Rod Bearing Replacement @78,000 kms - Perth

That's exactly what I did a few weeks ago... all went well and the car is running great. Let's hope my first Blackstone report in a few thousand kms gives me a clean bill of health!

Hi guys

First post here!

I’m looking to buy an E92 M3 in the coming months, and one of the things I would like to look into early on is rod bearing replacement (just for my own peace of mind).

Who in Perth these days is reputable for this type of work? I’m conscious that this thread is a couple of years old now so the landscape is likely to have changed.

I did call Stokes and Renk In Subi as they always have a bunch of bmws out the front but interestingly the guy on the phone tried to dissuade me from doing the rod bearings and consequently wouldn’t give me a price estimate

Any recent insight / experience welcomed!

Cheers

///J wrote

I’m looking to buy an E92 M3 in the coming months, and one of the things I would like to look into early on is rod bearing replacement (just for my own peace of mind).

Who in Perth these days is reputable for this type of work? I’m conscious that this thread is a couple of years old now so the landscape is likely to have changed.

got mine done at GMW few months back and would highly recommend them: https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=25005776&postcount=22

Fezza wrote

got mine done at GMW few months back and would highly recommend them: https://www.m3post.com/forums/showpost.php?p=25005776&postcount=22

Thanks! Much appreciated!

What's the going rate in Sydney these days? I got a quote from Hills Eurohaus and WPC treated $3750, BE $4250 both include engine mounts.

My 2009 just passed 90k and I'm looking to have this done by the end of the year possibly. Thanks in advance!

De_Cruelz wrote

I got a quote from Hills Eurohaus and WPC treated $3750, BE $4250 both include engine mounts.

seems a bit much. get a quote for labour only and source your own parts should keep it below $3K total with BE bearings and ARP bolts (engine mounts are not expensive and easily done during rod bearing replacement).

I can send you a list of all items required and where to purchase from (US).

Thanks Fezza! I saw a quote in this thread for Advan Performance charging $3500 but that was a few years ago now.

I am too keen on the BE/ARP option and getting the engine+transmission mounts as a set as well since these are quite inexpensive. If you can share your list with me I'd really appreciate it!

De_Cruelz wrote

I am too keen on the BE/ARP option and getting the engine+transmission mounts as a set as well since these are quite inexpensive. If you can share your list with me I'd really appreciate it!

don't do transmission mounts as it'll require dropping the transmission and will be costly, instead do a full DCT service. here's my list:

autotalent:

• BE ARP Spec Rod Bolt Set
• BE Bearings set for S65

rockauto:

• Engine mounts x 2
• DCT filter kit
• DCT oil pan strainer kit
• Engine Oil filter
• NGK spark plugs (not required)
• O2 sensors (not required)

ebay:

• oil pan gasket

ecstuning/fcpeuro:

• oil drain plugs x 2
• transmission drain plug
• transmission fill plug
• diff drain/fill plug x 2 (not required)
• oil pan screws (07129905537) x 16
• oil pan screws (07129905599) x 12
• oil pan screws (07129905600) x 2

supercheap/repco:

• castrol 10w60 engine oil x 2 during 50% off sale

Thanks a lot for that Fezza! Gonna start ordering the parts soon. Cheers!

Hi guys,

I have an E90 M3 with 85K on the clock. I have not had the oil tested yet, but figure I should start doing my homework....better to be safe than sorry.

I have read a LOT about the issue, and related costs.

Thought I had a handle on it, but reached out to a local BMW specialist near me (BMTech in Vermont, Canterbury Road) and he tried to tell me it was a $5K job. Almost fell off my chair.

They were also using BMW OEM bearings.....which given what I read may not be the best alternative (refer BE Bearings)

Does anyone have any recommendations for Melbourne repairer that has some experience with S65 rod bearing replacements that won't try to absolutely rip me off.

Fair work deserves fair pay, but based on what I have read about this issue - $5K quote was perhaps a bit opportunistic. Or am I being unfair?

