Hello Everyone,
I am planning to buy a 2001 E46 M3 - VIN: WBSBL93451JR11285. I know that E46 M3's produced before 2003.5 have had road bearing issues, which were solved after the recall issued. But the car I'm planning to buy doesn't have a road bearing recall and BMW customer relations rep says that the recall was done based on VIN number not by MY and there is no rod bearing recall for this VIN number.
Would really appreciate some information on this.
Thanks
Last edited by venu31; 01-29-2019 at 04:31 PM.
I’d have the moderator move your post to the general mechanical section. The technical experts post there.
How many miles are on the car now? If it's over 100k, it's time to do them again.
ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician
Moved from the General BMW Discussion sub-forum.
04M3 TiAg 69k slick-top 3 pedal
99M3 Cosmos 61k S50B32 euro 6Spd
88M3 AW 43k miles Project FS
WTB: 3.5" Eurosport/Conforti CAI
A guy in my shop just changed the bearings on his '04 with around 100k. Three were almost totally copper, and the rest were through the top layers getting into the copper. Not a minute too soon. Another guy did his at 100k, and his car had the recall done at 15k. It was the same story. Some were getting into the copper layer. It's basically 100k maintenance on any S54, S65, or S85. Except late S65 that were already built with the updated bearings.
It's just something I wouldn't chance since it grenades the engine. Spinning a bearing damages the crank and it can't be reused.
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ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician
One way to know for sure is to have an oil sample completed. I do one every year as a precaution, and to see how much copper is starting to show up.
I don't run the car hard much, as I tend to stay below the 7k line and it only sees about 5k miles a year. This is a rather easy way IMO of knowing when it is time to replace the bearings and if other problems are happening.
Darin
Current:
16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
Past:
95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
M-Flight Member
[QUOTE=Critter7r;30193815]According to the DCS, the rod bearing recall was done on that VIN at 25,540 miles, November of 2004.
Hi mate, if I give you the vin number of my 2002 m3 can you tell me. The recall has been done?
Thanks in advance
Darin
Current:
16 220i Active Tourer Platinsilver MET (C08)/Dakota Black (PDSW), P7ACA, P7LDA, P7LHA, P9BDA, 6sp Manual - Wife's new toy!
05 325it Electric Red(438)/Gray(N6TT) ZCW, ZSP 5sp Manual Back set cover, trunk mat, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield, and mud flaps! Mr. Wagon My new Winter car.
05 M3 Imolarot II(405)/Gray(N5TT) ZCW, ZPP 6sp Manual C.F. Lip, CSL diffuser, SSK, Euro Infra-Rot front windshield and a trunk liner! Mr. Go_Fast Stored for the Winter
Past:
95 318is Montreal Blue Met (297)/Beige(K1SN) RIP, killed by an Idiot.
84 M535i gray market Burgandy Rot Met/Black Leather Lowered by Intrax on bilies, poly everywhere, B&B cat back system, K&N, and a hitch! Da Beast - Still running w/400k+!
91 316i euro Tizianrot/Gray cloth - E-36 w/M-40 RIP, but great on gas! Best was 38 MPG
82 528i euro Saphire Blue Met/Blue Leather RIP
79 525 euro Green/Green RIP
79 318 Silver/Black - The first one that got it all started
M-Flight Member
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