Engine blew up at 42k miles.

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1173845

Zzhou wrote

They don't know what cause the problem, but we all know its rod bearing isn't it? AA tune.. in my sig.

They can't legally not tell you what caused the problem. F that! Make them tell you what the issue was. If it was rod bearing, obviously a tune has nothing to do with it. They also didn't find out about your tune by checking your sig. They maybe did a scan of the engine and saw revs over the stock limit. At least that's what I'm guessing. Make them tell you how they determined you have a tune, and what the mechanical cause of engine failure was in writing. They can't just void your warranty like that without writing all of this stuff down in detail for you, or it might be time for you to contact a lawyer, and have him talk to this dealership.

aus wrote  

Zzhou wrote

They don't know what cause the problem, but we all know its rod bearing isn't it? AA tune.. in my sig.

Just an FYI, sigs don't show up on the phone on Safari or the app.

my dealer knew I had a tune.

I do believe the bearing issue caused your problem. However I would never expect any warranty coverage when modifying a tune and then revving over the factory limit.

I would look into other options. $20k+ for a motor is insane.

rcracin wrote  

I do believe the bearing issue caused your problem. However I would never expect any warranty coverage when modifying a tune and then revving over the factory limit.

I would look into other options. $20k+ for a motor is insane.

man who said I raised my rev limit?

Sorry, thought that was part of the AA tune. Regardless, tuning a motor to any capacity would void warranty. Would you as a builder and tuner warranty your motor that someone else tuned after the fact?

I wouldn't. There are very few good race track tuners in existence. I don't know how people drive around with tunes when the tuner didn't come tune their car in their location & climate. Custom tunes need to be changed frequently based on weather and elevation. If you're relying on adaptive learning and tuning, that's just risky altogether.

The question I am thinking is will a tune case the engine to blow up.

rcracin wrote

Sorry, thought that was part of the AA tune. Regardless, tuning a motor to any capacity would void warranty. Would you as a builder and tuner warranty your motor that someone else tuned after the fact?

I wouldn't. There are very few good race track tuners in existence. I don't know how people drive around with tunes when the tuner didn't come tune their car in their location & climate. Custom tunes need to be changed frequently based on weather and elevation. If you're relying on adaptive learning and tuning, that's just risky altogether.

rcracin wrote

I wouldn't. There are very few good race track tuners in existence. I don't know how people drive around with tunes when the tuner didn't come tune their car in their location & climate. Custom tunes need to be changed frequently based on weather and elevation. If you're relying on adaptive learning and tuning, that's just risky altogether.

This is just an excuse. These are naturally aspirated tunes. I.e nothing at all. We all tuned our 335I to almost triple stock levels, and no one voided our warranties.

Zzhou wrote

The question I am thinking is will a tune case the engine to blow up.

That's what the bone heads at your stealership should explain to your lawyer.

Zzhou wrote

The question I am thinking is will a tune case the engine to blow up.

It most certainly can, but I'm not sure in your case.

Track conditions are very different from street. A lot of factors come into play at constant 8k rpm that I'm not sure tuners that send out flash tunes account for. Are the compensating for fuel temps, cylinder temps, cylinderr pressures? You can't do that without proper data logging.

Tracking a car is is very different from the street. When you break your motor open, you'll be able to tell from the pistons whether or not you were detonating on track. A good motor builder will be able to explain it. I just know basics.

Killerfish2012 wrote

This is just an excuse. These are naturally aspirated tunes. I.e nothing at all. We all tuned our 335I to almost triple stock levels, and no one voided our warranties.

Maybe nothing at all on the street. Did you take your 335i on a road course and hold it at redline for 20 minute sessions at triple stock levels?

z3papa wrote  

M.A.R.C. wrote

on page 53 of the supplemental owners manual it says:

"BMW recommends the following measures before driving on a race track..."

followed by:

"Operation on race tracks results in a higher rate of wear. The BMW M3 is not designed for use in competitive motorsports. This wear is not covered by the vehicle warranty"

I read that a while ago and took it literally (the competitive motorsports part). I guess it's one of those things open to interpretation and if it was apparent it happened at a track maybe the wouldn't cover it?

That may be their official policy to deny claims, but i'd suggest you get copies of past Roundel's, BMW's magazine published to promote their vehicles, and start pulling out articles on them touting the M3 as being a track ready vehicle. It's not like you have the ability to review and negotiate boiler plate disclaimers in warranty language but you can rely to your detriment upon their marketing b.s. they put out to the public for purposes of inducing sales. I personally have a cpo so I'm covered.

I have an aftermarket extended warranty so hopefully I won't have any issues. Hell I hope I don't have to use it

Pretty common car knowledge. When you tune chances of getting major repairs under warranty goes down significantly. Even if the tune has nothing to do with the failure.

And if you wanna pull that stupid warranty law. You gotta prove your tune had nothing to do with the damage in court.

Although I blew the engine on the track, but that was my 6th lap of the day and 3rd laps of that session. And because I'm on new R888s I was going at 60% to heat cycle my tires and warming up brakes. Not pushing the car at all, 4K-7K RPM.

rcracin wrote

It most certainly can, but I'm not sure in your case.

Track conditions are very different from street. A lot of factors come into play at constant 8k rpm that I'm not sure tuners that send out flash tunes account for. Are the compensating for fuel temps, cylinder temps, cylinderr pressures? You can't do that without proper data logging.

Tracking a car is is very different from the street. When you break your motor open, you'll be able to tell from the pistons whether or not you were detonating on track. A good motor builder will be able to explain it. I just know basics.

Another strange aspect of the bearing seizures is that I've not seen a single case of it happening right at cold start, where lubrication is the poorest. It always seems to have happened while the car is driven.

rcracin wrote

Maybe nothing at all on the street. Did you take your 335i on a road course and hold it at redline for 20 minute sessions at triple stock levels?

No, but I tracked it from 2009 to 2014, and even ran the cobb 19lbs race gas tune, with no issues. Tunes, don't blow an engine on track like that, especially, mild, naturally aspirated ones like OP's.

rcracin wrote

It most certainly can, but I'm not sure in your case.

Track conditions are very different from street. A lot of factors come into play at constant 8k rpm that I'm not sure tuners that send out flash tunes account for. Are the compensating for fuel temps, cylinder temps, cylinderr pressures? You can't do that without proper data logging.

Tracking a car is is very different from the street. When you break your motor open, you'll be able to tell from the pistons whether or not you were detonating on track. A good motor builder will be able to explain it. I just know basics.

Detonation, on a naturally aspirated engine?

Killerfish2012 wrote

Detonation, on a naturally aspirated engine?

Huh? Assume you're kidding here-- certainly pinging/knocking is a reality, esp. at the compression ratio of an S65...

That said, I don't believe the OP's tune was a primary cause of the failure.

Beemdog wrote

Huh? Assume you're kidding here-- certainly pinging/knocking is a reality, esp. at the compression ratio of an S65...

That said, I don't believe the OP's tune was a primary cause of the failure.

Spot on , because we saw also lots of stock S65's (without tune) with BF .

Zzhou wrote

The question I am thinking is will a tune case the engine to blow up.

I would push to find out what happened to your engine?
If it's the bearings, show them the registry, and I'd get a lawyer.
.

Sorry for your luck, why didn't you load the stock tune back in before you had it looked at?

Doc Oc wrote

Sorry for your luck, why didn't you load the stock tune back in before you had it looked at?

Dealer knew that I had tune since years ago.