings were OEM with Calico coating -- which reduced clearance. The new VAC coated bearings are a custom Clevite design with Calico coating on top of them -- and slightly increases cleareance.

Increased/reduced clearences..... can someone please translate ... - I know the meaning of the words, but what does it mean for the engine.

And Coated with this and that - this is all nonsense to me...

Pros/Cons ??

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by gsxrliterbikz

I'm about to leave this group

GSX, please give us some further details once done


Thx

[gsxrliterbikz]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

GSX, please give us some further details once done


Thx

Will do. I'm gonna take a bunch of pics (crappy iPhone though). Probably will do a new thread though.

[Richsocal12]

Originally Posted by Sgnitsah

08 6MT 110K
OG bearings
Blackstone report at 105K had very little lead!

this is good! how hard do you drive your car and how often do you change your oil??

[basic.sportscar]

Oil every 5K.
I'm in LA so I drive it as hard as I can which means some runs to redline on certain on ramps and Mulholland if I don't get stuck behind an SUV and a lot of stop and go 405 driving.

[///mawana]

08 E90 6mt 59k miles, still on original bearings. Am about to do my next oil (mobil 0w40) change plus BS report at 60k.

[RedRumble]

2008 6mt e92 m3
Still on original bearings
4/2008 build date
44,000 miles
Never tracked, occasional Rev to redline
Followed BMW's suggested oil type and change intervals
Los Angeles car, so very few if any cold-weather starts
I always let the car warm up before I drive and I keep the RPMs below 4k until fully warmed.
I've never done a Blackstone test but I will on my next oil change.
I just now recorded the engine noise at idle, 1500 rpm, and 2000 rpm. Anyone hear an ominous sound?

[saxodreng]

Red Rumble:
Your engine sounds quite normal to me.

44000 miles is nothing.

Mine is a 07 MT - with 74000 miles - running smooth.

Service interval has been changed on my M3 from 15000 miles to 6500 miles and I am following that carefully. My mechanic is educated at the M facility in Munich and one of the few in Denmark that really knows this car. Every time my car is at the workshop - he listens with electronics and stethoscope to the engine and checks everything.

[Helmsman]

Sounds perfectly fine in my ears as well Red. Questions, the ///M3 marked bits under your bonnet, id that plastics added ocer the aluminum? Don't think I have those on mine..

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Sounds perfectly fine in my ears as well Red. Questions, the ///M3 marked bits under your bonnet, id that plastics added ocer the aluminum? Don't think I have those on mine..

It is not plastic, the coupes have the M3 markings stamped into the hood, the sedans don't.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

It is not plastic, the coupes have the M3 markings stamped into the hood, the sedans don't.

Thanks, didn't know that but at least nothing is missing on mine...

[vincE92M3]

Shouldn't the question be "who isn't on their original rod bearings? and why?"...

[pbonsalb]

I changed mine as preventative maintenance about 10k miles ago, but I agree that maybe 90% of cars are still on original bearings and that only about 1% have suffered failure. I have life insurance even though I don't plan to die any time soon. The risks you choose to insure against are up to you. I could not afford a $15k motor, but I could afford $600 in parts and a weekend of my time.

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by vincE92M3

Shouldn't the question be "who isn't on their original rod bearings? and why?"...

+1!. Oems have the longest life span at 263K+ miles

[squartus]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

+1!. Oems have the longest life span at 263K+ miles

They also have the shortest life spans at 6,000 miles. Not everyone is lucky with which engine they get.

[8600RPM]

Originally Posted by WhatsADSM

Sure its no Honda.. But at 75k do those really seem that bad? Hard to tell from the pics but those look like they could have gone quite a bit longer before any gross failure.

Prob is those don't look bad

[vincE92M3]

Originally Posted by 8600RPM

Prob is those don't look bad

and no follow-up response to explain why they might look bad?