Need to figure out how bad my bearings are

[bmwlover0725]

I really should buy a lotto ticket! Haha I’m glad this thread is entertaining people at least. At this point the car is getting old and has so many miles that I don’t feel as though it’s worth fixing entirely. The only problem I run into is a WOT sometimes it goes into limp mode for the intake vanos (not a surprise given the amount of copper there) and I haven’t got around to fixing it yet. This was done at a dealer and they refused to do aftermarket so regardless of the crank, it’s on bought time anyway since the new style bearings will wear down eventually. I’m currently using stock oil and have been since the bearings were replaced.

[Assimilator1]

Maybe try an engine flush with your next oil change??

Anyway, keep us posted, would be funny if you got another 50k out of those bearings! . How many miles/yr do you do?

[bmwlover0725]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Maybe try an engine flush with your next oil change??

Anyway, keep us posted, would be funny if you got another 50k out of those bearings! . How many miles/yr do you do?

I thought about an oil flush on the next change, but I don't want to thin the oil too much either given the circumstances. Driving varies heavily because I travel a lot for work so it's either a TON of driving or almost nothing at all. I'd say I normally average 12-15k per year at most, but that's about to change. I probably fall closer to 12k. I really don't rev it high though. I think the highest I've hit was close to 7k at one point, but the VANOS made a clicking sound so loud, that I thought I spun multiple bearings at once. I started the car the next day and had multiple VANOS codes, cleared them, let it run with the noise on, and I heard one giant CLICK and everything stopped and it's been normal since. I'm far from out of the clear, but driving it normally and somewhat hard only once in a while has been fine up to now. Even now when I get into higher RPM's, it no longer does the VANOS thing. The worst I get is that code for what I think is just a solenoid. I would replace it, but I'm waiting to see if the copper goes away over time and the problem resolves itself since it almost never happens. This car has unfortunately become a beater kind of, but I can't get rid of it. It has every option I like, is one of my favorite colors - and it's the longest I've kept a car. Theres something that keeps me drawn to it. I do have plans to do an engine overhaul with BE bearings and sell this one off with the damaged crank at a discounted price. It's just down the road a bit. Hopefully this one will last until that point! We'll find out.

[Assimilator1]

Oil flush is only intended to be in the engine for a few minutes or so (see instructions) with it ticking over, then you drain the oil.
I can't remember which bearings you fitted now, but I doubt thinner oil with the clearances these engines have will be an issue with such a short run .

I'd be worried driving it if the VANOS is making loud clunks like that! (speaking as a car mechanic of 25yrs), but if you say it's stopped doing that now then maybe it's finally flushed the crap out! lol

Maybe we should do sweepstakes on how many miles you'll get out of them?

[bmwlover0725]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Oil flush is only intended to be in the engine for a few minutes or so (see instructions) with it ticking over, then you drain the oil.
I can't remember which bearings you fitted now, but I doubt thinner oil with the clearances these engines have will be an issue with such a short run .

I'd be worried driving it if the VANOS is making loud clunks like that! (speaking as a car mechanic of 25yrs), but if you say it's stopped doing that now then maybe it's finally flushed the crap out! lol

Maybe we should do sweepstakes on how many miles you'll get out of them?

Haha I’m fine with people placing bets! I really don’t know a number at this point given the results of the analysis. I will post pictures shortly of the damage since I finally found them. Bearings are OEM so I’m on bought time no matter what. The dealer wouldn’t use anything else.

[bmwlover0725]

Here are the photos. You can see the damage on the last one. Talk about some of the worst bearings on here!

[Assimilator1]

Bit of emery would've sorted them!

Seriously though, bloody hell they're bad!
I have seen worse bearing pics, but not on an engine that's run again! At least not with the same crank!
That top shell in the 3rd & 4th pic has actually worn through the copper to the steel! How the hell did that not spin!? lol.

Good quality photos btw

PS You're never going to reset the service light until it's done now right?

[bmwlover0725]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Bit of emery would've sorted them!

Seriously though, bloody hell they're bad!
I have seen worse bearing pics, but not on an engine that's run again! At least not with the same crank!
That top shell in the 3rd & 4th pic has actually worn through the copper to the steel! How the hell did that not spin!? lol.

Good quality photos btw

PS You're never going to reset the service light until it's done now right?

Haha yes I've learned my lesson there. I'll also never let it get to the point where the service light comes on again. I'll be doing it by mileage from now on. Also, I didn't put pictures of the rest of the crank because it wasn't damaged, but half of the bearings did spin. There was somehow (literally) not damage whatsoever to the journals except for that single one that is pictured. I'll never understand how the rest weren't destroyed. This went from being a "save my car" project to just having fun seeing how much the S65 can take. I absolutely love this motor after this - even if it went today, I'd still have an insane amount of respect for how durable everything has been since it was "repaired"

[Shredicus]

Holy smoked bearings batman!

[Assimilator1]

Over 7mths on, how's it doing?

[bmwlover0725]

Update: This was done at 163k and it's somehow still going strong at 180k with heavy abuse. I'm truly amazed.

