Yet Another Rod Bearing Engine Seized Up Story

JoePcone · 05-07-2018, 10:59 AM

60,000 miles on the car. Took it to the track, 2nd lap - engine just shut off. Wouldn't start backup, no error codes, nothing on the dash, just clicked when attempting to start. Is there really a possibility of BMW assisting with cost on these or is that a pipe dream? Has anyone received help from BMW? No warranty here either. Sad day when you're out 5 figures for a new engine.

JsL · 05-07-2018, 11:04 AM

Sucks to hear. Original bearings I'm assuming?

tdott · 05-07-2018, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoePcone

60,000 miles on the car. Took it to the track, 2nd lap - engine just shut off. Wouldn't start backup, no error codes, nothing on the dash, just clicked when attempting to start. Is there really a possibility of BMW assisting with cost on these or is that a pipe dream? Has anyone received help from BMW? No warranty here either. Sad day when you're out 5 figures for a new engine.

Sad day, sorry for your loss.

Was this your first time taking it on the track? Are you the original owner?
I was concerned and made sure to get mine done before doing track days.

IMO, if you are out of warranty, esp a few years out of warranty, I doubt you will receive anything from BMW.

///M Power-Belgium · 05-07-2018, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoePcone

60,000 miles on the car. Took it to the track, 2nd lap - engine just shut off. Wouldn't start backup, no error codes, nothing on the dash, just clicked when attempting to start. Is there really a possibility of BMW assisting with cost on these or is that a pipe dream? Has anyone received help from BMW? No warranty here either. Sad day when you're out 5 figures for a new engine.

1• Who or what confirmed it was bearing failure ?
2• Pipe dream .

JoePcone · 05-07-2018, 11:33 AM

First time at the track, always changed oil at 7500miles, never rev'd past 3k until car was warmed up and oil level was showing. Original bearings. 2nd owner, I purchased the car with 15k on it.

rcracin · 05-07-2018, 11:57 AM

Most probably a main bearing failure if it seized. 7500 is pretty high interval.

Helmsman · 05-07-2018, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcracin

Most probably a main bearing failure if it seized. 7500 is pretty high interval.

Hang on a sec....while 5k is a popular interval among us fanatics lets not forget that BMW recommend 15k change and it is in fact what they cover and nothing more in their service policy. Hence 7.5k should still be freaking twice as good than what is needed...

R3dliner · 05-07-2018, 12:23 PM

I believe bmw revised it to 12k. When I reset the oil intervals it sits on 12k now. I still think 7.5k is high.
OP how many miles did you have on the oil before it went. Sorry for your loss.

SYT_Shadow · 05-07-2018, 12:36 PM

I'm so sorry to hear that. So far, I haven't read about any correlation between oil change frequency and rod bearing failure

JoePcone · 05-07-2018, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R3dliner

I believe bmw revised it to 12k. When I reset the oil intervals it sits on 12k now. I still think 7.5k is high.
OP how many miles did you have on the oil before it went. Sorry for your loss.

Roughly 3,000 miles since last change.

BOOF-M3 · 05-07-2018, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

I'm so sorry to hear that. So far, I haven't read about any correlation between oil change frequency and rod bearing failure

I have seen close to 10k mile used oil and have found it is hit or miss as to how badly the oil has broken down. But never to the point where it was no longer usable oil. Which is why I guess they started at the 15k threshold originally. Personally at 5k I start thinking about it, then order it. Then swap it out. So if I'm at 7,500 then so be it. Sorry OP on the thread jack but how do you know it's bearings at this point?

I think deansbimmer has an engine available if it is. Or see rcracin below.

JoePcone · 05-07-2018, 12:55 PM

Has there been a confirmed best resource for used s65's? Is ebay the only place?

SYT_Shadow · 05-07-2018, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BOOF-M3

I have seen close to 10k mile used oil and have found it is hit or miss as to how badly the oil has broken down. But never to the point where it was no longer usable oil. Which is why I guess they started at the 15k threshold originally. Personally at 5k I start thinking about it, then order it. Then swap it out. So if I'm at 7,500 then so be it. Sorry OP on the thread jack but how do you know it's bearings at this point?

I think deansbimmer has an engine available if it is.

Exactly

Rod bearings fail prematurely on this engine due to insufficient clearance. Tracking/oil change interval does not seem to be correlated

Helmsman · 05-07-2018, 12:57 PM

Sorry to hear about your engine loss Joe. I'd keep an eye open on this forum as there are engine builders around that sometimes have motors ready to go.

Honda · 05-07-2018, 01:04 PM

did you hear anything from engine before it got seized?

rcracin · 05-07-2018, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoePcone

Has there been a confirmed best resource for used s65's? Is ebay the only place?

I’ve got my motor up for sale. Low miles and currently running in the car for anyone to see and hear it run.

m3jala · 05-07-2018, 02:45 PM

Sorry to hear. There are a couple lawyers out in California I believe looking into this from what I have read on other posts. You should in the least give them a call to be added to the list. I will try to find the link and post it here a bit later.

furry · 05-07-2018, 03:43 PM

Sorry to say but after reading this and pending results of my blackstone report (I believe my 11' is an early 2010 build) I may opt to swap bearings before hitting the track

JoePcone · 05-07-2018, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honda

did you hear anything from engine before it got seized?

Nope, not a single thing was out of place. Just out of nowhere the car died.

Z K · 05-07-2018, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by furry

Sorry to say but after reading this and pending results of my blackstone report (I believe my 11' is an early 2010 build) I may opt to swap bearings before hitting the track

I don't think going to the track has a correlation with rod bearing issue. A friend of mine had his rod bearing seize while idling in a parking lot... which ended up with a engine replacement. These things happen completely randomly.

