Need to figure out how bad my bearings are

[randrews15]

Originally Posted by bmwlover0725

I'm pretty furious now. I told them before they agreed to do the work that if there was slight damage but not awful, that I'd have them toss in new bearings and deal with it myself (don't ask). They said that was fine. They've removed everything, found one spun bearing which magically caused no damage to the crank, but they also found another bearing that did have some scoring on about one quarter of it's surface on the journal.

I told them to throw in the new bearings regardless and now they're going back on their original word and saying they don't want to. So I'm stuck with my car sitting on a lift trying to figure out how to fight this battle.

They don't want to do a bearing job at all? What was their reasoning for their position? May have to have it towed to a shop or the dealer that is willing to do it.

[anerbe]

I can see with some scoring on the journal, that they don't want to do the repair.

Proper way is to get the journal on the crank repaired, not throw in a set of bearings with a potentially inevitable failure.

Perhaps you ask them to do the repair, with it in writing you will take full responsibility over the repair and not hold them at all accountable for any future problems with the install.

[jcolley]

Originally Posted by bmwlover0725

I'm pretty furious now. I told them before they agreed to do the work that if there was slight damage but not awful, that I'd have them toss in new bearings and deal with it myself (don't ask). They said that was fine. They've removed everything, found one spun bearing which magically caused no damage to the crank, but they also found another bearing that did have some scoring on about one quarter of it's surface on the journal.

I told them to throw in the new bearings regardless and now they're going back on their original word and saying they don't want to. So I'm stuck with my car sitting on a lift trying to figure out how to fight this battle.

I understand that everyone here will say that the repair wont last (which I agree with). The reason I'd be doing this is because I almost NEVER and I mean really never drive this thing due to the fact that I fly for work every week and ride in my wife's X3 on the weekends with our daughter. The car is lucky to get 1K in miles per year at this point.

I'm rebuilding an S65 right now that the owner did the same. Went to replace, found one mildly spun and a scored crank. "polished" the journal in place, buttoned it up with new bearings.

268 miles before it spun.

[deansbimmer]

I'll echo what jcolley said. If there's scoring on the journal then you would probably not even make it home before it spins again. No point in spending the money on such a fools errand. That's probably the reason why they don't want to finish the "repair" in the way you're currently requesting.

Personally I wouldn't do it either and potentially be held liable for the inevitable failure, loss of vehicle control, potential personal injury, etc.

[bmwlover0725]

It was a liability thing which I understand. The weird part is that the one that’s spun had no damage. It was one that wasn’t spun. The bearings are severely worn. I tried putting it in writing but they don’t care. They simply won’t. I requested that they at least do the spun one since there is no damage to the journal. The car is parked all the time anyway. It’s high mileage. I just can’t find a single one with the same options and I’ve grown so attached that I have an irrational love for the thing. I’ll update when they respond to let me know if they’ll do the single rod where it was spun.

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by bmwlover0725

It was a liability thing which I understand. The weird part is that the one that’s spun had no damage. It was one that wasn’t spun. The bearings are severely worn. I tried putting it in writing but they don’t care. They simply won’t. I requested that they at least do the spun one since there is no damage to the journal. The car is parked all the time anyway. It’s high mileage. I just can’t find a single one with the same options and I’ve grown so attached that I have an irrational love for the thing. I’ll update when they respond to let me know if they’ll do the single rod where it was spun.

Is replacing the crank not an option? I can see why they refuse to work on the vehicle as it will be money not so well spent installing new bearings to a damaged crank.

Or finding a used engine and putting new bearings seem like a good solution to me.

[pbonsalb]

Hard to find a used crank. Seems like you have to buy a used engine or have your crank reground. If you regrind it, industry standard bearing clearance is possible. That is what Dinan does. Whether changing the motor or the crank, it’s a big and expensive job.

[deansbimmer]

Removing or replacing the crank is an engine out situation. Since the bearings already spun and bearing material has been distributed throughout the engine, it would be very unwise to replace only the crankshaft. Every time I've seen that attempted I see the owner showing up later wondering why they're having Vanos or other issues. A spun bearing is supposed to be a full rebuild situation. Anything less is taking shortcuts and major risks.

Additionally, these crankshafts are surface hardened. If you grind them you need to re-harden them. Odds are you'll have to grind oversize = buying oversize bearings. Majority of machine shops aren't equipped to harden, so by the time you pay to have it cut, hardened, and buy the oversized bearings, you might as well find a used unmolested crank.

[bmwlover0725]

Well I’m not a fan of all that I see because it makes me nervous as all hell, but the shop did come back and agree to do the bearings. Thankfully this car is going to sit long term anyway. I know this is simply a weak bandaid.

