Vanne's S54 Rod Bearings thread.

[Vanne]

So its about time to do the S54 rod bearings in my car. normally done around 100K depending on the car usage.. My car is now sitting just over 200K, and no evidence of the previous owner having done said bearings before.

So i got a set of OEM WPC treated bearings… and shipped to DXB (thanks Ron).. hit up my good mate Shak at Octane for the install and TLC. and then dropped of the car.

ill report back here with the findings and no doubt other S54 users may find the info useful.



note: s54 bearings are 439 x6 and 440 x 6

there are some racing sets that use identical upper and lowers, but ill be sticking with OEM here .

My car probably has the highest miles/kms on it around, ill take some pics of the bearings when they come out and post them up here. probably good info for the longevity for the S54 engine. currently at 206k kms. = 130k miles

[Beedub]

very interested in this PLEASE get detailed pics of the tear down...

you warm climate i think would be helping oil lubrication as it will always be thinner with your very high ambient temp.

[Vanne]

Heading in today, anything else I should make sure they are doing?

[Vanne]

Edit: dirty upload. Sorted /edited

[Beedub]

while your car was like that id be definitely changing to VT mounts and checking the mount bolts as they are known to fail.

[Vanne]

Holy shit...























Bloody HELL!!

Pics show that bearings were about to fail @ 206k. Soo lucky I got this done.. The PO told me that before i had the car he ran TWS for its entire life.. though that said, i have no idea about when he did his oil changes..

Guys have said before that rod bearings is a 100k interval service item.. looking at this, they sure as crap are right. I was blown away at how much metal is missing on some of the shells. Id say an oil analysis would have shown me that straight away. Do your selves a favour.. get them checked/changed at 100k. there are too many layers missing for 200k, change at 100k. (kilometres)

[Vanne]

Bee, spanking new OEM mounts less than 3k ago. (should have gone VT)

[tikamak]

I removed mine at 75K Km and they were worse than yours I am now using Mobil1 0w40 with a 20% extra flow pump and some WPC rod bearings.

The main bearing were also not in optimal shape so i changed those as well.
I was using TWS 10w60 for the entire life of the car.

The problem is definitely in the oil, just get a bigger oil cooler a 55C Thermostat and use Mobil1 0w40

[David70]

Originally Posted by tikamak

I removed mine at 75K Km and they were worse than yours I am now using Mobil1 0w40 with a 20% extra flow pump and some WPC rod bearings.

The main bearing were also not in optimal shape so i changed those as well.
I was using TWS 10w60 for the entire life of the car.

The problem is definitely in the oil, just get a bigger oil cooler a 55C Thermostat and use Mobil1 0w40

How did you determine Mobil 1 0W40 was the answer? If it was why did BMW never see it?

[Beedub]

holy crap those were on their way out...

lease post on z4 forum too.... wow.

[tikamak]

Originally Posted by David70

How did you determine Mobil 1 0W40 was the answer? If it was why did BMW never see it?

I determined it using a very scientific procedure: Clevite bearing failure analysis.

Why didn't BMW see that bearing fail on their S54 bringing the whole motor down? I trust science not scientists or BMW engineers.

Please don't start this argument in the guy's post, you can contact me by message if you'd like to argue. Please continue to use TWS 10w60, i will be happy for you

[David70]

Originally Posted by tikamak

I determined it using a very scientific procedure: Clevite bearing failure analysis.

Why didn't BMW see that bearing fail on their S54 bringing the whole motor down? I trust science not scientists or BMW engineers.

Please don't start this argument in the guy's post, you can contact me by message if you'd like to argue. Please continue to use TWS 10w60, i will be happy for you

No argument, you recommended something and I asked why. Doesn't there have to be someone that at least disagrees with what you say to have an argument?

Don't be so sensitive and feel free to ignore any post you don't want to respond to.

[pokeybritches]

Where does Clevite recommend different oils (serious question)? If you read what I've read, which is a bearing failure analysis guide that they have published, there isn't much depth in terms of oil analysis. I'm just wondering if they have published more info?

