Official S65 Rod Bearing Condition Example Thread

[SoCalRPM]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

So if there is an "Original/pre LCI version" there should be a a post LCI version? Or do we have a pre but not a post?

Perhaps the confusion stems from semantics whereby LCI is an event in the car maker's model lifecycle - but that same event often yields different part specifications. Consequently, LCI can be used synonymously to describe either the event in time or a new part specification (version) associated with the life cycle event (pre or post event).

Correct. Semantics. In this instance the LCI isn't a point in time, but the description of a revision beginning at a point in time and continuing through the end of the model "life cycle."

In this instance, a post LCI version would, in fact, be the F80.

[slidewayscoupe]

2011.5 @ 63k miles.

Second owner, considerate warm up but not overly careful. Tuned for the last 5k miles, supercharged for the last 500 miles.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by SoCalRPM

Correct. Semantics. In this instance the LCI isn't a point in time, but the description of a revision beginning at a point in time and continuing through the end of the model "life cycle."

In this instance, a post LCI version would, in fact, be the F80.

The real semantics is that the bearings were not changed exactly at the LCI introduction. IIRC LCI started in MY 2010. My MY 2011 E92 M3 had 088/089 bearings in it from factory. The build date of my car is April 2010.

So, it is wrong to discuss pre-LCI and LCI bearings as LCI has nothing to do with them.

[Assimilator1]

Lol, ok that adds to the confusion, maybe I'll just ignore it!

Btw, you say yours is MY 2011, is that when it was registered for the road? (or whatever the US equivalent is).

Anyone know when officially the LCI model was released or built from?

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Lol, ok that adds to the confusion, maybe I'll just ignore it!

Btw, you say yours is MY 2011, is that when it was registered for the road? (or whatever the US equivalent is).

Anyone know when officially the LCI model was released or built from?

From what I can figure, MY 2010 forward are LCI M3s. 2011.5 also got a combox upgrade that allows for better Bluetooth integration IIRC.

My car is a MY 2011 but was built in April 2010. Must have been a very early 2011 build. Not sure when it was registered but likely some time in 2010. I bought it in 2017.

Cheers,

[IamFODI]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Btw, you say yours is MY 2011, is that when it was registered for the road? (or whatever the US equivalent is).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_year

It's pretty arbitrary. MY 2011 ("model year" 2011) just means the manufacturer wanted it to be seen as a car for (or from) the year 2011. Each model year generally hits dealerships sometime in the previous year (generally Q3 but sometimes earlier), so MY2011 M3s would have been available for purchase sometime in 2010.

[redline9001]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Lol, ok that adds to the confusion, maybe I'll just ignore it!

Btw, you say yours is MY 2011, is that when it was registered for the road? (or whatever the US equivalent is).

Anyone know when officially the LCI model was released or built from?

March 2010 for the e92 …. I have a March 2010 build e92

I also had the new bearings in mine

[Assimilator1]

Originally Posted by IamFODI

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_year

It's pretty arbitrary. MY 2011 ("model year" 2011) just means the manufacturer wanted it to be seen as a car for (or from) the year 2011. Each model year generally hits dealerships sometime in the previous year (generally Q3 but sometimes earlier), so MY2011 M3s would have been available for purchase sometime in 2010.

Ah I see, so it's pretty meaningless really , would be best if everyone referred to build date, at least for BMWs seeing as they provide the date! (month/yr anyway).

[pjk380]

My 2010 e92 has a build date of Jan 2010. I replaced RBs and we pulled out the 088/089 bearings. The car is Pre-LCI.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by pjk380

My 2010 e92 has a build date of Jan 2010. I replaced RBs and we pulled out the 088/089 bearings. The car is Pre-LCI.

Well shit. When exactly did LCI happen? 2010 or 2011 model year?

[Dpc2u]

Originally Posted by Scharbag

Well shit. When exactly did LCI happen? 2010 or 2011 model year?

https://bmwmregistry.com/model_faq.php?id=50

According to BMW registry -

What does the term "Life Cycle Impulse" designate?
BMW introduced the term "Life Cycle Impulse" or "LCI" in the late 2000s to designate models that have received their mid-life cosmetic update. Though the practice of introducing cosmetic revisions to existing BMW models at approximately the midpoint of their lifespan dates back to the 1970s, the updated fifth-generation 3 Series was among the first BMWs to officially receive the LCI terminology.

How do the post-LCI E90, E92 and E93 M3s differ from the pre-LCI versions?
Though the Life Cycle Impulse was generally more extensive for other 3 Series variants, it was extremely limited on the E90, E92 and E93 M3 models, which received no major cosmetic alterations during their entire production. The E90 M3 LCI was introduced in September of 2008 (2009 model year) and changes were limited to only the addition of revised taillights with luminous strips and LED turn signals. The E92 M3 and E93 M3 LCI followed in March of 2010 (2011 model year) and changes were also limited to only the addition of full-LED taillights.


I believe the change in bearing material (no more lead) is more related to the effective date of the UK law that prompted the change. My 2011.5, Sept 2010 production date, had the newer rod bearings.

[Scharbag]

Originally Posted by Dpc2u

According to BMW registry -

What does the term "Life Cycle Impulse" designate?
BMW introduced the term "Life Cycle Impulse" or "LCI" in the late 2000s to designate models that have received their mid-life cosmetic update. Though the practice of introducing cosmetic revisions to existing BMW models at approximately the midpoint of their lifespan dates back to the 1970s, the updated fifth-generation 3 Series was among the first BMWs to officially receive the LCI terminology.

