S54 rod bearing

exdos said:
From all the other photos I've seen of S54 bearing shells on here and on other forums, they just look like typical wear patterns especially from a car at 93k miles. So, the new ones should be good for another 93k miles. Now you can sleep easy. 8) :driving:
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Whooohoooo :thumbsup: :driving: 8)
 
Changed mine as preventative maintenance at 90K miles, I'm glad I did as I caught it before any crankshaft damage was done. Cost was £1000, including VAT and parts. MTV in Poole

From these pics I'd say the wear was typical, and could probably have been done at 80K to ensure it didn't get through the coating on cylinders 1 and 6 but the crankshaft was fine so it's not done any harm changing at 90K, although I'd say 100k miles at the very latest. Or do oil analysis every 5k miles and when you get brass in it change them :)

Bearing Shells.JPG
 
Should have the engine mounts done at the same time.

Ive been saying this for years... But whether anyone listens is another story.

Glad you caught them before a failure.
 
holy crap ive had a few m3s now and did not know they had some of these issues. scary stuff....! think I will stay away from any z4mr that hasn't had a rebuild unless its got silly low mile on it!
 
z4all said:
holy crap ive had a few m3s now and did not know they had some of these issues. scary stuff....! think I will stay away from any z4mr that hasn't had a rebuild unless its got silly low mile on it!
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Hmm, its a bit like the infamous N52 electric water pump but a lot more serious/expensive! Many engines have got troublesome issues but this is a bit of a pain :x
Rob
 
z4all said:
holy crap ive had a few m3s now and did not know they had some of these issues. scary stuff....! think I will stay away from any z4mr that hasn't had a rebuild unless its got silly low mile on it!
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So 100% of your cars haven't gone wrong? What are you scared of then?

Don't get panicked - the Internet only shows up the extreme examples. Nobody comes into a thread like this and says "yay, my car didn't go wrong today".

I also wouldn't be surprised if some of the 'low mileage' ones that have gone wrong have been clocked. A car like this is ripe for clocking.
 
breezer said:
z4all said:
holy crap ive had a few m3s now and did not know they had some of these issues. scary stuff....! think I will stay away from any z4mr that hasn't had a rebuild unless its got silly low mile on it!
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So 100% of your cars haven't gone wrong? What are you scared of then?

Don't get panicked - the Internet only shows up the extreme examples. Nobody comes into a thread like this and says "yay, my car didn't go wrong today".

I also wouldn't be surprised if some of the 'low mileage' ones that have gone wrong have been clocked. A car like this is ripe for clocking.
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This ^ did your M3's blow up?
Don't forget every other issue the S54 has that may or may not go wrong, there is no such car that will exist second hand that has every issue an S54 can face fixed, so you get one with the bearings done or low mileage, something else goes wrong (head gasket, VANOS, cam's etc.) and you lunch the engine.
By one on condition and just enjoy it, or buy one and constantly crap yourself every time you drive it with every issue that *may* or may not occur.
 
Mine's on 150k-ish and is running fine.

Don't know if it's the over-servicing, or the many miles of steady motorway miles it does between thrashes that helps most.

Have had 3 MAFs in that time though, 2 PDC sensors, a battery, preventively replaced the whole cooling pack, and had a fair few parts replaced due to my little accident in December 2015.
 
Thought I'd pipe up on here as I knew there was a thread going on this topic....

Some of you may know (those who are on Facebook or follow me on IG) that the faithful Zed ticked over 100k on a Brands Hatch evening last month. The suspension was rebuilt at the start of the year, and I had the valve clearances done 4 weeks or so back and she's never felt better. Well, fateful last words, took her to the 'Ring last week for DN16, and 1 lap into the track day the engine missed on the climb up to the Karussell, and almost immediately I could tell that it felt strained and down on power, and there was a rattle from the engine and a general gruff sound that was unusual. Pulled up and recovered to the car park, initially thinking something had gone with the top end, but once in the paddock there was a tell-tale knocking from the engine at above 2,000rpm. Diagnosis at this stage.... big end bearings!

Frustrating in that I was aware of the reports and had planned to do them over the winter, but such is life. The inside of the engine was exceptionally clean when we did the valve clearances and the car has always had oil changes every 6-8000 miles (and in recent years its been nearer every 3k due to the low mileage I do now). The car is being repatriated in a couple of weeks and is already booked into Geoff Steel Racing for a full strip down, assessment and then full rebuild (with upgrades of course!). Curious to see exactly what has gone. Engine still runs so hopefully collateral damage is minimal. Will be a good opportunity to strengthen some components, replace the clutch (which is still original), and probably drop in some cams whilst everything is apart.

Will update here with photos when we get the block apart and see what the cause and damage is!
 
Sad times...

Just goes to show that there is no rhyme nor reason...

Im thinking that 60-70k is the time to change the bearings as a matter of preventative maintenance ..... Similar to S65 and S85..
 
Indeed.

This is the pic of the top end just 3 weeks ago when we did the clearances.

14374484_341202912884109_462953543_n.jpg


Didn't look bad for 100,736 miles!
 
looks super clean in their...

and 100k miles with your usage is actually incredible , the engine did very well!
 
Standing by for more info when you get the car to GS. Hopefully it's not too bad. Just hoping the bearing hasn't spun.
 
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