Rod bearings after 57k miles

3littlepigs · Post by **3littlepigs** » Fri Dec 30, 2022 4:06 pm

I decided to replace my rod bearings just as a precaution. How glad am I ?
Only 57000 miles they look like they have done much more

: 363CDFB3-9712-4A55-AD06-C58C9388B00F.jpeg (257.74 KiB) Viewed 875 times

Don’t believe anyone who says rod bearing failure is a myth here’s the evidence. I bought the shells and arp bolts from hack engineering you also need a dip stick o ring an oil pump o ring a sump gasket an oil filter and oil .

Simon 3.2M · Post by **Simon 3.2M** » Fri Dec 30, 2022 5:46 pm

Did you do them yourself?

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Fri Dec 30, 2022 5:54 pm

Trouble with older cars is, unless you have known them since new, you just don't know how they have been treated.

BMWZ4MC · Post by **BMWZ4MC** » Fri Dec 30, 2022 6:40 pm

Mine has seen very heavy track use from around 25k through to over 85k miles. I changed my rod bearings at 50k and visually they were absolutely fine. I’ll change mine again at 100k due to the hard life it lives and because the cost is insignificant compared with the cost of rebuilding or replacing the engine.
Mine has been revved to 8k several times on every drive and is usually driven hard even on the road but, importantly, I’ve never thrashed it from cold and I’ve undertaken oil changes every two or three track days or several times every year as a minimum.
I’ve owned mine from two years old, so I can be fairly confident that my use has had a greater bearing than that of the first owner.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Fri Dec 30, 2022 8:08 pm

As buzy says not knowing the car's history is the main issue.

My car had 7 previous keepers so soon after I bought it I had them replaced at 78K miles for peace of mind and like the OP was glad I had!

: Bearing Shells 260820.jpeg (403.48 KiB) Viewed 800 times

I'm now obsessive about getting it properly up to temperature before I let rip.

grannyknot · Post by **grannyknot** » Fri Dec 30, 2022 10:32 pm

3littlepigs wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 4:06 pm I decided to replace my rod bearings just as a precaution. How glad am I ?
Only 57000 miles they look like they have done much more
Don’t believe anyone who says rod bearing failure is a myth here’s the evidence. I bought the shells and arp bolts from hack engineering you also need a dip stick o ring an oil pump o ring a sump gasket an oil filter and oil .

Good call, just for peace of mind it's worth it.

3littlepigs · Post by **3littlepigs** » Fri Dec 30, 2022 11:30 pm

Hi all, yes I did them my self . Fair bit of disassembly to get the sump off but definitely worth the effort. Also fitting a garagistic short shift while I am at it photos to follow

grannyknot · Post by **grannyknot** » Sat Dec 31, 2022 3:29 pm

3littlepigs wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 11:30 pm Also fitting a garagistic short shift while I am at it photos to follow

Just did this my self, very pleased with it. Garagistic doesn't make a double shear selector rod for the Z4 so I bought the UUC DSSR and shortened it by 12mm. Very crisp clean shifting now.

XMetal · Post by **XMetal** » Sun Jan 01, 2023 8:23 am

buzyg wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 5:54 pm Trouble with older cars is, unless you have known them since new, you just don't know how they have been treated.

Don't think this really matter much on this motor. I've owned mine pretty much since new. My bearings looked pretty much like OP's when I did mine at ~54k miles.

BMWZ4MC · Post by **BMWZ4MC** » Sun Jan 01, 2023 3:37 pm

XMetal wrote: ↑Sun Jan 01, 2023 8:23 am
buzyg wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 5:54 pm Trouble with older cars is, unless you have known them since new, you just don't know how they have been treated.
Don't think this really matter much on this motor. I've owned mine pretty much since new. My bearings looked pretty much like OP's when I did mine at ~54k miles.

As have I, and I’ve driven it with enthusiasm, yet mine looked ok at 50k…

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:37 pm

XMetal wrote: ↑Sun Jan 01, 2023 8:23 am
buzyg wrote: ↑Fri Dec 30, 2022 5:54 pm Trouble with older cars is, unless you have known them since new, you just don't know how they have been treated.
Don't think this really matter much on this motor. I've owned mine pretty much since new. My bearings looked pretty much like OP's when I did mine at ~54k miles.

Why did you feel the need to do them at 54k?

XMetal · Post by **XMetal** » Sun Jan 01, 2023 10:22 pm

buzyg wrote: ↑Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:37 pm Why did you feel the need to do them at 54k?

Had a string of high lead readings on oil analysis since ~22k miles. Attached is the oil analysis back in 2018 right before I did my rod bearings.

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Sun Jan 01, 2023 11:20 pm

Can you get oil analysis in the UK? Seems very much a USA thing

TomK · Post by **TomK** » Sun Jan 01, 2023 11:35 pm

pvr wrote: ↑Sun Jan 01, 2023 11:20 pm Can you get oil analysis in the UK? Seems very much a USA thing

Not really, lots of places in europe.
For the uk Millers is popular.
https://www.millersoils.co.uk/oil-analysis/

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Mon Jan 02, 2023 12:55 am

XMetal wrote: ↑Sun Jan 01, 2023 10:22 pm
buzyg wrote: ↑Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:37 pm Why did you feel the need to do them at 54k?
Had a string of high lead readings on oil analysis since ~22k miles. Attached is the oil analysis back in 2018 right before I did my rod bearings.

Thanks for posting. If I get another S54 that is great data to have.

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