Official S65 Rod Bearing Condition Example Thread

[AndyBrad]

I must say that I agree with the comparisons between this and the RX community.

This thread https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=892838 linked is brilliant information. Absolutely superb!

From what I have read am I understanding that.

The original bearings are too close. That’s a given. However the interesting is that everyone says that the newer (2011 onwards) bearings are the same clearance. That doesn’t seem to be correct. It seems that the eccentricity of the bearings has been increased, thus increasing the potential clearance slightly. While I appreciate that this is small it is not mentioned on any of the other forums ive seen!

I also understand that someone on these forums has rubbed down a newer bearing to show copper. Where as all the information ive seen states that there is no copper in the bearings!
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpo...postcount=1937

This just adds to the confusion.

I understand that the bearings are a big enough issue for people to be concerned. I will be changing mine shortly (on 60k, 2012 car) In the UK I seem to have a choice of original BMW bearings or ACL, that’s it BE is generally not offered. Of all the people ive spoken to (and there are a few) the majority are not measuring unless they see a single highly worn bearing in which case they will fit a mixed and matched set. Certainly plastigauge wont measure to the tolerances that have been achieved by that bearing measurement thread.

I like the idea of being able to spot the potential of a worn bearings so will probably go with ACL but I am wanting to get it right in my head first ��

Thanks for all your help and input from these forums.

[IamFODI]

Originally Posted by AndyBrad

I also understand that someone on these forums has rubbed down a newer bearing to show copper. Where as all the information ive seen states that there is no copper in the bearings!
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpo...postcount=1937

The idea that the updated BMW bearings had no copper was old info that went unquestioned for a long time. An early version of the giant post you just read said they were bimetal bearings (no intermediate layer), and that became everyone's baseline assumption. Now that we know they are trimetal with a copper layer of some kind, it'll take a while for that correction to propagate.

[MisterClutch888]

Originally Posted by its55

When you say "another round", are we looking at original bearings or earlier-installed BE bearings?

I believe in 2011 original bearings did not contain copper so we would not see any is that correct?

Sorry. Second round meaning second time doing it. But first time was on my 2008 E92 with 91000km

[parkjake50]

Just had my RB service at Dixon Motorsports in Michigan if anyone is local. Service was excellent & I'd recommend anyone in MI to head over there.
Info on my car:
2011 ZCP e92 m3 6spd
48,3xx miles when the service was performed.
BE/ARP was used.
Previous owner owned this vehicle since 2014.

[DrFerry]

Originally Posted by parkjake50

Just had my RB service at Dixon Motorsports in Michigan if anyone is local. Service was excellent & I'd recommend anyone in MI to head over there.
Info on my car:
2011 ZCP e92 m3 6spd
48,3xx miles when the service was performed.
BE/ARP was used.
Previous owner owned this vehicle since 2014.
.

As used S65 rod bearing examples go.. yours actually look pretty good for 48K miles. Good job going with BE/ARP = "The New Gold Standard"..

[parkjake50]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

As used S65 rod bearing examples go.. yours actually look pretty good for 48K miles. Good job going with BE/ARP = "The New Gold Standard"..

I probably could've gone many more miles. However, that peace of mind is totally worth the $.
While there is no real break in period, I am taking the first 500 miles a bit softer.

This forum is how I got the BE/ARP also. I actually purchased BE/ARP on a website, and been getting pushed back every month and almost went with ACL bearings. BUT forum member studntloan came in clutch and I bought the last set he had.

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

As used S65 rod bearing examples go.. yours actually look pretty good for 48K miles. Good job going with BE/ARP = "The New Gold Standard"..

I just went through some posts of bearings and those do look really good in comparison to most although his mileage is lower than most all submitted. So crazy this is something owners have to worry about. Thankfully BE is out there saving the day and great guys to work with.

[nleeumd]

I just had my rod bearings done today at OCS Motorsports in Damascus, MD by Micah Holmes. I am the 2nd owner since December 2015 @ 50k miles.

Car: 2011 E92 M3 01/2011 Production
Mileage: 147,587
Oil Changes every 6,000-7,500 miles (Liqui Moly 10w60)
Daily Driven, kept RPMs fairly tame throughout its life so far. Usually shifted at 3,300RPMs.
Replaced with BE Bearings / ARP Bolts

Micah and I thought the original 702/703 BMW bearings came out pretty well relative to the miles.

I highly recommend Micah / OCS Motorsports for your BMW needs, very detail oriented, super nice guy, and tracks his own e46 M3.

[Assimilator1]

Originally Posted by AndyBrad

I must say that I agree with the comparisons between this and the RX community.

This thread https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=892838 linked is brilliant information. Absolutely superb!

From what I have read am I understanding that.

The original bearings are too close. That’s a given. However the interesting is that everyone says that the newer (2011 onwards) bearings are the same clearance. That doesn’t seem to be correct. It seems that the eccentricity of the bearings has been increased, thus increasing the potential clearance slightly. While I appreciate that this is small it is not mentioned on any of the other forums I've seen!

I also understand that someone on these forums has rubbed down a newer bearing to show copper. Where as all the information I've seen states that there is no copper in the bearings!
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpo...postcount=1937

This just adds to the confusion.

