Official S65 Rod Bearing Condition Example Thread

[Silos]

Originally Posted by Captain Starbucks

It's so nice that we're able to put the pin back in the grenade. Good timing!

That is the perfect analogy!

[Staszek]

So now that these are becoming preventative maintenance items, when are people doing these?

I see mileage all over the map. Mine is a 2013 6speed and I have about 37000 miles on it.

I was thinking of replacing before 45k just for peace of mind. I don't put a lot of miles on the car anymore though so that could take a while.

[Captain Starbucks]

Originally Posted by Staszek

So now that these are becoming preventative maintenance items, when are people doing these?

I see mileage all over the map. Mine is a 2013 6speed and I have about 37000 miles on it.

I was thinking of replacing before 45k just for peace of mind. I don't put a lot of miles on the car anymore though so that could take a while.

I struggled with that same question as well. Seems there have been failures all over the map, not just mileage, but track use/no track use. Warmed up well, maybe not so well. Oil change often, not as often.

My car had several owners before me and I wasn't sure of it's history so I elected to just do them. They were mostly fine but I wanted the peace of mind.

There are some very high mileage cars with no issues...yet. Some think that it'll destroy the engine given enough time though. I don't gamble in real life much so just said screw it and had them done.

[Staszek]

Originally Posted by Captain Starbucks

I struggled with that same question as well. Seems there have been failures all over the map, not just mileage, but track use/no track use. Warmed up well, maybe not so well. Oil change often, not as often.

My car had several owners before me and I wasn't sure of it's history so I elected to just do them. They were mostly fine but I wanted the peace of mind.

There are some very high mileage cars with no issues...yet. Some think that it'll destroy the engine given enough time though. I don't gamble in real life much so just said screw it and had them done.

I have owned my car from new. My concern is it sits all winter. I will probably get them done after this season.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by Staszek

I have owned my car from new. My concern is it sits all winter. I will probably get them done after this season.

Sitting will not damage an engine. Full oil flow is established within a few seconds after starting. The timing chains will rattle but that will not cause any damage. The rotating parts will not "dry" out over a winter. There are many many many many cars that sit for 6 months and run fine every summer in Canada.

Every one of my road race cars sits outside over winter and every spring I put the batteries back in and start them up. No worries. Only winterizing that gets done is fuel stabilizer and antifreeze. Water is put back in for race season (coolant is slippppery as goose sh!t and not appreciated at the track).

Happy motoring!

[akkando]

Originally Posted by Staszek

So now that these are becoming preventative maintenance items, when are people doing these?

I see mileage all over the map. Mine is a 2013 6speed and I have about 37000 miles on it.

I was thinking of replacing before 45k just for peace of mind. I don't put a lot of miles on the car anymore though so that could take a while.

If you're going to do it anyway, just do it now with BE and be done with it forever.

[Assimilator1]

Originally Posted by Silos

Got mine done at about 97k miles and after getting the oil analyses report. Car is an 08.

Wow! Another bullet dodged! Nearly all copper on 3 bearings!!

Btw, thanks for adding the oil report to bearing photos , I will add you to my oil analysis collation thread (see sig if you're interested).

Originally Posted by Staszek

So now that these are becoming preventative maintenance items, when are people doing these?

I see mileage all over the map. Mine is a 2013 6speed and I have about 37000 miles on it.

I was thinking of replacing before 45k just for peace of mind. I don't put a lot of miles on the car anymore though so that could take a while.

The only safe way is to do them just after you've bought the car! [edit] Lol, I've just read your Euro trip thread so I see you've owned it since new, in which case I'd change my answer to change them when the warrantee runs out. S65s have failed with less miles than yours .
BE bearings aren't the only show in town btw, ACL apparently do decent bearings too, although they're not normally supplied pre-measured like BE ones.

[pbonsalb]

All bearings are supposed to be within the manufacturer’s tolerance. BE measures them again, which is may be worth paying 3 times the cost if you don’t trust the manufacturer and cannot measure yourself. When I changed mine in 2014, I simply bought a new set from BMW and installed them without measuring the bearings or using plastigauge to hopefully get a clearance measurement.

