11 E90 Rod Bearings 50k Miles

Bimmer Barney · 02-14-2018, 03:54 PM

I just had my rod bearing changed yesterday by Malek, owner of MRF Engineering in Lake Forest, CA.

My Car - 2011.5 E90 M3. 51k miles, No track days. I baby it 80% of the time and always let it warm up properly. 5k oil changes its entire life. No symptoms or signs of bearing wear. Updated 702 bearings on these production years.

Shop - Clean and Organized like you would expect from a true professional and OCD owner, stated otherwise - the way I keep my own garage.

Owner/Mechanic - Very organized, focused, thorough, and honest. Anyone who is a mechanic themselves knows how critically important this is when leaving your car for someone else to perform work.

Service - Completed exactly within the time estimated and as quoted. I was provided a detailed bill for the work. Malek showed me my bearings (attached) and swapped my motor mounts. My bearings were very worn and destined for catastrophic failure. My Engine mounts had already catastrophically failed.

The engine runs so smoothly now, revs so smoothly and obviously with new motor mounts there is a noticeable reduction in NVH. It also runs much more quietly. I cannot recommend MRF Engineering for this job enough. I know now why so many others have driven great lengths to have Malek service their vehicles. I learned of his shop from the forums and want to encourage others to get this service done. This is not a myth or snake oil. Our engines have a flaw that must be addressed.

8500RPM · 02-14-2018, 05:05 PM

Wow those bad boys are in good shape compared to others! Good you got it our of the way I'm planning on doing them at 60k on my 2012

Bimmer Barney · 02-14-2018, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8500RPM

Wow those bad boys are in good shape compared to others! Good you got it our of the way I'm planning on doing them at 60k on my 2012

Compared to many that we see posted yes, but I want to be clear to everyone that these look really bad. These were well on their way to catastrophic failure and one bearing was actually stuck to the crank. Bearings should not touch the crank journals/surface ever, let alone be stuck. I was lucky, not good and sometimes that's a good thing.

M3ANMACHINE · 02-14-2018, 05:58 PM

Great post! I had my the exact same service completed by Malek last week and mirror all of your statements!

Jerry.E90M3 · 02-15-2018, 12:09 PM

I can also vouch for Malek and his shop. I have a 2011 E90 and our bearing wear almost looks identical. I had roughly 59k miles when I had the service done.

BayE30 · 02-15-2018, 01:30 PM

the bearings on my 2011 looked a lot worse than those, but I wasn't the original owner of the car, so who knows the oil change and warm up history...

schnell1982 · 02-15-2018, 08:17 PM

+1 for Malek. Great dude and always a pleasure to do business with.
What engine oil brand / weight do you use ?

Bimmer Barney · 02-16-2018, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schnell1982

+1 for Malek. Great dude and always a pleasure to do business with.
What engine oil brand / weight do you use ?

OEM twin power stuff

dmk08 · 02-16-2018, 05:12 AM

Man I wish I lived in Cali with good shops. Looks good OP. My 11 has 23k miles think ill be dangerous and wait another 15-20k.

Helmsman · 02-16-2018, 06:03 AM

Barney, yeah me to would love to have a shop like Malek's around. What bearings did you go with?

Cheers

JRV · 02-16-2018, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

I just had my rod bearing changed yesterday by Malek, owner of MRF Engineering in Lake Forest, CA.

My Car - 2011.5 E90 M3. 51k miles, No track days. I baby it 80% of the time and always let it warm up properly. 5k oil changes its entire life. No symptoms or signs of bearing wear. Updated 702 bearings on these production years.

Shop - Clean and Organized like you would expect from a true professional and OCD owner, stated otherwise - the way I keep my own garage.

Owner/Mechanic - Very organized, focused, thorough, and honest. Anyone who is a mechanic themselves knows how critically important this is when leaving your car for someone else to perform work.

Service - Completed exactly within the time estimated and as quoted. I was provided a detailed bill for the work. Malek showed me my bearings (attached) and swapped my motor mounts. My bearings were very worn and destined for catastrophic failure. My Engine mounts had already catastrophically failed.

The engine runs so smoothly now, revs so smoothly and obviously with new motor mounts there is a noticeable reduction in NVH. It also runs much more quietly. I cannot recommend MRF Engineering for this job enough. I know now why so many others have driven great lengths to have Malek service their vehicles. I learned of his shop from the forums and want to encourage others to get this service done. This is not a myth or snake oil. Our engines have a flaw that must be addressed.

