Official S65 Rod Bearing Condition Example Thread

[Accel Junky]

Had mine done this week with BE bearings and bolts.

As far as I know these were the original bearings.

Shop said for 1200 miles don’t go over 3500rpm.

75,337 miles, 4/2008 build

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Accel Junky

Had mine done this week with BE bearings and bolts.

As far as I know these were the original bearings.

Shop said for 1200 miles don’t go over 3500rpm.

75,337 miles, 4/2008 build

Shells looks quite good! Never heard of brake in period on RBs but first time for everything.

[Assimilator1]

Break in you mean
And quite good despite the 1 shell showing copper in the close up (not a very clear pic though). Anyway, they were certainly in a better state than the shells that came out of my car with the same mileage!

Yea I have heard of it, but it isn't generally considered necessary, although one of the bearing manufacturers does advise a short run in for new bearings, which would roughly amount to about 10 minutes gentle varied driving.
I guess the garage he used is just being overly cautious.

[Accel Junky]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Break in you mean
And quite good despite the 1 shell showing copper in the close up (not a very clear pic though). Anyway, they were certainly in a better state than the shells that came out of my car with the same mileage!

Yea I have heard of it, but it isn't generally considered necessary, although one of the bearing manufacturers does advise a short run in for new bearings, which would roughly amount to about 10 minutes gentle varied driving.
I guess the garage he used is just being overly cautious.

Yep, that one has copper showing. It's a cropped photo, I can take a clearer photo of that one bearing later. I had an oil analysis done prior to this (with only 30-40mi driven since) and copper levels were about average, nothing noteworthy. I'm guessing this has just started showing prior to the bearing change.

[Assimilator1]

Yea clearer photos would be good , is no7 top showing copper too?

If you can show your oil report too, I'll add your case to my thread.

[Accel Junky]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Yea clearer photos would be good , is no7 top showing copper too?

If you can show your oil report too, I'll add your case to my thread.

Nearly all the top bearings have copper showing around the ends and most along the long edges. No 2 top, 5 top, 7 top have copper patches in the middle areas. Pics below (tops 2,5,7) and oil report below.

[thugmaster]

Haven't posted in years but I thought this would be good for people to see. I just replaced my original copper rod bearings in my 2009 E93 M3.

A little background on its history .

I've owned this car over a decade. It's been with me through two GF's, a wife, and now two kids. I have never been able to let go of it. At times, I have put in two car seats while having to make space by moving my seat forward till my knees touched my elbows, but it's all worth it. I love this car.

In the years I've owned it I have only had to replace the fuel purge valve, throttle actuators, thermostat, valve gaskets covers, brakes and rotors, battery, engine mounts, idle control valve, numerous hoses, and fuel cap. Other than that, it's been great. Lol

Anyways, here is the photo. Some copper is showing but I think it's not that bad for the amount of miles. I never tracked the car and changed the oil at regular service intervals. 8-10k miles.

[tlrid3r]

Small back story. My car is 08 and I replaced original bearings with 82k miles on the clock, this is what they looked like.

They were replaced with oem WPC treated bearings and I used oem rod bolts replacements. This was my choice at the time.

Recently I bottomed out the car at track, I dropped 2 wheels off track right at a corner exit. The berm hit the oil pan and created a small crack. Never lost much oil but there was a slow leak. I planned for oil pan replacement and decided to inspect the rod bearings. They have 48k miles and just about all of it is track miles or driving to the track. These bearing never saw or tasted TWS 10w60 oil. I was certain the oil is also culprit of the bearing issue. I only ran Mobil 15w50. The data sheet shows it's thinner than TWS 10w60 oil on the winter and hot side.
Im very happy with my decision. Inspected one bearing and that was enough for me. Replaced the two oem rod bolts and slapped it back in for another 50k miles.
This is a full circle view of bearing upgrades.

[Lozza47]

Just had my rod bearings done.

2011 E92 M3 with 134,000kms. Don't think previous owner changed them.
I'm not an expert but from what the mechanic told me, they weren't worn that bad and looked quite good.

[Assimilator1]

Yea typical condition for Alu bearings, not great, but not bad either.

tlrid3r
I only ran Mobil 15w50. The data sheet shows it's thinner than TWS 10w60 oil on the winter and hot side.

How can that be? 15w is thicker than 10w on the winter side, that's the whole point of the grading system, even allowing for variances within each grade (10w could be 14w, whilst 15w could be dead on). Are you sure you're remembering right? Or am I missing something?
Btw, when you said 'replaced the OEM bolts', I hope you meant replaced with new ones rather than just refitting the old bolts?

Oh and yea your OEM WPC shells do look good! Pity you didn't look at all of them, but I quite understand why! (especially with the tortuous torquing procedure for the OEM bolts!!).
I'll add the link to your photos to my 'changed shells pulled list'.