Under premature wear they list oil starvation along with quite a few mechanical reasons why it could occur, but it doesn't mention various properties of the oil, and certainly not enough to deduce what properties are required in the S54 (velocity, dynamic viscosity, temperature, and pressure).

[StickMon]

What's the deal with the saw mark from the timing chain?
Have you replaced the tensioner?

[tikamak]

Originally Posted by David70

No argument, you recommended something and I asked why. Doesn't there have to be someone that at least disagrees with what you say to have an argument?

Don't be so sensitive and feel free to ignore any post you don't want to respond to.

No sensitivity, it's just that i didn't want to pollute the thread. did i offend you by my response ? if so, i am sorry it wasn't my intention.
I had a feeling that another oil discussion on what BMW engineer knows best was going to start.

[tikamak]

Originally Posted by pokeybritches

Where does Clevite recommend different oils (serious question)? If you read what I've read, which is a bearing failure analysis guide that they have published, there isn't much depth in terms of oil analysis. I'm just wondering if they have published more info?

Under premature wear they list oil starvation along with quite a few mechanical reasons why it could occur, but it doesn't mention various properties of the oil, and certainly not enough to deduce what properties are required in the S54 (velocity, dynamic viscosity, temperature, and pressure).

There's a part where they recommend to start using lower weight oil gradually until the problem (main and rod bearing wear pattern) resolves itself and checking oil pressure and temperature, etc ...

S54 was designed with 5w30 castrol oil at first until it started violating their long interval oil maintenance where BMW couldn't support it anymore and paved a way to make money our of their castrol TWS 10w60 deal.

Mobil1 0w40 has been working great for me even in 35 degrees Celcius, it gets a little hot in heavy weather but it cools down much faster than TWS 10w60. You have to note that I redline the car at least a couple of times everytime i drive it but i never track it.

If you track the car you need TWS 10w60 and rod bearing every 50-75K, If you don't track it, putting TWS 10W60 is just wearing your engine out at the temps you drive it

[pokeybritches]

Originally Posted by tikamak

There's a part where they recommend to start using lower weight oil gradually until the problem (main and rod bearing wear pattern) resolves itself and checking oil pressure and temperature, etc ...

S54 was designed with 5w30 castrol oil at first until it started violating their long interval oil maintenance where BMW couldn't support it anymore and paved a way to make money our of their castrol TWS 10w60 deal.

Mobil1 0w40 has been working great for me even in 35 degrees Celcius, it gets a little hot in heavy weather but it cools down much faster than TWS 10w60. You have to note that I redline the car at least a couple of times everytime i drive it but i never track it.

If you track the car you need TWS 10w60 and rod bearing every 50-75K, If you don't track it, putting TWS 10W60 is just wearing your engine out at the temps you drive it

Thanks!

[Vanne]

Originally Posted by StickMon

What's the deal with the saw mark from the timing chain?
Have you replaced the tensioner?

Just went and picked up the car today, no dramas during the install and had a few extra things done while there.

Had a long chat with the tech who did the bearing install and he started laughing when i asked about the chain marks.. he said its pretty much on all S54's he's pulled apart and is no drama. the chain guides were in perfect nick as was the tensioner. (had the cain guides replaced anyways as i ordered them before hand) I also had the vanos inspected, and was also in top nick.

total labour came to 490 US, extra bits n pieces involved with the bearing swap , like oil,filter, gaskets, coolant and hyrdolic oil (had the steering flushed, aswell as the cooling system) and even added 2 new wipers.

extra bits n pieces came to 330US..

I supplied the bearings and bolts (thanks Ron) , so out of there for around 1100US.

thats much cheaper than a new engine.

gotta run the engine in again for about 1500kms..

pretty good end result.

[Beedub]

you did great vanne!

[Westersund]

That's really cheap... Less money compared to when I had the clutch replaced! Crazy!

I bet you feel at ease now when it's over and done with?

[inTgr8r]

So glad that you caught this in time Vanne!
Your costs for this was great!

[Vanne]

thanks guys, couldn't have done it without you guys, Thanks for the bearings Ron, smick as!! my next project will be two fold…

Aero package and to improve my stock oil cooler..

(yep, this is where my front bumper will be removed (and possibly repainted, depending how my funds go)