I understand that the bearings are a big enough issue for people to be concerned. I will be changing mine shortly (on 60k, 2012 car) In the UK I seem to have a choice of original BMW bearings or ACL, that’s it BE is generally not offered. Of all the people I've spoken to (and there are a few) the majority are not measuring unless they see a single highly worn bearing in which case they will fit a mixed and matched set. Certainly plastigauge wont measure to the tolerances that have been achieved by that bearing measurement thread.

I like the idea of being able to spot the potential of a worn bearings so will probably go with ACL but I am wanting to get it right in my head first ��

Thanks for all your help and input from these forums.

The newer (tin/alu) bearings are apparently the same spec dimensions, but the 1 set that was measured in the bearing wiki thread happened to be a little bigger than average for the older bearings.
I think that oversight has been corrected on BE's bearing wiki, but IIRC he isn't able to edit his post here.

And yep I found copper under the babbitt layer! Actually deansbimmer highlighted that sometime before I rubbed down that shell.
So it would seem, so far anyway, that no one here has posted photos of tin bearings that have worn to copper, it seems they generally fair less worse than the older lead/copper bearings.
Although they still show some degree of wear that they shouldn't have, and a small number (that we know of) have failed.

It's quite easy to buy BE bearings here in the UK (when they're in stock anyway ), but the cost of the BE bearings and BE bolts are ludicrous here compared to the states.
Last time I checked (about 1 1/2 yrs ago), it cost about £1000 to get BE bearings and bolts. I imported from the US, mixed and measured ACL shells and BE bolts from Mporium (deansbimmer), cost me about £770 including shipping, tax and import duties (actually I think it came to a little less than that (possibly £712), the figure above is what I calculated it was going to cost me).

Btw, both BE and ACL bearings have lead in them, so you could in theory track bearing wear with either of them, as long as you tested every single oil change. If not, things could be missed, see my sig for more info on that (in the unlikely event of aftermarket bearing failure).

[Goalient31]

Originally Posted by parkjake50

Just had my RB service at Dixon Motorsports in Michigan if anyone is local. Service was excellent & I'd recommend anyone in MI to head over there.
Info on my car:
2011 ZCP e92 m3 6spd
48,3xx miles when the service was performed.
BE/ARP was used.
Previous owner owned this vehicle since 2014.

Good to hear, I called them a couple weeks back for a quote and timing. Very helpful over the phone and when I asked if they were familiar with the job he said they had a few E9X M3s lined up. More common than most think…

[parkjake50]

Originally Posted by Goalient31

Good to hear, I called them a couple weeks back for a quote and timing. Very helpful over the phone and when I asked if they were familiar with the job he said they had a few E9X M3s lined up. More common than most think…

Yes, they weren't new at this job. When I was getting mine done, they had another customer that had an appointment the week after. Service was good, and I believe they provide all parts if you'd like too (I think ACL/ARP combo).

[tom @ eas]

2011 M3 DCT @ 93,511mi.

[Damage Inc]

2013 M3 ZCP
48,000 miles
2 previous owners
I just bought the car a few weeks ago

I didn't want to "roll the dice". These look pretty clean.

[Assimilator1]

Originally Posted by Damage Inc

2013 M3 ZCP
48,000 miles
2 previous owners
I just bought the car a few weeks ago

I didn't want to "roll the dice". These look pretty clean.

Fancy carrying out a simple little experiment on 2 of the worst of your old shells?

[jvictormp]

Originally Posted by Damage Inc

2013 M3 ZCP
48,000 miles
2 previous owners
I just bought the car a few weeks ago

I didn't want to "roll the dice". These look pretty clean.

Why are there nine shells instead of eight?

[Green-Eggs]

Originally Posted by jvictormp

Why are there nine shells instead of eight?

I think it's to show an example of what a bad bearing looks like. But I think it's an apples-oranges comparison. The shells on the left are clearly 702/703 shells. The shells on the right, if they're S65, are 088/089 shells. They will look totally different when worn. For 702/703 shells, those are actually look pretty worn.

[AndyBrad]

Could we have a section for non OEM bearings replaced? it would be good to see these BE / King / ACL bearings after 20-60k

[DrFerry]

Originally Posted by AndyBrad

Could we have a section for non OEM bearings replaced? it would be good to see these BE / King / ACL bearings after 20-60k

Sounds like a good idea and a thread waiting for you to create.
.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1504908
.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1904183
.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1490200
.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1755742
.
Personal Message sent to you.

[jvictormp]

ACL h-std after 3.000km (just wanted to see if they're okay before the first trackday with this new engine).

[tom @ eas]

MY11 M3, 6MT - 92,517mi

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by tom @ eas

MY11 M3, 6MT - 92,517mi

Yet another set of LCIs that have hold up nicely as it looks.

[AndyW]

Are RB bearings and the RB-ARP bolts still the consensus upgrade? Car is a 2013 with 45K.

I am looking at these:

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Engine/E...rings-S65.html

https://www.bimmerworld.com/Engine/E...-Bolt-Set.html