Big end bearings

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Reading through some posts on cutters and some people talk f having the bearings replaced as a maintenance issue!!
I know there was an issue with the very early engines but some of these owners have 2004/5 cars only with around 100k miles up.
I would expect twice that mileage before even thinking about major work such as this, given correct servicing of course. 100,000 miles is not a big mileage for modern engines after all, so it puzzling why some owners want to do this work.

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Thanks for onteresting informative posts.

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^^^^^^^^^
As a newbi to BMW, well I had a 523i about 15 years ago but didn't keep it long, swopped it in for a TVR. Reading some cutters posts made me start thinking that the E6 M3 is a bag of nails poorly designed and engineered!! Nothing could be further from the truth, the key, as your mention, is correct servicing, as with any high performance vehicle. My recent E46 M3 purchase is a fantastic car and so happy to be able to enjoy it. It has cost me money for a few minor issues to be dealt with that frankly any car could have developed, but I can live with that. Its mine for the next three years or so and then its going into our lads garage, well thats the plan

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carbonblack said:

SebringMan said:

I would take a bit of stuff on M3cutters with a pinch of salt. If you believe a few of the posts:

-All boot floors will crack
-The HG is a ticking timebomb
-The SMG is around £3k to fix and will die within 50k.
-Big ends are guaranteed to go.

The boot floor may well be exaggerated on M3Cutters but a lot of the general public and (small independent) dealers have no idea that this issue even exists. I'd actually more cars than not will suffer this fate eventually even if it's a hairline crack.

Big end issue is probably not as recognised as it should be on the S54. Mine were done around 130k and were showing serious signs of wear (nearly to the point of failure) on a 1 previous owner car who always warmed it up and changed the oil every 5-6k a tradition which I continued in my ownership.

My car has 103,500 miles up, in my old cars from the past big ends meant a not so nice knocking noise. From what I gather modern engines need an oil anylisis that detects bearing wear? I am amazed that bearings are knackered within such a short life. Cost of peeformance I suppose.

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Steve Barrett said:

Mines going in shortly for King Racing bearings, ARPs and Vac Motorsport oil pump drive and pulley. Purely as preventative maintenance as the cars done 119k and for my piece of mind the £1000 is worth it.


Steve

1k seems to be good value. I have to ask, purely as I am trying to learn and understand the e46 M engine, Is your engine showing any signs of wear? Do the bearings just suddenly go pop, this all seems just so alien to what I have known over the past 50 years of motorbikes and car engines.

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Steve Barrett said:

crankedup said:

1k seems to be good value. I have to ask, purely as I am trying to learn and understand the e46 M engine, Is your engine showing any signs of wear? Do the bearings just suddenly go pop, this all seems just so alien to what I have known over the past 50 years of motorbikes and car engines.

No signs of any issues, just want it doing "just incase". Trouble is as soon as a sign is there it's usually too late so I'd rather spend £1k now than £4-5k later.


Steve

Thanks Steve, point taken along with other posters comments / advise.

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OK now I'm convinced, another job to add to the list of work to be carried out
Front tyres £250
Inspection 2 this Autunm : £720
Big end bearings Spring 2018 £1000
Boot floor reinforcement Spring 2019. £1300
Oil inspection. Autunm 2019. £150

What could possibly go wrong. I like a plan

Currently my car has 103,500 miles up.