Rod Bearings and Bolts

[Tbonem3]

No, you're right. The break in for bottom end makes no sense other than just "playing it safe."

[Thoglan]

I've said it for ages. There is no reason to 'run in' big end bearings. Someone on here even emailed one of the bearing manufacturers asking about run in and they said no run in is required and is their recommendation. Can't remember who it was though.

[0-60motorsports]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079G56GR4

Thanks!

[headlock]

I was of the same opinion up until very recently. I had my motor rebuilt by a race engine builder who has put together countless S54's for road and race applications since they were new, and is well regarded as the best in NZ. He was very confident the bolts could be reused and that it was even preferable to the ARP bolts as they oval the rod bore and start to create tolerance issues (unless the rod is completely removed from the motor so the bore can be mic'd and the bearing can be sized correctly for the perfect roundness etc etc which in this case is unlikely). As to how many times they can be reused, it's anybody's guess.

I had my bearings done yesterday by a guy who is one of the absolute guru's of BMW where I live and he said the same thing. Re-using the M11's is totally ok and preferable to ARP's.

[0-60motorsports]

I had my bearings done yesterday by a guy who is one of the absolute guru's of BMW where I live and he said the same thing. Re-using the M11's is totally ok and preferable to ARP's.

M11, 100% agreed.

[Shonky]

I had my bearings done yesterday by a guy who is one of the absolute guru's of BMW where I live and he said the same thing. Re-using the M11's is totally ok and preferable to ARP's.

That was never really under debate. BMW themselves say you can reuse the M11 bolts in the early engines. In fact they even say they shouldn't be replaced at all.