Track guys...BE or WPC?

[Properstyle]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

BE bearings definitely do come coated, they have from the very beginning

The bearings them selves coated. vac are sent off the calvo " forgive the spelling" for a different coating to be added.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Properstyle

The bearings them selves coated. vac are sent off the calvo " forgive the spelling" for a different coating to be added.

Correct, they both have different coatings

[redpriest]

As you know I went with BE Bearings and BE spec bolts. They seem to have the best propaganda so I figured why not.

Unfortunately I haven't been daily driving my e92 since so I can't say how much it's helped - only put on 3k miles since having it done last summer.

[Visceral]

I also did BE bearings and BE ARP rodbolts at my local BMW-race-shop's (AR Service) recommendation. They also did the work despite the incredibly beautiful and entertaining DIY from SYT_Shadow I just couldn't see myself looking that good doing it.

[admranger]

I have BE bearings and the BE spec ARP rod bolts. I changed the bearings on three S65s in my Vegas garage (I miss that garage a lot!).

Having the Pb/Cu bearing allows better wear metal monitoring via Blackstone or your favorite used oil analysis company.

BE bearings are designed for use with 10w-60 oil.

[MilehighM3]

I guess I'm the only one to chime in here using the stock bearings. I've done a dozen sets on S65 and still the to see a bad one, from stock to supercharged. I have a set of VAC coated bearings, I just can't seem to bring myself to crack my own open. I'm at 67k miles and see a fair amount of track time in the summer months.

One final note, I see the forum content has degraded enough that bearings are finding other sub forums to ruin these days.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by MilehighM3

I guess I'm the only one to chime in here using the tock bearings. I've done a dozen sets on S65 and still the to see a bad one, from stock to supercharged. I have a set of VAC coated bearings, I just can't seem to bring myself to crack it open. I'm at 67k miles and see a fair amount of track time in the summer months.

One final note, I see the forum content has degraded enough that bearings are finding other sub forums to ruin these days.

i'm only asking because I wanted to specifically ask people who track their cars regularly. I haven't read 95% of the bearing threads in the exhaust section - heck - I don't even spend time in that section at all.

I've never worried about these and told myself that I'd just do them at 65k miles. I'm at 67k and will do them after my Laguna event at the end of this month. I'm guessing that they will be in decent shape but for me it's just a preventive measure.

My car has seen 1-2 events every month for the past 4 years or so. Only recently has it not been every month due to newborn.

[Majdi]

In preparation for this track season, I will be replacing my bearings with the ACL race series bearings and ARP bolts. Best bang for your buck. Could purchase these for $185.00.

Same Tri-Metal design as BE and also the HX-STD version and has approximately the same clearance as BE. I will post exact measurements in one week when I do the job.

Can't go wrong with BE or ACL. The only problem with ACL is that's it manufacturered in Australia and at times could be hard to locate. Its not sold on the mainstream online parts stores. I had to go through a few loops to finally locate a supplier in USA.

But on the other hand, at least there isn't long periods of waiting for BE bearings to be manufactured and restocked. This 2-3 month wait period is what made me look for other options. And it seems like BE bearings get backordered all the time.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by 4org1ve

In preparation for this track season, I will be replacing my bearings with the ACL race series bearings and ARP bolts. Best bang for your buck. Could purchase these for $185.00.

Same Tri-Metal design as BE and also the HX-STD version and has approximately the same clearance as BE. I will post exact measurements in one week when I do the job.

Can't go wrong with BE or ACL. The only problem with ACL is that's it manufacturered in Australia and at times could be hard to locate. Its not sold on the mainstream online parts stores. I had to go through a few loops to finally locate a supplier in USA.

But on the other hand, at least there isn't long periods of waiting for BE bearings to be manufactured and restocked. This 2-3 month wait period is what made me look for other options. And it seems like BE bearings get backordered all the time.

I hope you're not getting regular ARP bolts

They have been shown to distort the bore on the S54 and S65. This is 10 year old news at this point

[Majdi]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I hope you're not getting regular ARP bolts

They have been shown to distort the bore on the S54 and S65. This is 10 year old news at this point

No. Not the regular ones. The BE spec ones. Thanks for the heads-up though.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by 4org1ve

No. Not the regular ones. The BE spec ones. Thanks for the heads-up though.