Advice appreciated.

Shan75 wrote

Hi guys,

I have an E90 M3 with 85K on the clock. I have not had the oil tested yet, but figure I should start doing my homework....better to be safe than sorry.

I have read a LOT about the issue, and related costs.

Thought I had a handle on it, but reached out to a local BMW specialist near me (BMTech in Vermont, Canterbury Road) and he tried to tell me it was a $5K job. Almost fell off my chair.

They were also using BMW OEM bearings.....which given what I read may not be the best alternative (refer BE Bearings)

Does anyone have any recommendations for Melbourne repairer that has some experience with S65 rod bearing replacements that won't try to absolutely rip me off.

Fair work deserves fair pay, but based on what I have read about this issue - $5K quote was perhaps a bit opportunistic. Or am I being unfair?

Advice appreciated.

my suggestion is if you want to rely on an oil test, you might as well take your chance and not do it at all

but if you do go ahead, I've read southernBM is the place for you guys:

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1633179
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1426375

Thanks for that. I had missed that post somehow.

Called southern BM. Fixed price - still @ $3300.00
They use ACL Bearings as well.

BMtech quoted $5K for same job. They said they used OEM BMW bearings and provided a 5 year warranty on the work. Maybe using the OEM gear had something to do with the price difference?

Hmmmm....dunno. I feel they might have been trying it on a little. Lost my business though, can't hand my car to someone I don't trust.

Cheers!

Shan75 wrote

BMtech quoted $5K for same job.

funnily enough we too have a similarly named BM Techniks shop here in Perth and they too quoted me $5k for the job and they wouldn't use anything but OEM bearings because apparently anything else is bad or something lol

Shan75 wrote

Hi guys,

I have an E90 M3 with 85K on the clock. I have not had the oil tested yet, but figure I should start doing my homework....better to be safe than sorry.

I have read a LOT about the issue, and related costs.

Thought I had a handle on it, but reached out to a local BMW specialist near me (BMTech in Vermont, Canterbury Road) and he tried to tell me it was a $5K job. Almost fell off my chair.

They were also using BMW OEM bearings.....which given what I read may not be the best alternative (refer BE Bearings)

Does anyone have any recommendations for Melbourne repairer that has some experience with S65 rod bearing replacements that won't try to absolutely rip me off.

Fair work deserves fair pay, but based on what I have read about this issue - $5K quote was perhaps a bit opportunistic. Or am I being unfair?

Advice appreciated.

BM works in Preston has been excellent for me. I had my rod bearings done at harrop when they put in my supercharger, but I would have been very happy for BM works to do it, have been very well priced for all other works.

Julian Patane at Harrop Engineering, he’s I/C of sales and a top guy. Harrop have a wealth of experience doing these and their workshop is first rate. They have a SC E92 and have pulled the motor down after some gruelling track days at Winton and PI.
Be prepared to do the engine mounts too and there’s a full oil service to go with it
Harrop to the VAC bearings and ARP bolts. The US dollar has caused price rises but it should not ne that bad. About 10 hours work plus parts should be ~ 3 - 3.5K
There’s also Southern BM, not sure what Andrew charges but they are also an excellent shop.
There’s no choice, they have to be done, the consequences for not are crushing

Shan75 wrote

They said they used OEM BMW bearings and provided a 5 year warranty on the work.

Cheers!

Curious what the 5 year warranty actually covers.
If you can get it in writing that they would replace the engine if it spins a bearing then it might be worth paying the extra.

DaveDee wrote

Julian Patane at Harrop Engineering, he’s I/C of sales and a top guy. Harrop have a wealth of experience doing these and their workshop is first rate. They have a SC E92 and have pulled the motor down after some gruelling track days at Winton and PI.
Be prepared to do the engine mounts too and there’s a full oil service to go with it
Harrop to the VAC bearings and ARP bolts. The US dollar has caused price rises but it should not ne that bad. About 10 hours work plus parts should be ~ 3 - 3.5K
There’s also Southern BM, not sure what Andrew charges but they are also an excellent shop.
There’s no choice, they have to be done, the consequences for not are crushing

I don’t know if harrop will do just the rod bearings (and engine mounts) with out adding the supercharger?

