2011 E90M3 Rod Bearings -- 35k miles

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by admranger

Thanks guys. I'm still apprehensive every time start the car or drive it. I guess time will reduce the anxiety day by day. ilol

I feel the same way right now!!! I have let it idle for quite some time, and done 2 U-Turns on my driveway. Worried that the first WOT experience once spring is here will be a disaster...

Good to see I am not the only one who worried after bearing swap!!

[pbonsalb]

I think it will be evident within 100 miles and probably a whole lot less, whether you did the job right. But start out with gentle and short local drives to build up your confidence and then go longer and harder. I changed mine 3.5 years and 30k miles ago. I am now thinking of doing them again in another 30k and maybe dropping the motor to do the mains at the same time.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I think it will be evident within 100 miles and probably a whole lot less, whether you did the job right. But start out with gentle and short local drives to build up your confidence and then go longer and harder. I changed mine 3.5 years and 30k miles ago. I am now thinking of doing them again in another 30k and maybe dropping the motor to do the mains at the same time.

Yeah, everything I have read/heard/experienced is that bearings are not even the slightest bit forgiving. If they are fundamentally installed wrong, they will let you know very quickly. Never have I done bearings on such an expensive engine though...

I checked the torque on the rod caps 3 times each, wiggled the rods on the crank to make sure they moved freely with the new shells, used Redline assembly lube and hand rotated the engine a lot to ensure no binding and complete lubrication. Time will tell I guess!!

And FYI to those who read this later: I changed my bearings on jack stands and it was not terrible. Use 6T jack stands for height and remove the subframe for easy access. Subframe removal is really simple - I removed the inner bolts on the lower control arms as well as the steering rack banjo bolts - just remember that you will need new power steering fluid

I want winter to be over!!