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      06-12-2018, 01:31 PM   #1
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Track guys...BE or WPC?

I know this topic has been destroyed to seat in the other thread. I just want to know which ones you guys have personally went with. Don't really spend time in the other sections of the forum.
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      06-12-2018, 01:37 PM   #2
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Interesting question as it relates to track usage. Subscribed.
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      06-12-2018, 01:37 PM   #3
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BE or Vac bearing are the way to go.
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      06-12-2018, 01:39 PM   #4
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I used BE bearings and BE ARP rodbolts. 2 track days so far. Service interval for going in and looking/replacing them is on my list of things to think about. I put a lot of street miles on the car, so that factors in as well. But maybe two years or something.
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      06-12-2018, 02:12 PM   #5
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I went BE based on feedback from other track junkies. I just had it done and haven't been to the track with this car yet.
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      06-12-2018, 02:46 PM   #6
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I did Vac at 75k, now my car has 110k, track normally 2 twice a month and AutoX every month atleast once. Did mine about 1.5-2 years ago not exactly sure.
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      06-12-2018, 03:01 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by XCUSE_M3 View Post
I did Vac at 75k, now my car has 110k, track normally 2 twice a month and AutoX every month atleast once. Did mine about 1.5-2 years ago not exactly sure.
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Originally Posted by so0fresh View Post
BE or Vac bearing are the way to go.
My shop friend recommends VAC too but in the general population forum ppl are shitting on VAC for some reason. Someone even did a tear down of one and it was scored after only 1500 miles. Yikes.
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      06-12-2018, 03:07 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3 Number 86 View Post
My shop friend recommends VAC too but in the general population forum ppl are shitting on VAC for some reason. Someone even did a tear down of one and it was scored after only 1500 miles. Yikes.
M3 forums have been shitting on VAC for quite a few years. I avoid them like the plague

I have BE bearings and BE-ARP bolts on both track M3s. I don't see any good reason to do differently
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      06-12-2018, 03:15 PM   #9
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Aren't several of these bearings just made by the same company anyways, and it's just a matter of rebranding or additional tweaks being done?
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      06-12-2018, 04:39 PM   #10
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Quote:
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Aren't several of these bearings just made by the same company anyways, and it's just a matter of rebranding or additional tweaks being done?
I guess all 3 are made by the same company

WPC are OEM bearings made by Clevite (not sure of the tin/alu ones were but I believe the originals were). These slightly increase clearance and were a good option back when there were no specific increased clearance bearings

VAC are made by Clevite to the 'VAC spec'. I shuddered a bit writing that.
VAC has changed their tune several times as to what exactly this bearing is, but currently they say it's increased clearance.

BE bearings are made by Clevite as well. BE has all the info published right here and their spec is different than the rest. They're the only ones who have 'industry standard' clearance.

In terms of clearance there's OEM<OEM+WPC<VAC<BE
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      06-12-2018, 04:47 PM   #11
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VAC adds their own coating to the bearings which makes it close to OEM spec... doesn't really increase clearance.

Still way better than WPC - VAC uses softer lead/copper bearings so should they wear, it won't be as bad as the treated OEM hard aluminum bearings that WPC has.

BE Bearings are the only ones that actually increases clearance.
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      06-12-2018, 04:51 PM   #12
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http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1073979
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      06-12-2018, 10:15 PM   #13
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Quote:
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      06-12-2018, 10:21 PM   #14
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Plus there are ACL. Many racers of older BMW use ACL bearings. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. The biggest risk is leaving your original bearings in the motor.
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      06-12-2018, 10:31 PM   #15
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Go with either VAC or BE. WPC is inferior to both as it is retaining the same bi-metal (tin/aluminum construction) with minimal clearance gain.
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      06-12-2018, 11:19 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3 Number 86 View Post
I know this topic has been destroyed to seat in the other thread. I just want to know which ones you guys have personally went with. Don't really spend time in the other sections of the forum.
you ought to be taking your car to MRF.
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      06-12-2018, 11:38 PM   #17
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ordered BE earlier in the day. Thanks guys!
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      06-13-2018, 08:34 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pbonsalb View Post
Plus there are ACL. Many racers of older BMW use ACL bearings. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. The biggest risk is leaving your original bearings in the motor.
I assume those are also made by Clevite?
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      06-13-2018, 09:07 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M3 Number 86 View Post
My shop friend recommends VAC too but in the general population forum ppl are shitting on VAC for some reason. Someone even did a tear down of one and it was scored after only 1500 miles. Yikes.
Previously vac was coating factory bearings and selling them in the replacement kit. Vac now uses the same Clevite 77 bearing that BE does, vac come with coating as well the BE do not. I've installed both now about 10 times and have yet to see a complaint from any one after the job was complete. What I did notice is the tq specs are different I've see some call for 50lbs while others have called for 45 from vac. just my .02 it doesn't matter which you choose they both offer better clearance then stock.
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      06-13-2018, 09:08 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dparm View Post
I assume those are also made by Clevite?
ACL is a separate company. the three main bearing companies I've seen are
clevite
King
and ACL.
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      06-13-2018, 09:09 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Properstyle View Post
Previously vac was coating factory bearings and selling them in the replacement kit. Vac now uses the same Clevite 77 bearing that BE does, vac come with coating as well the BE do not. I've installed both now about 10 times and have yet to see a complaint from any one after the job was complete. What I did notice is the tq specs are different I've see some call for 50lbs while others have called for 45 from vac. just my .02 it doesn't matter which you choose they both offer better clearance then stock.
BE bearings definitely do come coated, they have from the very beginning
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      06-13-2018, 09:10 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dparm View Post
I assume those are also made by Clevite?
ACL appears to be another company. It's clearance seems to be the same as the VAC ones, so more than stock but not as much as 'industry standard' which is BE
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