Engine blew up at 42k miles.

I believe its under 5000rpm for 1200 miles. No sustained cruising.

If you hang around the redline...no engine will last 100k miles with any kind of track use. We say racecars but those engines are torn down quite frequently.

Yes, there are S54s and S65s that have lasted a long time on the track. I've seen dedicated track cars get 50k miles. But those guys aren't spinning the engine to redline before every gear change.

At this point in time...we all need to come to realize that ///M has changed over the years. They no longer build race cars. They build fast street cars and design components to last accordingly.

Wait - so you are paying out of pocket for the new engine?

chris719 wrote

If you have the time and funds, you might consider getting a lawyer familiar with the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act.

While most people would assume an engine tune voids your warranty, it's pretty clear that the tune has nothing to do with the S65 rod bearing issues unless there is evidence of severe detonation. The burden is on them to prove that it was caused by the tune.

I'm not sure how likely success is, but for 25k I'd fight hard. BMW knows this is a design flaw, they are just looking for a way to screw you.

A tune has nothing to do with an engine blowing up?

LOL

Good luck proving that in court.

The burden of proof is on you!! How would you prove otherwise.

Killerfish2012 wrote

Detonation, on a naturally aspirated engine?

You're kidding right?

I haven't been around here for a bit, but nice to know people still have no clue as to why bearings are failing.

I'll stick with my sentiment that detonation is def a contributing factor to the problem.

s85e90 wrote

I haven't been around here for a bit, but nice to know people still have no clue as to why bearings are failing.

You truly have been AWOL buddy, because we have seen a 263K mile S65 on original bearings.

s85e90 wrote  

chris719 wrote

If you have the time and funds, you might consider getting a lawyer familiar with the Magnuson–Moss Warranty Act.

While most people would assume an engine tune voids your warranty, it's pretty clear that the tune has nothing to do with the S65 rod bearing issues unless there is evidence of severe detonation. The burden is on them to prove that it was caused by the tune.

I'm not sure how likely success is, but for 25k I'd fight hard. BMW knows this is a design flaw, they are just looking for a way to screw you.

A tune has nothing to do with an engine blowing up?

LOL

Good luck proving that in court.

The burden of proof is on you!! How would you prove otherwise.

People are just clueless how the legal world works and how a warranty works.

Hell Bmw can even refuse a claim on a 100% stock car for just abuse.

A engine tune a easy for BMW to point the finger. Even if they know and you know it's BS.

Zzhou wrote

Engine arrived last week, dealer said car will be fixed by the end of next week. Anyone knows does the new engine has break-in period? Under 4500rpm for the first 1200miles? Also engine cost about 19000, and labor around 4000, that's what my dealer gave me.

I just had a new factory motor put in my car three months ago... I did not follow the BMW break-in exactly, but was still cautious for the first few hundred miles...

This was my break-in procedure:

-1st 300 miles keep it under 5000k RPMs always varying the engine speed
-300-500 miles slowly increased the RPMs up to 6500 RPMs always varying the engine speed
-changed the oil at 500 miles(this removes any break-in metal particles from the oil)
-500-1000 miles continued varying engine speeds while spirited driving and slowly increased RPMs up 8000, but I redlined the car occasionally (once per commute)
-1000 miles I released all limitations and went full-on!

I stayed with the BMW factory oil TWS/Shell 10w 60 through the whole process and will continue to use the Shell oil going forward...

One thing I can say is that this engine feels slightly more powerful than my last engine, and it also burns far less oil than my previous engine did...

I have about 2500 miles on the new engine and it sings like a symphony and strong as ever!

IIAp3x wrote  

Zzhou wrote

Engine arrived last week, dealer said car will be fixed by the end of next week. Anyone knows does the new engine has break-in period? Under 4500rpm for the first 1200miles? Also engine cost about 19000, and labor around 4000, that's what my dealer gave me.

I just had a new factory motor put in my car three months ago... I did not follow the BMW break-in exactly, but was still cautious for the first few hundred miles...

This was my break-in procedure:

-1st 300 miles keep it under 5000k RPMs always varying the engine speed
-300-500 miles slowly increased the RPMs up to 6500 RPMs always varying the engine speed
-changed the oil at 500 miles(this removes any break-in metal particles from the oil)
-500-1000 miles continued varying engine speeds while spirited driving and slowly increased RPMs up 8000, but I redlined the car occasionally (once per commute)
-1000 miles I released all limitations and went full-on!