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by bmwlover0725

Well I’m not a fan of all that I see because it makes me nervous as all hell, but the shop did come back and agree to do the bearings. Thankfully this car is going to sit long term anyway. I know this is simply a weak bandaid.

Good used engines could be in a better condition that your motor ever was! Reputable shops should handle them well.

Your habit of sitting an E92 M3 may be another culprit. This forum has seen accelerated bearing wear due to oil starvation from cars less than 30,000km that sit in garage and not driven up to temperature. Our 10w60 is basically a gel at sub zero Celsius.
I know I did not enjoy my last oil change DIY in January.

For the future record, any engine oil oxidizes over time (bigger problem for ester oils as they are more prone to hydrolysis) which is worsened by sitting in a garage, so your oil change interval should be much shorter than regularly driven vehicles.

[Shiza]

Originally Posted by bmwlover0725

Well I’m not a fan of all that I see because it makes me nervous as all hell, but the shop did come back and agree to do the bearings. Thankfully this car is going to sit long term anyway. I know this is simply a weak bandaid.

This is a terrible idea and you've had a few experts tell you exactly why.

You are putting about $1k worth of bearings plus labor ($$?) into a car that is going to have the same issues within a few hundred miles if not sooner.

It's a complete waste of everyone's time and money.

Take the new bearings, and put them into the new(used) engine that you need for the car.

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by Shiza

This is a terrible idea and you've had a few experts tell you exactly why.

You are putting about $1k worth of bearings plus labor ($$?) into a car that is going to have the same issues within a few hundred miles if not sooner.

It's a complete waste of everyone's time and money.

Take the new bearings, and put them into the new(used) engine that you need for the car.

This.

OP I hope you're not planning to drive it straight over to Carmax to dump it like that other forum member did last year...

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

This.

OP I hope you're not planning to drive it straight over to Carmax to dump it like that other forum member did last year...

Do you have the link? Curious

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

This.

OP I hope you're not planning to drive it straight over to Carmax to dump it like that other forum member did last year...

Reading the OP's posts that is exactly what I think he will do.

If you want to keep the car you need to get this actually fixed. Replacing those rod bearings is not even a patch

Bad karma eventually catches up with people... the justification of not driving the car much is such a load of bullscrap I can't even get started

[Shiza]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Reading the OP's posts that is exactly what I think he will do.

If you want to keep the car you need to get this actually fixed. Replacing those rod bearings is not even a patch

Bad karma eventually catches up with people... the justification of not driving the car much is such a load of bullscrap I can't even get started

Originally Posted by bmwlover0725

I'm pretty furious now. I told them before they agreed to do the work that if there was slight damage but not awful, that I'd have them toss in new bearings and deal with it myself (don't ask).

Based off this quote I think you might be right

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Reading the OP's posts that is exactly what I think he will do.

If you want to keep the car you need to get this actually fixed. Replacing those rod bearings is not even a patch

Bad karma eventually catches up with people... the justification of not driving the car much is such a load of bullscrap I can't even get started

Is the NY state law that lenient? If you do this in JP, the fine is hefty and you might go to jail for a while.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

Is the NY state law that lenient? If you do this in JP, the fine is hefty and you might go to jail for a while.

well, OP did post on a public forum so I'm not so sure he's ok if this is his plan

When I sell/buy used cars the 'contract' always says 'car is sold in as is condition'.


Japan is a very different country, but I'm sure you can find sleazebags there just the same as you find them here.

[cjm41]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Reading the OP's posts that is exactly what I think he will do.

If you want to keep the car you need to get this actually fixed. Replacing those rod bearings is not even a patch

Bad karma eventually catches up with people... the justification of not driving the car much is such a load of bullscrap I can't even get started

In another thread he says he's a manager at a Cadillac dealership. Needless to say, this guy will know how to work the system and get the car pawned off on someone else.

I hope this isn't the case and I'm making a snap judgement about some dude I don't know that might be a solid, honest guy....

But I'd be extremely cautious buying a 160k mile e92 M3 in the tri-state area for the next 30-60 days.

[pbonsalb]

That was my guess as well.

[tdott]

Was about to say, carmax will have another knocking s65 soon.

[Ab28]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

Do you have the link? Curious

Post #373

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showth...carmax&page=17

[bmwlover0725]

Originally Posted by lat77

Post #373

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showth...carmax&page=17

I'm dying to read this. I'll get to it shortly, but no I am not going to trade my vehicle in anywhere. I didn't realize how short of a period of time this would work for or I probably wouldn't have done it, but I couldn't justify putting spun bearings back in the vehicle either. I'm definitely keeping it. It just wont be driven often if at all. Trust me I'm not a scumbag like that. My original intent on selling it after bearings was that I figured it would get a lot more like out of them anyway.