Another Rod Bearing Story

[R60BBA]

Mine in 2018 @ 78,000 miles.

However they were recalled in 2005 at 19,000 miles and so had done ~60,000 miles.

The mechanic who took them out said they had another 60,000+ miles in them.

End of the day mate, I’m not saying it isn’t an issue, because it potentially can be, however it is not as big of an issue as forums / certain garages (who have a financial interest) make it out to be. Otherwise most of the cars would have gone bang by now, seeing as they’re 15+ years old…but this isn’t the case…

[GuidoK]

Mine in 2018 @ 78,000 miles.

you have a picture where all bearings are shown?

however it is not as big of an issue as forums / certain garages (who have a financial interest) make it out to be.

That's a very subjective statement. How does one meaure "as big of an". It's something you feel, but what another might feel differently.

With a potential 10k cost figure, this is different than a lot of other jobs on parts that can be run until they fail. I see it as preventative maintenance. Just like putting in new oil. I mean, potentially you could use the oil for 20k miles. Maybe 30k or even 40k. But do you do that?
I refresh oil every 10k-12k miles I guess. But some refresh every 5k.
I don't really know what an oil+filterchange cost at the dealer, but I bet it's maybe more expensive if you do that every 5k miles per mile than those rodbearings are.
Anyway, the costs are well known so anyone kan make the judgement for themselves.
But what I usually don't see here, is replacing the oil pump piston regulator while having the rodbearings done. That's also a wear item, and by some claimed to be potentially related to worn rodbearings. In germany this is becoming more and more standard procedure among specialists. There they use DLC coated oil pump regulator pistons.

These are not average toyota's or volkswagens. So some extra maintenance is to be expected I think.
I mean if you have a ferrari and are required to do some extra £1200 maintenance after 50k miles... it would hardly show up on the bill.
But these high revving engines should be regarded as such, even though they have a bmw logo.
Some people get worn cams and followers in their s54. Talk about costs

BTW I looked at my rodbearings just to take a peek. Because not much is known on the m54, certainly not when supercharged >150% torque. Plastigauged the old and new bearings etc etc. To gain knowledge.
And now I know

[flimper]

An interesting video. Not sure mileage is the main thing to worry about, it's whether you can vouch for how the car has been driven

[R60BBA]

Minimal wear…

[GuidoK]

Yes those look pretty good. However probably the best I've ever seen at that mileage. Quite different from the ones in this topic.
But if your's had minimal wear, it doesn't mean other bearings also don't have it.
In fact, I'm pretty sure I can find more pictures of bearings that have more wear than you can find pictures of bearings having less wear.
That says a lot.

[GuidoK]

An interesting video. Not sure mileage is the main thing to worry about, it's whether you can vouch for how the car has been driven

There are some people that also contribute the wear of the bearings partly to the worn oil pump regulator piston. So that not the correct pressure or constant pressure is a tributing aspect.
And a lot of worn bearings on the s50/s54 start out as spots in the middle. Those are imho typical for cavitation erosion.
Cavitation erosion in bearings:

http://substech.com/dokuwiki/doku.php?i ... prevention

Of course the high g forces of high revs and large stroke contribute to cavitation, but also the right oil, and the right pressure.

[PDJ]

New engine can be had for £6k mate.

From where?
and what is included?

[R60BBA]

Yes those look pretty good. However probably the best I've ever seen at that mileage. Quite different from the ones in this topic.
But if your's had minimal wear, it doesn't mean other bearings also don't have it.
In fact, I'm pretty sure I can find more pictures of bearings that have more wear than you can find pictures of bearings having less wear.
That says a lot.

No it doesn’t, because 70% of what you see on forums is people’s problems with their cars, which is not a true representative of ownership for the masses.

The more important question here is - how many S54s do you know that have gone bang due to rod bearing failure?

I know of less than 5.

How many cars are in the classifieds each week but haven’t had the rod bearing service done - ample. But guess what - they’re not being sold as repairs are they.

[R60BBA]

New engine can be had for £6k mate.

From where?
and what is included?

Last years price unfortunately, it’s now £9k + VAT. I should have bought an engine last year and stuck it in the garage as insurance. Ah wells

[craig3.2]

Yes those look pretty good. However probably the best I've ever seen at that mileage. Quite different from the ones in this topic.
But if your's had minimal wear, it doesn't mean other bearings also don't have it.
In fact, I'm pretty sure I can find more pictures of bearings that have more wear than you can find pictures of bearings having less wear.
That says a lot.

I agree,way more people have had well worn bearings than those,that do look good.

Most have well worn bearings at between 50 & 80k miles.

Mine were done last year,at Redish,at my own choice,as preventative maintenance.
Redish said it would have been lucky to see 65k miles.
All my bottom rod bearing shells were in Very good condition,but all the top ones were nearly through,alot of copper showing,so glad I got it done.
I posted up last year,with pics of mine.
As said,more worn ones get posted when people choose to do them,than ones in good condition.

Why rusk a big bill for less than £1000 job,circa £700-£900, depending where u take it.

[AndyBeech]

The more important question here is - how many S54s do you know that have gone bang due to rod bearing failure?

If I had a pound for every time I’ve read “Wow, caught them just in time!”

[R60BBA]

The more important question here is - how many S54s do you know that have gone bang due to rod bearing failure?

If I had a pound for every time I’ve read “Wow, caught them just in time!”

[GuidoK]

No it doesn’t, because 70% of what you see on forums is people’s problems with their cars, which is not a true representative of ownership for the masses.

What you see on forums is the experience of people. If the rodbearings wouldnt wear, you'd see more bearings not showing copper or bearing wear. But the fact of the matter is that the vast majority of engines being opened up do show extensive wear on the bearings.
Way more than is usual in cars.
Like I said I'm sure I can find more pictures of worn bearings than you can find of bearings that have similar or less wear than yours had.

And with the risks of worn bearings you can do something about it or not.
Some people just want to be safe about these kind of things.

I mean most houses are insured. But how many people do you actually know that have had their house burn down?
I also know of less than 5 and I'm pretty sure I know more people that live in a house than you know people that own an s54.

But the most important question of all is: if it's such an overrated issue according to you, then why have you had your rodbearings changed?

[PDJ]

Can someone with a standard oil pump and oil pressure relife valve fit an oil pressure guage and do this test and report the results

From cold (record the ambiant temp) start up the engine and record the oil pressure
While recording the pressure and oil temp during the static warm up then the driven warm up and record the time and distance it takes to get water and oil to temp and the then oil pressure at tick over and the pressure the pump maintains when the engine reved.

I have an external oil pressure relife valve due to the oil pump being in good condition but the relife valve being very worn and the oil pumps being on back order at the time due to a fault in manufacturing, as discovered by JC Racing and Mr Vanos.

I can do the same it takes a lot longer than you think to get the 10/60 oil to temp so achiving the correct viscocity and pressure etc for the best protection for the engine.

[Mr Tidy]

I'd love to see the difference in the viscosity of the oil at different temperatures - maybe I need to experiment in the oven.