BMW Engine Recall | FerrariChat

BMW Engine Recall

Discussion in 'Other German' started by jeff, Oct 8, 2004.

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  1. jeff

    jeff Formula 3

    Feb 19, 2001
    1,924
    North America
    What are engine rod connecting bearings? Could they cause engine failure? My friend has a 2001 M3 and just got this recall notice. He remembers that BMW had engine failure on some 2001 models. Could these bearings be related to the engine failures in 2001?
     
  2. writerguy

    writerguy F1 Veteran

    Sep 30, 2003
    6,786
    NewRotic
    Full Name:
    Otto

    Have him punch his mailman in the Knutz this was 2 years ago...
     
  3. Gary(SF)

    Gary(SF) F1 Rookie

    Oct 13, 2003
    3,637
    Los Altos Hills, CA
    Full Name:
    Gary B.
    Yes, this is the same problem that BMW has had with this engine for some time. They are connecting rod bearings (not rod connecting bearings), which are the bearings that take the load where the connecting rods are bolted to the crankshaft, and yes, when they fail, it is not a pretty sight (ask me how I know). I would get the recall done soon. To BMW's credit they have stepped up on this issue and extended the warranty to 5 yrs/100k mi for the affected cars, but it is disturbing that they are still chasing a permanent fix.

    Gary
     
  4. brendon0

    brendon0 Formula Junior

    Dec 13, 2003
    611
    Tampa FL
    Full Name:
    Brendon
    I just got my recall notice on the mail yesterday!!!!

    Now Joe Redneck is going to be rebuilding my engine, in Alpharetta
    georgia, rather then the highly competant Hans in Germany.

    I cant tell you how pissed I am.

    Tspringder did point out, that I should thrash the crap out of it
    for the next couple days before it goes it. If they are going to do
    a rebuild, they may as well put new rings and everything else in it!

    The new warranty is 6 years / 100k miles.
     
  5. jeff

    jeff Formula 3

    Feb 19, 2001
    1,924
    North America
    Thanks guys for the quick responses. This is not good news for my friend.
     
  6. scycle2020

    scycle2020 F1 Rookie

    Jan 26, 2004
    3,477
    potomac
    did bmw fix the problem in 02 and later m3s?
     
  7. brendon0

    brendon0 Formula Junior

    Dec 13, 2003
    611
    Tampa FL
    Full Name:
    Brendon
    Yes. I believe they actually did a number of fixes in the later model
    02 and 03/04.

    Mine is an 02 model, built end of 01.

    They originally told me that mine was out of the range, but now
    they are changing everyones.
     
  8. Gary(SF)

    Gary(SF) F1 Rookie

    Oct 13, 2003
    3,637
    Los Altos Hills, CA
    Full Name:
    Gary B.
    Only time will tell. I have my doubts.

    Gary
     
  9. Sfumato

    Sfumato F1 World Champ

    Nov 1, 2003
    10,194
    Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Anglesey, Wales
    Full Name:
    Angus Podgorney
    This is a NEW RECALL. T

    he FIRST one was for oil pumps causing main bearing failure, this is for Main bearing defects themselves. 28000 cars+ affected.

    I have had 11 BMW's in 7 years, still have Z8, and I see routinely an M3 a week @ dealer with rod thru the block. My old M3's, M5, and Z8 have had nothing of the sort.

    So, between ugly cars and crap bottom end engineering, I will pass on the E60 M5 I am listed for since I picked up my E39 M5 in 11/99. What a fate for a formerly great company, now too arrogant to admit mistakes.

    Lee
     
  10. speed130

    speed130 Karting

    May 28, 2004
    76
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Steve
    I have an 02...I had the oil pump recall done and had to break the engine in again. Now I am having the bearing recall done, I will have to do another break in period. So, considering the initial break-in, and the next two, the motor will have 6600 miles of break-in driving (1200 miles each time as per BMW specs).

    I'm not too happy about it, but what can I do. The car has been good to me since day one.

    Currently, I am just shy if 47k. I hope that this is the last recall.
     
  11. pdiack

    pdiack Karting

    Nov 19, 2003
    239
     
  12. Scotty

    Scotty F1 Veteran
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 31, 2003
    9,849
    Oregon
    Full Name:
    Scotty Ferrari
    My M3 is in getting new con rod bearings, and a new oil pump, just now. The second break in period is going to kill me (I put about 350 miles/month on the car). I salute BMW for stepping up to the plate, but the break in...

    Because the car is a lease (and because I am WAY under my milage allowance)--I am thinking of putting the car up on jackstands (understanding the attendent risks) and letting it idle in 6th gear for hours to rack up some miles. The issue, of course, is that the best break in miles vary engine RPM and load. I always thought this was most important for rings--does it matter as much for bearings.
     
  13. brendon0

    brendon0 Formula Junior

    Dec 13, 2003
    611
    Tampa FL
    Full Name:
    Brendon
    Ok, so got my car back a week ago. Run up 600 miles going to the NC
    mountains over the weekend, plus 200 or so around town, so still looking
    at around 400 miles left on the break in.

    Cant really tell any difference. No "tightness" or anything in the engine,
    Im wondering if they really did anything at all.

    The 330i Rental was fun :) Never knew you could do doughnuts in
    an automatic like that.....
     
  14. rodsky

    rodsky Formula 3

    Mar 24, 2003
    1,601
    Los Angeles
    My car went through the recall 2 weeks ago. The break-in of 1200 miles is frustrating. Warranty is now 6 years - extended by 2. My dealer said they just recalled the 2001's i.e. those previously not affected. There was a lot of problems with a batch starting in Oct 2001. They had previously recalled 2002's and 2003's I believe.

    My car is going great - they did something with the air flow meter (replaced it, I believe).. Its now going really well.
     

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