Rod Bearing Showcase Thread

[Consum3r]

Early 2004 build, bearings replaced at 90k



R

[sapote]

picked up my 2003 M3 earlier this year with 176k miles. The original owner had the car from new and never replaced the rod bearings. I decided to replace them within about 100 miles of bringing the car home. These are the originals below.

Bearings looking not bad for 176K. The PO babied it so you have a low wear drivetrain here.

[SpineDoc112]

picked up my 2003 M3 earlier this year with 176k miles. The original owner had the car from new and never replaced the rod bearings. I decided to replace them within about 100 miles of bringing the car home. These are the originals below.

[sapote]

Unfortunately, I received them mixed up in a bag so no idea the order.

Changed at 67k miles, 2005.

showing copper are the top halves. A bit surprised that they worn this much for 67K miles.

[E46 M3]

Unfortunately, I received them mixed up in a bag so no idea the order.

Changed at 67k miles, 2005.

[chris719]

2006 Z4M, 93k miles. Not too bad but glad I did it. Went with ACL HX + sent out to get Calico CT-1 coating all 6 plastigauged to 0.002" (0.050mm). OE rod bolts.

[BL92]

113,700 Miles second set of bearings by the part numbers, Had the sump washed at the machine shop

2001 M11 engine


Used ACL and ARP

[0-60motorsports]

Yeah! I feel like I caught them just before they started to head towards riskier territory. I replaced with plain old OE BMW bearings. I couldn't find any conclusive evidence that any aftermarket bearings are meaningfully any safer to run longer than the OE bearings. Absent the conviction that aftermarket bearings fix any problem, it felt sensible to stick with BMW parts. They were pretty pricey though..

Great! Yeah i agree about that. I wouldnt mind going ACL (but standard and not extra clearance) or if MAHLE ends up making bearings for the S54....

[ATB88]

Good time to change and still not bad. What did you replace with?

Yeah! I feel like I caught them just before they started to head towards riskier territory. I replaced with plain old OE BMW bearings. I couldn't find any conclusive evidence that any aftermarket bearings are meaningfully any safer to run longer than the OE bearings. Absent the conviction that aftermarket bearings fix any problem, it felt sensible to stick with BMW parts. They were pretty pricey though..

[0-60motorsports]

Here are mine! 95k miles on the bearings, which were installed in November 2004 by a BMW dealership under service action. They mostly look alright but you can see that top shells on Cyls 1 & 2 are starting to show some copper -- there's a whole strip at the top edge of the cyl 2 bearing that's all exposed copper. Makes sense that lead was high in my most recent blackstone analysis, and copper was creeping up. Not nearly as bad as others in this thread but seems like I caught them at a good time.

Good time to change and still not bad. What did you replace with?

[ATB88]

Here are mine! 95k miles on the bearings, which were installed in November 2004 by a BMW dealership under service action. They mostly look alright but you can see that top shells on Cyls 1 & 2 are starting to show some copper -- there's a whole strip at the top edge of the cyl 2 bearing that's all exposed copper. Makes sense that lead was high in my most recent blackstone analysis, and copper was creeping up. Not nearly as bad as others in this thread but seems like I caught them at a good time.

[bagger]

I'm the second owner and don't push too hard. I don't know the original owner, but I did look him up and it seemed to also have been "adult owned" during his time if I had to guess. I'm just glad I did them. Slept like a baby last night.

[sapote]

"2004 - here are mine at ~130k miles. Cylinder 6 showing pretty significant wear."
"2004 - 69k'ish miles. Previous history unknown - probably original. "

wow, 130K vs 69K: only a little more wear on the 130K. I'm interested to know if the 69K car had been driven hard with these mileage.

[gabylonfive]

2004 - here are mine at ~130k miles. Cylinder 6 showing pretty significant wear.

[bagger]

2004 - 69k'ish miles. Previous history unknown - probably original.