Great, just trying to avoid bad things from happening to your car!

[environment2012]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Great, just trying to avoid bad things from happening to your car!

You are referring to ARP 201-6001, bolts will cause bad things in the car?
Is it recommended to use BE spec ones bolts?

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by environment2012

You are referring to ARP 201-6001, bolts will cause bad things in the car?
Is it recommended to use BE spec ones bolts?

I don't remember the name.

The regular arp bolts have been shown to distort the cap in both the s54 and s65.

The BE-arp ones (i think arp2000) are specifically designed to not do this

[VictorH]

I have 41,000 miles on my VAC bearings with ARP bolts, BE was not available at the time I did my replacement. Car is my daily driver and runs 3-6 events per year, will be closer to the top end of my range this year. No complaints whatsoever. Total mileage on the vehicle is 133,500, all driven by me

[CorruptCommie]

Track S54, new WPC treated OEM bearings. Here's the oil reports. It was driven on the way to the track, now it gets trailered. I'm thinking about switching to Red Line 50WT race oil as well. The last oil was Total Racing, before that Liqui Moly.

[cherry-m3]

Originally Posted by CorruptCommie

Track S54, new WPC treated OEM bearings. Here's the oil reports. It was driven on the way to the track, now it gets trailered. I'm thinking about switching to Red Line 50WT race oil as well. The last oil was Total Racing, before that Liqui Moly.

Not encouraging. Are you planning a bearing change?

[CorruptCommie]

Originally Posted by cherry-m3

Not encouraging. Are you planning a bearing change?

Maybe this winter in the offseason. I need to send them an oil sample from the Ravenol I just ran for five track days. If the copper makes a jump, the front subframe is coming down.

[cherry-m3]

Originally Posted by CorruptCommie

Maybe this winter in the offseason. I need to send them an oil sample from the Ravenol I just ran for five track days. If the copper makes a jump, the front subframe is coming down.

Keep us updated. I have the same bearings (similar miles and usage) in my S65 but I do a bit more street driving than you.

I wouldn't recommend 50w oil. I noticed oil temps were slightly higher on track. There's also a thread on viscosity and thermal conditions u might want to look up.

[CorruptCommie]

Originally Posted by cherry-m3

Keep us updated. I have the same bearings (similar miles and usage) in my S65 but I do a bit more street driving than you.

I wouldn't recommend 50w oil. I noticed oil temps were slightly higher on track. There's also a thread on viscosity and thermal conditions u might want to look up.

Will do. I'm testing out the Red Line 50WT this weekend, if I can get any dry track time, at all. On the E46 I'm running no a/c, CSF oil cooler, stock radiator. Don't have temp issues that most others have. Two weekends ago it was high 80's and highest I oil temp I saw was about 250F-ish. Coolant was dead middle.

[bigjae1976]

I did WPC OEM bearings and bolts from FCP Euro. BE wasn't available yet. If I had to do it over, I'd go BE and microblue treat the bearings.

Originally Posted by CorruptCommie

Track S54, new WPC treated OEM bearings. Here's the oil reports. It was driven on the way to the track, now it gets trailered. I'm thinking about switching to Red Line 50WT race oil as well. The last oil was Total Racing, before that Liqui Moly.

That's alarming!

I did WPC OEM bearings in my S54 early this year. Needs to last 4 more weekends! Then hopefully I'll have my spare S54 built and ready for break in. I'm going with microblue treated bearings. Its cheaper and at least sounds more effective. I have a MB treated crank. I'd like to start over...REM polish it and then MB treat the crank.

I'll run that for a year and tear it down again just to see how it looks.

[cherry-m3]

Originally Posted by CorruptCommie

Will do. I'm testing out the Red Line 50WT this weekend, if I can get any dry track time, at all. On the E46 I'm running no a/c, CSF oil cooler, stock radiator. Don't have temp issues that most others have. Two weekends ago it was high 80's and highest I oil temp I saw was about 250F-ish. Coolant was dead middle.

My e46 never really had oil temp issues, but my e92 does even with an upgraded alekshop cooler. Im currently finishing another e46 race car and using the csf rad and oil cooler i have off my other e46. None of my M3's have coolant temp issues.

I never ran 50w in an s54, so going based off what I saw on the s65.

[M3 Number 86]

Here they are removed.