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Read the WELCOME ALL BMWFANATICS post.
Are the E46 M3 Engines really like glass?
- Thread starter Xeqtr
- Start date
Nastaliq
Well-known member
Bugger said:I'm guessing as in fragile?:rollsmile:
Mine was pretty bullet proof. I think there was a reason that specific engine won Engine of the Year 6 times in a row. I've not heard of too many occasions where the engine has gone up in smoke.raise:
Except obviously that laaitie, that took it out styling with his bras, and revved it to LIM over and over again at standstill till it caught alight.
unless, the particular engine is a lemon, or the driver is a nut, the engines are rock solid.
Bugger
///Member
Nastaliq said:Bugger said:I'm guessing as in fragile?:rollsmile:
Mine was pretty bullet proof. I think there was a reason that specific engine won Engine of the Year 6 times in a row. I've not heard of too many occasions where the engine has gone up in smoke.
Except obviously that laaitie, that took it out styling with his bras, and revved it to LIM over and over again at standstill till it caught alight.
unless, the particular engine is a lemon, or the driver is a nut, the engines are rock solid.
:roflol::roflol::roflol:
Crash_Nemesis
///Member
Bearings were and still are an issue with most ///M engines. S85 included.
BMW had a recall to replace bearings on the S54 engines. Their bearings were too small and did not allow oil to get in between the bearings and crank and this is why the car's ran bearings. They changed over to a bigger bearing but it never fully solved the issue, but it did make it a more rare occurrence.
Make sure you always have oil in the car, filled up. Make sure you only drive the car hard when the oil is at operating temp. And you will be fine.
if you are really worried about bearing knock, you can install Coated Performance bearings from VAC motorsports in USA. I have them on my car and after 3 years of hard driving, we opened the engine to check on them and not a single scratch. They still in the engine now and running strong.
Vanos is the real weakness on these cars and once they reach over a 100 000km or 11-12 years, you are pretty sure you will need to have your Vanos checked. NOT ALL cars will require it, but the percentage that do need it increases.
Vanos codes can be read and sorted out. I had an intermittent Vanos error that appeared on my car and after A1exander did his magic, I have not had the error and have reclaimed back my top end power. I also lost 40nm torque on the wheels at 3000rpm due to Vanos.
Then you get owners who haven't had a single issue. And there are a lot of owners that have been lucky. Possibly because they have looked after the car and the engine.
The S54 is a beautiful engine, and if looked after correctly it will run for a long long long time. But looking after an engine like this required patience and unfortunately, a big wallet.
Good luck.
BMW had a recall to replace bearings on the S54 engines. Their bearings were too small and did not allow oil to get in between the bearings and crank and this is why the car's ran bearings. They changed over to a bigger bearing but it never fully solved the issue, but it did make it a more rare occurrence.
Make sure you always have oil in the car, filled up. Make sure you only drive the car hard when the oil is at operating temp. And you will be fine.
if you are really worried about bearing knock, you can install Coated Performance bearings from VAC motorsports in USA. I have them on my car and after 3 years of hard driving, we opened the engine to check on them and not a single scratch. They still in the engine now and running strong.
Vanos is the real weakness on these cars and once they reach over a 100 000km or 11-12 years, you are pretty sure you will need to have your Vanos checked. NOT ALL cars will require it, but the percentage that do need it increases.
Vanos codes can be read and sorted out. I had an intermittent Vanos error that appeared on my car and after A1exander did his magic, I have not had the error and have reclaimed back my top end power. I also lost 40nm torque on the wheels at 3000rpm due to Vanos.
Then you get owners who haven't had a single issue. And there are a lot of owners that have been lucky. Possibly because they have looked after the car and the engine.
The S54 is a beautiful engine, and if looked after correctly it will run for a long long long time. But looking after an engine like this required patience and unfortunately, a big wallet.
Good luck.
S54 is an amazing engine...
redo Vanos
have shim adjustment done
good oil
dont rev it till oil is warm
redo Vanos
have shim adjustment done
good oil
dont rev it till oil is warm
Crash_Nemesis
///Member
What Moranor said. I like to wail on for hours...
Basically, make sure you have good oil, change it every 12000km, do valve shims and Vanos and you are good to go for a long time.