[MissE90M3]

Bought my 2009 site unseen (except for pictures) had a ppi done at a local bmw dealer prior to purchase, anyway purchased it with 106k on it drove it home to nc from dallas and a week later dropped it off to get the bearings replaced probably between 107-108k miles, its been a few years now. Replaced with BE bearings and ARP rod bolts. No idea how the previous owner(s) treated it but its my daily driver.

[TX]

Originally Posted by MissE90M3

dropped it off to get the bearings replaced probably between 107-108k miles, its been a few years now. Replaced with BE bearings and ARP rod bolts.

How have your BE bearings been wearing over the last few years? I think that's the way I read your post. Sorry if not.

[MissE90M3]

Originally Posted by TX

How have your BE bearings been wearing over the last few years? I think that's the way I read your post. Sorry if not.

I havent had them looked at but im assuming theyre doing fine they were changed in 2019 i have around 140k miles now I do an oil change once a year around 10k and only use liqui-moly oil from fcp euro, honestly havent had any major issues besides this weird electrical gremlin im chasing currently. I keep meaning to get a blackstone analysis but i forget every time.

[TX]

Originally Posted by MissE90M3

I havent had them looked at but im assuming theyre doing fine they were changed in 2019 i have around 140k miles now I do an oil change once a year around 10k and only use liqui-moly oil from fcp euro, honestly havent had any major issues besides this weird electrical gremlin im chasing currently. I keep meaning to get a blackstone analysis but i forget every time.

Thanks. January will be a year with BE installed for me. I did an analysis a few hundred miles into the new bearings just to check for any major issue. 0 ppm lead was found. I was grinding away 14ppm or so on each previous change on the stock bearings. I'm curious to see how this first year has gone with BE. The car doesn't see 3k miles a year so I just do one yearly change. I wish you the best with your electrical gremlins. There's a few threads around here on the subject. Sometimes it ends up being the ground strap under the engine. My stock bearings looked very similar to your wear at 70k.

[MissE90M3]

Originally Posted by TX

Thanks. January will be a year with BE installed for me. I did an analysis a few hundred miles into the new bearings just to check for any major issue. 0 ppm lead was found. I was grinding away 14ppm or so on each previous change on the stock bearings. I'm curious to see how this first year has gone with BE. The car doesn't see 3k miles a year so I just do one yearly change. I wish you the best with your electrical gremlins. There's a few threads around here on the subject. Sometimes it ends up being the ground strap under the engine. My stock bearings looked very similar to your wear at 70k.

yea thinking it may be a bad junction box just a really annoying no start issue that is getting worse. i just changed my oil on sunday and had zero metal or shimmer although it was pretty dirty i may change my oil change intervals to 7500 instead of 10k, the factory 15k interval seems insane to me lol

[tom @ eas]

Knew this was going to be interesting as soon as we seen this 09 M3 roll up with a set of Pilot Cup Sport 1s still fitted.

2009 M3 DCT @ only 9017mi.

[DrFerry]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

Knew this was going to be interesting as soon as we seen this 09 M3 rolled up with a set of Pilot Cup Sport 1s still fitted.

2009 M3 DCT @ only 9017mi.

Holy cow that must be one of the lowest mileage E9X M3s still left in existence. "Only" 9017 miles! The PSCUPs on it have the OEM Star Marking on the sidewall. I doubt those CUPs are the original OEM fitment, because CUPs don't last that long (mileage wise) - or at least they're not supposed to.. I was thinking "those bearings look great for a 2009.. then I saw the mileage.. Is the car in premium condition?

[BOOF-M3]

You will find ALOT of owners here change their oil at or around 5,000 mile intervals. For me, I was changing oil every other month as I was able to do myself with free oil so I was typically at or around 1,000 to 2,000 miles per change.

[tom @ eas]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

Holy cow that must be one of the lowest mileage E9X M3s still left in existence. "Only" 9017 miles! The PSCUPs on it have the OEM Star Marking on the sidewall. I doubt those CUPs are the original OEM fitment, because CUPs don't last that long (mileage wise) - or at least they're not supposed to.. I was thinking "those bearings look great for a 2009.. then I saw the mileage.. Is the car in premium condition?

M3 is essentially in mint condition - owner must have a time machine in his backyard. Tires have a 2508 date code on them.

[DrFerry]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

M3 is essentially in mint condition - owner must have a time machine in his backyard. Tires have a 2508 date code on them.

A 2508 DOT code is definitely past their "sell-by" date. You might want to advise him to put the tires in the time machine or at least drive through the dimensional portal in the back yard. Imagine the Bring A Trailer auction price on such a low mileage and pristine example? Sans the rock hard CUPs..

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

You will find ALOT of owners here change their oil at or around 5,000 mile intervals. For me, I was changing oil every other month as I was able to do myself with free oil so I was typically at or around 1,000 to 2,000 miles per change.

Hey BOOF, haven't seen you around for a good while. All good I hope mate?

[UPSROD]

Interesting, my 2013 has 9,017 miles on it too. However 5 years newer!