Ashley_rj wrote

DaveDee wrote

Julian Patane at Harrop Engineering, he's I/C of sales and a top guy. Harrop have a wealth of experience doing these and their workshop is first rate. They have a SC E92 and have pulled the motor down after some gruelling track days at Winton and PI.
Be prepared to do the engine mounts too and there's a full oil service to go with it
Harrop to the VAC bearings and ARP bolts. The US dollar has caused price rises but it should not ne that bad. About 10 hours work plus parts should be ~ 3 - 3.5K
There's also Southern BM, not sure what Andrew charges but they are also an excellent shop.
There's no choice, they have to be done, the consequences for not are crushing

I don't know if harrop will do just the rod bearings (and engine mounts) with out adding the supercharger?

Yes they will do the bearings without anything else.

Is anyone aware of any bearing failures that have occurred in Australia?

BMW tech I spoke with said he has never come across a rod bearing failure and suggested I don't change the bearings.

I'm considering just getting the bearings done, but I just can't fathom getting a slap job done from through the sump, when likely there is not even an issue.

Have you guys seen this thread?

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1259411

Post #14, an interesting reply... part of it quoted below:

"Nobody has ever been able to correlate the failure to a specific cause (outside BMW). But each and every S65 engine assembled at BMW got its crank journals and bearings measured and logged into confidential manufacturer data logs (take my word for it). Therefore BMW has all the information it needed all along to trace back and correlate to failed engine. They have not changed dimension specs of the OEM bearings (only materials) which invalidates the clearance theory."

A good point, BMW did not change the clearance design over the 7 years they made this car considering they are privy to quality records and failure data. Am I supposed to trust an aftermarket bearing manufacturer to know better than OEM?

Charlievee wrote

Is anyone aware of any bearing failures that have occurred in Australia?

BMW tech I spoke with said he has never come across a rod bearing failure and suggested I don't change the bearings.

I'm considering just getting the bearings done, but I just can't fathom getting a slap job done from through the sump, when likely there is not even an issue.

Have you guys seen this thread?

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1259411

Post #14, an interesting reply... part of it quoted below:

"Nobody has ever been able to correlate the failure to a specific cause (outside BMW). But each and every S65 engine assembled at BMW got its crank journals and bearings measured and logged into confidential manufacturer data logs (take my word for it). Therefore BMW has all the information it needed all along to trace back and correlate to failed engine. They have not changed dimension specs of the OEM bearings (only materials) which invalidates the clearance theory."

A good point, BMW did not change the clearance design over the 7 years they made this car considering they are privy to quality records and failure data. Am I supposed to trust an aftermarket bearing manufacturer to know better than OEM?

BMW or their staff will never admit to seeing Rod bearing failures, without leaving themselves open to a flood of claims. I know of several cars with rod bearing (and mains bearing failures) and have personally witness 2 cars fail. If you are in Sydney talk to Alastair at Bromspec BMW who routinely changes out rod bearings (by dropping the sump) and has posted vids of failed bearings. Dropping the sump is an accepted way of changing out the bearings and has made it possible to achieve this without the need to remove and strip down the engine at a prohibitive cost for the same result.

Charlievee wrote

BMW tech I spoke with said he has never come across a rod bearing failure and suggested I don't change the bearings.

Show the BMW tech some pictures from the bearing condition thread and ask him if he finds any of those bad bearings normal or acceptable wear and tear.

Fezza wrote

Show the BMW tech some pictures from the bearing condition thread and ask him if he finds any of those bad bearings normal or acceptable wear and tear.

or this....

https://mbasic.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10154066640275886&id=695895885&_rdr