E90 Rod Bearing Replacement. UK, Manchester/North West

[E90Has]

Hi, not sure if many UK users in this forum but thought I'd ask. I've got a 2010/60 e90 m3 with 88k miles on the clock. Oil tests are fine but I think it's time to get the rod bearings done just to be safe. Trouble is I'm struggling to find anyone close by who has done them before. All the companies or people I've spoken to who have done then many a times or are experienced with them are all down South. And 4hr drive away. Thought I'd just ask on here if anyone has had any experience and can recommend anyone abit more closer to Manchester...thanks in advance

[AzRiz]

Just searched this for you in one of the main UK M3 FB groups, and 1 which seems to come recommended is Fixed Automotive Services in Stockport.

Join the group and ask there, you'll get much better info in the UK: "BMW E9X M3 V8 UK Owners Club (E90, E92 & E93)".

[E90Has]

Originally Posted by AzRiz

Just searched this for you in one of the main UK M3 FB groups, and 1 which seems to come recommended is Fixed Automotive Services in Stockport.

Join the group and ask there, you'll get much better info in the UK: "BMW E9X M3 V8 UK Owners Club (E90, E92 & E93)".

Thank you

[E90Has]

Hi quick update. Spoke to fixed automotive today. Based in Stockport and roughly a 15 minute drive from me... Spoke to James. Great guy and very informative, quoted me 999 for the rod bearing replacement. Including engine mounts. APR bolts and Bearings. Cheapest I can find by far. Every else is down south 150+ miles away and quoting me 1500+.. Also just ordered a pinnacle aluminium undertray. Looking forward to getting that on

[Helmsman]

£999 for the whole kit, wow that is cheap close to weird! Only the ARPs are like half of that. What bearings is it?

[AzRiz]

Originally Posted by E90Has

Hi quick update. Spoke to fixed automotive today. Based in Stockport and roughly a 15 minute drive from me... Spoke to James. Great guy and very informative, quoted me 999 for the rod bearing replacement. Including engine mounts. APR bolts and Bearings. Cheapest I can find by far. Every else is down south 150+ miles away and quoting me 1500+.. Also just ordered a pinnacle aluminium undertray. Looking forward to getting that on

£999 including engine mounts? Really? The cheapest price I've seen elsewhere is £1380 for the same kit. £999 is amazing.

ACL bearings at a guess? With the ARP bolts?

I'd just check with him that he is supplying and using everything mentioned in this list: https://www.redish-motorsport.com/E9...ingShells.html

Az

[E90Has]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

£999 for the whole kit, wow that is cheap close to weird! Only the ARPs are like half of that. What bearings is it?

Oh jeeez you've made me get paranoid now lol.

There's a few people speaking about him on other forums which I'll add the link to here

He sounded very helpful over the phone. ACL bearings and apr bolts too. Oil sump gasket and choice of castrol or mobi1 oil and engine mounts.

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threa...h-west.225385/

[E90Has]

Originally Posted by AzRiz

£999 including engine mounts? Really? The cheapest price I've seen elsewhere is £1380 for the same kit. £999 is amazing.

ACL bearings at a guess? With the ARP bolts?

I'd just check with him that he is supplying and using everything mentioned in this list: https://www.redish-motorsport.com/E9...ingShells.html

Az

Thanks for your reply, he didn't say anything about power steering. After watching the reddish YouTube video, I called him and asked if he would do power steering fluid and he said there isn't any need too... Chap sounds genuine but I'm not 1000% sure now. He has some Google reviews on his business from people who have done them from him and all sound happy. Also the link below.

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threa...h-west.225385/

[AzRiz]

Originally Posted by E90Has

Thanks for your reply, he didn't say anything about power steering. After watching the reddish YouTube video, I called him and asked if he would do power steering fluid and he said there isn't any need too... Chap sounds genuine but I'm not 1000% sure now. He has some Google reviews on his business from people who have done them from him and all sound happy. Also the link below.

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threa...h-west.225385/

Quite a few people have recommended him so it should be all good man. Let us know how it goes.

[E90Has]

Originally Posted by AzRiz

Quite a few people have recommended him so it should be all good man. Let us know how it goes.

Yeah that's what I thought. Sounds good. I made a mistake it's acl bearings with oem bolts, engine oil. Sump gasket and engine mounts, wondering will the drive of the car change at all with new mounts?

It's booked in for the 8th so will keep you updated

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by E90Has

Oh jeeez you've made me get paranoid now lol.

There's a few people speaking about him on other forums which I'll add the link to here

He sounded very helpful over the phone. ACL bearings and apr bolts too. Oil sump gasket and choice of castrol or mobi1 oil and engine mounts.

