Yet Another Rod Bearing Engine Seized Up Story

[MMachines]

Easy to grab a 32mm and try to turn it with a breaker bar. Auto or 6mt? Did it lock up the wheels or coast to a stop? IMO we don't know enough, especially if you didn't window the block, and *I would think* you'd mention it if you locked up the rear wheels at 120mph and ended up off the track, in the wall, or got rear ended. Otherwise, there is potential the engine was still spinning and just stopped getting fuel, spark, or air(?). I don't know how the dct cars react to engine turning off at speed.

What's weird is now it won't turn over by the started either when requested. That should be unrelated to why it would quit while it was running.

Where's the car now?

[aus]

Please let us now what's wrong with the engine.
Sorry to hear this, but it's likely the bearings.

[JoePcone]

Originally Posted by MMachines

Easy to grab a 32mm and try to turn it with a breaker bar. Auto or 6mt? Did it lock up the wheels or coast to a stop? IMO we don't know enough, especially if you didn't window the block, and *I would think* you'd mention it if you locked up the rear wheels at 120mph and ended up off the track, in the wall, or got rear ended. Otherwise, there is potential the engine was still spinning and just stopped getting fuel, spark, or air(?). I don't know how the dct cars react to engine turning off at speed.

What's weird is now it won't turn over by the started either when requested. That should be unrelated to why it would quit while it was running.

Where's the car now?

Car is with the mechanic. Awaiting news, will of course keep everyone posted once a determination is made. I appreciate the positive thoughts. It is a DCT and did not lock up the wheels but coasted to a stop. Similar to many of the RB death issues I've read on here.

[anerbe]

pull the oil filter to look for metal shavings. normally this is a sign.

[kyrix1st]

I always change engine oil before going to the track, and after if I ran hard. Sticking to a certain OCI is only good if you don't thrash your car IMO.

[doogee]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

I always change engine oil before going to the track, and after if I ran hard. Sticking to a certain OCI is only good if you don't thrash your car IMO.

Give me your used oil!

Oil change before and after a track day? What a waste!


Your theory is pretty invalid. Oil doesn't necessarily break down from a track day as much as stop and go city driving. As long as the oil isn't overheating.

[kyrix1st]

Originally Posted by doogee

Give me your used oil!

Oil change before and after a track day? What a waste!


Your theory is pretty invalid. Oil doesn't necessarily break down from a track day as much as stop and go city driving. As long as the oil isn't overheating.

Ah, I flush my oil out before going to the track because I usually would have covered enough mileage for change anyways (3,000km at max.) Also, I am pretty sure my oil sees 160C+ in the bearing journals (120C~125C on odometer gauge) so I don't use them for more than two track days after hours of running on high speed circuits.

[M3ANMACHINE]

I'd contact Alex @ Performance Eurowerks in Chi to do a teardown of the engine. Also i'd recommend speaking to Malek @ MRF in CA to see if he has any insight to help you out since he's pretty much the guru of rod bearings and the S65.

Best of luck and sorry to hear about your failure!

[anerbe]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

Ah, I flush my oil out before going to the track because I usually would have covered enough mileage for change anyways (3,000km at max.) Also, I am pretty sure my oil sees 160C+ in the bearing journals (120C~125C on odometer gauge) so I don't use them for more than two track days after hours of running on high speed circuits.

get an oil analysis done post tracking to see if they properties changed enough to warrant more frequent changes. I would suspect you can get by with 5000km intervals minimum including track events.

[kawstik]

Originally Posted by anerbe

get an oil analysis done post tracking to see if they properties changed enough to warrant more frequent changes. I would suspect you can get by with 5000km intervals minimum including track events.

Of course you can. I change my oil at either 6,000 miles, or once per year, whichever comes first. My last Blackstone was at the 5,820 mark and included 5 PDEs. To quote my Blackstone report:

RYAN: Thanks for the notes. This report will make for a good start to your weekend. Lead from the bearings is the lowest we've seen at just 2 ppm, and this is the longest oil change interval you've sampled in 3 years. Less metal on more miles isn't something we are in the habit of complaining about. The high molybdenum numbers as you know reflect the Ceratec additive and this type of Castrol. Viscosity is well within spec for 10W/60, and no contamination was found. You're 9/9 on perfect reports!

[deansbimmer]

This is a bummer but not uncommon to hear. You don't really need a teardown yet. If there are shavings in the oil filter housing then it's bearing(s) failure and the engine will have to come out for replacement anyway. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions I build a lot of these engines.

[SHADY1]

Not trying to JoePcone just giving you some advise if you might have to go the used motor route with no worries.

