E46 ///M rod bearing failure

[AndreasSA]

Andreas, I think you need to appreciate that the standard of labour amongst even the most reputable mechanics/shops in South Africa is quite low. So while you can have the bearings changed for perceivably reasonable prices, I think many of us feel it is simply not worth the risk on an engine as particular as the S54.

I envy M3 owners in Germany who can spend the equivalent of R10k and get a job well done, but here it is hard to find someone who has (1) the right knowledge, (2) the right level of patience and (3) the resulting attention to detail to do the job properly. To get that, we have to pay accordingly.

I had all kind of M3's in Germany and I know that not every normal repair shop can repair an M engine even if they claim to be able to do it....but i think that you also have some guys here that are able to do it ...for reasonable prices...

P.S.: I also found a guy who is willing to do it for 2500 bucks...but he is definetly not aware of the work to be done...

 

[Peter@AEW]

Savspeed will do the Job including bearings for 9k. 12k on the E92 M3. Can't fault Sav's work either

Lets us break that cost down
Bearings roughly R4500
Gasket roughly R300
oil R1000
oil filter R200
Parts cost roughly R6000

Labour R3000

Average hour charge out at R500 (more like R600 at Sav R750 at RGM and R850 at agents) equals 6 hours labour.

Just to drop the suspension and put it back dirty is 3 hours worth which by extension implies that the sump and bearings have been done is 3 hours.

I guess if one is happy with ones bearings being changed in 3 or for that matter 4 hours one should certainly make use of that service.

 

[Andrew]

I'm with Andreas on this one .... R20,000 to change out bearings shells .... are u mad? Futhermore after having personally witnessed the shocking level of workmanship at some franchised dealers, I would rather have Sav, RGM or Tunetech work on my car.

I think some of you guys are becoming a little paranoid .... its a car .... its not a spaceship.

Good luck to the original poster and enjoy the project ... you are going to learn loads in the process

 

[flyitlikearental]

Not in a month of Sundays. You pay 5k for the bearing job start saving for the trip on a flatbed so long.


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This was one of the rods that didn't knock. Guys, running these things beyond 150,000km do so at your own peril. Lessons learned. I was hopeful of 250k from this one. Looking at the condition of the "good" ones, there was maybe 5000km left in her. And, that was doing 10,000km oilchanges for the last 100,000. They are stupendously good engines. Problem is very narrow bearings, laughable clearances and 10w60 oil... The bottom end can take a punch, but change the gloves every now & then.


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[Peter@AEW]

If you find bearings like that ^^^ in your engine it means that the crank needs to come out and get polished and measured at an engineering shop.

One obviously need not do it like that however one will eventually be forced to do it like that

 

[flyitlikearental]

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I've been to Maine, Spain, Spokane, smoked dope, chewed rope, seen goats do funny things in the marketplace, but never in my life seen a Ferrari used as a tea trolley in my life before. Blow up a S54, it teaches you stuff...


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[Kish2604]

Gentlemen,

Can we get this thread back in topic again and let the OP together with his choice of service provider share the story with us rather than debate whose labour is to expensive or not?

Thanks...

 

[flyitlikearental]

Back to the task at hand...
Will post pics now of the head & disassembly. The motor was remarkably clean on the inside, all combustion chambers look the same, good burn & blowby. Waiting on the engineering shop to let us know what is happening with the crank. Keeping fingers/toes/arms/necks crossed that it can be saved...


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[Tehwalleth]

Hope all goes well with the build.

 

[Fordkoppie]

Found an M specialist telling me that there is no valve adjustment on a M3. If they need to be adjustet than something is wrong and you need new parts...:hammerhead:

Well that M specialist knows exactly as much about an S54 as our floor cleaning "specialist"

 

[Daaf Vader]

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I've been to Maine, Spain, Spokane, smoked dope, chewed rope, seen goats do funny things in the marketplace, but never in my life seen a Ferrari used as a tea trolley in my life before. Blow up a S54, it teaches you stuff...


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Seems like the reception service improved since I was there.
I did get coffee, but not with cookies on a Ferrari :tiptoe:

As long as the workmanship is still to the same standard you have nothing to worry about!
raise:

 

[Peter@AEW]

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I've been to Maine, Spain, Spokane, smoked dope, chewed rope, seen goats do funny things in the marketplace, but never in my life seen a Ferrari used as a tea trolley in my life before. Blow up a S54, it teaches you stuff...


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Seems like the reception service improved since I was there.
I did get coffee, but not with cookies on a Ferrari :tiptoe:

As long as the workmanship is still to the same standard you have nothing to worry about!
raise:

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It has deteriorated since I fell pregNant.
:roflol:

 

[tyu333]

:roflol::roflol::roflol:

 

[flyitlikearental]

Okay, before we get k@kked out again :biglol:

Here is what consumed most of my day today...

My hands are going to look like Zombie claws from all the Zeb oven cleaner, but it does make short work of all the burnt on grime in the casings, on the cams etc.

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We also got very very good news from the engineering shop, we can salvage the crank, and 5 of the 6 rods are okay! Guess which one isn't...

Will be ordering the parts shortly, going with JE 87.5mm slugs and a cometic head gasket.

Can't wait now!!

 

[tyu333]

Wow, they let you keep engine parts in the house???


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[flyitlikearental]

Haha Lebo go check the earlier pages bud


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[Crash_Nemesis]

I recall my pistons and valves slept in bed with Peter during my last engine build.

 

[Ralf*]

Okay, before we get k@kked out again :biglol:

We also got very very good news from the engineering shop, we can salvage the crank, and 5 of the 6 rods are okay! Guess which one isn't...

thats a weight of your shoulders Sire Croff
great news !!

 

[Andrew]

The best product I have ever come across for cleaning the brown varnish and sludge off engine internals is "floor wax stripper" commonly found at those household bulk chemical supply stores ... cheap to ... it just dissolves the sludge and varnish

 

[Gizmo]

The best product I have ever come across for cleaning the brown varnish and sludge off engine internals is "floor wax stripper" commonly found at those household bulk chemical supply stores ... cheap to ... it just dissolves the sludge and varnish

Bought some this morning. R74.80 for 5lt, bought 2x 5lt. Will try it out in the week.