Rod Bearings - to do them or not?

[CaptainKirk2008]

I am about to fire the bullet on a 2009 M3 that HAS NOT had the rod bearings done. I've talked to two BMW factory trained tech still working for BMW that are saying that the particular VIN I am buying falls outside the "Open Campaign" that BMW had where they were replacing them under warranty.

My question is this - do I dare NOT replace them? Yes I can afford to do them, but if BMW truly rectified the tolerances, then should I spend the $2500 to have them professionally done?

I'm in KC, so can any of you enthusiasts tell me where to have them done that are closer to me than NYC?

[Shiza]

BMW did not rectify the tolerances. All E9x M3's can have potential rod bearing failure. 08-2013. In 2011 the material was changed to remove the lead from the bearings, the tolerances stayed the same.


Get them done.


If you're looking for a local shop to do the work I would post in the regional section of the forum.

Here's the link
https://www.m3post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=150

[Teufel_Hunden]

fire the bullet = pull the trigger

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk2008

I am about to fire the bullet on a 2009 M3 that HAS NOT had the rod bearings done. I've talked to two BMW factory trained tech still working for BMW that are saying that the particular VIN I am buying falls outside the "Open Campaign" that BMW had where they were replacing them under warranty.

My question is this - do I dare NOT replace them? Yes I can afford to do them, but if BMW truly rectified the tolerances, then should I spend the $2500 to have them professionally done?

I'm in KC, so can any of you enthusiasts tell me where to have them done that are closer to me than NYC?

First of all, you are talking to idiots. There was never a recall for the E9X's rod bearings

There are seven thousand threads on this topic. The tolerances were NEVER rectified. All model years seem to fail at similar rates.


It is close to impossible to find an M3 with swapped rod bearings, so expect you will have to do this to any M3 you buy. You can also play the rod bearing lottery like some do.

[tdott]

Is there a rod bearing faq?

Maybe we should start one to avoid these questions getting asked repeatedly.

[NeverL8]

Not this sh*t again...yes do the bearings unless you have $15k saved just in case for engine replacement

[pbonsalb]

It is surprising 2 bmw techs said there was a bmw campaign to replace S65 rod bearings.

[cjm41]

.

[Solo_M_Tech]

srrsly tho.....

[amrazM]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

It is surprising 2 bmw techs said there was a bmw campaign to replace S65 rod bearings.

That’s not a thing. They replaced entire engines, my car was one.




OP Replace the RB and preemptively and not worry about it.

[jv92red]

I'm still holding out hope for a needle bearing solution

[Green-Eggs]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk2008

I am about to fire the bullet on a 2009 M3 that HAS NOT had the rod bearings done. I've talked to two BMW factory trained tech still working for BMW that are saying that the particular VIN I am buying falls outside the "Open Campaign" that BMW had where they were replacing them under warranty.

My question is this - do I dare NOT replace them? Yes I can afford to do them, but if BMW truly rectified the tolerances, then should I spend the $2500 to have them professionally done?

I'm in KC, so can any of you enthusiasts tell me where to have them done that are closer to me than NYC?

Drive south a few hours to MPorium (deansbimmer). I think they're in McKinney TX.

[_paolo]

Do it. Pay the $2500 for the peace of mind. I, too picked up a 2009 with 73k miles and got the bearings replaced right away. Copper was showing on a couple of them.

I did a decent amount of research before buying this car. There are a ton of rod bearing threads on forums and there's even a fb group for this s65 rod bearing issue. Some people hope for the best that their engines never fail, some (like me) just get the bearings replaced to not have to worry.

I now see why some people roll their eyes when a thread about rod bearings open up. You will too when you buy the car.

But yeah, get them replaced.

Just my opinion.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Green-Eggs

Drive south a few hours to MPorium (deansbimmer). I think they're in McKinney TX.

this is what I'd do

It can be done in 8h without problems so you can do it in a day trip

[kyrix1st]

Harbinger of OP's future.

[CaptainKirk2008]

FOR THE RECORD. I did a lot of querying on this and one other site. I could not find a reference to an "Open Campaign" yet that is the exact term two, not one, but two BMW dealerships used, one of which the family is into racing (my thinking here is they might actually know something). Both individuals were former technicians that made their way into management. So I figured, "okay, so maybe this is why the Class Action went nowhere". I get the frustration at seeing this come up again but in the absence of finding specifics on said campaign, I thought it interesting I heard that term twice from separate sources unrelated to each other. Who knows, maybe these two guys are twins separated at birth with different last names! And, there's that other side of the coin which is the Internet has never been wrong either. That said, I truly appreciate the feedback I am getting here which is why I asked in the first place.........since an "Open Campaign" is actually a unicorn farting gumdrops, I'm moving on down the road to find a regional source for this bearing job. Thanks again guys for the input!

[nkautz]

Easy way to avoid rod bearing issues , stay away from 10w60 , use 0w40. Applies to S65 , s85 and any other modern production engine using 60wt oil on tight bearing clearances.

[pbonsalb]

I would not recommend a change to a thinner oil instead of a rod bearing change on one of these 7-12 year old cars that has original bearings.

No one knows the condition of the rod bearings in his engine unless he removes them for a look. A few have changed to thinner oils and still suffered failures or heavy wear. If you had a new S65 or S85 and wanted to try it, I think 0W40 is fine for most purposes. I am curious about the results. Troy Jeup recommends Redline 5W50.

I changed my bearings in 2014 to new stock with WPC treatment and have run mostly 0W40 since (two changes with 5W40 and one with 5W50 along the way). But obviously, I won’t know how my bearings look until
I change them again. Did the first change at 60k and will do the 2nd at or before the same interval. Have 43k on them now.

[mgmarsh39]

My RBs at 20k miles...

+1 for driving to Mporium to have them done!

[neilum]

Originally Posted by CaptainKirk2008

I am about to fire the bullet on a 2009 M3 that HAS NOT had the rod bearings done. I've talked to two BMW factory trained tech still working for BMW that are saying that the particular VIN I am buying falls outside the "Open Campaign" that BMW had where they were replacing them under warranty.

My question is this - do I dare NOT replace them? Yes I can afford to do them, but if BMW truly rectified the tolerances, then should I spend the $2500 to have them professionally done?

I'm in KC, so can any of you enthusiasts tell me where to have them done that are closer to me than NYC?

You were either lied to or talking to someone who is tallking straight out of their arse. There was never a recall on S65 RB's and no such thing as a engine VIN falling outside of a resolved range.

I used to be in the camp of not replacing them, but have wised up and had them replaced 6 months ago.

It's like the Covid situation, you can go outside w/out a mask and not social distance, but you could get burned. I guess the choice is yours but you can't say you didn't know or didnt know the facts.

[TrAcK TRaP]

Originally Posted by nkautz

Easy way to avoid rod bearing issues , stay away from 10w60 , use 0w40. Applies to S65 , s85 and any other modern production engine using 60wt oil on tight bearing clearances.

False info you are sharing..

[TrAcK TRaP]

How many drivers we have here not scared of beating the shit out of it without thinking about rod bearings will fail? I can't be the only one. I know %95 of non forum members dont even know what rod bearing means. Mine is 2011 with 95K miles using only 10w60. I redline it daily evertime i have a chance and I don't plan to replace them. I also have a friend with over 125K miles original rod bearing he drives the shit out of it and he doesn't even know what rod bearing is.. Of course I am not against replacing them which I respect everyone who does but in real world risk is less than %1..