car Diagnostic service
Rod Bearings
The Importance of a Rod Bearing service
The BMW S54 inline 6, S65 V8, and S85 V10 engines are some of our favorites. We maintain several that are nearing 150,000 miles. But, owners often ask us about the infamous rod bearings and how worried they should be about the possibility of failure.
Connecting rod bearing failure is catastrophic on any engine and will typically leave the vehicle in need of a complete replacement engine. We have seen these types of failures in a wide variety of engines, from Subaru EJs to newer BMW S63s. But, the problem is much more likely to happen in the S54, S65, and S85 for a few specific reasons.
Below is a brief overview of the factors that contribute to premature bearing failure, our recommendations on how to limit bearing wear as much as possible, and some information we have gathered about BMW rod bearings that owners may find interesting.
If you have any questions, feel free to call us or get free appoitment.
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For owners who want to take the proactive step of removing the original bearings, we offer MRF Engineering rod bearings and custom ARP bolts that provide increased clearance to make it easier for oil to flow through, as well as an increased margin of safety.
Each bearing set is individually tested at MRF before shipping and is marked with a specific torque spec that will ensure proper bearing shape after they are deformed by the installation torque. These bearings are Calico CT-1 coated to provide an additional layer of protection before metal to metal contact.
We consider replacing S65 or S85 rod bearings with MRF’s coated, extra-clearance bearings to be a permanent solution so you won’t have to worry about replacing them again. The rod bearing replacement procedure includes fully draining and replacing the engine oil and filter, power steering fluid, and coolant. Engine mounts are removed to drop the oil pan so it’s a perfect time to replace worn or leaking mounts without any additional labor cost. A four wheel alignment is also included. The MRF bearing set is designed around 10w-60 viscosity engine oil, so we use Torco SR-5R 10w-60 after this upgrade is performed.
Diagnosing the Issue
Owners of S54, S65, and S85 BMW engines should change their engine oil every 5,000 miles if they see a lot of high RPM use on the race track and every 10,00 miles at most for cars driven daily. The original rod bearings should be replaced every 60-80,000 miles, especially on vehicles which followed BMW’s 15,000-mile oil change recommendation. Consistent BMW maintenance is crucial for a high-performing vehicle. We recommend oils that exceed the API certifications in these engines for better wear protection.
Torco SR-1R 10w-60 is a great choice of oil for street cars that see some high performance driving events. Plus, it’s significantly less expensive than the original Castrol or BMW-branded oil. For drivers who frequent track or autocross events, Torco SR-5R will significantly reduce oil temperatures and provide an even higher level of protection. We recommend SR-5R 5w-50 for engines with original bearings and SR-5R 10w-60 for owners who have upgraded to extra clearance bearings.
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