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Thread: Higher mileage maintance

  1. #1
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    Higher mileage maintance

    So, currently in an M Coupe for the fun car and a Volvo wagon for the dd. Daughter is a year-ish from driving, so she'll get the Volvo and I'm contemplating selling the M coupe and moving over to an M3/4.

    Question: What are the common maintenance things to look for on a E90/3 platform? (I'm used to the e36/46 platform).
    - Ian
    2000 M Coupe, stripped and DE prepped

    46mm wheel bearing socket for rent - $30 deposit + $10 fee. PM for details.

  2. #2
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    Main failure is throttle actuators — $350-600 each for rebuilt-new. Some replace rod bearings. I did when my extended warranty expired. Front control arms, tie rod end, motor mounts. Engine grounds. Change all fluids. Rotors/pads.

  3. #3
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    Yes, I would expect to replace all (or most) suspension rubber and joints and the fluids.

    Good to know about the actuator. Those suckers aren't cheap.

    Thanks!
    - Ian
    2000 M Coupe, stripped and DE prepped

    46mm wheel bearing socket for rent - $30 deposit + $10 fee. PM for details.

  4. #4
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    I'm considering selling my BRZ and picking up an E92 myself. I would hope that things like throttle actuators and rod bearings would be taken care of already on the higher mileage ones. From what I've gathered, they are pretty solid cars.

  5. #5
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    My guess is 90% of these cars are on original rod bearings. And seem to run fine. But 90% of the rod bearings that have come out look excessively worn.

  6. #6
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    Rod bearings still a problem? That should show up in an oil analysis(?).
    - Ian
    2000 M Coupe, stripped and DE prepped

    46mm wheel bearing socket for rent - $30 deposit + $10 fee. PM for details.

  7. #7
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    Don't quote me on this because I am not an engineer. I have been doing some reading on different forums and there was a tech that chimed in on this issue. It sounded a bit odd, but he wrote that on these engines - the timing is adjusted based on the spark. He said that a bad spark plug can result in timing issues, which in turn puts excessive wear on rod bearings. His suggestion was that replacing spark plugs within proper intervals will greatly reduce the risk of rod bearing failure. Of course, there would be no way of knowing if this has been done on many of the higher mileage cars.

  8. #8
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    Unless you have oil analysis every change from new, don't rely on one. Cars have failed with good oil analysis. They have failed at 6k miles and at 100k miles. And other cars are fine at 170k miles. Its like a lottery. And no one yet has come up with any widely accepted theory other than bearing clearance is too tight from the factory. By industry standards, it is on the very tight side.

    I don't subscribe to the spark plug theory for excessive rod bearing wear, but yes, knock control is through the plugs. I recently pulled my plugs, which had 30k on them since I last changed them -- the factory interval is 37k, and the center electrode was oval instead of round, which means the gap had increased.

  9. #9
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    The s65 suffers from the same rod bearing issues as the s54, and s85. Replace them at, or around 100k miles.

    If they haven't been done on the car you are looking at make that apart of your bargaining on the price.

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