Looks like mine when I swapped out 2 years ago. I also have 2011 with the 702/703 RBs.

Bimmer Barney · 02-16-2018, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmk08

Man I wish I lived in Cali with good shops. Looks good OP. My 11 has 23k miles think ill be dangerous and wait another 15-20k.

Why wait?

Bimmer Barney · 02-16-2018, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Barney, yeah me to would love to have a shop like Malek's around. What bearings did you go with?

Cheers

Clevite (CT-1 Anti-Friction Coated) Extra Clearance Rod Bearing Set
ARP S65B40 Rod Bolt Set

i_love_cars · 02-16-2018, 01:37 PM

my 2011 has 65k miles on it now. This thread makes me happy that as soon as winter is over and my car is out of storage, I'm getting new bearings installed.

Helmsman · 02-16-2018, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

Clevite (CT-1 Anti-Friction Coated) Extra Clearance Rod Bearing Set
ARP S65B40 Rod Bolt Set

Curious: Isn't MRF often using VAC? What was the reason you went with Clevite?

Learning - thanks

so0fresh · 02-16-2018, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Curious: Isn't MRF often using VAC? What was the reason you went with Clevite?

Learing, thanks

they are vac bearings with clevite coating.

Helmsman · 02-16-2018, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by so0fresh

they are vac bearings with clevite coating.

Apparently can't get who actually is doing what on the various bearings, but stubbern to learn, thanks.

Dave07997S · 02-16-2018, 04:07 PM

Malek uses the extra clearance VAC bearings with the CT coating. Which are made by Clevite.

Duk996 · 02-16-2018, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bimmer Barney

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Barney, yeah me to would love to have a shop like Malek's around. What bearings did you go with?

Cheers

Clevite (CT-1 Anti-Friction Coated) Extra Clearance Rod Bearing Set
ARP S65B40 Rod Bolt Set

Nice, I used vac extra clearance and the revised arp bolts too. Malek recommended. Are you running mos2 as well?

Dave07997S · 02-16-2018, 08:35 PM

Gonna have mine done as well at MRF..

LatifE90 · 02-17-2018, 02:38 PM

+2 for Malek Malek@MRF. Replaced my S65 after bearing failure and also did the Clevite bearings on the new motor. He is the only guy I trust working on my cars.

M3_Legend · 11-24-2018, 12:53 AM

Great post. Wish I was close to MRF

here nothing but great things about him on the forums.

02-14-2018, 03:54 PM	#1
Bimmer Barney Lieutenant Colonel 1250 Rep 1,502 Posts Drives: 2011.5 E90M ZCP Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: California iTrader: (4)	11 E90 Rod Bearings 50k Miles - MRF Engineering I just had my rod bearing changed yesterday by Malek, owner of MRF Engineering in Lake Forest, CA. My Car - 2011.5 E90 M3. 51k miles, No track days. I baby it 80% of the time and always let it warm up properly. 5k oil changes its entire life. No symptoms or signs of bearing wear. Updated 702 bearings on these production years. Shop - Clean and Organized like you would expect from a true professional and OCD owner, stated otherwise - the way I keep my own garage. Owner/Mechanic - Very organized, focused, thorough, and honest. Anyone who is a mechanic themselves knows how critically important this is when leaving your car for someone else to perform work. Service - Completed exactly within the time estimated and as quoted. I was provided a detailed bill for the work. Malek showed me my bearings (attached) and swapped my motor mounts. My bearings were very worn and destined for catastrophic failure. My Engine mounts had already catastrophically failed. The engine runs so smoothly now, revs so smoothly and obviously with new motor mounts there is a noticeable reduction in NVH. It also runs much more quietly. I cannot recommend MRF Engineering for this job enough. I know now why so many others have driven great lengths to have Malek service their vehicles. I learned of his shop from the forums and want to encourage others to get this service done. This is not a myth or snake oil. Our engines have a flaw that must be addressed. Attached Images __________________ 2011.5 E90 M3 DCT ZCP Slicktop
	Appreciate 6 azndrunk74611.50 schnell1982345.00 Foggins1334.50 M3_Legend352.00 Timujin352.50 Gto373.00 Tweet Quote