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threa...h-west.225385/

Sounds great mate, just surpriced over that crazy low pricing.
ACL chells are like 220-240 Euro and the ARP are 550 Euro or so. Def if it is "aged 625", but probably (hopefully) he uses the ARP-2000 which I believe are half or so price. Bolts still totally fine in my book.
Just thinking the bloke need a little something for the actual work and his shop too, in order to do good...

[E90Has]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Sounds great mate, just surpriced over that crazy low pricing.
ACL chells are like 220-240 Euro and the ARP are 550 Euro or so. Def if it is "aged 625", but probably (hopefully) he uses the ARP-2000 which I believe are half or so price. Bolts still totally fine in my book.
Just thinking the bloke need a little something for the actual work and his shop too, in order to do good...

Sounds like I've got myself a bargain then haha. Let's just hope there's no other expense for the next 6 month haha

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by E90Has

Sounds like I've got myself a bargain then haha. Let's just hope there's no other expense for the next 6 month haha

Leaves plenty for petrol hey...

[Assimilator1]

He said OEM bolts , much cheaper than ARP bolts (OEM are £100-150 IIRC??), just a PITA to torque up!
ACL shells are about £200 retail and BE ARP 2000 bolts are £350 (retail).

E90Has
Hi from a fellow Brit, southerner unfortunately .

[E90Has]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

He said OEM bolts , much cheaper than ARP bolts (OEM are £100-150 IIRC??), just a PITA to torque up!
ACL shells are about £200 retail and BE ARP 2000 bolts are £350.

E90Has
Hi from a fellow Brit, southerner unfortunately .

Is it still okay to do though?
I originally had it booked in with AReeve..

Haha shame you're from down there. Not many UK people on this forum....

Thinking of getting the custom headlights aswell now but not 100% sure

[Assimilator1]

In the stacks of reading I've done about the rod bearings issue, I only remember coming across 1 person (so far, Matt@AUTOcouture, a sponsor here) who claimed that the OEM rodbolts could cause problems, I asked him for more info about this about a week or so ago, but he hasn't replied yet.

[edit]Added link above.

BE bearings own tests show that the OEM rod bolts give the correct bearing eccentricity.
Personally I'd say you're fine using those bolts, as long as they're torqued up properly. I was going to get OEM bolts, but in the end I decided the torque procedure for those was just too much of a PITA to do! (I'm doing it myself).

[E90Has]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

In the stacks of reading I've done about the rod bearings issue, I only remember coming across 1 person (so far, Matt@AUTOcouture, a sponsor here) who claimed that the OEM rodbolts could cause problems, I asked him for more info about this about a week or so ago, but he hasn't replied yet.

BE bearings own tests show that the OEM rod bolts give the correct bearing eccentricity.
Personally I'd say you're fine using those bolts, as long as they're torqued up properly. I was going to get OEM bolts, but in the end I decided the torque procedure for those was just too much of a PITA to do! (I'm doing it myself).

Fair enough! Thanks for the quick reply. Can't wait to get it done so I can be worry free, props to you for doing it urself and good luck!

[Assimilator1]

Thanks , not so scary for me as I'm a mechanic/tech , but I've never stripped one of these down so it'll still be a learning experience .

[E90Has]

The learning never stops haha

[E90Has]

So just a quick update. Had car done on December 8th. ACL bearings. OEM bolts and OEM Mount's.

Wow. The mounts must of been bad. The car drives much much smoother. Allot tighter and just less rattlely, only word to describe it is it feels allot tighter?

My old bearings were in pretty good condition but it was worth the peace of mind. Also I had a minor sump leak anyway which would of been a big job so glad I got something big done to it... Sump Leak was minor but was because a couple of sump bolts were missing, not going to overthink it. Glad I've had it done and car drives even better than it did. So happy with it..


Thanks for those who suggested fixed automotive services... JAMES was great and answered all my questions with plenty of detail. Will be using him for everything on my M3 now. £1020 at the end. As he had to order a few sump bolts. Also had the aluminium undertray I bought a while ago fitted whilst It was in with him for no extra charge. Gives that little bit of extra clearance and looks clean.. Thanks again. Sorry for the delay. Thought I'd give it a couple of weeks to see if everything's running fine.

[Assimilator1]

Good to hear and thanks for the update , did you post photos to the rod bearing condition thread of your old bearings?

Also, I don't suppose you have your old rod bolts to hand?

[E90Has]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Good to hear and thanks for the update , did you post photos to the rod bearing condition thread of your old bearings?

Also, I don't suppose you have your old rod bolts to hand?

Hi, yes I have the bolts, didn't post a picture of the bearings, will get that done in this next week