I stayed with the BMW factory oil TWS/Shell 10w 60 through the whole process and will continue to use the Shell oil going forward...

One thing I can say is that this engine feels slightly more powerful than my last engine, and it also burns far less oil than my previous engine did...

I have about 2500 miles on the new engine and it sings like a symphony and strong as ever!

I remember that the break in oil is different, am I wrong on this? I think I did a 1k oil change when I got my car 4 years ago.

Killerfish2012 wrote

You truly have been AWOL buddy, because we have seen a 263K mile S65 on original bearings.

I don't disagree that the Rod bearing issue is overhyped, but there is no proof or evidence as to the history of the M3 with 263k is on original bearings found on craigslist.

Rich150001 wrote

I don't disagree that the Rod bearing issue is overhyped, but there is no proof or evidence as to the history of the M3 with 263k is on original bearings found on craigslist.

Considering we have one guy on the forums over 200K, and numerous people in the high 100's it's not a stretch that a single owner female did indeed reach that mileage.

I found this video, and think it will help us understanding our s65b40 better.

Zzhou wrote

I remember that the break in oil is different, am I wrong on this? I think I did a 1k oil change when I got my car 4 years ago.

No more break in oil once it leaves the factory break-in test... I thought the same thing... They use the factory fill shell 10w-60 at the dealership for the first fill... I asked them specifically when they were installing the engine... It does not come prefilled from Germany; they have to fill it at the dealership... the engine is essentially broken in already from the factory when they spin it to (?) RPMs for a (?) length of time on a machine with break in oil... They drain it, plug it, and then store it until it is ready to ship... The reason they perform an oil change at 1000-1200 miles is a precautionary removal of any residual metal particles distributed into the engine in its first 1000 miles of use... Realistically, 1000 miles is overkill... 500-600 miles is sufficient for the first oil change... I don't know about you but I did not want metal particles floating around in my engine for 1000-1200 miles when the engine is essentially broken in by the time you hit 600 miles...

Mr. Liu wrote

Wait - so you are paying out of pocket for the new engine?

I would have just made it simpler.

Get rid of factory ECU for everything, drop in an LS3 and their ecu LOL.

Cheaper and 500hp/500torques!!

chris719 wrote

Yeah but good luck getting the extended warranty to cover you with a tune if the engine blows. Almost the same situation as OP.

If you leave the rev and speed limiter stock, and flash back to OEM software, there should be no trace. In the OP's case, the dealership was fully aware of all of his modifications. This is also China we're talking about, where all business dealings are more shady, and the kind of bankroll that springs for an M3 there in the first place, doesn't blink at a $20+K price tag.

As for the bearings issue, the failures we're seeing correlate with the estimates and numbers gathered by pencilgeek. There is variance in factory clearance, and in certain cases it is simply too tight and leads to failures. Revving faster and more often of course contributes to this happening faster, but is not the real root of the problem. I am currently under extended powertrain warranty for another year and a half, then I'll probably look into the Clevite bearings that are about to be released, along with a supercharger.

modkrazy wrote  

chris719 wrote

Yeah but good luck getting the extended warranty to cover you with a tune if the engine blows. Almost the same situation as OP.

If you leave the rev and speed limiter stock, and flash back to OEM software, there should be no trace. In the OP's case, the dealership was fully aware of all of his modifications. This is also China we're talking about, where all business dealings are more shady, and the kind of bankroll that springs for an M3 there in the first place, doesn't blink at a $20+K price tag.

As for the bearings issue, the failures we're seeing correlate with the estimates and numbers gathered by pencilgeek. There is variance in factory clearance, and in certain cases it is simply too tight and leads to failures. Revving faster and more often of course contributes to this happening faster, but is not the real root of the problem. I am currently under extended powertrain warranty for another year and a half, then I'll probably look into the Clevite bearings that are about to be released, along with a supercharger.

I'm in USA...

Updates

Zzhou wrote

Updates

Congrats !!

New&Old
Belt is failing too. LOL

Man that new motor look sweet...😊

Helmsman wrote

Man that new motor look sweet...😊

yea...I heard that all the engine is refurbished but looks brand new to me.

Zzhou wrote

yea...I heard that all the engine is refurbished but looks brand new to me.

Personally wouldn' t mind a rebuilt engine. Renovated by BMWs guys by hand, if anything I would assume increased attention and precision over a new engine being put together by the factory robots (assuming its not a Monday hangover ex that is...). And as you say it looks brand new too.

Keep us posted on the progress mate!

New engine installed, picked up today~