02-14-2018, 05:05 PM	#2
8500RPM First Lieutenant 152 Rep 303 Posts Drives: 2012 M3 CP Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL iTrader: (0)	Wow those bad boys are in good shape compared to others! Good you got it our of the way I'm planning on doing them at 60k on my 2012
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02-14-2018, 05:58 PM	#4
M3ANMACHINE Admiral 931 Rep 3,886 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 + 2014 F15 X5 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (11)	Great post! I had my the exact same service completed by Malek last week and mirror all of your statements! __________________ 2020 FORD RAPTOR 2014 F15 X5 \| M-SPORT SOLD 2011 SG E90 M3 \| 2008 AW E90 M3 \| 2004 E46 M3
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02-15-2018, 12:09 PM	#5
Jerry.E90M3 Private First Class 156 Rep 143 Posts Drives: 2011 E90 M3 Join Date: May 2017 Location: San Diego iTrader: (0)	I can also vouch for Malek and his shop. I have a 2011 E90 and our bearing wear almost looks identical. I had roughly 59k miles when I had the service done.
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02-15-2018, 01:30 PM	#6
BayE30 Lieutenant Colonel 1341 Rep 1,881 Posts Drives: 2011.75 E90 M3 ZCP Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (5)	the bearings on my 2011 looked a lot worse than those, but I wasn't the original owner of the car, so who knows the oil change and warm up history...
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02-15-2018, 08:17 PM	#7
schnell1982 Captain 345 Rep 966 Posts Drives: FAST Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Southern California iTrader: (0)	+1 for Malek. Great dude and always a pleasure to do business with. What engine oil brand / weight do you use ?
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02-16-2018, 05:12 AM	#9
dmk08 Gone Fishin’ 7318 Rep 12,125 Posts Drives: Walks Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (19)	Man I wish I lived in Cali with good shops. Looks good OP. My 11 has 23k miles think ill be dangerous and wait another 15-20k.
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02-16-2018, 06:03 AM	#10
Helmsman Major General 4467 Rep 7,110 Posts Drives: 2011 AW E90 M3 ZCP Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Stockholm, Sweden iTrader: (0)	Barney, yeah me to would love to have a shop like Malek's around. What bearings did you go with? Cheers
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02-16-2018, 01:37 PM	#14
i_love_cars First Lieutenant 291 Rep 345 Posts Drives: G80 M3 6mt Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (0) Garage List 2023 BMW M3 [0.00] 2021 BMW X5 [0.00]	my 2011 has 65k miles on it now. This thread makes me happy that as soon as winter is over and my car is out of storage, I'm getting new bearings installed. __________________
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02-16-2018, 04:07 PM	#18
Dave07997S Brigadier General 721 Rep 3,964 Posts Drives: 2020 Ford Mustang GT Join Date: May 2009 Location: El Segundo, CA iTrader: (1)	Malek uses the extra clearance VAC bearings with the CT coating. Which are made by Clevite.
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02-16-2018, 08:35 PM	#20
Dave07997S Brigadier General 721 Rep 3,964 Posts Drives: 2020 Ford Mustang GT Join Date: May 2009 Location: El Segundo, CA iTrader: (1)	Gonna have mine done as well at MRF.. __________________ 2020 Ford Mustang GT 6MT PP1 444rwhp (Sold)2013 M3 Coupe-MR/BLK ZCP, 2011 M3 Coupe-MR/Blk 2007 Porsche 997C2S Speed Yellow/Blk sport seats 2004 BMW M3 Imola/Blk
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02-17-2018, 02:38 PM	#21
LatifE90 Latif 265 Rep 378 Posts Drives: E90 Slicktop Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Sf iTrader: (2)	+2 for Malek Malek@MRF. Replaced my S65 after bearing failure and also did the Clevite bearings on the new motor. He is the only guy I trust working on my cars. __________________ Instagram: latif_eshaq
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11-24-2018, 12:53 AM	#22
M3_Legend Lieutenant 352 Rep 471 Posts Drives: BMW E90 & E91 Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tri state iTrader: (2)	Great post. Wish I was close to MRF here nothing but great things about him on the forums. __________________ 2009 E90 M3 DCT Space Grey current 2005 E53 X5 3.0 Alpine white sold 2008 E90 M3 6-speed Jerez Black sold 2008 E90 335I 6 Speed Black Sapphire M-sport sold 2006 E53 X5 Black Sapphire sold 2011 E91 Silver Automatic sold 2006 E91 Silver Automatic sold 2007 E91 Black sapphire 6 Speed Manuel current
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