Originally Posted by deansbimmer

This is a bummer but not uncommon to hear. You don't really need a teardown yet. If there are shavings in the oil filter housing then it's bearing(s) failure and the engine will have to come out for replacement anyway. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions I build a lot of these engines.

Deansbimmer is the man when it comes to these S65 Motors. He refurbished the current used engine installed on my VF650 Supercharged custom tuned E92 M3 I am glad I got a fully refurbished motor from him and not some used motor off of ebay. The refurbished motor from Deansbimmer also has BE bearings installed on it hopefully I am good for now with no worries .

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by SHADY1

Not trying to JoePcone just giving you some advise if you might have to go the used motor route with no worries.





Deansbimmer is the man when it comes to these S65 Motors. He refurbished the current used engine installed on my VF650 Supercharged custom tuned E92 M3 I am glad I got a fully refurbished motor from him and not some used motor off of ebay. The refurbished motor from Deansbimmer also has BE bearings installed on it hopefully I am good for now with no worries .

Woow, what a beauty... its just soo impressive to see these engine experts output. Damn that looks nice!

[xeux]

Beautiful SHADY1

[BOOF-M3]

Yea I think you have a free pass to threadjack every thread if you are going to make perfect posts like that SHADY1.

[FiveOhFour]

Originally Posted by SHADY1

Not trying to JoePcone just giving you some advise if you might have to go the used motor route with no worries.





Deansbimmer is the man when it comes to these S65 Motors. He refurbished the current used engine installed on my VF650 Supercharged custom tuned E92 M3 I am glad I got a fully refurbished motor from him and not some used motor off of ebay. The refurbished motor from Deansbimmer also has BE bearings installed on it hopefully I am good for now with no worries .

Is he by chance one of the used (but obviously refurbed in this case) motors on eBay ? I only ask because the red caps look familiar (presumably to indicate it’s a toy engine that can’t actually fire, as with toy guns)

Also does he do stroked motors? One guy I know up in the N/E did a ton of S85 strokers up to 6.0L, he did far fewer s65’s though, I guess business is slowing down as I haven’t heard/seen any news lately, maybe he just stopped the newsletter. I would absolutely love to switch from my supercharged sneakers to a actual M3 via a rolling chassis + refurb motor if it meant saving a few dollars over market prices

[FiveOhFour]

One last question, I was looking an 09 m3 with 80k miles but a 40k mile warranty replaced motor from 2011, that when installed had the OEM bearings “coated” (not treated), upon looking at bimmersports site I noticed their bearings sale page said the following, is this accurate ?

[TNTMYM3]

Originally Posted by SHADY1

Not trying to JoePcone just giving you some advise if you might have to go the used motor route with no worries.





Deansbimmer is the man when it comes to these S65 Motors. He refurbished the current used engine installed on my VF650 Supercharged custom tuned E92 M3 I am glad I got a fully refurbished motor from him and not some used motor off of ebay. The refurbished motor from Deansbimmer also has BE bearings installed on it hopefully I am good for now with no worries .

Did Rod Bearings at 74k mi, I went the BE route and don't worry much about mains. Every now and then (at around 6-7k rpm) I think about "what if my mains go". I needed a post like this, good stuff, much appreciated Shady.

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by FiveOhFour

One last question, I was looking an 09 m3 with 80k miles but a 40k mile warranty replaced motor from 2011, that when installed had the OEM bearings “coated” (not treated), upon looking at bimmersports site I noticed their bearings sale page said the following, is this accurate ? ]

Yes that's accurate in the context of coating the OEM bearings. Aftermarket bearings like VAC etc were designed thinner to compensate for the thickness of the coating, but BE went further to engineer a coated bearing with a more traditional oil clearance.

Is he by chance one of the used (but obviously refurbed in this case) motors on eBay ? I only ask because the red caps look familiar (presumably to indicate it’s a toy engine that can’t actually fire, as with toy guns)....... Also does he do stroked motors?

I don't have any on eBay currently but I do list spare motors on there from time to time. I can build whatever stroker you want, it's just not a popular request in my area due to the high cost.

[GORDON.M3]

oh wow, I just realized deans is mporiumbmw on eBay!
I was wondering who was selling refurb motors with new rod bearings there!

[Bomiz]

to me it doesn't really matter treating these cars well with the revving or driving hard. just do the oil changes and regular maintenance. my previous e90 m3 I was the 5th and it was an originally a press car (one of the first ones off the line). had originally bearings and had nothing but compliments from techs and people about how the engine ran. so it's really just random how these failures occur

[samsmith87]

Any update on this?