e46 m3 rod bearings

e46 m3 rod bearings

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Discussion

rosslambert47

Original Poster:

11 posts

40 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
This is probably a topic thag has popped up too many times but does anyone have a recomendation for which rod bearings to use.
The car has just slipped over 115k miles and its still on the original rod bearings.
The one garage i took it to said there are a few different makes and types for me to consider oem being quite alot more money than any other brands. Does anyone have any recomendations, the car is a garage queen and only used for spirited weekened drives, not daily driven or tracked.

Mr Tidy

24,313 posts

134 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
I have a Z4M Coupe, so the same S54 engine as an E46 M3.

I had my bearing shells replaced at 78K miles and half of them looked pretty worn. I got them done by an ex-Sytner Indy and he recommended ACL shells and OE bolts so that's what it got, but I have seen people recommending ARP bolts.

I don't know if it applies to M3s but I also had new engine mounts while the subframe was off as the originals were past it!

helix402

7,913 posts

189 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
Why not gen. BMW? They have lasted 115k on the originals.

VeeTenM

681 posts

121 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
At the milage prob want engine mounts too ...

https://www.redish-motorsport.com/E46M3S54ConrodBe...

https://forums.m3cutters.co.uk/threads/e46-m3-rod-...

https://www.litchfieldmotors.com/bmw/m3-e46/m3-e46...

https://www.evolveautomotive.com/rod-bearing-repla...

I would just take it to Evolve or Redish and get them to do the job

Edited by VeeTenM on Wednesday 23 November 22:23

HJG

483 posts

114 months

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
quotequote all
Replaced mine at 130K.
They were all fine.
Replaced with ACL shells and ARP bolts.
Engine mounts done too.
Work carried out brillantly by Hack Engineering.

rosslambert47

Original Poster:

11 posts

40 months

Thursday 24th November 2022
quotequote all
Redish seem like a good shout as they are only an hour an a quater away from me in hereford.
Doesnt seem to be any m or real performance specialists in herefordshire.
I hadnt thought about the engine mounts at all but redish seem pretty reasonable on these aswell whilst doing them with the rodbearings.
anything else you guys would be looking at doing at this stage bar the obvious subframe, vanos horror stories

HJG

483 posts

114 months

Thursday 24th November 2022
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Get a compression test done. Head gaskets are another 'weak' point.

rosslambert47

Original Poster:

11 posts

40 months

Thursday 24th November 2022
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Whats the usual cost of headcasket on an s54

Rob_R

2,433 posts

252 months

Wednesday 4th January 2023
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Can vouch for Redish as well who did the shells on my E90. They plastigauge measure every shell as well for peace of mind.

MattMF1

240 posts

162 months

Monday 16th January 2023
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I’d trust Redish over a main dealer to be honest! The guy who owns it is a pure perfectionist judging by their YouTube videos

Mr Tidy

24,313 posts

134 months

Monday 16th January 2023
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Like I said I had my Z4M shells and engine mounts replaced by an ex-Sytner technician who set up on his own a few years ago as I've got far more faith in him than any main dealer!

I went to RBM Hampshire run by Ross:- https://www.rbmhampshire.co.uk/

Some E9* M owners on M3cutters just organised a group buy with him for new bearing shells for their cars which looks like another positive recommendation for anyone in the Hook, Hampshire area. He does have a couple of loan cars if that makes life easier!

helix402

7,913 posts

189 months

Monday 16th January 2023
quotequote all
Mr Tidy said:
Like I said I had my Z4M shells and engine mounts replaced by an ex-Sytner technician who set up on his own a few years ago as I've got far more faith in him than any main dealer!

I went to RBM Hampshire run by Ross:- https://www.rbmhampshire.co.uk/

Some E9* M owners on M3cutters just organised a group buy with him for new bearing shells for their cars which looks like another positive recommendation for anyone in the Hook, Hampshire area. He does have a couple of loan cars if that makes life easier!
Don’t forget your ex-main dealer Technician used be a main dealer Technician. There are lots of main dealer Technicians who do a good job.

Mr Tidy

24,313 posts

134 months

Tuesday 17th January 2023
quotequote all
helix402 said:
Don’t forget your ex-main dealer Technician used be a main dealer Technician. There are lots of main dealer Technicians who do a good job.
Thar's true, but Ross was at Sytner for 15 years so he worked on these cars since they were new. Plenty of the current technicians probably haven't!

VeeTenM

681 posts

121 months

Tuesday 17th January 2023
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everythingm3s.co.uk aswell

MikeM6

5,223 posts

109 months

Tuesday 17th January 2023
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I used BMR for my bearings, very well regarded and I cannot complain about their work. I kept the old shells and they were quite worn!

Mr Tidy

24,313 posts

134 months

Thursday 19th January 2023
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I've also got my old worn shells as a souvenir!