Tracking Car on stock rod bearings?

[Matt Fojtik]

Hello,
My dad and I signed up for a track day a while back on the 29th of this month. He's just worried if we should still go or not since the car is on oem rod bearings (unknown if they're switched or not). The car has 70k miles and is dct, looks to have been very well taken car of. I've only put about 700mi since taken ownership.
Does anyone have any experience with tracking the car without upgrading the rod bearings? Will they fail or should I be good? Car is 2012 so it's lci with the updated ones.
Thanks!
Matt

[Ximian]

Pretty much everyone did a track day or several with the stock bearings.

Will they fail or should I be good?

Yes.

[tsk94]

No one here can say for certain if they will fail. You could get 50k track miles (unlikely, but possible..) on those current bearings and be fine, or they could let go after 1 day - no one knows.

To be safe, replace them asap if you plan on tracking the car extensively.

[okusa]

Originally Posted by tsk94

No one here can say for certain if they will fail. You could get 50k track miles (unlikely, but possible..) on those current bearings and be fine, or they could let go after 1 day - no one knows.

To be safe, replace them asap if you plan on tracking the car extensively.

I went at least 50 supercharged track days on OEM bearings. Recently changed them for no particular reason and the originals looked quite good.

[DrFerry]

Originally Posted by okusa

I went at least 50 supercharged track days on OEM bearings. Recently changed them for no particular reason and the originals looked quite good.

You sir are a lucky man. It might be worth a trip to 'Vegas. Got any photos? Would luv to see them.
.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1253084

[Davisca455]

Originally Posted by okusa

I went at least 50 supercharged track days on OEM bearings. Recently changed them for no particular reason and the originals looked quite good.

I'll be the counterbalance to this^, no offense intended.

"I went 4 supercharged track days on OEM bearings. Recently changed them for no particular reason and the originals looked quite terrible."

I'm glad I drank the rod bearing "cool-aid" though.
55k miles, excellent oil analysis reports, overly serviced, always warmed up, always garaged.

[leftfootbr8king]

The e9x m3 world needs more parts cars. Especially those with bolt on track mods complete.

Stay on those factory bearings, please.

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by Davisca455

I'll be the counterbalance to this^, no offense intended.

"I went 4 supercharged track days on OEM bearings. Recently changed them for no particular reason and the originals looked quite terrible."

I'm glad I drank the rod bearing "cool-aid" though.
55k miles, excellent oil analysis reports, overly serviced, always warmed up, always garaged.

Exactly. The whole point of my post was it can go both ways, and each of you just proved that.

Monitoring LCI updated bearings is trickier, but still possible. So if OP wants to use stock, get an oil analysis done before and likely after 1 or 2 track days after to monitor. Or just replace now..

[hsaguirre]

I changed mine the second I got my car. Whether they needed it or not who knows but I didn't want to risk it. It's all about risk tolerance.

[roastbeef]

there is no rhyme or reason, its just a lottery.

[redpriest]

My car did 90+ track days and 160k miles on original bearings. Bearings looks great, I lucked out on the tolerance stack.

[okusa]

Originally Posted by DrFerry

You sir are a lucky man. It might be worth a trip to 'Vegas. Got any photos? Would luv to see them.
.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1253084

I did not save the pictures, but Tom at EAS specifically said they looked good.

[ne92m3]

Planning on replacing RB with BE bearings and ARP botls. Current mileage sits at 145,200. 2011, Comp.

Current RB haven’t been replaced to my knowledge and due to the year of the car I know getting an oil analysis is pointless. Not sure if there is a way to findout if the current RBs have been replaced without having a confirmation from previous owners or work receipt on the job being done….

I’ve been quoted $3-5k for just labor on a RB job.

Any suggestions before moving forward on the job..

[Matt Fojtik]

Originally Posted by ne92m3

Planning on replacing RB with BE bearings and ARP botls. Current mileage sits at 145,200. 2011, Comp.

Current RB haven’t been replaced to my knowledge and due to the year of the car I know getting an oil analysis is pointless. Not sure if there is a way to findout if the current RBs have been replaced without having a confirmation from previous owners or work receipt on the job being done….

I’ve been quoted $3-5k for just labor on a RB job.

Any suggestions before moving forward on the job..

Im not sure where you live but if you’re in the northeast Munich Motorcars is around $2,800 for bearings + ARP head studs w/ labor. Super top notch shop

[tdott]

Welcome to the German lottery!

It's pretty much impossible to tell you when or if they will fail.
The only thing I will say for sure is the risk of failure is not 0%. It is somewhere between 1%-100% that they will fail at some point.

Goodluck!

[tdott]

Originally Posted by ne92m3

Not sure if there is a way to findout if the current RBs have been replaced without having a confirmation from previous owners or work receipt on the job being done….

There is not really a way to tell, unless you remove the oil pan and inspect the rod bolts if they are ARP or non stock rod bolts you can assume they were done at some point. But really you shouldn't stop there, might as well inspect at least 1 rod bearing, but I recommend just checking all of them to see the condition.

At that point you are paying about the same labor weather you decide to change them or not.

[ne92m3]

Originally Posted by Matt Fojtik

Im not sure where you live but if you’re in the northeast Munich Motorcars is around $2,800 for bearings + ARP head studs w/ labor. Super top notch shop

Located in Milford, CT. Appreciate the recommendation above, I’ll probably move forward with replacing the RBs as more of a peace of mind..

[Matt Fojtik]

Originally Posted by ne92m3

Located in Milford, CT. Appreciate the recommendation above, I’ll probably move forward with replacing the RBs as more of a peace of mind..

they’re in south windsor so it’s definitely doable for you I think. May be worth the trip

[ne92m3]

Literal liquid GOLDMINE!!!

Went to a local Advanced Auto in Milford looking to buy a single 1Ltr bottle of 10w60 Castrol. Apparently the “Supercar” version of the Castrol 10w60 is discontinued but not sure how accurate that is…. Anyways I was able to get the deal of the century for e92 M3 Motor oil!!!! Bought 10 1Ltr Castrol 10w60 bottle for 5 CENTS A PIECE!!!!!

I’ve called around to other Advanced Auto locations, most didn’t have any on hand or knew of other locations that would have.. just saying worth a try reaching out to your local Advanced Auto to see if they have any Castrol Edge “Supercar” 10w60’s in stock…



Happy Hunting!!