Whether to do rod bearings

relative4 · 05-23-2022, 05:51 PM

My wife's '07 335xi auto with 130K miles is almost due for turbos and overdue for the oil pan gasket. I'm debating whether to replace the rod bearings while I'm in there. I've done it before on an N54, so it's not a big problem for me, but it's also not a trivial task. I just don't know if it's merited at this mileage. How have rod bearings on well-maintained cars of comparable miles looked to those of you who've been in there?

Biginboca · 05-23-2022, 07:21 PM

It’s a 15 year old car with 130k miles on it. How much longer do you plan on keeping it would be the decision maker for me. You are already in there so if you want to get another 15 years and 130k then do it, but if you plan to ditch the car in a couple years don’t.

IllSic_Design · 05-23-2022, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biginboca

It’s a 15 year old car with 130k miles on it. How much longer do you plan on keeping it would be the decision maker for me. You are already in there so if you want to get another 15 years and 130k then do it, but if you plan to ditch the car in a couple years don’t.

Pretty much this /\. I did mine at 220k because it's still going strong and I want it to for another 1-200.

relative4 · 05-23-2022, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IllSic_Design

I did mine at 220k.

How did the bearings look at 220K?

IllSic_Design · 05-23-2022, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by relative4

How did the bearings look at 220K?

not bad really, one or two had some wear. There's some pics in one of the rod bearing threads on here if you search my posts. I track my car a little so that was a big reason for me to change them also.

Serf27 · 05-24-2022, 12:41 AM

No need if the car isn’t modified or driven hard.

whyzee125 · 05-24-2022, 12:45 AM

IMO, if you care enough about the car to be doing all this work, change them.

I don't think the N54 really has a rod bearing issue but aside from abuse or bad tuning, that seems to be the only thing that really kills them so for me it was one less thing to wonder about. I did it as much to find out what the originals looked like as to get new ones.

I did mine at 93k and they all looked really good except for one which had some moderate wear but nothing scary. Still really glad I did them.

05-23-2022, 05:51 PM	#1
relative4 Major 611 Rep 1,272 Posts Drives: '08 335xi E90 MT stage 1+ Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Denver, CO iTrader: (0)	Whether to do rod bearings My wife's '07 335xi auto with 130K miles is almost due for turbos and overdue for the oil pan gasket. I'm debating whether to replace the rod bearings while I'm in there. I've done it before on an N54, so it's not a big problem for me, but it's also not a trivial task. I just don't know if it's merited at this mileage. How have rod bearings on well-maintained cars of comparable miles looked to those of you who've been in there?
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05-23-2022, 07:21 PM	#2
Biginboca Colonel 3764 Rep 2,738 Posts Drives: 2009 E92 328i 6MT Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Boynton Beach, FL... USA iTrader: (3)	It’s a 15 year old car with 130k miles on it. How much longer do you plan on keeping it would be the decision maker for me. You are already in there so if you want to get another 15 years and 130k then do it, but if you plan to ditch the car in a couple years don’t. __________________ My E92 328csl Build Thread My 328csl Instagram Page
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05-24-2022, 12:41 AM	#6
Serf27 Brigadier General 2851 Rep 4,322 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Sitting in a BMW. iTrader: (-1)	No need if the car isn’t modified or driven hard.
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05-24-2022, 12:45 AM	#7
whyzee125 Brigadier General 1677 Rep 3,642 Posts Drives: Dinan stage 2 335i Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Chattanooga Tn iTrader: (0)	IMO, if you care enough about the car to be doing all this work, change them. I don't think the N54 really has a rod bearing issue but aside from abuse or bad tuning, that seems to be the only thing that really kills them so for me it was one less thing to wonder about. I did it as much to find out what the originals looked like as to get new ones. I did mine at 93k and they all looked really good except for one which had some moderate wear but nothing scary. Still really glad I did them.
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