[pbonsalb]

I’d say you were lucky not to have lost the motor given the wear on that first set of bearings.

[SoCalRPM]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

Do you have the link? Curious

Originally Posted by Ab28

Post #373

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

Holy shit, man. That's so fucked. Took me a minute to find the post so I'm sharing here for anyone who hasn't seen it:

Originally Posted by zeemy

update on my end. Sold the m3 to carmax and got 18k. Cashed that sob first thing the next day, lol. i had warmed up the car prior to taking it there so the knocking wasnt AS noticeable. it was about 730pm and had gotten dark out. guy did a quick carfax/autocheck verification, felt the car and looked for frame damage, took it for a quick spin (went less than a mile and turned around). in and out in roughly 1-1.5 hours.

[Assimilator1]

Ok, but that's nothing to do with the op.

Originally Posted by bmwlover0725

Update: This was done at 163k and it's somehow still going strong at 180k with heavy abuse. I'm truly amazed.

Nice going! So far, lol.
Do you still plan for another engine?

Btw, you mentioned OEM bearings were put in because that's all they would fit, seeing as they will be the latter tin/alu ones they might fair better for longer, assuming the scoring doesn't give them an early grave!
Forgot to ask, didn't the spun bearings damage the rods at least??

[bmwlover0725]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Ok, but that's nothing to do with the op.



Nice going! So far, lol.
Do you still plan for another engine?

Btw, you mentioned OEM bearings were put in because that's all they would fit, seeing as they will be the latter tin/alu ones they might fair better for longer, assuming the scoring doesn't give them an early grave!
Forgot to ask, didn't the spun bearings damage the rods at least??

Glad this got resurrected! It is still going at almost 180k. Keep in mind that this job was done at 163k. I STILL waited 10k for an oil change and the blackstone report came back as almost perfect beside some residual copper still being in the oil. I believe the rods were slightly worn from the spinning, but no major damage. I'll put it this way, I wouldn't have been worried about them if the journals all looked perfect even if they did spin on the rods. They looked mostly fine. I'm just amazed that the journal is holding up STILL. I love this car lol. It's just a beater at this point, but it's so much fun. I do plan on potentially restoring it at some point which would include everything from a paint job to an engine rebuild and anything in between.

[EDWYER]

Originally Posted by bmwlover0725

Here are the photos. You can see the damage on the last one. Talk about some of the worst bearings on here!

[Assimilator1]

Forgot about this.
I'll put it this way, I wouldn't have been worried about them if the journals all looked perfect even if they did spin on the rods

If the bearings have spun then they would have worn the rod bore, that would reduce the clamping load on the new bearings. That said, it must be a tiny amount seeing as your engine is still going , my point is though, even without journal damage, spun bearings aren't a trivial issue.

[bmwlover0725]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Forgot about this.
I'll put it this way, I wouldn't have been worried about them if the journals all looked perfect even if they did spin on the rods

If the bearings have spun then they would have worn the rod bore, that would reduce the clamping load on the new bearings. That said, it must be a tiny amount seeing as your engine is still going , my point is though, even without journal damage, spun bearings aren't a trivial issue.

Very true. I'm sure it was small because I just rounded 180k and it's still good. I figured I'd give the update to anyone who's mind this may cross lol. I beat the hell out of it and nothing has happened yet. My newest update is that I'm pretty sure my throwout bearing is gone because I hear a loud clicking every time I hit the clutch. Probably starting a new thread for that one! This car has been an absolute champ honestly. It's just a beater anymore, but I love it!

[Assimilator1]

Throwout bearing? Oh, release bearing, I guess that's a US vs UK difference .
And yea seems likely, although usually when they go you get more of.....hmm, can't think how to describe it! Err a dry bearing sound, lol. I know what it sounds like but I can't describe it
Anyway, I wouldn't leave it too much longer unless you want to end up in a situation where you can't release the clutch!

17k miles on a scored crank! Good going!

[bmwlover0725]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Throwout bearing? Oh, release bearing, I guess that's a US vs UK difference .
And yea seems likely, although usually when they go you get more of.....hmm, can't think how to describe it! Err a dry bearing sound, lol. I know what it sound like but I can't describe it
Anyway, I wouldn't leave it too much longer unless you want to end up in a situation where you can't release the clutch!

17k miles on a scored crank! Good going!

17k and counting! It was making the "dry" sound for a while, but not audibly most of the time. I drove it the other day for a bit at low RPM's and the bearing made a nonstop clicking noise. I was on the highway and got it home fine, but it's definitely time for a clutch!

[bmwlover0725]

Just wanted to give another update for people who remember this thread. 183k on the vehicle which means 19-20k miles on a scored crank with OEM bearings. Pressure plate recently exploded and blew up the bell housing, but it now has a new tranny, clutch and flywheel assembly. I'll probably buy something else (another E92 M3) soon with way less miles, but this car is really the little engine that could!

[Assimilator1]

I did say not to leave the clutch much longer! lol, sorry to hear about the extra costs though.

How did you blow up the pressure plate though? A 'few' over enthusiastic clutch drops?

Amazing the engine is still going nicely though!