Official S65 Rod Bearing Condition Example Thread

IamFODI · 04-23-2019, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richbot

Apropos of nothing at all, I happened to tear down a racecar Ford 1.9l that had about 100 hours of flat-out sprint racing time on it last week. The rod bearings looked brand new, and are significantly larger than the ones in the S65 rods. An oversquare motor that only revs to 6000rpm, but still, surprisingly hilarious to put them side-by-side - on one side you have a POS commodity-spec Escort lowest-bidder-supplier engine and the other a high compression high rpm high specific output single-application engine designed from scratch to be a racecar engine platform that costs an order of magnitude and half again more besides to make...wow nice work bmw

IIRC Honda B-series rod bearings are like 1 mm wider than the S65's, and LS rod bearings are around 50% wider.

I've also heard from people I trust that the wider rod bearings available for S54s cause small but measurable power loss.

I've recently wondered if BMW M was pushing the (lower) limit on rod bearing width in pursuit of compactness/weight/low friction, and maybe the reason for the extraordinarily tight clearances is to help keep the rod stable despite the relatively narrow bearings or something.

But then again, the B7 RS4 has a worse rod/stroke ratio with a comparable redline and output, though it also has slightly lighter rods. Net-net, shouldn't that mean comparable load on the rod bearings? Yet that engine uses slightly narrower rod bearings than the S65....

Of course I don't know jack about this stuff, so I'd love to hear some informed commentary.

Kelse92 · 04-23-2019, 07:51 PM

Well, a little late to post these. But here’s my set that got swapped with a set of ACL’s at Mporium a few weeks back

I’m in the camp of replacing rod bearings as cheap insurance compared to a new motor so I told myself I would get them done at close to 50k, and stuck to it. Went with ACL’s because BE’s were out of stock at the time and I have a crazy work schedule that doesn’t always allow me to drop off my daily-driver for several days at a time without planning in advance.
Anyway, looking at the results were they the worst I’ve seen in this thread, no, but they’re not good either, so I’m glad I did

iAjking · 04-23-2019, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solo_M_Tech

Customer didn't want to pay me to do the bearings for him. Decided he would DIY. Engine seized 2 days later. Fast forward a year and I get the engine from him removed, to diagnose why..... these rod bolts are strong as fuck....

1. all of the rod bolts were finger tight

2. this.....v

It honestly hurt to see this picture.

bruinj26 · 04-24-2019, 10:18 AM

2009 E92 M3 purchased at 74,000 mi. I'm the second owner. Car felt like it was running perfectly, but I'm very glad I spent the money to get the job done.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cgu9F55QZERnGExx9

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VenxUGEa4w31mAjH8

kevin @ eas · 04-24-2019, 01:18 PM

Removed from a 2011 E90 with 58k on the odometer. Oil changed regularly around 3-4k per intervals. Minor wear but overall nothing terrible.

Helmsman · 04-24-2019, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevin @ eas

Removed from a 2011 E90 with 58k on the odometer. Oil changed regularly around 3-4k per intervals. Minor wear but overall nothing terrible.

Looks like a nice example Kevin!

SSR Performance · 04-26-2019, 07:38 PM

Rod bearings from 4/26/19!

Contact us to today to schedule your appointment!
(800) 438-2808 or info@SSR-Performance.com

Atamborski · 04-26-2019, 08:05 PM

2008 78k miles

Frozen · 04-26-2019, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSR Performance

Rod bearings from 4/26/19!

Contact us to today to schedule your appointment!
(800) 438-2808 or info@SSR-Performance.com

These look horrendous

deansbimmer · 04-27-2019, 03:30 AM

More from this week. One engine locked up with seized mains/rods.

IamFODI · 04-27-2019, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

More from this week. One engine locked up with seized mains/rods.

Wow. Any idea how that engine wore those bearings so bad that it seized?

deansbimmer · 04-27-2019, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamFODI

Wow. Any idea how that engine wore those bearings so bad that it seized?

No way to know.

NeverL8 · 04-27-2019, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

No way to know.

With all the main bearing failures you see...are most of them on stock rod bearings or extra clearance like BE or VAC? Any more or less of specific year?

Thank you.

Helmsman · 04-27-2019, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSR Performance

Rod bearings from 4/26/19!

Contact us to today to schedule your appointment!
(800) 438-2808 or info@SSR-Performance.com

Lubricated with beach sand..?

xwilkinx · 05-03-2019, 04:14 PM

Just replaced my second M3's rod bearings at 115,000 kilometers (71,000 miles) with BE bearings and BE-ARP bolts.

Always 10w60, tracked, driven year round.

drrust · 05-05-2019, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

Quote:

Originally Posted by IamFODI

Wow. Any idea how that engine wore those bearings so bad that it seized?

No way to know.

The set just above the mains seemed to have two rod bearings with considerably more wear than the others. Was that the case or is it just lighting? Sorry I took another look and that was the set that seized. Must have been a busy week!

SSR Performance · 05-10-2019, 05:59 PM

Some more examples from this week!

Contact us to today to schedule your appointment!
(800) 438-2808 or info@SSR-Performance.com

5/3/19

5/10/19

SSR Performance · 05-14-2019, 09:01 PM

Contact us to today to schedule your appointment!
(800) 438-2808 or info@SSR-Performance.com

5/14/19

SSR Performance · 05-18-2019, 01:54 PM

The 5/16/19 ones are crazy looking! Who knows how much longer that engine may have lasted. We saved this one and have saved hundreds of others. Don't let that one that doesn't make it be you. Give us a call to discuss your rod bearings plans today!

