High mileage 08s report in!

[Assimilator1]

The alternator has a clutch on these? That's a new one to me (I know they have regenerative charging though), I'll have to check it out, I know lots of diesel alternators have one way clutches, but that's for a different purpose.
Maybe realoem will show me? Or newtis.....

Eja144
Good to know, thanks .
Just from my experience on other cars, plus the fact it goes quiet when you dip the clutch, where the gearbox input shaft slows then stops, which matches the noise pattern. If the spigot bearing in the flywheel was noisy it would do it all the time. A noisy thrust bearing is most likely to be noisy when pressing the clutch, but they can be noisy when pedal isn't being touched too.

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

08 transmit a little more gearbox noise.

Interesting, how did you find this out? And did you find out why? More sound insulation later on? Gearbox design tweaks?

I still think the cold start rattle is top end engine noise, but I'll try the AC off point next time.

Rajmun340
Again, interesting points you make in reply to wfdeacon88.
And yes the evidence is empirical that supports the RB failure 'theory', but that said it would seem to be the most probable cause of actual failures (not including pre-emptive changes again), I would say that it is a logical theory as we don't have any other that matches the data. And again I ask, unless you do?
Also it would be useful to your argument if you could at least post links to those engines that have had RBs done & then failed, expecting people to take you at your word on a controversial claim without any evidence to back you up is in itself illogical!

For the record, I've owned my e92 M3 for (just) over a month, it's not had the RBs done, and for the time being I have no near term plans to. Nor have I yet had oil analysis done (still looking into that).

[pbonsalb]

Nothing to do with insulation. Lighter flywheel and or clutch weight. Heavier dampens sound more. All light flywheels transmit more of the sounds that are in the gearbox.

[Assimilator1]

Ah I see, although my one had the clutch & flywheel changed 1-2yrs ago, so I would think that would be a later designed one.
Anyway, I'm quite happy to live with the noise if it's fairly normal for these, I think the last gearbox I stripped was on my Mk1 Ford Fiesta 1.1 in the late 80s! Lol, so I don't fancy doing it again now!

Eja144
Forgot to ask, how many miles have you done on your M3? And what's its total mileage?

[Eja144]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Eja144
Forgot to ask, how many miles have you done on your M3? And what's its total mileage?

I bought mine in June with a little over 59k and have since put about 3500 miles on.

Had the rod bearings replaced preventatively about a month into ownership. They looked pretty rough when they came out but I've seen way worse with fewer miles.

Do you have any future mods or work planned for yours?

[Assimilator1]

Ah ok, so you've not had it long then, I take it the gearbox noise hasn't got any worse in that time then?
Did you post pics of your RBs?

As for mods, not really, although I maybe forced to partially de-modify it's silencer , it's had the 2 pipe mod & it sounds fantastic , but I had it sound tested as I want to do a few track days a year. The general limit is 105 dB, my car registered 103.4 dB! And the (cheapo, £10 ebay) meter we used has an error of +/- 1.5 dB! So too close for comfort I think. But 1st I need to get a more accurate test done.

As for more general work, I've got a coolant temp sensor code & inlet air temp codes which come back (but strangely the MIL doesn't light up), so I need to sort that out (see this thread if you want to know more, or want to add info). Also I'm getting codes for both mirror heaters not working (& confirmed), so got to look into that too. Atm I can't even find which fuse powers them! The fuse card doesn't say, heating is a different supply to the motors btw.
Anyway, better bring this thread back on topic

Got pics of your M3 somewhere btw?

[Richbot]

Jesus Christ this thread is full of people talking about rod bearings and fretting about their cars with low enough miles to still be CPO - we should start a new one

Or better yet, just lock the entire general sub forum

[4corners]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

08 transmit a little more gearbox noise.

Why is that pbonsalb?

[NekMinnit]

Originally Posted by Eja144

Sounds like something rotating in an elliptical pattern behind the stereo area of the dash. off

Yes! That's exactly the noise I get on re-engagment of the clutch in neutral,sometimes it is fairly audible but I give it a couple of pumps or a nice slow release and it goes away. But yeah I have stopped worrying about after a while because the clutch and tranny still feel quite nice!

