Another one bites the dust! Value of M3 with a blown engine?

[bimmer414]

Driving along, I suddenly hear the dreaded knocking sound from the front of the car and the low oil pressure warning comes on. I immediately shut down the car but knew my goose was cooked. Opening up the oil filter canister I see all sorts of metal shavings. I had the car towed to my indy shop, they confirmed a spun rod bearing. We're looking at $14k+ for a low mileage motor installed. Car is an 08 E90 with 122k. I recon it's worth about $20k on a good day. I am thinking about selling the car, maybe someone who is more mechanically inclined than me can do a LS swap or something and make a sick track car.

Before you ask:
Oil changes were done every 7k or less with Castrol 10W60 and OEM filter. 5500 miles on current oil
Car was kept below 3k until fully warmed up every time.
Did oil analysis reports, never saw anything noteworthy.
No abnormal ticking or knocking before this.

I read the threads about rod bearing failures and thought "hey it will never happen to me" oh well.

My question is: what do you think the car is worth with a blown motor?

[6ixSpd]

Barely half that, to be honest. A high mileage, first year chassis wouldn't be worth much. You're better off fixing it I think, then run it into the ground over the years to make your $ worthwhile. Anything you get to replace it with (that should be as fun/special) will cost more overall than this one's current value + repairs.

[Redd]

122k and you didn't change your rod bearings?

[Honda]

Originally Posted by Redd

122k and you didn't change your rod bearings?

Did you read when he said oil analysis is normal and nothing noteworthy? Why would he change the rod bearings? I wouldn't!

EIDT: After going through your older posts. Your oil analysis in 2016 is showing more lead than normal. Have you done any recent oil analysis to check on the lead again as a follow up?

[bimmer414]

Originally Posted by Honda

Did you read when he said oil analysis is normal and nothing noteworthy? Why would he change the rod bearings? I wouldn't!

EIDT: After going through your older posts. Your oil analysis in 2016 is showing more lead than normal. Have you done any recent oil analysis to check on the lead again as a follow up?

Yes last 2 oil analyses were from Napa, lead was 9 and 7 ppm.

[BOOF-M3]

There's a motor for sale in the forum for $6,500. Not sure where it is located but you should rent a Uhaul and pick it up. Then find a member or two who can help you with the extraction and install. Shitty situation.

[Dr. Dre]

I've said it time and time again. You can spend $2500 or in your case $14,000. I don't get it. The logic just doesn't make sense. If my engine fails my car becomes a paperweight. I did my bearing after owning the car for 2 days.

You're car was maybe worth $20k with a good engine. Good luck.

[NeverL8]

Originally Posted by Honda

Did you read when he said oil analysis is normal and nothing noteworthy? Why would he change the rod bearings?

Why In the hell would you NOT change it? Oil analysis is not 100% certain just like this case....$2.5k vs $12k+ headaches, why even take a chance with that?

EVERY s65 has bearing wear, some less and some more then the others..it’s just matter of time

[jiggz]

^this. Oil reports are borderline useless.

Too many members here with good blackstone reports, only to experience bearing failure shortly thereafter.

[wbM3]

Smh

[Timujin]

Sorry for your loss.

[pbonsalb]

That is a bummer. You will take about a $14k loss either way. The car might be worth $20k with a good engine (my guess is my 08E90M3 with 90k miles and replaced rod bearings is worth about $20k). It might be worth $6k with a bad engine. The buyer has to make something for the risk and time.

As others have said, good car for a DIYer - whether that is you or the buyer.

[Majdi]

Damn. I'm sorry for your loss. My car also has about 123k miles on original RB'S. It's parked now and I will be replacing the bearings next weekend.

[timothy2001]

Hate reading this........I agree with the above posts in the $6k to $10k range.

I would take Boofs advice but then again I might just be done with it at that point.

Good luck to you.

[deansbimmer]

Sorry for your loss. $14k for a replacement engine is feasible through some shops but really high if you're trying to do it on a budget for an older high miler. You can get engines for half that and install it yourself if you're mechanically inclined. I buy blown engine M3's for 4k-8k for reference so unless you want to take that hit I'd fix it.

[Redd]

There's tons of evidence of worn bearings even for those who preemptively change them out at 50-60k miles. I did mine at 80k kms and they were showing copper. Don't understand why some people choose to gamble.

Anyway I hope you manage to sort it out and get a used engine for cheap. Good luck.

[rcracin]

Worth around 6k ish i’d say. The mileage is the real killer in additon to it being an ‘08.

[shimmy23]

Wow! At 122k I woulda either definitely done the bearings or sold the car. With all the info on here about premature wear I can’t imagine being up in the 100k mileage club without some major maintenance concerns preventatively handled

Good luck OP. Which way are ya leaning? Replace motor or sell as is? I think you could get $10k for the car but not much more

[Ab28]

Sorry to hear about your situation.

Doubtful you can get more than $10k in it's current state.

Even if the car is otherwise pretty clean, the chassis and other components still have 122k on it.

I also recommend installing a used engine.

Good luck.

[panda-R]

I'm impressed it made it to 122K miles! Good job, you got good use out of it!

[Shiza]

Well at 154k on stock bearings you guys are starting to make me worry.

[tooloud10]

Originally Posted by donadio91

Well at 154k on stock bearings you guys are starting to make me worry.

To keep everything in perspective, if everyone with 100k miles on their original RBs posted, these failures wouldn't sound like such a given.

As for those wondering why someone wouldn't have them replaced because it's 'just $2500 vs $14k', it's a gamble with the odds heavily in favor of not doing it. Would I feel better if I had them replaced? Sure. Is it a given that my engine is going to fail at 100k if I don't have them replaced? Absolutely not.