Official S65 Rod Bearing Condition Example Thread

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deansbimmer wrote

Here's a set of VAC/CLEVITE bearings (12/2014) removed for inspection from a S65 with about 52,000 hard miles under a VF620 supercharger. They were installed in 2015 at 70k miles, and removed in our shop this month, January 2020 at 122k miles. (The engine was disassembled for rebuild due to water ingestion.)

Thank you for sharing this Dean.

These are what hydrodynamic bearings are supposed to look like after use. Another great data point that supports proper clearance bearings.

And hard use with supercharger to boot.

Now we need SYT_Shadow to show us his BE bearings from his track car

Cheers,

deansbimmer wrote

Here's a set of VAC/CLEVITE bearings (12/2014) removed for inspection from a S65 with about 52,000 hard miles under a VF620 supercharger. They were installed in 2015 at 70k miles, and removed in our shop this month, January 2020 at 122k miles. (The engine was disassembled for rebuild due to water ingestion.)

Dean, are these VAC or BE? Pics don't appear to match your comment.

Iyzmi wrote

Dean, are these VAC or BE? Pics don't appear to match your comment.

Fixed the pics. They're VAC/Clevite.

deansbimmer wrote

Here's a set of VAC/CLEVITE bearings (12/2014) removed for inspection from a S65 with about 52,000 hard miles under a VF620 supercharger. They were installed in 2015 at 70k miles, and removed in our shop this month, January 2020 at 122k miles. (The engine was disassembled for rebuild due to water ingestion.)

Wow they look great! Are these extended clearance at all Deansbimmer?

Edit: According to the part no these would be VAC standard clearance rather then their undersized/increased clearance shell?

Thank you so much for sharing this! This brings much more confidence with increased clearance bearings. Especially with the mileage and application.

Scharbag wrote

Now we need SYT_Shadow to show us his BE bearings from his track car

I know! I have to do that sometime

Those VAC bearings look amazing! Can the same be expected from BE's bearings since they're also supposed to address the friction and tolerance issues?

Nice to see a set of bearing removed after 50k miles with the wear you would expect after 50k miles — virtually none. This is how all S65 bearings should look, but unfortunately 90% of removed bearings show significant wear.

deansbimmer wrote

Here's a set of VAC/CLEVITE bearings (12/2014) removed for inspection from a S65 with about 52,000 hard miles under a VF620 supercharger. They were installed in 2015 at 70k miles, and removed in our shop this month, January 2020 at 122k miles. (The engine was disassembled for rebuild due to water ingestion.)

Incredible, Would love to see more on how these and other aftermarket bearings are holding up.

deansbimmer wrote

Here's a set of VAC/CLEVITE bearings (12/2014) removed for inspection from a S65 with about 52,000 hard miles under a VF620 supercharger. They were installed in 2015 at 70k miles, and removed in our shop this month, January 2020 at 122k miles. (The engine was disassembled for rebuild due to water ingestion.)

You beat me to it! Thanks for posting. I've been wanting to pull mine just to show the forum but now looks like I don't need to.

Good news to anyone that used these. Might just shush all the naysayers as well

doogee wrote

You beat me to it! Thanks for posting. I've been wanting to pull mine just to show the forum but now looks like I don't need to.

The reason we know there's a rod bearing issue in this car is that a LOT of stock bearings have come out looking worn. If it had just been one or two sets, there'd be nothing to discuss.

By the same token, one or two good looking sets of aftermarket bearings isn't enough to claim victory. It's promising for sure but nowhere near conclusive. We need a lot more data points.

IamFODI wrote

The reason we know there's a rod bearing issue in this car is that a LOT of stock bearings have come out looking worn. If it had just been one or two sets, there'd be nothing to discuss.

Pssst. Check who started the thread.

doogee wrote

Pssst. Check who started the thread.

I know.

So what are you waiting for? Make with the rod bearings!

Here are some 702/703 bearings pulled from my 2011 with 92k on the chassis and maybe less on the bearings. Carmax paid for a new oil pan for me, and I paid to have the RBs done while we were there.

Tech said that at some point, the short block had been replaced. I can confirm that the heads have the same production date as the rest of the car. Can someone more knowledgeable tell me if a short block replacement would usually include new mains and new RBs? Tech also said cylinder walls and pistons appeared like-new.

Also, those pulled VAC bearings make me very happy that I went with them.

I replaced my rod bearings in December 2019:

gavsadler wrote

I replaced my rod bearings in December 2019:

http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/uploads/user/471/img_7863_2316922585.jpg

Year and mileage at change? Not sure if you posted that info earlier. Those bearings look clean but the photo is not the highest quality.

RedScytheM3 wrote

Year and mileage at change? Not sure if you posted that info earlier. Those bearings look clean but the photo is not the highest quality.

Paper says 2011, 66.5k? Yeah, looks clean.

deansbimmer wrote

Fixed the pics. They're VAC/Clevite.

Reminds about this, another VAC ("standard" clearance whatever that means) coming out in beautiful shape, even if only 6k miles. Couple of sets of shells doesn't say all that much but still interesting.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1073979

deansbimmer wrote

Here's a set of VAC/CLEVITE bearings (12/2014) removed for inspection from a S65 with about 52,000 hard miles under a VF620 supercharger. They were installed in 2015 at 70k miles, and removed in our shop this month, January 2020 at 122k miles. (The engine was disassembled for rebuild due to water ingestion.)

Amazing !

Helmsman wrote

RedScytheM3 wrote

Year and mileage at change? Not sure if you posted that info earlier. Those bearings look clean but the photo is not the highest quality.

Paper says 2011, 66.5k? Yeah, looks clean.

That is correct

deansbimmer wrote

Iyzmi wrote

Dean, are these VAC or BE? Pics don't appear to match your comment.

Fixed the pics. They're VAC/Clevite.

Do you sell bearing and bolt kits? I'm torn between VAC or BE. For VAC do you use the standard size or the .25 undersize they list?