The Saga of Trigger's S54....
- Thread starter Ed Doe
- Start date
Attleborough, Norfolk
cerbera said:
Honestly, I completely agree, I enjoyed reading Ed’s posts and felt his pain throughout this process. After all this is a community forum, it’s insightful for us other owners to share our knowledge/experiences.
I was surprised to see the response from Mr Wilks, thought it was insensitive, considering everything Ed has been through.
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Anonymous
Guest
Out of interest how much did the whole exercise cost in GBP including all the ferrying around etc?
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Anonymous
Guest
enuff_zed said:Pbondar said:
If you have to ask, you can't afford it. :wink:
He was doing ok until the massive expense of 2 new centre caps
Based on how much I’ve spent on my E89 I may have been able to afford it..
I always like a sense of perspective on these things....
Pbondar said:enuff_zed said:Pbondar said:
If you have to ask, you can't afford it. :wink:
He was doing ok until the massive expense of 2 new centre caps
Based on how much I’ve spent on my E89 I may have been able to afford it..
I always like a sense of perspective on these things....
Yup, you're probably right, but I guess you don't buy an M without knowing there's a chance you could have to dig deep.
You could probably have bought two by now, with the work done on your lowly 4-pot :wink:
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Anonymous
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I’ve got a feeling I could have bought around 3 to 4 N20 engines for the cost of this odyssey?
A fascinating read. 
Have to ask did you find out where the swarf in the filter came from? :?
I have four spare centre caps, never fitted them. I love that them only being a little bit melted somehow indicates the car was not being driven hard. :lol: Great it's sorted and you can enjoy it again.
Have to ask did you find out where the swarf in the filter came from? :?
I have four spare centre caps, never fitted them. I love that them only being a little bit melted somehow indicates the car was not being driven hard. :lol: Great it's sorted and you can enjoy it again.
I found Ed’s post extremely insightful, very well written and a great asset to the forum.
One thing that still bothers me is how the valves got bent though. I just can’t see how any amount of thermal stress / high rpm can do that. The only way in my mind is with contact with the piston (albeit very small), maybe so small that it doesn’t leave a mark.
Do you think it’s possible at high rpms that if the timing chain tension was a long way out it would be enough to put the timing out just enough to allow valve contact??? I had a timing belt break on a vauxhall calibre once and it only bent 4 out of 16 valves so I’m not sure your all or none theory is always true.
One thing that still bothers me is how the valves got bent though. I just can’t see how any amount of thermal stress / high rpm can do that. The only way in my mind is with contact with the piston (albeit very small), maybe so small that it doesn’t leave a mark.
Do you think it’s possible at high rpms that if the timing chain tension was a long way out it would be enough to put the timing out just enough to allow valve contact??? I had a timing belt break on a vauxhall calibre once and it only bent 4 out of 16 valves so I’m not sure your all or none theory is always true.
North West Surrey
That's a detailed, and potentially very useful write up for any M owners Ed.
But a real shame you missed out on months of driving your car, and have probably had a pretty eye-watering bill you could have done without especially now your family is expanding! Still it's good to know you have your car back now.
The more I read about S54 engines the more relieved I feel about having got my bearing shells replaced. I'll just have to get the cams and followers checked over next time it has an Inspection Service - in a few years time!
Good luck with the "bedding-in" - I'm finding it a real challenge. :lol:
But a real shame you missed out on months of driving your car, and have probably had a pretty eye-watering bill you could have done without especially now your family is expanding! Still it's good to know you have your car back now.
The more I read about S54 engines the more relieved I feel about having got my bearing shells replaced. I'll just have to get the cams and followers checked over next time it has an Inspection Service - in a few years time!
Good luck with the "bedding-in" - I'm finding it a real challenge. :lol:
Thanks guys, glad the thread has been an interesting read for you 
Ph001 - the only working theory is that when the new bottom end was assembled at bmw, it wasn't locked in the correct position when the cams were installed, so when they were pushed down into position with the install tool it forced the valves on cyl 6 down (the cam lobes on cyl 6 are at full lift position when you install the inlet cam), thus bending the valves slightly against the top of piston 6. I'm absolutely guessing here but I guess they realised when they got resistance and then stopped, locked it off in the correct position and then continued to install the cams. So potentially the valves have been slightly bent for some time, but only started to stick due to the subsequent thermal expansion of the engine in general when on track on a warm day? I don't know, it's the only reason I can rationally come up with as to why only those valves were bent and why it was clattering, and then stopped!?
I'm not entirely sure it's fair to provide a cost overall as its not entirely representative considering various investigative work an jobs being done which need not necessarily have been done. Suffice to say I could have got a nice e85 for the money, and probably had a bit of change. We'll leave it at that!
Ph001 - the only working theory is that when the new bottom end was assembled at bmw, it wasn't locked in the correct position when the cams were installed, so when they were pushed down into position with the install tool it forced the valves on cyl 6 down (the cam lobes on cyl 6 are at full lift position when you install the inlet cam), thus bending the valves slightly against the top of piston 6. I'm absolutely guessing here but I guess they realised when they got resistance and then stopped, locked it off in the correct position and then continued to install the cams. So potentially the valves have been slightly bent for some time, but only started to stick due to the subsequent thermal expansion of the engine in general when on track on a warm day? I don't know, it's the only reason I can rationally come up with as to why only those valves were bent and why it was clattering, and then stopped!?
I'm not entirely sure it's fair to provide a cost overall as its not entirely representative considering various investigative work an jobs being done which need not necessarily have been done. Suffice to say I could have got a nice e85 for the money, and probably had a bit of change. We'll leave it at that!
Mr Tidy said:That's a detailed, and potentially very useful write up for any M owners Ed.
But a real shame you missed out on months of driving your car, and have probably had a pretty eye-watering bill you could have done without especially now your family is expanding! Still it's good to know you have your car back now.
The more I read about S54 engines the more relieved I feel about having got my bearing shells replaced. I'll just have to get the cams and followers checked over next time it has an Inspection Service - in a few years time!
Good luck with the "bedding-in" - I'm finding it a real challenge. :lol:
Thanks chap, yep at the risk of scare mongering I wouldn't now buy an S54 without planning to do rod bearings shortly after purchase - it's just not worth it in my opinion!
The bedding in is murder - I so want to let it rip but being very sensible with it until I've done 1kmiles and dropped the oil! We should do a 'bedding in run' :lol: meet at services, drive to Scotland and back, and then go get the run in service done
Ed Doe said:
That sounds like a plan - I had the shells done late August and still haven't done 300 miles yet. :roll:
Slightly off topic, but it's a shame you weren't able to get to Newlands Corner last Sunday. If you had we would have had 4 MCs in different colours!
I saw the meet details, annoyingly I was otherwise engaged at a wedding in Braemar last weekend, I was a bit gutted to miss what would have probably been the only meet of the year for me lol!
Are you doing a November one at all? If I get it in the diary early enough I'll hopefully be able to come along!
Are you doing a November one at all? If I get it in the diary early enough I'll hopefully be able to come along!