BMW M3 Forum (E90 E92)

BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Go Back   M3Post - BMW M3 Forum > E90/E92 M3 Technical Topics > Engine, Transmission, Exhaust, Drivetrain, ECU Software Modifications
 
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      08-29-2019, 10:13 AM   #1
ppy1111
Enlisted Member
2
Rep
35
Posts

Drives: BMW M3
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Houston, TX

iTrader: (0)

Remove engine and trans to replace rod bearings?

Hey guys!

I need your input on my plans for the future.

I want to replace the rod bearings in my 2008 e92 m3.

I don't have a lift but I have quite a few jack stands, cherry picker and an engine hoist

Do you guys think it will be easier to remove the engine from the engine bay to replace the rod bearings? My jack stands might not have enough height to do the rod bearings from under the car.

Has anyone here have gone through the same route? remove the engine to replace rod bearings?
Appreciate 0
      08-29-2019, 10:16 AM   #2
Shiza
Captain
Shiza's Avatar
1193
Rep
994
Posts

Drives: M3, X5, Ram 2500, Wrangler
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: US

iTrader: (1)

Purchasing taller jack stands is a lot easier than removing the whole engine to do a job that can be done on jack stands.
Appreciate 1
      08-29-2019, 10:29 AM   #3
SYT_Shadow
///M Powered for Life
SYT_Shadow's Avatar
11421
Rep
10,296
Posts

Drives: E90M/E92M/M4GTS/M4GT4/X5M
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Greenwich, CT

iTrader: (2)

I can't imagine how it would be an advantage to do this. Rod bearings through the bottom with a lift takes 8-10h. Unless you've removed a whole lot of engines in your life it will take you longer just to remove and replace the engine.

The S65 has excellent access from the bottom, much easier than the S54.
Appreciate 0
      08-29-2019, 10:30 AM   #4
SYT_Shadow
///M Powered for Life
SYT_Shadow's Avatar
11421
Rep
10,296
Posts

Drives: E90M/E92M/M4GTS/M4GT4/X5M
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Greenwich, CT

iTrader: (2)

I can't imagine how it would be an advantage to do this. Rod bearings through the bottom with a lift takes 8-10h. Unless you've removed a whole lot of engines in your life it will take you longer just to remove and replace the engine.

The S65 has excellent access from the bottom, much easier than the S54.
Appreciate 0
      08-29-2019, 10:46 AM   #5
KCE92
Private
KCE92's Avatar
United_States
40
Rep
93
Posts

Drives: MW ZCP e92 G-Power SKII CS
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Kansas City

iTrader: (0)

Removing the engine is a ton more work than doing the RB job from under the car. You can buy Quickjack now for around 1k and that will get you plenty of clearance.
__________________
l E92 M3 ZCP DCT l G-Power SK2-CS l Akrapovic Evolution l
Appreciate 1
PACarGuy646.00
      08-29-2019, 01:12 PM   #6
SAMM3Y
Colonel
SAMM3Y's Avatar
3085
Rep
2,747
Posts

Drives: 2008 m3
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: NorCal

iTrader: (2)

Is it a six speed? If your gonna pull the motor/trans do the clutch and flywheel too. I wouldn't want to change the RB's motor in on jackstands or qj's. No side access and it'll be a drippy mess which you'll be laying in. More likely to make mistakes. It might take you 2-3x the hours to pull the motor but it would be less painful then laying on your back doing it.
__________________
9ers
Appreciate 0
      08-29-2019, 02:41 PM   #7
KCE92
Private
KCE92's Avatar
United_States
40
Rep
93
Posts

Drives: MW ZCP e92 G-Power SKII CS
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Kansas City

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by SAMM3Y View Post
Is it a six speed? If your gonna pull the motor/trans do the clutch and flywheel too. I wouldn't want to change the RB's motor in on jackstands or qj's. No side access and it'll be a drippy mess which you'll be laying in. More likely to make mistakes. It might take you 2-3x the hours to pull the motor but it would be less painful then laying on your back doing it.
Its a drippy mess regardless of jack stands, QJ or shop lift, remove oil pan and pick up tubes letting it drip out overnight and start the next day swapping shells. Use a creeper to roll around and not lay in oil. I think removing the whole front clip to remove engine out on jack stands is more likely to make a mistake somewhere. Just my .02
__________________
l E92 M3 ZCP DCT l G-Power SK2-CS l Akrapovic Evolution l
Appreciate 0
      08-29-2019, 03:19 PM   #8
Scharbag
Colonel
Scharbag's Avatar
Canada
2618
Rep
2,134
Posts

Drives: 2011 E92 M3
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Victoria

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2011 BMW E92 M3  [0.00]
I did mine on jack stands. I removed the subframe completely. It drips a little but as others said, it drips regardless.

Quickjacks will work but side access is limited. I used 5T jack stands and there is lots of room.

Pulling the engine would be waaaaay more work.

Cheers,
__________________

2011 E92 M3 - 6MT, ZCP, ZF LSD, ESS G1, Some other goodies...
Appreciate 0
      08-29-2019, 03:35 PM   #9
MaximusB
Major
1391
Rep
1,288
Posts

Drives: 13 Frozen White E92
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Vancouver

iTrader: (0)

Doesn't make sense to remove the engine. Adds way too much work.

