Scary rod bearing thread s85

[Longwong]

But the odds of 2 engines having bearing failures owned by one person is exceedingly small. There are a hanful of failures even on this board, let alone all the cars sold and tracked.

Just because I post information before, it does not mean I am stagnant in my learning or viewpoint. I have researched and evolved in my understanding of what the core issue is and the odds of it happening are certainly not absolute.

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by Longwong

But the odds of 2 engines having bearing failures owned by one person is exceedingly small. There are a hanful of failures even on this board, let alone all the cars sold and tracked.

Just because I post information before, it does not mean I am stagnant in my learning or viewpoint. I have researched and evolved in my understanding of what the core issue is and the odds of it happening are certainly not absolute.

You must be stagnant in your learning or viewpoint!

You have three guys on here that have experience in engine building and all three of them are screaming that the engines are too tight!!! Yet the guy who started the thread with a question now is telling said engine builders they have no clue. Sounds funny to me

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

You must be stagnant in your learning or viewpoint!

You have three guys on here that have experience in engine building and all three of them are screaming that the engines are too tight!!! Yet the guy who started the thread with a question now is telling said engine builders they have no clue. Sounds funny to me

Give shortstick a chance. He's been reading up and about to redeem himself.

[regular guy]

Originally Posted by Longwong

But the odds of 2 engines having bearing failures owned by one person is exceedingly small. There are a hanful of failures even on this board, let alone all the cars sold and tracked.

Just because I post information before, it does not mean I am stagnant in my learning or viewpoint. I have researched and evolved in my understanding of what the core issue is and the odds of it happening are certainly not absolute.

I'm very curious what this new learning has taught you. Please share your results with us.

[mtbkr31]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Where are you getting the oil pressure signal? Do you have a sender installed or using a factory sensor somewhere?

Yes, I have sending unit installed. The STRI gauges come with sending units.

I'm very happy with these gauges. Can't imagine not having them if going the FI route.

[W///]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

Give shortstick a chance. He's been reading up and about to redeem himself.

Touche good sir

[aussiem3]

Thought this might be useful in deciding what's the best oil in terms of "60". We do have a 5w-60, see last column.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

Says the guy who started this thread. Are you bi-polar?!

you could be onto something there. or just troll.

[1MOREMOD]

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

He just started with more trollish posts. I believe it started out as a dummy account, ran its course (maybe got found out), and is no trolling to mask the original purpose.

what do you mean by dummy account? think that still might apply.

[kawasaki00]

Originally Posted by aussiem3

Thought this might be useful in deciding what's the best oil in terms of "60". We do have a 5w-60, see last column.

To me that is not a real 5-60 though. The 40c numbers are way too high to be considered a 5wt in the real world.
For example the rotella is 87cst at 40c and the pennzoil Ultra euro is about the same. The tws is 160 for comparison and this 5-60 is showing 146, not really a difference. The tws is a really light 10 and the penrite is at the very top of the 5wt category.
It would work just fine I am sure, but if looking to run a thinner oil it really is no different than tws.
If it was a true 5w-60 with numbers loke 95cst at 40 and still retain 20cst at 100 it would have to be full of polymers to make it get to that point. What would happen is it would break down to a 40wt in no time. You really cant have the numbers that far apart in todays technology.
Upon further research I noticed it also has over 2200 ppm of zinc also, that is good excellent for wear but very bad for cats.
I take it that is why it is not available to us in the USA, our standards are to strict and it would have to be classified as a "Racing Oil" only

[kawasaki00]

Originally Posted by aussiem3

Penrite is a highly respected Australian company. Their page recommends 10w-70 for the M3, but they also have 5w-60 amongst the engine oils. They are all SN. What's your takes on this.

Penrite 5w-60
http://www.penriteoil.com.au/product...d_products=281

Penrite 10w-70
http://www.penriteoil.com.au/product...d_viscosity=13

Penrite 0w-50
http://www.penriteoil.com.au/product...id_viscosity=4

I would not run the 0wt at the track or autocross events but for street driving that would be my choice. The 10-70 is even thicker than the tws so I would not run that unless I only drove the car when it was warm out.

[W///]

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

He just started with more trollish posts. I believe it started out as a dummy account, ran its course (maybe got found out), and is no trolling to mask the original purpose.

I have yet to see a picture of his M3. I think he's worried about the rod bearings from his M3 that he just bought Gran Turismo 5?

[kawasaki00]

Originally Posted by W///

I have yet to see a picture of his M3. I think he's worried about the rod bearings from his M3 that he just bought Gran Turismo 5?

[tdott]

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

So would you go against the thoughts of an engine builder or make the decision in your own that the engine is OK?!

While I would side with you if I ever had to do a rebuild, but if I was to play devils advocate of a lay person.

Their point of view might be: "Why should I trust this engine builder over the engineers at BMW?" Is there something they know about this particular engine that this engine builder doesn't know? Will the motor make less power? or more? , etc, etc.

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by tdott

While I would side with you if I ever had to do a rebuild, but if I was to play devils advocate of a lay person.

Their point of view might be: "Why should I trust this engine builder over the engineers at BMW?" Is there something they know about this particular engine that this engine builder doesn't know? Will the motor make less power? or more? , etc, etc.

BMW's engineers don't have a very good track record when it comes to Main and Rod bearings!

[kawasaki00]

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

BMW's engineers don't have a very good track record when it comes to Main and Rod bearings!

Now this is true.

[tdott]

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

BMW's engineers don't have a very good track record when it comes to Main and Rod bearings!

Yes, but there was a recall for that. None for s85 or s65 rod bearings.

A friend's 245K original '01 s54 motor. Still going strong. While some may have an issue, there are some that don't. Problem is no one had hard facts on failure rates.

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by tdott

Yes, but there was a recall for that. None for s85 or s65 rod bearings.

A friend's 245K original '01 s54 motor. Still going strong. While some may have an issue, there are some that don't. Problem is no one had hard facts on failure rates.

I think that there are definitely going to be some cars that will go lots of mileage and not have an issue....... I stated that before.

The facts are the facts though, BMW issued a recall on the S54 so there was a problem. Many S54 owners do rod bearings as preventative maintenance and that is no secret. There have been lots of S85's and S65's documented with rod bearing issues, some engines have been changed under warranty as well. I too was sceptical, but as soon as I seen the clearance specs, I had my answer.

You also need to realize that many of the M3's and M5's out there with these engines have very low mileage on them since most owners seem to only use them as toy cars..... If they were all daily drivers, I think we would be seeing more issues.

P.S. One quick reminder to you, BMW reduced the redline on the Z3 M coupe and roadster to 7600RPM....... Wanna guess why?

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

The facts are the facts though, BMW issued a recall on the S54 so there was a problem.

They replaced the rod bearings and the oil pump on all E46s made through Feb 2002 production.


I would not group the early S54s and the problems seen prior to the recall with the refitted ones and the later ones at all. In fact, as mentioned above, refitted early models seem to go just as long as the later ones without bearing issues as time has progressed to date.

Wow, can't believe it's been over 11+ years now since Jason's E46 M3 failure log on roadfly! Dangit time is flying.

[BMRLVR]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

They replaced the rod bearings and the oil pump on all E46s made through Feb 2002 production.


I would not group the early S54s and the problems seen prior to the recall with the refitted ones and the later ones at all. In fact, as mentioned above, refitted early models seem to go just as long as the later ones without bearing issues as time has progressed to date.

Wow, can't believe it's been over 11+ years now since Jason's E46 M3 failure log on roadfly! Dangit time is flying.

I think it is fair, the S54's with bearing wear either pre or post recall are from lack of oil clearance also. Germans are known to build their engines tight, it is no surprise!

I am not too familiar with the S54, someone able to post oil clearances from an S54?

[aussiem3]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

They replaced the rod bearings and the oil pump on all E46s made through Feb 2002 production.


I would not group the early S54s and the problems seen prior to the recall with the refitted ones and the later ones at all. In fact, as mentioned above, refitted early models seem to go just as long as the later ones without bearing issues as time has progressed to date.

Wow, can't believe it's been over 11+ years now since Jason's E46 M3 failure log on roadfly! Dangit time is flying.

Originally Posted by BMRLVR

I think it is fair, the S54's with bearing wear either pre or post recall are from lack of oil clearance also. Germans are known to build their engines tight, it is no surprise!

I am not too familiar with the S54, someone able to post oil clearances from an S54?

My E46 M3 was one of the early 2001 MY manuals and when the bearings were done under warranty it was spun slightly. I can remember at the time posting pics on roadfly. BMW listed the vin#s that were affected by the bearing issue, and when the cars came in for the oil service, they got done. BMW Australia didn't get in touch with the owners. Some cars were done well outside the campaign period.

[aussiem3]

Originally Posted by kawasaki00

To me that is not a real 5-60 though. The 40c numbers are way too high to be considered a 5wt in the real world.
For example the rotella is 87cst at 40c and the pennzoil Ultra euro is about the same. The tws is 160 for comparison and this 5-60 is showing 146, not really a difference. The tws is a really light 10 and the penrite is at the very top of the 5wt category.
It would work just fine I am sure, but if looking to run a thinner oil it really is no different than tws.
If it was a true 5w-60 with numbers loke 95cst at 40 and still retain 20cst at 100 it would have to be full of polymers to make it get to that point. What would happen is it would break down to a 40wt in no time. You really cant have the numbers that far apart in todays technology.
Upon further research I noticed it also has over 2200 ppm of zinc also, that is good excellent for wear but very bad for cats.
I take it that is why it is not available to us in the USA, our standards are to strict and it would have to be classified as a "Racing Oil" only

Originally Posted by kawasaki00

I would not run the 0wt at the track or autocross events but for street driving that would be my choice. The 10-70 is even thicker than the tws so I would not run that unless I only drove the car when it was warm out.

Thanks ... so there is no real solution except for Retella and Pennzoil, and both we cannot get in Australia.