If you are truly concerned, either don't drive your car or get them changed.

doogee · 05-07-2018, 06:34 PM

How do you know the motor is seized? You might have a different problem.

You can't turn it by hand?

aussiem3 · 05-07-2018, 09:15 PM

We always assume the worst. IT could be an unrelated problem. It will be interesting to see what the diagnosis is. Hopefully it's nothing too serious and just a loose connection. Good luck!

05-07-2018, 10:59 AM	#1
JoePcone Lieutenant 145 Rep 468 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW M3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	Yet Another Rod Bearing Engine Seized Up Story 60,000 miles on the car. Took it to the track, 2nd lap - engine just shut off. Wouldn't start backup, no error codes, nothing on the dash, just clicked when attempting to start. Is there really a possibility of BMW assisting with cost on these or is that a pipe dream? Has anyone received help from BMW? No warranty here either. Sad day when you're out 5 figures for a new engine. __________________ 2015 F80 M3 - Yas Blue, Silverstone Full., Bilstein B6 shocks, Eibach Springs, Full M Performance Carbon Add-ons, Titan 7 Wheels. (past) 2012 E92 M3 - Melbourne Red - Eibach Springs/AG M359/ performance spoiler/ performance splitters/10mm spacers, Macht Schnell Test Pipes, Alpine Stage 2 Tune.
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05-07-2018, 11:04 AM	#2
JsL Major 448 Rep 1,263 Posts Drives: 2011 AW M3 ZCP Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (2)	Sucks to hear. Original bearings I'm assuming?
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05-07-2018, 11:33 AM	#5
JoePcone Lieutenant 145 Rep 468 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW M3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	First time at the track, always changed oil at 7500miles, never rev'd past 3k until car was warmed up and oil level was showing. Original bearings. 2nd owner, I purchased the car with 15k on it. __________________ 2015 F80 M3 - Yas Blue, Silverstone Full., Bilstein B6 shocks, Eibach Springs, Full M Performance Carbon Add-ons, Titan 7 Wheels. (past) 2012 E92 M3 - Melbourne Red - Eibach Springs/AG M359/ performance spoiler/ performance splitters/10mm spacers, Macht Schnell Test Pipes, Alpine Stage 2 Tune.
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05-07-2018, 11:57 AM	#6
rcracin Major 1243 Rep 1,288 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: NYC iTrader: (3)	Most probably a main bearing failure if it seized. 7500 is pretty high interval.
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05-07-2018, 12:23 PM	#8
R3dliner Lieutenant Colonel 935 Rep 1,930 Posts Drives: 18 M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: NYC iTrader: (5)	I believe bmw revised it to 12k. When I reset the oil intervals it sits on 12k now. I still think 7.5k is high. OP how many miles did you have on the oil before it went. Sorry for your loss.
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05-07-2018, 12:36 PM	#9
SYT_Shadow ///M Powered for Life 11483 Rep 10,329 Posts Drives: E90M/E92M/M4GTS/M4GT4/X5M Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greenwich, CT iTrader: (2)	I'm so sorry to hear that. So far, I haven't read about any correlation between oil change frequency and rod bearing failure __________________ DIY: S65 Rod Bearings E9X PFC Z54 BBK on F8X BK harness bar + seats: fit 6 tires in an M3 do88 Cooling Goodies GTS Twins: GTMore project
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05-07-2018, 12:55 PM	#12
JoePcone Lieutenant 145 Rep 468 Posts Drives: 2015 BMW M3 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	Has there been a confirmed best resource for used s65's? Is ebay the only place? __________________ 2015 F80 M3 - Yas Blue, Silverstone Full., Bilstein B6 shocks, Eibach Springs, Full M Performance Carbon Add-ons, Titan 7 Wheels. (past) 2012 E92 M3 - Melbourne Red - Eibach Springs/AG M359/ performance spoiler/ performance splitters/10mm spacers, Macht Schnell Test Pipes, Alpine Stage 2 Tune.
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05-07-2018, 12:57 PM	#14
Helmsman Major General 4465 Rep 7,110 Posts Drives: 2011 AW E90 M3 ZCP Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Stockholm, Sweden iTrader: (0)	Sorry to hear about your engine loss Joe. I'd keep an eye open on this forum as there are engine builders around that sometimes have motors ready to go.
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05-07-2018, 01:04 PM	#15
Honda Lieutenant Colonel 289 Rep 1,535 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: US iTrader: (25)	did you hear anything from engine before it got seized?
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05-07-2018, 02:45 PM	#17
m3jala Captain 544 Rep 765 Posts Drives: Jet Black 2013 BMW M3 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Tysons Corner, VA iTrader: (0)	Sorry to hear. There are a couple lawyers out in California I believe looking into this from what I have read on other posts. You should in the least give them a call to be added to the list. I will try to find the link and post it here a bit later.
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05-07-2018, 03:43 PM	#18
furry Private 16 Rep 92 Posts Drives: E39 M5 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	Sorry to say but after reading this and pending results of my blackstone report (I believe my 11' is an early 2010 build) I may opt to swap bearings before hitting the track
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05-07-2018, 06:34 PM	#21
doogee Major 748 Rep 1,256 Posts Drives: '08 M3, '09 328xi Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ancaster, ON, Canada iTrader: (0)	How do you know the motor is seized? You might have a different problem. You can't turn it by hand? __________________
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05-07-2018, 09:15 PM	#22
aussiem3 Colonel 274 Rep 2,664 Posts Drives: Goggomobil Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Kangaroo land iTrader: (1) Garage List 2017 BMW X6/// F86 [0.00]	We always assume the worst. IT could be an unrelated problem. It will be interesting to see what the diagnosis is. Hopefully it's nothing too serious and just a loose connection. Good luck! __________________ F86 X6///
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