(800) 438-2808 or info@SSR-Performance.com

5/16/19

5/17/19

wfdeacon88 · 05-18-2019, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSR Performance

The 5/16/19 ones are crazy looking! Who knows how much longer that engine may have lasted. We saved this one and have saved hundreds of others. Don't let that one that doesn't make it be you. Give us a call to discuss your rod bearings plans today!

(800) 438-2808 or info@SSR-Performance.com

5/16/19
[img]

View post on imgur.com

[/img]

5/17/19
[img]

View post on imgur.com

[/img]

bottom bearings are the best I've seen... but who knows with these things... better safe than sorry.

FeraeM3 · 05-21-2019, 11:55 AM

Anyone know what is the status on the rod bearings class action lawsuit? AFZAL v. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC et al, Docket No. 2:15-cv-08009 (D.N.J. Nov 10, 2015).

Siajoon · 05-21-2019, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FeraeM3

Anyone know what is the status on the rod bearings class action lawsuit? AFZAL v. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC et al, Docket No. 2:15-cv-08009 (D.N.J. Nov 10, 2015).

Probably sitting under a stack of papers on a lawyers desk somewhere.

04-23-2019, 07:51 PM	#1014
Kelse92 Major 1139 Rep 1,366 Posts Drives: Former e92 M3 Owner Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Well, a little late to post these. But here’s my set that got swapped with a set of ACL’s at Mporium a few weeks back I’m in the camp of replacing rod bearings as cheap insurance compared to a new motor so I told myself I would get them done at close to 50k, and stuck to it. Went with ACL’s because BE’s were out of stock at the time and I have a crazy work schedule that doesn’t always allow me to drop off my daily-driver for several days at a time without planning in advance. Anyway, looking at the results were they the worst I’ve seen in this thread, no, but they’re not good either, so I’m glad I did Attached Images Last edited by Kelse92; 04-23-2019 at 07:57 PM..
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04-24-2019, 10:18 AM	#1016
bruinj26 Enlisted Member 9 Rep 35 Posts Drives: Toyota 4Runner Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Sacramento iTrader: (0)	2009 E92 M3 purchased at 74,000 mi. I'm the second owner. Car felt like it was running perfectly, but I'm very glad I spent the money to get the job done. https://photos.app.goo.gl/cgu9F55QZERnGExx9 https://photos.app.goo.gl/VenxUGEa4w31mAjH8
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04-24-2019, 01:18 PM	#1017
kevin @ eas BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 3391 Rep 23,323 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW M4 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Anaheim iTrader: (22)	Removed from a 2011 E90 with 58k on the odometer. Oil changed regularly around 3-4k per intervals. Minor wear but overall nothing terrible. __________________ Kevin S. \| european auto source (eas) email: kevin@europeanautosource.com · web: https://europeanautosource.com· tel 866.669.0705 · ca: 714.369.8524 x31 GET DAILY UPDATES ON OUR BLOG · FACEBOOK · YOUTUBE · FLICKR · INSTAGRAM
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04-26-2019, 07:38 PM	#1019
SSR Performance 689 Rep 265 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	Rod bearings from 4/26/19! Contact us to today to schedule your appointment! (800) 438-2808 or info@SSR-Performance.com
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04-26-2019, 08:05 PM	#1020
Atamborski New Member 38 Rep 12 Posts Drives: 08 BMW E93 M3 6MT Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Chandler, AZ iTrader: (0)	2008 78k miles Attached Images
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04-27-2019, 03:30 AM	#1022
deansbimmer BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 4324 Rep 3,023 Posts Drives: 2011 E93 M3 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: DFW, Texas iTrader: (17) Garage List 1988 E30 M3 [0.00] 2006 E46 M3 [0.00] 2024 X7 M60i [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	More from this week. One engine locked up with seized mains/rods.
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05-03-2019, 04:14 PM	#1027
xwilkinx Straight Edge 114 Rep 272 Posts Drives: F80 M3 • E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: GTA iTrader: (0)	Just replaced my second M3's rod bearings at 115,000 kilometers (71,000 miles) with BE bearings and BE-ARP bolts. Always 10w60, tracked, driven year round. __________________ F80 M3 - Black Sapphire Metallic E92 M3 - Frozen Silver Edition Previous: F10 M5 / E92 M3 / E92 328i
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05-10-2019, 05:59 PM	#1029
SSR Performance 689 Rep 265 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	Some more examples from this week! Contact us to today to schedule your appointment! (800) 438-2808 or info@SSR-Performance.com 5/3/19 5/10/19
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05-14-2019, 09:01 PM	#1030
SSR Performance 689 Rep 265 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	Contact us to today to schedule your appointment! (800) 438-2808 or info@SSR-Performance.com 5/14/19
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05-18-2019, 01:54 PM	#1031
SSR Performance 689 Rep 265 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	The 5/16/19 ones are crazy looking! Who knows how much longer that engine may have lasted. We saved this one and have saved hundreds of others. Don't let that one that doesn't make it be you. Give us a call to discuss your rod bearings plans today! (800) 438-2808 or info@SSR-Performance.com 5/16/19 5/17/19
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05-21-2019, 11:55 AM	#1033
FeraeM3 New Member 7 Rep 15 Posts Drives: E92 m3 Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	Anyone know what is the status on the rod bearings class action lawsuit? AFZAL v. BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC et al, Docket No. 2:15-cv-08009 (D.N.J. Nov 10, 2015).
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