If you want steak, would you just buy the steak from a store and cook it or would you raise a calf yourself to get your own meat? There's always the third of option of going to a restaurant, ie. pay a shop to do it. I see that you're in texas, if I were you I would take it to Dean at Mporium and call it a day.
Appreciate 1
      08-29-2019, 04:52 PM   #10
mapster37
Captain
mapster37's Avatar
United_States
353
Rep
913
Posts

Drives: F80
Join Date: Sep 2018
Location: Davie

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow View Post
I can't imagine how it would be an advantage to do this. Rod bearings through the bottom with a lift takes 8-10h. Unless you've removed a whole lot of engines in your life it will take you longer just to remove and replace the engine.

The S65 has excellent access from the bottom, much easier than the S54.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow View Post
I can't imagine how it would be an advantage to do this. Rod bearings through the bottom with a lift takes 8-10h. Unless you've removed a whole lot of engines in your life it will take you longer just to remove and replace the engine.

The S65 has excellent access from the bottom, much easier than the S54.

on point, the s65 bearings are much easier compared to s54. you would be wasting a lot of time trying to remove the engine.
Appreciate 1
SYT_Shadow11421.00
      08-29-2019, 07:27 PM   #11
SAMM3Y
Colonel
SAMM3Y's Avatar
3085
Rep
2,747
Posts

Drives: 2008 m3
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: NorCal

iTrader: (2)

Quote:
Originally Posted by KCE92 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by SAMM3Y View Post
Is it a six speed? If your gonna pull the motor/trans do the clutch and flywheel too. I wouldn't want to change the RB's motor in on jackstands or qj's. No side access and it'll be a drippy mess which you'll be laying in. More likely to make mistakes. It might take you 2-3x the hours to pull the motor but it would be less painful then laying on your back doing it.
Its a drippy mess regardless of jack stands, QJ or shop lift, remove oil pan and pick up tubes letting it drip out overnight and start the next day swapping shells. Use a creeper to roll around and not lay in oil. I think removing the whole front clip to remove engine out on jack stands is more likely to make a mistake somewhere. Just my .02
Difference is a mistake removing the front clip won't potentially cost you an engine. Changing the rod bearings from the bottom is a hoist job, kudos to anyone who has done it successfully on jack stands but you won't find any professional anywhere doing it that way. Plus I'd bet my bottom dollar that no one who has done it on jackstands has done It in a timely manner. Pulling the motor is definitely the long road home but if other things need addressing could be a fun experience.
__________________
9ers
Appreciate 0
      08-29-2019, 08:24 PM   #12
pbonsalb
Lieutenant General
5179
Rep
10,555
Posts

Drives: 18 F90 M5, 99 E36 M3 Turbo
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: New England

iTrader: (4)

You probably won’t find any professional mechanics who don’t have a lift. Anyone with a lift and jack stands would choose the lift for this job. But those who have some skill, patience and care and would like to save $1000 to $1500 can take a little longer and suffer some inconvenience and do this job with the car on jack stands. With the money they save, they could buy a quick jack or max jax or inexpensive two post lift.

Last edited by pbonsalb; 08-30-2019 at 05:12 AM..
Appreciate 1
Scharbag2617.50
      08-30-2019, 12:09 AM   #13
Scharbag
Colonel
Scharbag's Avatar
Canada
2618
Rep
2,134
Posts

Drives: 2011 E92 M3
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Victoria

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2011 BMW E92 M3  [0.00]
Quote:
Originally Posted by SAMM3Y View Post
Difference is a mistake removing the front clip won't potentially cost you an engine. Changing the rod bearings from the bottom is a hoist job, kudos to anyone who has done it successfully on jack stands but you won't find any professional anywhere doing it that way. Plus I'd bet my bottom dollar that no one who has done it on jackstands has done It in a timely manner. Pulling the motor is definitely the long road home but if other things need addressing could be a fun experience.
There is nothing that a hoist offers other than convenience for this task. It is easy to do on stands, you just have to plan a bit to have the tools at arms reach to save ups-and-downs. The access to the bottom of the engine is just fine.

It took me about 12 working hours start to finish. Longer than a shop would take, but it was my first time doing the job and I took my time.

Yes, I would prefer to do it on a hoist. But I also was happy to save the labour and do it myself.

Cheers,
__________________

2011 E92 M3 - 6MT, ZCP, ZF LSD, ESS G1, Some other goodies...
Appreciate 0
      08-30-2019, 05:29 AM   #14
drrust
Captain
drrust's Avatar
336
Rep
724
Posts

Drives: E90 M3 DCT Sedan
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Cincinnati

iTrader: (0)

If you do pull the motor, the job could quickly creep in size. Some would suggest that while you have access, the mains should be replaced too! Not to mention other internals. With the transmission out, what parts could be replaced easily (manual clutch, DCT pans, filters, clutches)? Sometimes limited access limits what you can do.
Appreciate 0
      09-08-2019, 03:24 PM   #15
ppy1111
Enlisted Member
2
Rep
35
Posts

Drives: BMW M3
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Houston, TX

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by drrust View Post
If you do pull the motor, the job could quickly creep in size. Some would suggest that while you have access, the mains should be replaced too! Not to mention other internals. With the transmission out, what parts could be replaced easily (manual clutch, DCT pans, filters, clutches)? Sometimes limited access limits what you can do.


The reason I wanna pull the engine out is so i can completely clean the engine bay lol... every single corner because I'm a little OCD..

The previous owner of my car did not clean the engine bay at all...

So from what everyone's input... It's easier just to jack up the car high enough to replace the rod bearings right??
Appreciate 0
      09-11-2019, 08:32 PM   #16
e92zero
Captain
212
Rep
875
Posts

Drives: 2011 E92 BW
Join Date: May 2010
Location: somewhere in US

iTrader: (1)

Yup, jack and jack stand will get the job done. Exactly what I did a while back. Good luck.

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1074496
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:40 PM.




m3post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST