N55 Reliability (rod bearing problems?)

Bours · 04-26-2018, 07:20 AM

i just spun a bearing on my 99k miles 335 x drive 2011 pure stage 2 on meth.....gettin a rebuild by mmp.....

Mean E92 · 04-26-2018, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bours

i just spun a bearing on my 99k miles 335 x drive 2011 pure stage 2 on meth.....gettin a rebuild by mmp.....

N55 right? My bearing spun with the stock turbo and no meth. I just had a CAI, chargepipe, catless downpipe and JB4.

Mean E92 · 04-26-2018, 11:56 AM

I feel like this engine failure is very common for the 2011 N55's (mine car was a 2011 n55). I really want to know the cause of engine failure on these cars. Mine spun at 83K and that seems like a common mileage for them to fail too. I'm wondering how this is happening when people on the N54 platform are on stock internals and pushing more power.

Pladi · 04-26-2018, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean E92

I feel like this engine failure is very common for the 2011 N55's (mine car was a 2011 n55). I really want to know the cause of engine failure on these cars. Mine spun at 83K and that seems like a common mileage for them to fail too. I'm wondering how this is happening when people on the N54 platform are on stock internals and pushing more power.

what oil were you using ?

Mean E92 · 04-26-2018, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pladi

what oil were you using ?

LL-01 Castrol 0w40 with the MAN 816X filter. Oil change every 5K. On my new motor I use Motul 8100 5w40 with the 816x filter.

Pladi · 04-26-2018, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean E92

LL-01 Castrol 0w40 with the MAN 816X filter. Oil change every 5K. On my new motor I use Motul 8100 5w40 with the 816x filter.

who build your motor or was it dealer installed like factory ?

I wonder if its better for our motors to use 5W-30. I know BMW says 5W-40 or 0W-40(the one i use) is acceptable but the bearing clearances are crazy small looks like 0.0001 inch or something.

Mean E92 · 04-26-2018, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pladi

who build your motor or was it dealer installed like factory ?

I wonder if its better for our motors to use 5W-30. I know BMW says 5W-40 or 0W-40(the one i use) is acceptable but the bearing clearances are crazy small looks like 0.0001 inch or something.

No I got a used engine that had 18k miles on it. New one from BMW with labor would cost me close to 30k$. Damn so should we use 30 weight?

Pladi · 04-26-2018, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean E92

No I got a used engine that had 18k miles on it. New one from BMW with labor would cost me close to 30k$. Damn so should we use 30 weight?

Its just been my suspicion. After some research about the flow and cooling properties of 30 weight and 40. It seems that there is really no benefit for us to use 40 weight. Its a general belief (old belief) that 40 weight oil has higher shear stability. And it use to be true but today's synthetic 30 weight has so much additives and the shear protection is amazing. Same with 20 weight.

The advantage of 30 wight is that you get more oil in spaces where you need it thus it should technically provide better cooling and flow. Because of this the oil pressure will be also lower a bit and less stress on oil pump.

So i am personally going to switch to 5W-30. After some research. The BMW 5W-30 is from pennszoil. Its phenomenal oil. And the cost is reasonable directly from the dealer. Ill be logging my car and sampling the oils to see if any difference.

I have compared the technical data for the bmw oil and the numbers are very good.

SnapCoupe · 04-26-2018, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean E92

I feel like this engine failure is very common for the 2011 N55's (mine car was a 2011 n55). I really want to know the cause of engine failure on these cars. Mine spun at 83K and that seems like a common mileage for them to fail too. I'm wondering how this is happening when people on the N54 platform are on stock internals and pushing more power.

I work in service for BMW and I have only seen/heard of rod bearings spinning on 2011 cars. This is the exact reason why I went with a new motor replacement instead of a used motor from another 2011. The only time I have seen a non-2011 N55 need a motor was from clear outside influence (hydrolock, 20k miles without an oil change, money shift). The new motor I had installed came with a late model F10 535i thermostat, so I know it's a newer design. Hopefully this one wont give me issues down the line.

As far as oil is concerned, I have spoken with multiple seasoned techs and they have all said to stick with 5W-30 for the PNW climate.

SnapCoupe · 04-26-2018, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean E92

No I got a used engine that had 18k miles on it. New one from BMW with labor would cost me close to 30k$. Damn so should we use 30 weight?

30K$ is WAYYYYY high. They marked that up significantly above the typical MSRP. I was told typical customer install price for a new N55 was around 22k$. Thankfully, I was able to get my motor at cost (just over 11k$) and had my employee discount on the labor (just over 1.5K$).

Bours · 04-26-2018, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnapCoupe

30K$ is WAYYYYY high. They marked that up significantly above the typical MSRP. I was told typical customer install price for a new N55 was around 22k$. Thankfully, I was able to get my motor at cost (just over 11k$) and had my employee discount on the labor (just over 1.5K$).

it seems like many people that spun a bearing on the n55 was using liqui moly oil.....

i will switch from liqui moly to oem on my built motor......

i dont know why it spun a bearing but im 2011 also....

