'88 325is M30 street car-->S54 -->S50 -->M54 Enduro Race car

[Jb325is]

Baller status dude, needs vids @ 8k.
I have an S54 header flange if you ever get the itch..

Haha stop it! I'm vulnerable right now, its a slippery slope. Nando just convinced me to buy rod bearings in only 7 words, I can't afford to be thinking about boost.

[nando]

Yeah i would do it now. Its basically a maintenance item on these motors. Its never going to be easier than with the motor outside the car on a stand.

[gills]

Thanks!

Started cleaning up the motor today. I got it from up north and even though it's an '06 the salt really kicked its ass. I spent most of today cleaning and painting, it's still not perfect but the car is not going to be a show car, its just clean enough that I won't get pissed off working on it because it's dirty. Oil pan is still gross because its coming off, I've actually changed my mind and I will be keeping the s54 oil pan, and I'm going to have Tyler @ Arc Asylum notch the pan and modify the subframe. I changed my mind because a friend of mine was urging me to do more research into oil starvation on s50/2 track cars, and what I found is that people are still having issues with starvation on long rights and under braking even with trap-door baffles, and that most of these people are paying the money to buy s54 stuff to solve the problem. It just doesn't make sense to me to take off the dual pick-up pump to put on something that just isn't as good. On a street car, I don't think it will make a difference, the m50 pan/etc should be fine, but I plan to track my car as much as I possibly can and I don't feel like taking the chance.

Yessir!! I basically came to the same conclusion regarding the oil pan. I'll definitely be sending my parts to ArcAsylum once I'm ready even though I was gifted some M50 stuff. Seems like a must if you track the car.

And salt is definitely the worst. My 05 S54 is nasty as well. Are you doing anything with the rod bearings while the engine is out?

edit: nevermind, nando beat me to it. What brand bearings do you think you'll use?
Also, read the first two articles here for interesting info regarding the bearing issue: http://www.langracing.com/category/road-racing/

[Jb325is]

Yessir!! I basically came to the same conclusion regarding the oil pan. I'll definitely be sending my parts to ArcAsylum once I'm ready even though I was gifted some M50 stuff. Seems like a must if you track the car.

And salt is definitely the worst. My 05 S54 is nasty as well. Are you doing anything with the rod bearings while the engine is out?

edit: nevermind, nando beat me to it. What brand bearings do you think you'll use?
Also, read the first two articles here for interesting info regarding the bearing issue: http://www.langracing.com/category/road-racing/

Just looking into it now, I don't want to use VAC, Bimmerworld is $600. Achilles Motorsports sells some good stuff and they have a set for $350. I just emailed blunt for a price on stock bearings as well.

[nando]

Imo the fancy coated bearings are pretty pointless. That coating will wear away as soon as there is contact which you dont want to have anyway.

[gills]

any update on the bearing front?

Also, have you mocked up your AKG swap mounts yet? I keep reading about studs being too short or possible fitment issues.

[Jb325is]

Ive been talking to Blunt about it, apparently I have to pull one of the caps off to ID the bearings that are in the motor, they are color coded. I've decided if I do bearings I'm going to do stock bearings. I'm also working on ordering electrical pins and connectors, I mapped out my harness on paper last night and I'm ready for wire and connectors.

I have the Condor swap mounts, AKG has been out of stock forever, haven't done that yet.

I am boxing my oil pan and subframe up to send out to Arc Asylum as we speak.

[Rdreas]

This is looking dope!!! looks like you got it under control but if you ever need a hand I occasionally pop out to marietta, and that s54 would definitely make it worth the trip :)

[MyE30]

Haha stop it! I'm vulnerable right now, its a slippery slope. Nando just convinced me to buy rod bearings in only 7 words, I can't afford to be thinking about boost.

Did you buy the S54 rod bearing recall kit? It's very cost effective. I bought the kit to replace the rod bearings in my E46M. If I remember correctly, it cost about $147 straight from the dealer; came with all required rod bearings, oil filter and some other stuff.

[Jb325is]

Did you buy the S54 rod bearing recall kit? It's very cost effective. I bought the kit to replace the rod bearings in my E46M. If I remember correctly, it cost about $147 straight from the dealer; came with all required rod bearings, oil filter and some other stuff.

Thats crazy cheap. I just checked part numbers and the updated bearings for the early cars are the same bearings shown for my '06. Is that still available from the dealer? I'm also reading conflicting reports about replacing rod bolts, apparently on the later cars you must replace the rod bolts and on the early cars you are to re-use them.

[MyE30]

I can't speak to the 05-06 models because I haven't looked if up but before those years I know the rods and bolts for the S54 came as a matched set. And yes, the recall kit was to replace 03 and below rod bearings to the updated bearings used in the later cars (due to premature wear).

I just checked and the kit was suspended July 2013. Sorry bro. I'd still check around to see if any suppliers still have a kit sitting somewhere. 150 bucks for as set OEM BMW rod bearings is definitely a steal, which is probably why they stopped offering the kit...I should have bought two sets.

[wazzu70]

If he has the updated bearings does he need to replace them? Not sure if they are all failure prone or not but if he can leave the bottom end alone that saves a ton of hassle/measuring!

[Jb325is]

If he has the updated bearings does he need to replace them? Not sure if they are all failure prone or not but if he can leave the bottom end alone that saves a ton of hassle/measuring!

The later cars were not included in the recall and have the updated bearings, but it's never a bad idea to replace them, and I'm sure they are a bit worn after 70k miles. I don't want to be worrying about their condition at 8k

[FredK]

Bruce (gobuffs) had an extremely low mileage S54 from a Z4M for his racecar. It was not subject to the bearing recall. The engine blew up.

If you plan on tracking the car, get ARP fasteners and new bearings. Rod bearings don't last indefinitely, especially because the S54 bearings are very thin width-wise so they are subjected to a higher load per unit area.

[Jb325is]

Bruce (gobuffs) had an extremely low mileage S54 from a Z4M for his racecar. It was not subject to the bearing recall. The engine blew up.

If you plan on tracking the car, get ARP fasteners and new bearings. Rod bearings don't last indefinitely, especially because the S54 bearings are very thin width-wise so they are subjected to a higher load per unit area.

I do, and not knowing much about the engine I definitely think I am going to do it, although at $350 for a set, I think they are wayy pricey. I suppose $350 now is better than a new engine later. I don't know if I'll go for the ARP's though, might just get stock BMW bolts. I've seen so many ARP fasteners break on Miata race cars that I can't imagine spending my own money on their stuff