Z4M Crank Rod Bearing Shells

[Mr Tidy]

Here are my bearing shells after 57,000 miles. Along very similar motivations to Mr Tidy, I decided to book my car in with RBM Hampshire (highly recommended btw). Turns out that at least one of the previous 9 owners of my car lacked mechanical sympathy

Looking at that photo you must as relieved you got them replaced as I was!

Given that they are all over 10 years old now it's probably worth anyone buying one now to get them done - unless there is evidence of them having been replaced fairly recently.

 

[R60BBA]

My car has 26k on the clock with very minimal mileage done last few years and owners.

Do you think I should get mine done due to age and not knowing how the owners prior to the last few used the car?

Also has anyone used Redish for this work as they are my local and look after my other cars.
Abid

Probably not worth it at that mileage, however be wary that shells have spun at that mileage (albeit quite rare).

If you were to go ahead then you would be doing it for peace of mind as opposed to them being due.

In regards to Redish they are one of the most thorough BMW specialists in the country. You will be in safe hands.

 

[Ed Doe]

Can't speak highly enough of Redish.

I will be sorting out a thorough write-up of the saga of my engine woes, but suffice to say Redish have been fantastic throughout the investigation process, and through the rebuild. I collected the car last weekend, so running it in now, but I don't think I've known it run so sweet.

Also I'll dig out and post up the video of my bearings from when Redish did them as part of the investigation works - they had done 14k miles, and were showing some signs of wear, with one particularly not being that great-looking.... It just goes to show you really don't know how people have driven it prior to you getting the car, and imo it just isn't worth the risk....

 

[PDJ]

Probably been said before but a lot of these issues are BMW “s making

They started with a 3ltr bored it out so made the piston bigger just like the top of a drwing pin

Then made the con rods lighter and the bearing thiner just like the point on a drawing pin

Found issues with the bearing so changed the oil to 10-60w this needs warming up if you have a water temp gauge you will see the water temp comes up quickly but the oil temp takes a lot longer

But the restricted red line on the rev counter has gone to OK to thrash it but the oil temp is not up yet this should have been changed

They just need to be warmed up fully and oil changed regularly

Unless you leave the same oil in for the life of the bearings from the beginning, oil analysis is of little or no use, every oil change washes the solids out so the trend may have been going up but is now low or showing non, as it has all worn off but causing damage.

Just make a judgment and change them when you think they should be changed

 

[Argenta]

To add to this, be sure to check the REAL milage, as a new owner. So many M's clearly with tampered odometers, at least out here in Europe.

 

[abidK]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Having spoken to James at Redish earlier in the week, he also mentioned it was rare at low mileage.

I always get a oil service as a minimum when I get a new car and having chatted with James for a bit I have decided to get the bearings done for peace of mind. It’s much cheaper now then if they were to fail and the car is 13 years old.

2 owners prior to me have done less mileage in 4 years than I have done in 2 weeks of ownership. The last 2 owners bight the car purely for investment purposes. But as mentioned by others you never know how the car has been treated by everyone along the ownership chain.

Mine is booked mid November for bearing and inspection 1 along with health check. That should hopefully give me peace of mind for long while. Going for the genuine bearings over ACL.

 

[R60BBA]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Having spoken to James at Redish earlier in the week, he also mentioned it was rare at low mileage.

I always get a oil service as a minimum when I get a new car and having chatted with James for a bit I have decided to get the bearings done for peace of mind. It’s much cheaper now then if they were to fail and the car is 13 years old.

2 owners prior to me have done less mileage in 4 years than I have done in 2 weeks of ownership. The last 2 owners bight the car purely for investment purposes. But as mentioned by others you never know how the car has been treated by everyone along the ownership chain.

Mine is booked mid November for bearing and inspection 1 along with health check. That should hopefully give me peace of mind for long while. Going for the genuine bearings over ACL.

Fair enough mate.

Because your car is such low mileage I would be interested in seeing the condition of your shells.

So if you could post some photos once the service has been done that would be helpful.

Cheers

 

[abidK]

Of course no problem.

Will ask James and the team to get the pics documented they usually do take loads of pics especially if they spot preventative stuff that could be done whilst in the air.

Sent my Z3MC in last year for a oil service and left nearly £4K lighter but like fellow member has car feels better then before. All the work done was preventative stuff but combined made a massive difference.

 

[abidK]

Hi All


Just a quick update, I have seen the video from Redish and very glad that I had them done. I have 27K on the clock great engine internals as per the video they have sent but quite some wear on the shells.

Will add pics asap.

 

[Vanne]

27k on the shells? these things should go for at least 100k, if your anal, 60k.
what sort of use has your car seen in the 27k? i dont think id recommend anyone changing rod bearings at 30k, unless your giving it a real hard time at the track everyday or your giving it the pa-jesus while its cold all the time?.

what oil are you running?

 

[Beemingallover]

Yep, 27k is so so low that the motor must have spent 24 hours at Le Mans!

 

[mmm-five]

27k on the shells? these things should go for at least 100k, if your anal, 60k.
what sort of use has your car seen in the 27k? i dont think id recommend anyone changing rod bearings at 30k, unless your giving it a real hard time at the track everyday or your giving it the pa-jesus while its cold all the time?.

what oil are you running?

Shows how much of a pussyfoot I must have been if mine didn't fail until 140,000 miles

 

[abidK]

Guys

I’m
Glad I did them that’s all, nowhere near failure will put up pics ASAP. Point is there was wear in them. 2 owners previous to me have done very little mileage but who knows how it was driven before that.

Like I said further up I think inspection 1 and Bearings meant there was a small saving overall as well along with peace of mind.

 

[Beemingallover]

Guys

I’m
Glad I did them that’s all, nowhere near failure will put up pics ASAP. Point is there was wear in them. 2 owners previous to me have done very little mileage but who knows how it was driven before that.


Like I said further up I think inspection 1 and Bearings meant there was a small saving overall as well along with peace of mind.

Agree with you, peace of mind, I had mine done at 80k, some wear but not too bad. They could have lasted many more miles but there you go. Replaced with ACLs.

 

[abidK]

I went with genuine BMW some say that’s wrong others say it’s fine 6 of one half dozen of the other

For now the car is a keeper so much so that I am thinking of getting rid of the Z3MC and knowing I will be more sympathetic on cold starts I have peace of mind for years to come hopefully.

Now for the cosmetics tweaks, wheels stubby aerial cup holder and aero side skirt

 

[abidK]

Guys

As promised please see pictures taken by James during the service and bearings change. He has mentioned that the car is in great condition otherwise which is reassuring.

 

[GuidoK]

Oh that's interesting.
They removed the entire subframe and have modified an old subframe to support the engine just from the side.
Quite a different approach from the BMW prescribed special tools.

 

[Mr Tidy]

As promised please see pictures taken by James during the service and bearings change. He has mentioned that the car is in great condition otherwise which is reassuring.

Looking at those photos you must be quite relieved you got them replaced.

 

[R60BBA]

Thanks for posting the photos mate, but those images are quite concerning with the shells down to the copper at just 26,000 miles?!

Just goes to show that you never really know with these engines and that doing the rod bearing service is worth it from a peace of mind perspective.

Happy M motoring

 

[Vanne]

Those pics are from bearings with 26k miles on em? holy s**t!!! i did mine at 140k miles, and yours are in waaaay waaaaay worse shape than mine were...