Seized Engine

[timothy2001]

Originally Posted by e46IX

I got another engine guys. I'll drop the new motor in and see what happened with the old one after I pull it out.

Please let us know when you find out and good luck.

[PYE46M3]

..... these are the kinda threads I think about whenever my finger is on the start button and I just want to drive it for 5 miles !

[MShift]

Unfortunately, this happened to me about 2 weeks ago. No pistons through the block, no plume of smoke, no metal bits out the exhaust, no drama, but engine completely seized. I wasn't doing donuts or burnouts, just driving and the car stalled out and wouldn't turn over again. Spun bearing, engine toast.

[IB M]

Originally Posted by MShift

Unfortunately, this happened to me about 2 weeks ago. No pistons through the block, no plume of smoke, no metal bits out the exhaust, no drama, but engine completely seized. I wasn't doing donuts or burnouts, just driving and the car stalled out and wouldn't turn over again. Spun bearing, engine toast.

How many miles?

[MShift]

Originally Posted by IB M

How many miles?

36k

[PYE46M3]

Originally Posted by MShift

36k

holy crap !

[IB M]

Originally Posted by MShift

36k

Wow - that's a bummer man.

Any other risk factors - forced air, tune with higher rev limit, driven hard before warmed up .... seems way early at 36k

[pbonsalb]

The rod bearing failures have happened at as little as 6k miles. It really is a lottery.

[MShift]

Originally Posted by IB M

Wow - that's a bummer man.

Any other risk factors - forced air, tune with higher rev limit, driven hard before warmed up .... seems way early at 36k

I religiously took care to avoid all those things and I don't have a supercharger. There was no reason at all for this. I've owned the car for 4 years since it had 12k miles... unless previous owner absolutely beat the crap out of it, which it didn't look like since the engine, exterior and interior were pristine, then there's no reason for this other than a premature RB failure.

Edit: stock redline.

[IB M]

Originally Posted by MShift

I religiously took care to avoid all those things and I don't have a supercharger. There was no reason at all for this. I've owned the car for 4 years since it had 12k miles... unless previous owner absolutely beat the crap out of it, which it didn't look like since the engine, exterior and interior were pristine, then there's no reason for this other than a premature RB failure.

Edit: stock redline.

That is discomforting. Perhaps BMW will pay partial given the low mileage and stock nature of the car.

[pbonsalb]

I don’t think it has for anyone else out if warranty. Plus you would still spend far more at a bmw dealer even with a partial discount than you would at a good independent shop.

[MShift]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I don’t think it has for anyone else out if warranty. Plus you would still spend far more at a bmw dealer even with a partial discount than you would at a good independent shop.

My entire repair is being covered by a third party warranty. When it's all done I will make a post about it because I'm amazed at how good their service is.

[Insomniaroy]

When I read this, I still feel the pain and anger I felt when the motor seized on my First M3 (01/10). The rod bearings had been done (OEM tin/alu) just 8000km before.
I had warmed up the car (~200F oil) and did a couple of burnouts. Suddenly DCT shift into N and engine shut off. No crank, and manual crank was almost impossible.
It turned out the main bearing seized. Repairing this is cost ineffective when compared to price of a good used motor, and no guarantee with line boring the main bearing housings.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

The rod bearing failures have happened at as little as 6k miles. It really is a lottery.

Yes Sir ! 6.8K miles to be correct .

As for the German S65 lottery... I totally agree !

[dsch85]

Exact same story. Engine is out, haven't had a chance to take a look yet. Was it rod bearings? How bad? My oil is good, and from what I can see so far no signs of heat. Top end is perfect. Everything so far looks like a new car but it's seized up for certain.

[e46IX]

Originally Posted by dsch85

Exact same story. Engine is out, haven't had a chance to take a look yet. Was it rod bearings? How bad? My oil is good, and from what I can see so far no signs of heat. Top end is perfect. Everything so far looks like a new car but it's seized up for certain.

Wasn't rod bearings. Main bearing seized to crank. I replaced the engine with another good used one and changed the rod bearings before I installed it. Old engine is collecting dust at the shop. Based on what I've read, the block is not really usable if there is main bearing failure so I don't think I can rebuild it.

[Colinv6]

As a new owner of 2 weeks, this thread fills me with dread.

So not only do I have to consider RB’s but even if I change these, the main bearing can go also?!

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

The S65 'wet sump' handles 1.4G, more than other 'dry sump' systems

Thats an interesting input SYT. Where did you get that number from?

Thanks

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by Colinv6

As a new owner of 2 weeks, this thread fills me with dread.

So not only do I have to consider RB’s but even if I change these, the main bearing can go also?!

Very rare compared to rod bearing failure. And too expensive to change preventatively if you have to pay labor. Not worth worrying about.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Thats an interesting input SYT. Where did you get that number from?

Thanks

It is in the S65 technical information.

Meanwhile, Vettes for example have had dry sumps for many years. In the C8 development interviews the Jueutcher guy (hard name I can't spell) said they had improved their dry sump system since the C7 gen and this time they had lost many fewer engines. He quoted their lateral G handling for the C8 gen at 1.25g. Really makes me wonder what the C7 had.

'Dry sump' is yet another word in the long list of words that mean very little. Right along 'purpose built sports car'. It checks a box but provides very little actual information.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Colinv6

As a new owner of 2 weeks, this thread fills me with dread.

So not only do I have to consider RB’s but even if I change these, the main bearing can go also?!

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Very rare compared to rod bearing failure. And too expensive to change preventatively if you have to pay labor. Not worth worrying about.

Forums always have lots of bad news. The rod bearing failure is a small percentage but I feel it's worth changing. It's not too hard, the BE bearings are a real upgrade vs stock, etc.
Main bearing failure is a tiny, tiny percentage of the rod bearing failure. It's the difference between not jaywalking all the time vs being worried a meteorite is going to hit you.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

It is in the S65 technical information.

Meanwhile, Vettes for example have had dry sumps for many years. In the C8 development interviews the Jueutcher guy (hard name I can't spell) said they had improved their dry sump system since the C7 gen and this time they had lost many fewer engines. He quoted their lateral G handling for the C8 gen at 1.25g. Really makes me wonder what the C7 had.

'Dry sump' is yet another word in the long list of words that mean very little. Right along 'purpose built sports car'. It checks a box but provides very little actual information.

Cheers mate, yet another interesting and nice S65 feature. Dry sump to a layman like me is simply to get rid of the low sump and enable lower mounted engine, but I'm sure there's more to it assuming proper pump etc.