Basically, make sure you have good oil, change it every 12000km, do valve shims and Vanos and you are good to go for a long time.
depends on where you go labour can be very different Axis engine works is expensive but Peter rebuilds better than when it came out the factory
the Biesan kit is:
e46 M3 seals R 850
e46 M3 Rattle Repair R 1130
e46 M3 Rattle Repair tool R 285 (not needed if you use one of my installers)
e46 M3 Solenoid plate seals R 145
depending on installer they may fit NO or a few other gaskets/seals and bolts (available from BMW)
the Biesan kit is:
e46 M3 seals R 850
e46 M3 Rattle Repair R 1130
e46 M3 Rattle Repair tool R 285 (not needed if you use one of my installers)
e46 M3 Solenoid plate seals R 145
depending on installer they may fit NO or a few other gaskets/seals and bolts (available from BMW)
Bugger
///Member
moranor@axis said:depends on where you go labour can be very different Axis engine works is expensive but Peter rebuilds better than when it came out the factory
the Biesan kit is:
e46 M3 seals R 850
e46 M3 Rattle Repair R 1130
e46 M3 Rattle Repair tool R 285 (not needed if you use one of my installers)
e46 M3 Solenoid plate seals R 145
depending on installer they may fit NO or a few other gaskets/seals and bolts (available from BMW)
Geez,that's actually not to bad considering it'll prolong the life of the engine and what a vanos replacement will cost, well worth the investment I think! Thanks Moranor!
Crash_Nemesis
///Member
The labour is what hits you, but it is worth it. As Peter says, if you want to listen to Beethoven, you need to pay. I went to a "reputable" shop before knowing Peter to have Valve adjustment done. 2 days later my car dropped a valve. That is no coincidence, that is just people not knowing what they are doing. Peter knows his stuff. I would much rather pay double the price at Peter and get a perfect job done on the Vanos, than go to a "reputbale BMW Mechie" and take a chance and bending valves.
Also, what about realigning cams? You going to let some guy do you vanos and then he realigns the cams wrong and you lose power?
But yes, they prices are good. Like I said, I did all the above work and replaced my Vanos solenoid with a new one. Made a massive difference to my car. :thumbs:
Also, what about realigning cams? You going to let some guy do you vanos and then he realigns the cams wrong and you lose power?
But yes, they prices are good. Like I said, I did all the above work and replaced my Vanos solenoid with a new one. Made a massive difference to my car. :thumbs:
Xeqtr
///Member
Crash and everyone thank you for the feedback. I think I am going to start looking for a clean one! I am prepared to do what I must to look after that engine like its my baby, which it will be.
Those prices arent bad, and I would be prepared to pay more to insure that the engine lives and breathes for many many more miles.
Those prices arent bad, and I would be prepared to pay more to insure that the engine lives and breathes for many many more miles.
Crash_Nemesis
///Member
If that is the case. You will be very happy.
Good luck man! :thumbs:
Good luck man! :thumbs:
no point in owning it if you not going to open it up
on a street car bearings should not be an issue if you make sure it is warm before revving it the e46 uses really thick oil so it does NEED warming (not that you should rev any car when cold)
on a dedicated track car it is worth looking at resolving the bearing problem because they see sustained High RPM for a long time
just make sure the bearing recall was done if it is an early model and look after it...
on a street car bearings should not be an issue if you make sure it is warm before revving it the e46 uses really thick oil so it does NEED warming (not that you should rev any car when cold)
on a dedicated track car it is worth looking at resolving the bearing problem because they see sustained High RPM for a long time
just make sure the bearing recall was done if it is an early model and look after it...
Xeqtr
///Member
moranor@axis said:no point in owning it if you not going to open it up
on a street car bearings should not be an issue if you make sure it is warm before revving it the e46 uses really thick oil so it does NEED warming (not that you should rev any car when cold)
on a dedicated track car it is worth looking at resolving the bearing problem because they see sustained High RPM for a long time
just make sure the bearing recall was done if it is an early model and look after it...
Thanks bud, just a quick question... was the bearing a problem in the pre-facelift models. So models before mid 04? I am only interested in 05/06 models. I think either way I will take crash advice and invest in doing the Coated Performance bearings from VAC motorsports in USA, after some saving of coarse
.I think I will change the oil every evening when I get home just to make sure hahaha.
