Rod Bearing Showcase Thread

[repoman89]

Nope, I bought the car last fall and drove it home from California, and took it apart over the winter to overhaul everything. Here are the two reports from right after the bearing change (I also ended up replacing the cams and followers because one of the followers had been worn flat). I have driven about 1500 miles since the last oil change and it seems to drive really well, I'm waiting for about 2000 miles on this oil before I change it again and do another report.

So basically the oil report didn’t tell you anything. Guess it’s worth just calling it an 80k-100k maintenance item like the old internet group think always said.

[jet_dogg]

Sounds like you're the perfect person to spearhead this 👍

Give me a time machine.

[dukeofchen]

I'd love a synopsis of driving/service habits since the cars inception for each set of these rod bearings. The massive variance in mileage spreads doesn't give us any remotely conclusive information.

Without any data these pics don't really mean much, they're just a collection of engine internals to look at like paintings on a wall.

Sounds like you're the perfect person to spearhead this 👍

[DoubleSidedTape]

That was close. Any chance you have a Blackstone report before those were changed? Curious to see the numbers if you have them.

Nope, I bought the car last fall and drove it home from California, and took it apart over the winter to overhaul everything. Here are the two reports from right after the bearing change (I also ended up replacing the cams and followers because one of the followers had been worn flat). I have driven about 1500 miles since the last oil change and it seems to drive really well, I'm waiting for about 2000 miles on this oil before I change it again and do another report.

[jet_dogg]

I'd love a synopsis of driving/service habits since the cars inception for each set of these rod bearings. The massive variance in mileage spreads doesn't give us any remotely conclusive information.

Without any data these pics don't really mean much, they're just a collection of engine internals to look at like paintings on a wall.

[mtpktz]

These were especially awful. 05 ZCP with 99k.

That was close. Any chance you have a Blackstone report before those were changed? Curious to see the numbers if you have them.

[DoubleSidedTape]

WOW! Thats so bad.

All four of the middle cylinders had the bearings sticking to the crank, and you can see that they have contracted compared to 1 and 6. Its a miracle that nothing spun and that the crank was smooth.

[cobra]

These were especially awful. 05 ZCP with 99k.

WOW! Thats so bad.

[DoubleSidedTape]

These were especially awful. 05 ZCP with 99k.

[SeanE46]

I’m at 160k with original bearings, thinking about getting them done ASAP!

[dl.m3]

167,000 km. Recall was at 55,000 km. Went with ACL bearings and reused M11 bolts.

Last 3 blackstone showed pretty much nothing. But did em anyway

Sent from my HD1905 using Tapatalk

[M3Bob]

Blast from the past...had these done Dec 2017 at ~170K miles.

Applicable Blackstone report (pre bearing replacement) :

and post bearing replacement. The high copper has been a constant...i wonder if the sample gets contaminated from the copper washer on the oil drain plug.

[Ipeciulis]

2004 M3 with 141k miles. As far as I know the rod bearings have never been replaced and I was really worried. First report came back with really good news. I have sent out another sample and waiting for results.
I do oil changes myself with Liqui Moly 10w-60.
It has been daylied in Illinois for 10 years now so it has seen all kinds of weather. Warmed up 30 seconds before driving, oil changed every 5k and has seen redline every day.

[DropTopKingM3]

Good call on replacing them 👍

[cobra]

2005 with 100k miles. First 50k miles were original owner who did 15k oil changes @ the dealer. Second 50k were me and I did 7500mi oil changes with TWS 10w60.

The copper in the report worried me so I did the bearings. I would say they are definitely wearing out but don't look quite as bad as others I have seen. They probably could have gone a little longer with no ill effects.



1, 2, 3 tops


4, 5, 6 tops


All the bottoms looked new