Bours · 04-26-2018, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mean E92

N55 right? My bearing spun with the stock turbo and no meth. I just had a CAI, chargepipe, catless downpipe and JB4.

yes n55 with 99k miles .....i rly hope after the rebuild everything is ok...

MTK24 · 04-26-2018, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bours

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnapCoupe

30K$ is WAYYYYY high. They marked that up significantly above the typical MSRP. I was told typical customer install price for a new N55 was around 22k$. Thankfully, I was able to get my motor at cost (just over 11k$) and had my employee discount on the labor (just over 1.5K$).

it seems like many people that spun a bearing on the n55 was using liqui moly oil.....

i will switch from liqui moly to oem on my built motor......

i dont know why it spun a bearing but im 2011 also....

This forum has gone full stupid saying liqui molly causes spun bearing

9krpmrx8 · 04-26-2018, 05:44 PM

or that spun bearings are a problem on any significant scale. But I do hope people are doing dealer recommended OCI's and running 5W-30's in hot environments, I will eventually need a spare engine to build.

Bours · 04-26-2018, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vampire335i

This forum has gone full stupid saying liqui molly causes spun bearing

it seems to have to be related a tiny bit....ever seen ppl spin a bearing on oem oil ?

Kevin39 · 04-26-2018, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bours

it seems to have to be related a tiny bit....ever seen ppl spin a bearing on oem oil ?

Yep. Last page of the MHD general discussion thread. SanpCoupe said he used BMW oil. He's got a new motor in it now. Post 5275 he mentions his spun bearing. 5427 he mentions the oil he used. I'm sure he'll jump in here and clarify anything. I'm on my phone or I'd put in the links to make it easier.

SnapCoupe · 04-26-2018, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin39

Yep. Last page of the MHD general discussion thread. SanpCoupe said he used BMW oil. He's got a new motor in it now. Post 5275 he mentions his spun bearing. 5427 he mentions the oil he used. I'm sure he'll jump in here and clarify anything. I'm on my phone or I'd put in the links to make it easier.

Beat me to it.

I have also seen two spun bearing N55 cars at the dealership using BMW 5W-30, though these were not E90s.

Xdrive35i2014 · 04-26-2018, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnapCoupe

Beat me to it.

I have also seen two spun bearing N55 cars at the dealership using BMW 5W-30, though these were not E90s.

Christ do you redline your car even when the engine is cold?

Bours · 04-26-2018, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnapCoupe

Beat me to it.

I have also seen two spun bearing N55 cars at the dealership using BMW 5W-30, though these were not E90s.

so what can cause these bearings to spin ? is it a 2011 thing or what ? i did all my oil changes at 4k miles with liqui moly 5w 40 religiously..... im 6at and never mishifted or bouced the limiter....

SnapCoupe · 04-26-2018, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xdrive35i2014

Christ do you redline your car even when the engine is cold?

What? No, I have always properly warmed my cars up before any hard driving. The cars I was referencing were not mine, they were cars to come into the dealership I work at.

northbranchroad · 04-27-2018, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnapCoupe

What? No, I have always properly warmed my cars up before any hard driving. The cars I was referencing were not mine, they were cars to come into the dealership I work at.

You also did purchase your car at like 70k miles or something like that. That is almost 3 times around the world, who knows how it was treated before you got it.

Would like to know more about this though, but it seems the number of n55’s from 2011’s that I have heard about failing is less than 10.

Pladi · 04-27-2018, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnapCoupe

What? No, I have always properly warmed my cars up before any hard driving. The cars I was referencing were not mine, they were cars to come into the dealership I work at.

How many times has your dealership seent this ?(Gives us numbers or estimates in a year if you want to be helpful. Dont just say alot) Its hard to believe this issue is common. Very hard.

Does anyone know if late N55 use different bearings or anything else different ??

Why would BMW use the same engine for F models.. if it was such an issue ?

04-26-2018, 07:20 AM	#133
Bours Lieutenant Colonel 166 Rep 1,700 Posts Drives: 2011 335i x-drive LCI sedan Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Montreal iTrader: (0)	i just spun a bearing on my 99k miles 335 x drive 2011 pure stage 2 on meth.....gettin a rebuild by mmp.....
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04-26-2018, 11:56 AM	#135
Mean E92 Private First Class 40 Rep 177 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: San Francisco, California iTrader: (0)	I feel like this engine failure is very common for the 2011 N55's (mine car was a 2011 n55). I really want to know the cause of engine failure on these cars. Mine spun at 83K and that seems like a common mileage for them to fail too. I'm wondering how this is happening when people on the N54 platform are on stock internals and pushing more power.
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04-26-2018, 05:44 PM	#146
9krpmrx8 Clean is the new cool, keep it that way. 808 Rep 1,685 Posts Drives: 11' Alpine White 335i Sedan Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: San Antonio, Texas iTrader: (0)	or that spun bearings are a problem on any significant scale. But I do hope people are doing dealer recommended OCI's and running 5W-30's in hot environments, I will eventually need a spare engine to build. __________________ 2011 335i, FBO, N55+ Turbo, full E85, S55 intercooler, etc. 2015 X5 35i Xdrive
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