[Industrious]

116k on factory Rod bearings
I've replaced one throttle body actuator motor and converted both to carbon gears from speedometer gears
rebuilt driver's rear brake caliper
aside from that I've washed, waxed, and changed the oil and brake fluid. Transmission wants to slowly shift from neutral sometimes so will do a transmission service, and there is a fuel pressure sensor that needs to be replaced. The driver's side catalytic converter has started deteriorating so I'll gut the primaries and just leave the secondaries in place.
The car has been super reliable and needed very little maintenance so I just do what needs to be done when it needs it.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by 4corners

Why is that pbonsalb?

They have a lighter flywheel. People complained so BMW changed to a heavier flywheel to dampen sounds better. With a LTW flywheel on any car you hear more gear rattle from the trans.

[Assimilator1]

Interesting, but mine should have the later design f/whl as it was replaced 2yrs ago.....
Maybe I'm just more aware of the modest noise due to my job (car mechanic/tech).

[HotCalSun]

Originally Posted by kawstik

Goodwill relief from BMW NA? How did you go about that?

I asked the dealership. They put it in with NA and came back within a few hours, was pleasantly surprised. The car had been serviced exclusively at that dealership since my original purchase.

[steven747]

Originally Posted by Ab28

You must be kidding...to say that S65 engine failure and bearing wear are two separate things is probably the most incorrect bit of information I have read on this forum.

The engines are failing from bearing wear!

I agree that's big post is bs. My bearings blew at 75k and froze my engine. Had to rebuild the entire thing. Seems common with this engine. I ran my 330ci to 185k and bought it at 40k and never did the bearings go

[Richneerd]

Just changed my original RB at 129k, they were pretty worn.

To another 130k!

Woot!

[Assimilator1]

Nice! , have you got pics of the old bearings to post in the rod bearing condition thread?
What year was your car? And what made you decide to change them?

[Richneerd]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Nice! , have you got pics of the old bearings to post in the rod bearing condition thread?
What year was your car? And what made you decide to change them?

2008 M3, Built Date 03/2008, just a piece of mind to change it.

Plus now if anything happens I won't blame if was the old/previous owners with old RB.

The car is now under my watch, so I refreshed everything. I'll be the one to kill the car if it dies .

I got pics, I'll do a build thread in soon once I get everything dialed in.

[Assimilator1]

Cool, let us know here if you could .

[whack6]

2008 e90 6mt, 105750 miles

Rod bearings replaced around 102500, had wear but nothing insane. First blackstone report at current mileage a year in indicates no bearing material in suspension.

Throttle actuators also replaced at 102500, both were acting up and were original. Also did motor mounts, valve and upper timing cover gaskets, plugs, and coils "while in there". car runs as new and pulls like a freight train, redlined nearly every time driven.

Running liquimoly GT1 10w60 and mahle filter. Car did have proper break in oil change early in life and 5k interval oil changes its entire life.

[GoodTime]

~110k miles with fresh bearings as of ~108k. Still doing daily duties rain or shine! No issues beyond a small noise from the front right brake caliper that just popped up. Maybe a rattle clip? Doing pads and fluid soon so we'll see what's up then.

I'm totally going to jinx myself, and this is very foolish to put out into the universe, but this has been the most reliable BMW I've had including some much lower-mileage cars!

[Assimilator1]

Nice , I love that colour! I tried to get that blue or a red one, but both were just too rare for the specs, age & £s I was looking at.

[GoodTime]

Originally Posted by Assimilator1

Nice , I love that colour! I tried to get that blue or a red one, but both were just too rare for the specs, age & £s I was looking at.

Thanks! I lucked out and this came up for sale 5 minutes from my house in close to the exact spec I wanted. I do wish it didn't have iDrive, but that doesn't bother me much.

[Assimilator1]

5 minutes!!?? You lucky git! I had to drive about 2.5-3 hrs to get mine! Lol.
Although that wasn't as bad as getting my manual 330d, in theory 3.5 hrs (which it did take to check it out), but it took us ~7hrs to pick it up!! (bad traffic everywhere! ).
Here's my car btw, don't think I posted that thread here .