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      07-16-2018, 04:49 PM   #1
sibhusz06
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Rod bearing wear on 2011 and up

Curious as I've read that road bearing wear can't be detected on the 2011 and up models, is it still worth doing a oil analysis to check wear on the crankshaft and surely that must incur some wear as the rod bearings are starting to wear..

Secondly, if you go with a BE bearing when it comes time to servicing, don't you essentially solve the bearing clearance problem or do you still have to replace them again after 80k or so..

Thanks
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      07-16-2018, 05:00 PM   #2
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Your motor will be toast if there is crank wear, so no point in doing oil analysis to check that.

No one knows if BE or other bearings will solve the problem. Not enough solid data to back anything up.
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      07-16-2018, 05:13 PM   #3
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Someone on this forum posted earlier today that the Rod Bearing issue is only on the 08 models, that is completely false, correct?

However I have not heard that if you have a 2011 or later model, the oil analysis will do/show nothing? Is that really accurate???

And last question, if that is truly the case, how and when does someone with a 2011 model decide to replace the Rod Bearings? No part of me is thinking that it does NOT need to be done, I just can't for the life of me decide when I should do it.

2011.75 w/ 35k miles
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      07-16-2018, 05:54 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PKL View Post
Someone on this forum posted earlier today that the Rod Bearing issue is only on the 08 models, that is completely false, correct?

However I have not heard that if you have a 2011 or later model, the oil analysis will do/show nothing? Is that really accurate???

And last question, if that is truly the case, how and when does someone with a 2011 model decide to replace the Rod Bearings? No part of me is thinking that it does NOT need to be done, I just can't for the life of me decide when I should do it.

2011.75 w/ 35k miles
Yeah, it's false that it's only on 2008 models. I think from some point in 2011 onwards the bearing material was changed, so (as I understand) there is no point in doing an oil analysis on models newer than that because you can't track the lead levels. Check out this thread made by another forum member which is quite comprehensive: https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=892838

I am personally waiting for my CPO warranty to expire and then will get it done pretty much right then as a preventative measure
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      07-16-2018, 06:25 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GREYMT3R View Post

I am personally waiting for my CPO warranty to expire and then will get it done pretty much right then as a preventative measure
I see you have a 2013, whats your mileage? Thanks!
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      07-16-2018, 07:24 PM   #6
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Its probably a good idea to do oil analysis on these motors no matter the model year due to the known wear issues with main and rod bearings. The change in bearing material simply changes what you are looking for in the oil report. The earlier bearings, you would watch for lead and copper. The later version for tin and aluminum. Its true that it was easier to trend when the bearings were lead and copper as there were not a lot of other sources of lead and copper in the motor so one could more easily conclude those metals showing up were revealing bearing wear. One oil report will not reveal much. Its watching trends over time that make them useful. It could bring an issue to your attention before it became catastrophic. But its hard to say for sure.
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Last edited by Mvy; 07-16-2018 at 07:29 PM..
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      07-16-2018, 07:38 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PKL View Post
I see you have a 2013, whats your mileage? Thanks!
53k miles right now. Throttle actuators replaced under warranty by previous owner so at least those are taken care of...
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      07-16-2018, 09:44 PM   #8
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I plan to do BE rod bearings on mine at 75k as a preventative matter, im only at 50k in terms of mileage...for Now just consistent with proper warm up and oil change between 5k intervals and sparkplugs 20k intervals...through FCP lifetime replacement program
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      07-17-2018, 06:36 AM   #9
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The interview with Steve Dinan recommended oil analysis every oil change and you’re most likely able to catch any issues. He didn’t distinguish between model years but addressed that it’s a common issue.

If you haven’t see. The Smoking Tire podcast, it’s worth the watch (after 1 minute in, I believe, he discusses the S65/S85.
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      07-17-2018, 07:11 AM   #10
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BMW changed the bearing material. That is why an oil analysis is not 100% accurate when trying to assess the state of the bearings and if they need to be replaced.

With all of the data out there I think it is best to go ahead and replace the bearings.

Here is a previous thread showing bearings removed from an engine out of a 2011.

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showth...highlight=2011
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      07-17-2018, 07:13 AM   #11
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My original 08/2011 engine failed with 28k miles due to spun bearing.
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      07-17-2018, 08:58 AM   #12
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S65's from every year of mfg all wear bearings prematurely. They have failed as early as 13k miles in 2013 M3's. The industry suggests that the OEM clearances are too small which is causing the wear. Replacing them with appropriately sized bearings such as BE *should* solve the issue but without millions of miles having been run through cars to "confirm" the theory it's only the best answer we have at the moment.

If you have original bearings, replace them regardless of mileage. It's cheap insurance.
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      07-17-2018, 11:21 AM   #13
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The updated tin-aluminum bearings also have a greater eccentricity which technically should allow more oil flow into the wear surfaces.

What was BMW's official explanation on the switch from lead/copper to tin/aluminum?
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      07-17-2018, 11:46 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deansbimmer View Post

If you have original bearings, replace them regardless of mileage. It's cheap insurance.
I guess that is what I needed to hear to do mine, I only have 35k miles. I will probably do it when I need an oil change again.
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      07-17-2018, 12:50 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by carenthuziast View Post
The updated tin-aluminum bearings also have a greater eccentricity which technically should allow more oil flow into the wear surfaces.

What was BMW's official explanation on the switch from lead/copper to tin/aluminum?
Switched for RoHS compliancy as per EU regulations, I'm pretty sure. Lead is a no-no.
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      07-17-2018, 12:54 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PKL View Post
I guess that is what I needed to hear to do mine, I only have 35k miles. I will probably do it when I need an oil change again.
I think that's a good plan, especially if you plan to keep the car for the long run. And your location in S. California, there's several shops doing this work and for typically less money than in many other cities/areas.

I had mine done around 63K miles or so, but there was another E9x M3 in the same shop the same week as mine, he had 57K miles and his bearings were some of the worst I've seen (pics at link below). They were obviously starting to show wear long before he got to that mileage...

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1352151
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      07-17-2018, 05:30 PM   #17
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Here's my late 2011 bearings:
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      07-17-2018, 05:57 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spazzyfry123 View Post
Here's my late 2011 bearings:
What mileage?? They don't look too bad, right?
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      07-17-2018, 06:01 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deansbimmer View Post
S65's from every year of mfg all wear bearings prematurely. They have failed as early as 13k miles in 2013 M3's. The industry suggests that the OEM clearances are too small which is causing the wear. Replacing them with appropriately sized bearings such as BE *should* solve the issue but without millions of miles having been run through cars to "confirm" the theory it's only the best answer we have at the moment.

If you have original bearings, replace them regardless of mileage. It's cheap insurance.
what this guy said

There is no difference between model years

Oil analysis only works for the pre-2010 cars with copper/lead bearings.
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      07-17-2018, 09:11 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deansbimmer View Post
Oil analysis only works for the pre-2010 cars with copper/lead bearings.

Is this totally accurate? I've heard conflicting reports and what you say makes sense but I've seen 2011+ Blackstone reports that seem to distinguish that they're not looking specifically for lead.
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      07-17-2018, 10:33 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spazzyfry123 View Post
Here's my late 2011 bearings:
Did you get yours done locally in Atlanta?
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      07-17-2018, 10:43 PM   #22
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Too many threads on this people....
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