Weird engine failure. Engine gurus help!!!

Tiago · Fri, Jul-28-2006, 08:27:54 PM

My car is at the dealership since last december. I had the 3rd engine on since august of 2004. At this time it was 2 bolts from the middle of the crankshaft that broke. It may need now a new crankshaft and conecting rods. The BMW don't want to cover the damage. To make the long story short, and after i tried all the best ways to deal with them, i have now appointed an audience in court to get a deal with BMW. I need now to know what it may cause that broken bolts. Some mechanics told me that it could be due to when they rebuild the engine, they could had tight too much the bolts, making it broke because it didn't had the enough flexibility to face the heating from the engine.

Can anyone tell me what else could it happen to broke that bolts??? Over-revs? Huge downshift? :nixweiss: :nixweiss: :nixweiss:

M54B25 · Fri, Jul-28-2006, 09:06:41 PM

Sorry to hear that! Is that the main studs that broke? Did the dealer replace engine the 3rd time? Or just replaced bearings?

nrubenstein · Fri, Jul-28-2006, 09:09:36 PM

A huge over-rev could cause that - did BMW claim that you had?

It sounds a lot more like they ****ed up, though. Have you spent a lot fo time at high revs on the autobahn? The S54 is not an engine I would care to run at high speed for very long.

**ArtM3** · Fri, Jul-28-2006, 09:34:44 PM

which bolts...main bearings?

or rod end?

how long was it driven after the work was done before they broke?

the original bearing issues were cause by crank flex, high RPM, long crank...
this may be related...

the bolts may have been torqued improperly leading up to it...

are the valves munched? I would associate this more w/ a mechanical over rev

is your rev limiter stock?

itsme · Fri, Jul-28-2006, 09:55:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtM3

which bolts...main bearings?

or rod end?

I think he's talking about the main bearing

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tiago

At this time it was 2 bolts from the middle of the crankshaft that broke.

itsme · Fri, Jul-28-2006, 09:54:03 PM

TTY (torque to yield) bolts mixed up with the new bolts and the old ones... or nevered used new ones.

acorreiajr · Fri, Jul-28-2006, 11:40:40 PM

Sorry to hear about that.

I believe you have a custom ECU remap. Hope that's not the culprit!

Anyway, it will be hard to battle BMW in court after nearly two years since the last engine was fitted. Best of luck to you.

torresmd · Sat, Jul-29-2006, 01:13:42 AM

Jeeez...What a nightmare. What grounds does the dealer have for not wanting to cover this under warranty?

**ArtM3** · Sat, Jul-29-2006, 01:20:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by torresmd

Jeeez...What a nightmare. What grounds does the dealer have for not wanting to cover this under warranty?

iirc, in Europe the warranties aren't as strong or as long as ours...he's probably out of warranty

torresmd · Sat, Jul-29-2006, 01:25:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtM3

iirc, in Europe the warranties aren't as strong or as long as ours...he's probably out of warranty

That is very unfortunate. I am starting to get nervous creeping toward the 50K mark.

Fri, Jul-28-2006, 08:27:54 PM	#1
Tiago Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Age: 31 Posts: 1,330 Reputation: 0 Location: Europe	Weird engine failure. Engine gurus help!!! My car is at the dealership since last december. I had the 3rd engine on since august of 2004. At this time it was 2 bolts from the middle of the crankshaft that broke. It may need now a new crankshaft and conecting rods. The BMW don't want to cover the damage. To make the long story short, and after i tried all the best ways to deal with them, i have now appointed an audience in court to get a deal with BMW. I need now to know what it may cause that broken bolts. Some mechanics told me that it could be due to when they rebuild the engine, they could had tight too much the bolts, making it broke because it didn't had the enough flexibility to face the heating from the engine. Can anyone tell me what else could it happen to broke that bolts??? Over-revs? Huge downshift? :nixweiss: :nixweiss: :nixweiss: __________________ ESS VT2-550 / AEM WMI / Supersprint Race System / 3.91 Diff / Stoptech ST60 and ST40 / Bilstein PSS9 / UUC Sways CLICK HERE FOR PICS OF MY CAR_______________"On the street, fun is better than speed"_______________

Fri, Jul-28-2006, 09:06:41 PM	#2
M54B25 Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 171 Reputation: 0 Location: Miami	Sorry to hear that! Is that the main studs that broke? Did the dealer replace engine the 3rd time? Or just replaced bearings? __________________ '06 M3 ZCP Titanium Silver w/PP + Nav + Xenon + Zero Tune. '04 X5 4.4i SAV Kalahari Beige Metallic PP RCP SP

Fri, Jul-28-2006, 09:09:36 PM	#3
nrubenstein ******* Join Date: Dec 2003 Age: 31 Posts: 7,354 Reputation: 0 Location: Washington, DC	A huge over-rev could cause that - did BMW claim that you had? It sounds a lot more like they **ed up, though. Have you spent a lot fo time at high revs on the autobahn? The S54 is not an engine I would care to run at high speed for very long. __________________ 2006 GMC Sierra 2500HD 4WD Duramax LBZ/Allison 2002 BMW M3 Alpinweiß/Black** - JBL MS-62C, IDQ-12v3, JBL MS-8 1999 323i KP/GTS2 Alpinweiß - Hood-in-the-windshield mod 1990 325is Brilliantrot/Tan - GC/Bilstein, Sway 1989 325is Alpinweiß/Black - S50B30, GC/Koni, Sways, BBS RX, Hybrid C61-2, Sundown SA-12, JBL MS-8 1989 M3 Alpinweiß/Black - S50B32. 321hp. Hers: 1996 Porsche 911 Turbo Black/Black Hers: 1988 325iX Coupe Diamondschwartz/Black 5spd - Korman lengthened front driveshaft, Cam, Bilstein, H&R Sport, snow chains.

Fri, Jul-28-2006, 09:34:44 PM	#4
ArtM3 Banned Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 33,063 Reputation: 0	which bolts...main bearings? or rod end? how long was it driven after the work was done before they broke? the original bearing issues were cause by crank flex, high RPM, long crank... this may be related... the bolts may have been torqued improperly leading up to it... are the valves munched? I would associate this more w/ a mechanical over rev is your rev limiter stock? Last edited by ArtM3; Fri, Jul-28-2006 at 09:39:51 PM.

Fri, Jul-28-2006, 09:54:03 PM	#6
itsme ... Join Date: Jul 2002 Age: 27 Posts: 2,892 In the garage: '11 NISSAN FRONTIER '02 BMW M3 Reputation: 0 Location: Oakland, CA	TTY (torque to yield) bolts mixed up with the new bolts and the old ones... or nevered used new ones. __________________ -Wing 2002.5 Stl Grey M3 SMG II

Fri, Jul-28-2006, 11:40:40 PM	#7
acorreiajr Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Age: 37 Posts: 114 Reputation: 0 Location: Lisbon - Portugal	Sorry to hear about that. I believe you have a custom ECU remap. Hope that's not the culprit! Anyway, it will be hard to battle BMW in court after nearly two years since the last engine was fitted. Best of luck to you.

Sat, Jul-29-2006, 01:13:42 AM	#8
torresmd Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Age: 47 Posts: 3,547 Reputation: 0 Location: Mesa, AZ	Jeeez...What a nightmare. What grounds does the dealer have for not wanting to cover this under warranty? __________________ 2004 996TT Gaurds red/Black interior GT660 550 whp on 91 octane 2004 IMOLA CAB [/SIZE]

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