2008 E92 M3 White on Red - Number 12

[egebhardt]

New to me!
I've had (11) E36 M3s (at different times) but sold them all a couple years ago. The desire to get another M3 eventually ate at me.

Frankly, the E36 M3 is more difficult to own with interior parts and body parts becoming harder to get. Besides, I know that platform already, hence the reason to get something newer. I tried buying several E46 M3s but the disappointment of the big4 problems were always present. Guys were not willing to negatiate after showing them subframe cracks. I was just expected to eat that cost. No thanks. RodBearings, Subframe, Vanos, DCT. All expensive as if these cars weren't expensive enough.

So, I opted for the E92 M3. 1 problem vs 4. After so many M3s, I was hoping to stay M3 so the newer M4 coupes were out.

It's a 2008 with 90,000 miles. AlpineWhite3 with Carbon Roof on Fox Red and a 6 speed. All records since day 1. 2 owners before me. I paid a lot for it but I'm not upset about that yet. Here it is!

[tbuck]

With all the E36 M3's I would imagine you were on the old M3Forum, and I seem to recall your username. I was white-hot over there. Sad what happened to that site, so much knowledge lost.

Welcome to the E9x platform! You will not be disappointed!

[egebhardt]

Originally Posted by tbuck

With all the E36 M3's I would imagine you were on the old M3Forum, and I seem to recall your username. I was white-hot over there. Sad what happened to that site, so much knowledge lost.

Yes. egebhardt was my name on M3F. I poured a decade worth of good info into M3Forum. I don't recall 'tbuck'. Maybe you had a different name.

It appears m3post.com is the next best place for now. Bimmerforums looks pretty sleepy.

[ChiTownM]

I actually sold my e36M3 and e46 ZHP on the M3Forum……

I would say that the e92 is a good solid platform compared to the other 2. Rod Bearing is either something you do or just shrug off……

[egebhardt]

M3F was great.
I started the Rod Bearing job immediately. No reason to take a chance. The motor mounts look good and the car is clean so I'm betting the rod bearings are fine. I expected to see torn motor mounts at 90,000 miles but...

[RocketyMan]

Sweet! Well welcome to the forum!

[NiBe]

Looks great! Welcome.

[tbuck]

Originally Posted by egebhardt

Yes. egebhardt was my name on M3F. I poured a decade worth of good info into M3Forum. I don't recall 'tbuck'. Maybe you had a different name.

It appears m3post.com is the next best place for now. Bimmerforums looks pretty sleepy.

Nope, I was white-hot on M3Forum. I spent a ton of time on there as well, so much great info you just can't find now. Oh well...

Those motor mounts have been replaced, cause you are correct they would be trashed. That being said, while your in there I would change them out. Can be sure they have collapsed some. Mine looked new but were 4mm shorter than the new ones.

[Robocop305]

Congrats, you bought the best color combo! Enjoy

[egebhardt]

Originally Posted by Robocop305

Congrats, you bought the best color combo! Enjoy

Thanks! I got a good one.
The only other I would have liked is Interlagos on Bamboo.
The AlpineWhite3 was by far the most common so I don't know if that hurts or helps my car's value.

[egebhardt]

Update:
I pulled the oil pan and filter and 1 rod cap (#8 at the firewall).
Everything looks clean under there so I'm happy about that at 90,000 miles.
The filter has no flecks in it. The rod bearing on top is clearly more worn than the bottom, which is expected.
The lower bearing shell was scratched by my fingernail. That stuff be soft!
Oh well. I've got BE-ARP bolts (50 ft-lb) and ACL Race Standard (8B1580H-STD) bearings on the way.

I also tried green Plastiguage on the existing bearings and got .0017" clearance. That appears to be a very common OEM Clevite value.
I'm hoping for a .0018" clearance with the ACL Race Std bearing.

I'm considering a cheap Valvoline full-synthetic 5w-30 oil for the first 100 miles. Then the LiquiMoly 10w-60 after that.

[RocketyMan]

Yup! Looks good/typical! And I bet the crank is fine, too. Well...check CR #5.

I didn't see an assembly lube in your list. What were you going to use for an assembly lube?

[egebhardt]

Originally Posted by RocketyMan

I didn't see an assembly lube in your list. What were you going to use for an assembly lube?

I got a tube by LiquiMoly for that.

Does anyone know where the Build-Sheet is on these cars?
I looked under the back seats like all my other E36 M3s and nothing.

[egebhardt]

I had a busy weekend in the garage with Rod Bearings.
ACL 1580H STD - Bearings - OEM spec
ARP-BE - Rod Bolts - 50lb-ft

My research (yes. i know. everyone seems to get different numbers but this is what I found) says BMW targeted .0015" -> .0021" for rod bearing clearances.

I got .0015" -> .0019" per Plastiguage (yes. i know. more precise measurements can be make with a full tear-down and $$$$ in measurement equipment but 95% use Plastiguage for a reason. It's a close number and it's easy). Plastiguage beats no number at all.

