Hello S54 (Z4M Content)

Peter@AEW

BMWFanatics Advertiser
Official Advertiser
Clinton next to the oil filter there is a silver bottle of LM which looks like oil flush? Am I correct...if so:
Please never use oil flush additives in an s54 as you cannot drain it completely and it damages the new oil.
 

moranor@axis

///Member
Official Advertiser
Peter@AEW said:
Clinton next to the oil filter there is a silver bottle of LM which looks like oil flush? Am I correct...if so:
Please never use oil flush additives in an s54 as you cannot drain it completely and it damages the new oil.

looks like one of the LM MS02 additives not flush :)
 

Clint@MMS AUTO

BMWFanatics Advertiser
Official Advertiser
GoCart said:
Loving the ramps my man :rollsmile:

LoL Built not bought :rollsmile: :biglol:


Peter@AEW said:
Clinton next to the oil filter there is a silver bottle of LM which looks like oil flush? Am I correct...if so:
Please never use oil flush additives in an s54 as you cannot drain it completely and it damages the new oil.
Hi P, Thanks for the heads up, its MOS2 anti-friction additive... similar to ceratec.
 

Clint@MMS AUTO

BMWFanatics Advertiser
Official Advertiser
So i'm not sure if you guys have ever experienced a grinding noise coming from the rear of your M's when you cold start the car and start driving, making tight left turns?

Mine started to make this grinding sound, it does go away after some few km's but if the car stands for a few hours and you start driving, it grinds on the tight left turns (90 degree turns)... so i decided to replace my Diff oil with Liqui Moly LSD Oil (was very expensive) in attempts to resolve the grinding but it did not seem to help the problem. so after that i decided to use the recommended Castrol LSD oil as i saw most people have used them and their diffs didn't grind so i went out and drained the Expensive LM LSD oil (what a waste) and filled up with the castrol alternative but still it didn't resolve the grinding and at this point i was going to bite the bullet and buy the very expensive BMW Diff oil with the friction modifiers in a final attempt to get this sorted because BMW says you should do an oil replacement using their oil that contains the friction modifiers and it will resolve the issue, there's even a TSB for it. but i did a bit more research and found out that in some cases where bmw replaced the oil, the grinding would come back after some time and then they would then replace the diff (which i was not prepared to do as they are so damn expensive and a 2nd hand one could also end up doing the same). thats where i stopped with the Z4M.

Then my Brother starts getting a really bad grinding sound in the M3 and decided it was time to put her up on stands and go under to have a look...

6r4juc.jpg


We (Nathzz and I) had to strip out some of these as they where in the way
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we had to remove the exhaust to get to the prop. we disconnected it where the headers meet the cats and then dropped it.

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We started off with diagnosing her with the following:
> Minor cracks on the Prop Coupling (Guibo)
> Worn down Prop Shaft center Bearing also incorrectly installed by previous someone...

So we set out to remove the Prop Shaft so we could replace those two items..
s1jf5k.jpg


While under there we checked whatever else we could and then came across some slight play on the side shafts (diff output shafts) and so we decided then pull the diff out and give it a proper check... This is where the fun starts...

Diff out
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Hello LS,
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Started keeping things away in Ziplock bags
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A bit more stripping..
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Boom, LS Core Out... This is where we realize these Bearings Should be replaced and that it made sense for these to cause the Grinding on the Diff... So we set out replacing them... wasn't fun hey..
nme1wj.jpg


Old Bearings out
1st one was a learning experience,
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2nd one out still in one piece.
hwiyk7.jpg


New Bearings on and looking good
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closing it up with the new seals in place.
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Once the sides where all back together and all bolts Torqued to spec, we gave it an oil flush just to get any metal debris out and then closed up the back over, cleaned it up and double checked and triple checked everything again to make sure all was torqued to spec.
2z4brrs.jpg


Diff Back in place
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Then changed out the old Guibo
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with a new Guibo and cleaned up the input shaft bolts ready for install
2pz0ete.jpg


Then regreased, added a new gasket and Fitted the Prop Shaft.
14mvbl.jpg


Heat Shield fitted
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Replaced this broken exhaust suspension mount
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Even More Torque Specs
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Exhaust back in place
i1cyl3.jpg


Almost there.... filled up the new Diff oil..
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All Done!! and better than before...
2cdx1dl.jpg



Happy to report that the grinding is no more!!! the drive train is now smooth as silk
 

PLV

Well-known member
Absolutely awesome work Clint! Well done man!

You continue to inspire with your work!

:clapper::clapper::clapper:
 

Fordkoppie

///Member
Amazing you had the courage to tackle this alone.

Did you do the shimming yourself to accept any variance in manufacturing sizes on the new bearings that could affect the mesh?
 

Clint@MMS AUTO

BMWFanatics Advertiser
Official Advertiser
Fordkoppie said:
Amazing you had the courage to tackle this alone.

Did you do the shimming yourself to accept any variance in manufacturing sizes on the new bearings that could affect the mesh?
Thanks but I was Not alone, My brother who owns the M3 was the one who suggested we do the job and he was comfortable with the entire process. the new bearings where an exact match. we used the OEM Shim.


NBN said:
Did you have to balance the Propshaft ?

Job well done!
No we didn't and dont need to. in most cases, they dont get it 100% anyways. we took it out and put it back in the exact same position, not even 1mm off...
 

Jeremy.d

Active member
Lovely car bro. Never really been into the Z series, but there is something special about these. All the best with the maintenance.:clapper:
 

NavZ

Active member
If bearings had to go, I'm sure you're happy that it was these and not the 1s in the s54 ;)
 
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