FIY on the M54 oil pump

Z

ZetaTre

Active member
 San Diego County
Not to scarry anyone off, but just something to keep in mind:

Quote from: "http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140231"

There is an article on the Z4's TC Kline is racing this month in Roundel (pg. 77): "On the 3-liter dual VANOS engine, you must Loctite the oil-pump drive gear down if you want to race with this motor. This is necessary because in continuous high-RPM use, the nut will back off, and you will lose the oil pump drive gear, which will then lead to engine failure."

He (Kline) goes on to say they have lost 2 engines due to the nut falling off, but haven't had any problems since they used loctite.
Click to expand...

I've seen some pictures of the related trobule caused by this issue: in particular journals on the cams totally tosted...
 
Number 11?

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E85/Roadster/Europe/Z4_3.0i-M54/RHD/N/2004/june/browse/engine/lubrication_system_oil_pump_with_drive/

Looks easy enough to check/rectify anyway if you are worried :)

(shirley this is thread locked from the factory anyway?!)

Dave
 
Hopefully, most people aren't racing them either, or doing VMAX runs for 100 miles at a time on an autobahn.
 
Just in case people don't realise, 3.0 Z4s produced after 2006 (incl. all coupes) use the N52 engine rather than the M54.
 
Mr Whippy said:
Number 11?

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E85/Roadster/Europe/Z4_3.0i-M54/RHD/N/2004/june/browse/engine/lubrication_system_oil_pump_with_drive/

Looks easy enough to check/rectify anyway if you are worried :)

(shirley this is thread locked from the factory anyway?!)

Dave
Click to expand...

Well it's not THAT easy since you need to drop the oil pan, which require removing the front subframe, steering rack and probably a few other things along the way. To remove the subframe you need an egnine hoist to support the motor from above since you'll be disconnectin the engine mounts... Part #11 is indded the cause and it appears that no, BMW has forgotten the thread lock or the safety wire. The nut IS reverse threaded and based on my research is appears the issue happens particularly when people instal lightweight flywheels or underdrive pulleys. It appears the nut come loose because of vibration and particularly if the car is revved high often.

This wanted to be more so an FYI of things to wathc out IF you decide to track/autoX the car often...
 
Good heads up generally too I would say.

If you are ever down that way, stick some thread lock on it, or at least check it out :D


However it goes though, having had a cam chain go before, it took the oil pump chain with it too, smashed the cam cover as the chain bunched up at the top, chain bits all in the sump and pump, all the sprockets bent and smashed, valves bent etc etc. If that oil pump sprocket makes it's way off, the whole lot is probably going to be a big mess, never mind the lost oil pressure :)

Dave
 
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