This car has had an easy life so far and I'll be giving it an easier life. I'll never come close to yellow-lining this car. If I was to see red-line and burnouts, I'll watch YouTube.

I added 9.4 Litres of Valvoline synthetic 5w-40 with the BMW LL-01 label for break-in. I'll do an easy 200 miles and dump it for LiquiMoly 10w-60 later.

The oil level took ~15mins of engine run time to display a value. Don't ask me how that makes sense. Furthermore, I'd like to know w

Then I got a P0112 code and my Real-Time values show a temp of -40f. It's pointing towards the IAT (intake air temp) so I ordered one of those.

Everything seems to work and sound properly so far. I'll drive to the gas station sometime this week for fresh gas.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by egebhardt

I had a busy weekend in the garage with Rod Bearings.
ACL 1580H STD - Bearings - OEM spec
ARP-BE - Rod Bolts - 50lb-ft

My research (yes. i know. everyone seems to get different numbers but this is what I found) says BMW targeted .0015" -> .0021" for rod bearing clearances.

I got .0015" -> .0019" per Plastiguage (yes. i know. more precise measurements can be make with a full tear-down and $$$$ in measurement equipment but 95% use Plastiguage for a reason. It's a close number and it's easy). Plastiguage beats no number at all.

This car has had an easy life so far and I'll be giving it an easier life. I'll never come close to yellow-lining this car. If I was to see red-line and burnouts, I'll watch YouTube.

I added 9.4 Litres of Valvoline synthetic 5w-40 with the BMW LL-01 label for break-in. I'll do an easy 200 miles and dump it for LiquiMoly 10w-60 later.

The oil level took ~15mins of engine run time to display a value. Don't ask me how that makes sense. Furthermore, I'd like to know w

Then I got a P0112 code. It's pointing towards the IAT (intake air temp) so I ordered one of those.

Everything seems to work and sound properly so far. I'll drive to the gas station sometime this week for fresh gas.

LiquiMoly ? => https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1404625

[egebhardt]

Thanks. I'll have to think about that.

[tbuck]

I can't say much in this regard, as the PO had put LM in my new-to-me-at-the-time car, and by the looks of the oil during a PPI it was a very recent change. Super clean. I heard no unusual sounds and had no issues during my return trip home (2048 miles) and then subsequent couple hundred miles around town before I did my own change. No noise or other issues. Changed to BMW oil with fresh filter at that time and I did notice a subtle difference in smoothness of idle, but clearly a subjective thing. YMMV. I don't think this is something LM-related or there would be many, many popping engines with all the folks using LM in these cars.

[egebhardt]

I think I'll try the LiquiMoly (LM) RaceTech 10w-60 and go from there. If it runs a little louder, I'll swap it for BMW on the next change. If race teams are using the LM and thousands of others, it's probably fine for an old guy like me who wants to go slow in the right lane.

P0112 code fixed. I tested the IAT (intake air temp) sensor. It gets 5v from the car. The sensor reads 1.9 Ohms on the 200k setting on the volt meter. The other pin on the sensor lead gets continuity to ground.

Short story shorter, I just needed to clear the code. I had the sensor disconnected whilst running the car.

[egebhardt]

Update:
The passenger side VCG was weeping a bit onto that motor mount so I decided to replace the original Valve Cover Gaskets at nearly 90,000 miles.
I thought this would be an easy job but that paint doesn't want to come off.

The orange CitriStrip worked much better and smelled much better.
I baked the covers for 1 hour at 200f per the VHT can. They came out great, IMO.

Replacing a valve cover on the S65 is ~10x more work than on the S52 if you include painting. I may not do this job again. Very little aesthetic gain and no performance gain.
Note: the rear-most passenger coil pack come out and goes in fairly easy if you point the big head towards the passenger shock tower.

[CPWINCH]

Congrats. I saw somewhere you said you weren’t going to “yellow line it”. This car is made to be revved to redline. Don’t be worried about that, a lot of us track our cars and are continuously between 7k-8400 for 20 mins at a time. Just enjoy it

[egebhardt]

Originally Posted by CPWINCH

Congrats. I saw somewhere you said you weren’t going to “yellow line it”. This car is made to be revved to redline. Don’t be worried about that, a lot of us track our cars and are continuously between 7k-8400 for 20 mins at a time. Just enjoy it

Ha! I love it. Maybe I will. It's snowing again and I saw a salt-truck out there today. There's no way this car will see salt.

[tbuck]

Originally Posted by CPWINCH

Congrats. I saw somewhere you said you weren’t going to “yellow line it”. This car is made to be revved to redline. Don’t be worried about that, a lot of us track our cars and are continuously between 7k-8400 for 20 mins at a time. Just enjoy it

I totally agree. If the RB's have been sorted go for it. Bottom line, that is the number 1 thing that makes this M3 better than most(some might say all) of the rest: the pure joy of winding up an NA 8400RPM V8. These things are the M3 unicorn. Low production numbers and one-of-a-kind bespoke engine. May as well enjoy what you have!