How do the post-LCI E90, E92 and E93 M3s differ from the pre-LCI versions?
Though the Life Cycle Impulse was generally more extensive for other 3 Series variants, it was extremely limited on the E90, E92 and E93 M3 models, which received no major cosmetic alterations during their entire production. The E90 M3 LCI was introduced in September of 2008 (2009 model year) and changes were limited to only the addition of revised taillights with luminous strips and LED turn signals. The E92 M3 and E93 M3 LCI followed in March of 2010 (2011 model year) and changes were also limited to only the addition of full-LED taillights.


I belive the change in bearing material is more related to the effective date of the UK law that prompted the change.

So my 2011 must be a very early example of an LCI car.

[Bubbles]

088/089 bearings were used in the S65 through the production month 5/2010 (2011 model year). This included a number of LCI m3s.

EU regulatory change required the bearing switch.

[Assimilator1]

Yea I was going to say EU law too, not UK specifically.

Also, M3's were released late in 2007 in the EU, a 2007 model is on sale now on ebay UK.

Scharbag has 1st US LCI car?

[IamFODI]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

M3's were released late in 2007 in the EU

Same here in the US. The only difference is that, here, BMW got to call those "2008" cars.

[sammuller]

Hey guys,

It's been almost 3 months and I now get a chance to post the pics of the rod bearings that came out of my car.

I'm not an expert, but to my mechanic and I it seemed like it wasn't about to spin a bearing. They do have significant wear though! I now do have a lot more peace of mind that BE bearings are in! Had to wait about 6 months on the bearings to come in.

Let me know what you guys think!

[TX]

So 60k miles, they don’t look too bad. I might go out on a limb and say they are totally shot and you were in need of a change and others will say that’s nothing on the 702 shells that’s how they wear in. You have the typical debris embedded in a few spots and some good wear. I know the 702 shells are hard to judge in terms of extent of wear, but from what has been posted those would not have spun in the near future, despite them clearly showing wear.. to what amount of wear, that’s a ?... Good job changing them. You’ll sleep better. Cheers.

[Assimilator1]

He said 98k miles

And yea, typical wear for the Alu bearings, not terrible, not showing copper (yes they do have it) and not likely about to spin, but still showing excessive wear.
Anyway, now you can redline it knowing you've got proper clearance bearings in there .

Btw Sam, would you be interested in doing a little experiment on one of your shells?

Originally Posted by IamFODI

Same here in the US. The only difference is that, here, BMW got to call those "2008" cars.

Fair enough, I belatedly saw that in the bmwregistry site (again), it's the weird MY system you guys have that threw me off

[Assimilator1]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Not sure when I'll have free time but I could try and donate some time for science.

I'll don't have any thing finer than like 240 grit sandpaper right now so it might require a trip to home depot.

Had a chance to do it?

[cmyE93M3]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

Yep, not too bad at all compared to many others at similar mileage. These are the harder tin type post LCI bearings. Were these replaced recently? Just wondering because your signature says the M3s in your stable were sold. Or are these from a new to you 2011.5 M3?

Sorry for the late reply, just bought another M3 and haven't updated the stable

These were the original in the car

[sammuller]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

He said 98k miles

And yea, typical wear for the Alu bearings, not terrible, not showing copper (yes they do have it) and not likely about to spin, but still showing excessive wear.
Anyway, now you can redline it knowing you've got proper clearance bearings in there .

Btw Sam, would you be interested in doing a little experiment on one of your shells?

Hey TX and Assimilator1, thanks for your comments. Yes my car has almost 100K miles on it now. I've driven it about a 1000 miles since the bearing change and I am much more at ease when I push hard. The S65 is an awesome engine and is so rev-happy. Now I can really enjoy it fully without worries!

And yes, I am willing to experiment on one of my shells. I got some good photos of how they came out which is what I wanted to record. What are you proposing? Looking at you other comment: sanding it down and see what layers come up?

[Assimilator1]

Sort of, but my focus is now on sanding it down just a little to see if the babbit layer has worn through or not (by cleaning off the dark discolouration/wear patch), as we now know that there is a clearly visible layer of copper below the babbitt anyway.
So the aim is to clean up the babbitt so it's a similar colour to the end of the shell (assuming it hasn't worn through), a white/silvery colour. Like the part of the shell I only partially rubbed through where you can see I've exposed the silvery/white babbitt layer (last photo here, near the middle of the shell).

So on your worse worn shell (1 or 8 upper? You choose as you can see them directly of course), and this is a slight change from what I said in earlier posts, firstly see if you can polish off the dark patch in the middle of the shell, polish along the shell rather than across it (regular car polish or brass polish will do fine). I'm not expecting you to spend ages doing this, I would think if there's no change within a minute, then the polish isn't touching it.
That being the case, then grab a piece of fine to medium grade sandpaper and rub (in any direction) the dark patch until you expose the silvery/white babbitt below it (then stop), or copper if it has worn through (which I doubt), whichever comes 1st. Then post a pic of it here, job done .

Just to reiterate, once you rub off the dark discolouration (whichever method), stop there. The idea is to see what's left under the discolouration, to see if their is any babbitt left.
(I appreciate that even where we do see the babbitt layer is still there that we don't know how thick it is, but that is far harder to find out!).