S54 rod bearing

[GuidoK]

Well, the photo's you've posted before certainly havent had a partially spun bearing (apart from the one obviously).
As I said before, the retaining tabs must be missing or bend (and they are not).
So I don't know what you're saying. If there are no photos...

But like I said, you do to your engine what makes you happy.
My view is that the wear on the bearings plays a critical role. If you think not, it's up to you.
As for the m11 bolts, it's not only the bolts that bmw replaced obviously.

 

[exdos]

But like I said, you do to your engine what makes you happy.

I shall. The replacement engine in my Z3MC has just 5.5k miles on it and the Z4MC has done 32.5k miles, so with a bearing shell replacement at 60k miles, it'll be a long time before either get preventive maintenance.

 

[pHilli0]

But like I said, you do to your engine what makes you happy.

I shall. The replacement engine in my Z3MC has just 5.5k miles on it and the Z4MC has done 32.5k miles, so with a bearing shell replacement at 60k miles, it'll be a long time before either get preventive maintenance.

So from your opinion.. do you think spending out to specifically get the shells replaced on my 93k mile car is good preventative maintenance? I guess it will be around £1,500 to 2k. The general consensus of course is do the work as it will help to reduce the risk of a big failure. But the more I read about this topic the more different opinions I hear. Do it vs its a possible waste of money as it may not save a total failure.
Don't get me wrong, I intend to track the car a far amount next year so I am all for doing it.. I just want to be realistic about this..

 

[Beedub]

if you can afford it phil. do it.

if not and the car isn't a weekend thing id hold off until next year personally and that wouldn't overly concern me.

 

[exdos]

So from your opinion.. do you think spending out to specifically get the shells replaced on my 93k mile car is good preventative maintenance? I guess it will be around £1,500 to 2k. The general consensus of course is do the work as it will help to reduce the risk of a big failure. But the more I read about this topic the more different opinions I hear. Do it vs its a possible waste of money as it may not save a total failure.
Don't get me wrong, I intend to track the car a far amount next year so I am all for doing it.. I just want to be realistic about this..

I think the answer depends upon how long you intend to keep the car. I think there's a strong element of luck (of the bad type) in bearing shell failure and none of us know how to avoid being selected. The engine certainly isn't getting newer/younger.

I'm sure that if you look at your bearing shells they will show some evidence of wear, which obviously isn't ideal, so you'd then want to replace them. If you had the job done by an experienced mechanic then you should have some level of comeback if the engine failed after X miles or within X months but hopefully, with new bearings and con rod bolts, you'd be less likely to be struck by bearing shell failure. So if I were in your shoes, I'd get them replaced. If you do replace, just make sure that you follow the running in protocol for the first 1200miles and then do an oil change before giving it the beans again.

 

[Bing]

Wow - so you need to run it all in again after changing ? Do you also need to use different/specialist oil, like when the car was new, or just the usual Castrol Edge ?

 

[pHilli0]

I think the answer depends upon how long you intend to keep the car. I think there's a strong element of luck (of the bad type) in bearing shell failure and none of us know how to avoid being selected. The engine certainly isn't getting newer/younger.

I'm sure that if you look at your bearing shells they will show some evidence of wear, which obviously isn't ideal, so you'd then want to replace them. If you had the job done by an experienced mechanic then you should have some level of comeback if the engine failed after X miles or within X months but hopefully, with new bearings and con rod bolts, you'd be less likely to be struck by bearing shell failure. So if I were in your shoes, I'd get them replaced. If you do replace, just make sure that you follow the running in protocol for the first 1200miles and then do an oil change before giving it the beans again.

OK thanks that is good advice. Defo going to get them done for piece of mind. The running in period I didn't even think about, thanks for mentioning that.

 

[exdos]

Wow - so you need to run it all in again after changing ? Do you also need to use different/specialist oil, like when the car was new, or just the usual Castrol Edge ?

There's 2 schools of thought about running in. 1. If you want a quick engine you don't run it in, instead you hammer it from the start but longevity will suffer considerably. 2. If you want reliability and longevity you take it easy for a while to slowly allow everything to bed in without stressing parts.

 

[TomK]

I think 1200 miles is a bit over the top and certainly not what I was told by simpsons who do rebuild a lot of these. Something like 500 miles was mentioned iirc as does this post from James@redish where he does a shell swap on an s62, some interesting points.
here.http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=65386

 

[exdos]

I think 1200 miles is a bit over the top and certainly not what I was told by simpsons who do rebuild a lot of these. Something like 500 miles was mentioned iirc as does this post from James@redish where he does a shell swap on an s62, some interesting points.
here.http://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/showthread.php?t=65386

If you are replacing symptomless bearing shells purely as preventive measure then surely you're looking for the new ones to have the optimum life without wear? The choice of the length of any running-in period you give them is your own.

I'm afraid that I don't hold Simpsons in high regard having first hand experience of their servicing a LSD for me several years ago, which came back with a whine which they didn't cure after 2 attempts. Their tools for measuring the necessary parts to ensure success were non existent and they didn't even have a diff support/lift!

 

[TomK]

Well we've all had good or bad experiences with shops I'm sure. Redish (who are also quite highly regarded to some) recommend a similar mileage. Many people on the intereweb say running in on s50/54 shell replacements is not necessary.
My point was that I don't think the 1200 mile running in period with different grade oil specified for brand new engines relates to the bedding in of the rod shells in particular.

