I couldn’t have put it better myself.R60BBA wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19, 2020 1:15 amI’m sorry but that’s incorrect and I am genuinely surprised by the misinformation you are sharing.Angelus666 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 18, 2020 11:20 pmThat’s the point, it isn’t a fact, it’s a fact on the earlier e46 cars, but it was rectified on the later versions. The Z4M simply isn’t effected by this so having this done doesn’t really add any value over a car without it. The only process that would justify it would be that you’ve had your oil tested and it’s showing high levels....which would only apply if you’ve driven it very hard on track or haven’t let it warm up properly through its life.R60BBA wrote: ↑Sat Jul 18, 2020 6:59 pm
No offence Andy but you don’t exactly keep hold of your cars for long and so I see the sense in why you haven’t bothered to do one of these services.
Without getting into it too much, I agree that the issue is slightly overhyped online. However the fact still remains that it is an issue, and if you are looking at long term ownership, you should factor in the cost of replacing them. Just ensure they are done by a qualified M technician, which is ever so more important on the Z4Ms which use the updated M10 stretch bolts which require a labour intensive torquing procedure.
1. All S54 applications (E46 M3, Z3M, Z4M & Wiesmann) have the potential to suffer bottom end failure.
2. Pre facelift E46 M3’s underwent a recall, however the failure on these cars was due to BMW’s recommendation of 5w30 oil, which was then replaced with 10w60 in 2001. Nevertheless both pre 2003 and post 2003 S54s are failing which illustrates that the issue is not solely specific to pre facelift E46 M3’s.
3. Failure is mainly caused by a) not letting the car warm up properly and b) not changing the oil regularly enough.
4. When buying a car second hand (which applies to most of us on here) only the latter can be checked, there is no way to tell whether previous owners let the car warm up properly before revving to 7,900 rpm.
5. Oil analysis tests can be used as indicators but should not be taken as concrete evidence on engine health.
6. Driving the car hard on track is not an issue if the engine has been warmed up properly (these are M designed engines after all).
7. In terms of value, if a car advertised for sale has done more than 60,000 miles and has not had the service done I would recommend the potential buyer in negotiating a discount on the asking price due to this service. However there is no comeback on cars which have had the service done by reputable M specialists. In other words most of the money spent on undertaking the service can be held in the value of the car if the seller sticks to his guns. Although I accept this can vary per person.
If you don’t want to get yours done that’s fine and totally up to you, however please refrain from spreading misinformation or making ill founded statements.
There are several well informed members on this forum who have engineering backgrounds who have advocated changing the bearing shells.
Driving a few thousand miles in cars of moderate mileage without encountering an issue is no more proof that the that the problem does not exist than a lifelong smoker dying of old age is proof that smoking doesn’t cause lung cancer
of the 7-8 engine fails i can recall documented on forum the past 7 years at least 4 happened during or shortly after tracking 
( crazy even thinking of tracking on old oil imo ) 
these engines simply do not get on with excessive heat cycles & low/poor oil & both those things happen from cold & during hard track thrashings .
