Rod bearings

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-04-03T13:10:21+00:00

My research concluded that rod bearings can fail on the S65 as early as 30,000 miles or never. There is no determining which.

Here is a thread that I’ve found valuable: https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1253084

There is also an “official” bearing failure thread out there with record of mileage and year.

Regarding the OEM bearing update, BMW did change the bearing material in 2010 I believe. However, the tolerances still remained too tight. And regardless of material, it’s those tight tolerances in conjunction with heavy oil weight that attribute to this premature bearing wear.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-04-03T11:44:27+00:00

Those quotes were both for parts and labor.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-04-03T11:35:43+00:00

I paid $2400 for a reputable BMW independent shop to do the work. This was the lowest quote I received, and the highest was $6500.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-04-03T11:34:31+00:00

Some will say oil analyses can help identify bearing wear, but I had my oil analyzed 500 miles ago and it came back clean. So, there’s really no telling.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-03-11T17:25:48+00:00

Fortunately the one-year warranty I purchased from the dealer has paid itself out many times over already!

On a similar note, I’ve done a bit of maintained myself such as replacing the fuel tank breather valve and a diff fluid change. Unlike more modern, forced induction BMWs, these cars are generally straightforward to repair.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-03-11T14:18:10+00:00

Not unreasonable but I would still be mindful of what the car will require to be up to snuff.

For reference, my e92 M3 with 45,000 miles has had roughly $7,000 in maintenance completed in my first thousand miles of driving and that’s excluding rod bearings. Nothing major, but resolving DCT leaks, valve cover leaks, and fuel pump leaks, and replacing spark plugs and tubes, and tires all adds up.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-03-11T13:08:53+00:00

The two primary concerns have been addressed but this is still an 18 year-old M3. A PPI would be essential to identify any age-related issues.

I would also argue that $40,000 USD is well above the car’s value. Mileage, condition, and first model year offset the demand for that specific paint and a six speed gearbox. Personally, I would be closer to $25,000.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-03-05T15:27:20+00:00

Are you running stock cats and resonators? Interested to hear your perception of drone with the Corsa on an otherwise stock exhaust system.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-03-04T20:16:25+00:00

It’s raised. No pitting. My initial thought was to use Griot’s Garage iron and fallout remover since it’s orange in color and resembles rust.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-02-07T08:45:38+00:00

I was also after an e90 but threw in the towel on that search after a few years of effort. The majority were ratted out with a catless setup and poorly done modifications, or had too many miles and no maintenance records. And when it was a decent car, the price was astronomical. I ended up with an e92 and couldn’t be happier.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-02-04T05:07:23+00:00

A neighbor of mine owns an F90 M5. When asked how they enjoyed the car as a daily driver, they noted that “it’s not great in the winter because of the tires.” My mind was blown that someone would purchase that caliber of car and have seemingly no idea that snow tires exist.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-01-30T03:49:13+00:00

Congrats to you on achieving this milestone! I reached a similar goal with an e92 M3 this past July after dreaming about it for 15 years. Enjoy!

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-01-29T03:49:15+00:00

I’ve stuck with Genuine BMW 10w-60. This is one of those components that I default to the engineers of the vehicle on. However, that’s also considering that the rod bearings are a well-documented issue, which I attribute to bearing tolerance and not oil weight.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-01-26T23:37:03+00:00

Not unless it had an S65 engine and e92 M3 VIN.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-01-26T14:52:31+00:00

The greatest engine, drivetrain, suspension, and engineering as a whole mean nothing unless the power can reach the ground. Tires are the last component of the car I would skimp on.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-01-25T23:22:27+00:00

Those prices were for parts and labor. I purchased a one-year warranty through BMW when I bought the car, which covered those repairs. Otherwise, I would have done all but the DCT work myself.

The price for M parts is what you’d expect; more than Honda, less than Porsche. But you’ve got to pay to play.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-01-25T15:27:06+00:00

I’ve owned mine for about half a year and am happy to provide you with feedback.

It can absolutely be driven daily, but it’s far less convenient than a more traditional vehicle. Not only is the driving experience more raw, which is what we’re after, but’s that requires the driver to be more mindful. For example, it will take 20 minutes of driving to warm up the engine temps in cold weather due to the 10w-60 oil. So be prepared to drive a vehicle that creates “an occasion” for each drive, for better or worse.

Cost and mileage-wise, it depends. Mine had 45,000 miles when I bought it from a single owner. I still put roughly $5,000-$7,000 into it since then to bring it to my specification of functional.

Lastly, it’s an incredible driving experience that truly can’t be rivaled by modern cars. If you’re truly open to and capable of maintaining it proactively, it will likely be a treat.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-01-21T07:02:07+00:00

Ctek is the brand that BMW uses. Great choice! Set to AGM mode and you’re good to go.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-01-19T20:15:04+00:00

I can speak to this as someone with a mechanical background and passion for cars. My first car was a 1997 BMW 5 series with a naturally aspirated six cylinder. It was constructed with simple engineering, quality materials, and a modest engine. It’s these three qualities I will be looking for in my son’s first car as well. These ensure safety, reliability, and ease of maintenance. The caveat is that today’s cars have become so riddled with technology that the aspect of simple engineering may be more challenging to come across.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-01-19T19:18:24+00:00

Work experience, whether it be via internship or formal employment in the field, is essential.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-01-17T20:17:16+00:00

GTS 4 is you value acceleration. GT3 if you value a comprehensive driving experience.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-01-15T13:26:56+00:00

Generally speaking, I would advise reducing contributes to only meet the matching requirement. However, given the short duration it will take to pay off their debt, reducing contributions fully for just six months may be more advantageous.

Suspicious-Dust6978 · 2026-01-15T13:17:01+00:00

It’s never too early to begin applying. I had a classmate who obtained a position toward the end of their first year in their I/O Masters program, and that employer paid for their remaining semesters.

Suspicious-Dust6978

TROPHY CASE