 

[exdos]

Tom, I take your point. As this thread shows, there's all manner of different opinions on this subject and nobody knows what is right. You pays your money and hope for the best.

 

[TomK]

Tom, I take your point. As this thread shows, there's all manner of different opinions on this subject and nobody knows what is right. You pays your money and hope for the best.

Exactly, certainly not saying what I've read or been told is right. Like any engine, they are all ticking timebombs to a certain extent.
However, it's been good reading some informed opinions on the subject even if it seems there is no definitive answer as you say.

 

[Vanne]

Tom and Exdos, in regards to the running in.. (i was told 1000km) which is kinda in the middle of the road from where you guys are talking, but in regards to the actual running in.. when you say, take it easy.. what do we actually mean here.. I've been trying to keep the revs below 3k though i sometimes think that labouring the engine cant be good for running in either..

what are your thoughts on the technique for running the shells in?

 

[BMWZ4MC]

When I changed my bearing shells I was told that it isn't strictly necessary to run them in, but that it wouldn't hurt to drive it in a circumspect fashion for 500 miles.

 

[exdos]

Tom and Exdos, in regards to the running in.. (i was told 1000km) which is kinda in the middle of the road from where you guys are talking, but in regards to the actual running in.. when you say, take it easy.. what do we actually mean here.. I've been trying to keep the revs below 3k though i sometimes think that labouring the engine cant be good for running in either..

what are your thoughts on the technique for running the shells in?

When I had the replacement S54 for my Z3MC, I was told by BMW that I should use up to 5krpm. It wasn't really much of a problem and TBH I found short shifting quite fun during that period. Since the engine part that seems to show most wear is the bearing shells rather than piston rings/cylinders then it seems fair to me that any running-in period is for the greatest benefit of the weakest part.

 

[pHilli0]

So from your opinion.. do you think spending out to specifically get the shells replaced on my 93k mile car is good preventative maintenance? I guess it will be around £1,500 to 2k. The general consensus of course is do the work as it will help to reduce the risk of a big failure. But the more I read about this topic the more different opinions I hear. Do it vs its a possible waste of money as it may not save a total failure.
Don't get me wrong, I intend to track the car a far amount next year so I am all for doing it.. I just want to be realistic about this..

I think the answer depends upon how long you intend to keep the car. I think there's a strong element of luck (of the bad type) in bearing shell failure and none of us know how to avoid being selected. The engine certainly isn't getting newer/younger.

I'm sure that if you look at your bearing shells they will show some evidence of wear, which obviously isn't ideal, so you'd then want to replace them. If you had the job done by an experienced mechanic then you should have some level of comeback if the engine failed after X miles or within X months but hopefully, with new bearings and con rod bolts, you'd be less likely to be struck by bearing shell failure. So if I were in your shoes, I'd get them replaced. If you do replace, just make sure that you follow the running in protocol for the first 1200miles and then do an oil change before giving it the beans again.

My car is in the shop this week for her bearing shell replacement!! The bottom end is in bits and the new shells should be there tomorrow. With luck I will have her back end of Thursday. Mileage at 94,500 now so really happy to have them done.
Daft question here - i see posts saying people have had the "big end bearings replaced". Tell me the bearing shells are the only bit I need to have replaced right? I understand the bearing rods are a different matter and all being well should not need replacing?? I am not missing something else ? Sorry if that is moronic.

 

[pHilli0]

So from your opinion.. do you think spending out to specifically get the shells replaced on my 93k mile car is good preventative maintenance? I guess it will be around £1,500 to 2k. The general consensus of course is do the work as it will help to reduce the risk of a big failure. But the more I read about this topic the more different opinions I hear. Do it vs its a possible waste of money as it may not save a total failure.
Don't get me wrong, I intend to track the car a far amount next year so I am all for doing it.. I just want to be realistic about this..

I think the answer depends upon how long you intend to keep the car. I think there's a strong element of luck (of the bad type) in bearing shell failure and none of us know how to avoid being selected. The engine certainly isn't getting newer/younger.

I'm sure that if you look at your bearing shells they will show some evidence of wear, which obviously isn't ideal, so you'd then want to replace them. If you had the job done by an experienced mechanic then you should have some level of comeback if the engine failed after X miles or within X months but hopefully, with new bearings and con rod bolts, you'd be less likely to be struck by bearing shell failure. So if I were in your shoes, I'd get them replaced. If you do replace, just make sure that you follow the running in protocol for the first 1200miles and then do an oil change before giving it the beans again.

My car is in the shop this week for her bearing shell replacement!! The bottom end is in bits and the new shells should be there tomorrow. With luck I will have her back end of Thursday. Mileage at 94,500 now so really happy to have them done.
Daft question here - i see posts saying people have had the "big end bearings replaced". Tell me the bearing shells are the only bit I need to have replaced right? I understand the bearing rods are a different matter and all being well should not need replacing?? I am not missing something else ? Sorry if that is moronic.

Meant to say Paul called me today saying a new set of bolts are arriving too tomorrow so I will have new shells and new bolts all round.

 

[gwatson]

Do you mind me asking what the cost for that is? I'll probably do it once i get to 70k miles.

 

[ITAG]

Think around 100k I would do the work.

Vanos is around 80k miles?