BE Bearings - Extra Clearance bearings for BMW S65/S85

[tdott]

Originally Posted by Browntrash

Have we heard of any product quality or qc issues with BE? or all their batches are top notch upon production and delivery to installer?

Not for the bearings themselves since they are binned and measured before shipping, but there are two cases of ARP bolts being "faulty" due to unfinished machining. They were quickly replaced but can cause delays none the less. One set was bought directly from BE, the other was bought via an Australian distributor/dealer.

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

But, VAC bearings are still ok right? All the installers near me only carry VAC. And some people had VAC and no wearing after being removed to right?

Yes the newer VAC extra clearance bearings are good, the older ones are not. There is only 1 set removed at 33.5k miles that we have proof of so far (to my knowledge) posted by MRF.

[tdott]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Sort of. But BMW disagrees. I run WPC treated stock bearings with stock bolts and 0W40 oil. 3 years and 27k miles so far. 87k total on my 08M3. My original bearings were not as bad as the worst ones that have been posted.

jcolley's post a few pages back says he used 0w40 with wpc bearings and showed more wear than normal at 14k miles, so thinner oil does not seem to be the answer, atleast with WPC bearings.
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...&postcount=284

[Z K]

Originally Posted by aus

[/B]

Are they on the bearing registry?
.

No they are not. One was a S85, the others were S65 and they are not on this forum. You'll find the majority of M car owners are not on car forums which is why the number of failures are under reported in most cases.

[ShyGuy]

When installing new bearings, does everyone here sand them lightly down to spec or is that not necessary with the BE bearings?

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by ShyGuy

When installing new bearings, does everyone here sand them lightly down to spec or is that not necessary with the BE bearings?

I did not. They are at spec already

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by ShyGuy

When installing new bearings, does everyone here sand them lightly down to spec or is that not necessary with the BE bearings?

You don't sand the face of the bearing, ever. Some bearings have coating applied to the parting lines which can affect crush, so in some cases the coating is carefully removed from there.

[AutoTalent]

Bump! PM today for deals on bearings!

[Scharbag]

Installation question: Typically I clean the bearings with brake clean and a lint free towel (microfiber, gentle pressure). I then make sure the rod surface is also clean and oil free (with a lint free cloth sprayed with a bit of brake clean) and then use assembly lube only on the working face of the bearing. It has worked well for me on cheaper Honda engines that I am not so worried about ($300 buys me a donor car with a running engine...). I would like to make sure that I am doing it "right" with my S65 as the engine is worth more than all of my race cars put together (we race cheap Honda slag).

Cheers,

[KawBoy]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

Installation question: Typically I clean the bearings with brake clean and a lint free towel (microfiber, gentle pressure). I then make sure the rod surface is also clean and oil free (with a lint free cloth sprayed with a bit of brake clean) and then use assembly lube only on the working face of the bearing. It has worked well for me on cheaper Honda engines that I am not so worried about ($300 buys me a donor car with a running engine...). I would like to make sure that I am doing it "right" with my S65 as the engine is worth more than all of my race cars put together (we race cheap Honda slag).

Cheers,

All good. But try washing the parts with soap and water. Degrease the parts whichever way you like, but wash them with soap and water prior to install.

[Scharbag]

One other installation question: If you are using OEM bolts, how the heck would you ever use plastigauge given the 11 step torque procedure? And on that note, why the heck is the torque procedure 11 steps per bolt?

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

One other installation question: If you are using OEM bolts, how the heck would you ever use plastigauge given the 11 step torque procedure? And on that note, why the heck is the torque procedure 11 steps per bolt?

That's why I'll never use oem bolts on an install. Way too many places to screw up

[pbonsalb]

The stock bolt torque procedure is tedious. It probably adds an hour or maybe even an hour and a half to the job. But there is no good reason to screw it up and if you are a careless person you should not be doing the job in the first place. Stock bolts were about $200 cheaper than ARPs and there were some uncertainties about ARPs when I did mine in 2014, so I figured using stock bolts was like paying myself $100+ per hour for the extra time and removing the uncertainty. I also figured I would never do the job again so reusability was not considered.

I did the job again a year later helping someone else and we used VAC supplied ARPs and that was much less tedious and he paid for the bolts and I was helping for a little less time.

As it looks now, I may keep the car a few more years and if I do, I will probably do the bearings again in a few years. I will probably use the BE bearings and ARPs that time. Also hoping someone comes out with main bearings. I would do those at the same time as further preventative maintenance. And probably the clutch as well since the trans has to come off.

[KawBoy]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

One other installation question: If you are using OEM bolts, how the heck would you ever use plastigauge given the 11 step torque procedure? And on that note, why the heck is the torque procedure 11 steps per bolt?

I did only on two rods, sampling. Since you don't have a -1 bearing available, you would not be able to do much anyways as fine tuning the bearings. Besides, even though Plastigauge is recommended by BMW and used by several engine builders as a measuring tool, it almost always gives you a wrong reading. But it helps, regardless.

[pbonsalb]

Do it on the 2nd torque procedure if you want to bother using plastigauge and are using stock bolts.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Do it on the 2nd torque procedure if you want to bother using plastigauge and are using stock bolts.

Makes sense.

I will be using the ARP BE studs. Still cannot wrap my head around 3 stretch cycles.

Thanks!

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by KawBoy

I did only on two rods, sampling. Since you don't have a -1 bearing available, you would not be able to do much anyways as fine tuning the bearings. Besides, even though Plastigauge is recommended by BMW and used by several engine builders as a measuring tool, it almost always gives you a wrong reading. But it helps, regardless.

Very good points. Would just like it for documentation but I will likely just sample 1 and 2.

Thanks!

[TrAcK TRaP]

My friends 08 e90 has over 150K miles with original bearings and drives the car real hard. Only issues he had was TPMS and oxygen sensor he is not a member here and says people brain wash you here and make you spend money

[becausephilchow]

Originally Posted by TrAcK TRaP

My friends 08 e90 has over 150K miles with original bearings and drives the car real hard. Only issues he had was TPMS and oxygen sensor he is not a member here and says people brain wash you here and make you spend money

And some have had their bearings go at 30,000 Miles.

Not every car is affected, but, for peace of mind, if you plan on keeping the car and can afford it, then why not.

[TrAcK TRaP]

Originally Posted by becausephilchow

And some have had their bearings go at 30,000 Miles.

Not every car is affected, but, for peace of mind, if you plan on keeping the car and can afford it, then why not.

Of course you are right. Some go out with 5K miles only

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

Makes sense.

I will be using the ARP BE studs. Still cannot wrap my head around 3 stretch cycles.

Thanks!

BMW must have been more concerned about getting things perfect because it does not recommend the triple triple procedure for the S54 or S52. Maybe a V8 crank having 2 rods side by side is more sensitive? I wonder what the procedure is for the S62 or S85?

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I wonder what the procedure is for the S62 or S85?

They are similar with the three-step torque-angle process.

[Richbot]

My car just spiked to 20ppm lead at 97,000 miles after 6500 miles on the oil, and then to 21ppm after 4500 miles on the oil, from a baseline of 7-8 established over the life of my car. Just set up my appointment. I’m farming it out to somebody who has done it before. Fingers crossed I don’t have to buy an e93m and steal its engine afterwards

Look at me I’m a sheep baaaaa