[IamFODI]

Originally Posted by Staszek

So now that these are becoming preventative maintenance items, when are people doing these?

I see mileage all over the map. Mine is a 2013 6speed and I have about 37000 miles on it.

I was thinking of replacing before 45k just for peace of mind. I don't put a lot of miles on the car anymore though so that could take a while.

Yes, there have been engine failures at lower miles than yours, but they're very rare. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't worry about it until at least 60k.

I'm going 60k-80k on mine. Basically 80k max, but as early as 60k if another project comes up that'd involve taking apart the front suspension or something. Only way I'd go earlier than 60k is if oil analysis suggests.

Bought my car with 80k and did the rod bearings shortly afterward. One or two shells were just starting to show copper, so I could have gone a bit longer (though I'm glad I didn't). Went with updated OE bearings and OE bolts.

[pbonsalb]

I agree with making the interval for the 2nd change based on what you see at the miles of the first change. But engines seem to wear differently and what one person sees at 80k does not mean everyone else should expect the same. The person with the engine that blew at 6k would tell you that. You can also roll the dice. Most of these cars are still driving on their original bearings regardless of mileage.

[IamFODI]

Again, completely agree that engines have failed with low miles. The point is, those are outliers.

I picked 60k-80k based on what I’m seeing here and elsewhere, plus the recommendation of my shop.

[pbonsalb]

That works if you are happy with average results and are willing to take the risk of being more or less than average. You would not make a good insurance salesman.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by IamFODI

Again, completely agree that engines have failed with low miles. The point is, those are outliers.

I picked 60k-80k based on what I'm seeing here and elsewhere, plus the recommendation of my shop.

If your bearings have proper clearance, then you should never need to change them again.

BMW nominal is too tight. Go with BE or VAC or ACL and be done with it.

[pbonsalb]

True, assuming the lack of clearance theory is the correct one. Once we have a bunch of increased clearance bearings come out at 50 to 100k miles and show no wear, we can be confident the theory is right. Until then, it’s just the most popular theoretical explanation as to why there have been so many rod bearing failures.

[IamFODI]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

You would not make a good insurance salesman.

Why, thank-you!

[Mpow-wow]

I’m at 102k, but I’m a bit of a gambler. I do plan on doing then eventually. 🎲 🎲 😬

[Assimilator1]

Aside from the current C19 crisis, why wait? Small chance of blowing, but large cost if it does.

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

All bearings are supposed to be within the manufacturer’s tolerance. BE measures them again, which is may be worth paying 3 times the cost if you don’t trust the manufacturer and cannot measure yourself. When I changed mine in 2014, I simply bought a new set from BMW and installed them without measuring the bearings or using plastigauge to hopefully get a clearance measurement.

Yep, but as far as ACL H std go, their tolerance range is pretty much the same as the OEM bearings so could also be too tight*, hence measuring would be useful there, & is why I want mixed std H & HX extra clearance shells.
Just HXs are a little too much clearance at the upper tolerance range that I'm comfortable with.
*Although Redish motors have measured dozens of engines with plastigauge & have found them to be a decent ~0.050mm clearance (bar one).

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

True, assuming the lack of clearance theory is the correct one. Once we have a bunch of increased clearance bearings come out at 50 to 100k miles and show no wear, we can be confident the theory is right. Until then, it’s just the most popular and likely theoretical explanation as to why there have been so many rod bearing failures.

Corrected

[jvictormp]

M3 2008 6MT
71,000km
44,000mls
Brazil
(1st picture is upside-down, don't know why, but in the original file it's not)

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by jvictormp

M3 2008 6MT
71,000km
44,000mls
Brazil
(1st picture is upside-down, don't know why, but in the original file it's not)

Doesn't look too bad for 088/089 shells!

[Assimilator1]

Yep!
And excellent quality close up photos!
Which bearings did you have installed?

[Assimilator1]

Hey doogee, their are tonnes of rod bearing photos in this thread, any chance you could add the link to the op?

[jvictormp]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Yep!
And excellent quality close up photos!
Which bearings did you have installed?

BE + BE-ARP Bolts