[David_Vasha]

Did a recent oil change on my 2011 535i Xdrive and found some flakes in my oil filter. Is this most likely my rod bearings or something else? I am going back to college and if it's rod bearings I'm screwed. Any input is appreciated!

[Jer_i_miah]

I don't see any flakes in the picture. Do you have a magnetic drain plug? If you don't you should get one.

[David_Vasha]

There are very small flakes if you zoom in

[95blkmax]

Unfortunately, there is no way to know for sure if it's rod bearings or not without a visual inspection (or with an oil analysis from Blackstone). The most COMMON place for metal wear on N55s is the rod bearings. In RARE occasions I've seen crankshaft timing sprocket/ chain wear (but this is typically on extremely neglected cars that either had oil changes far in between OR got their oil "changed" at Jiffy Lube/ Walmart... either scenario is terribly detrimental on these engines).

Not a fun spot to be in. Some metal wear is normal but you shouldn't be able to SEE it. You're also in a particularly rough situation having to head back to school soon. Regardless of the source of the metal, you're looking at a very involved job as both scenarios above would require dropping the oil pan. Which is $$$ and time-consuming as it is. You being x-drive just adds even more work to that endeavor.

Having said that, is there any way you can take another car to college while this one gets looked at? That would be my honest suggesting if I were in your shoes back when I was in college.

[David_Vasha]

I do have another car taken up for college but even with it at home I have no extra money to spend for a rod bearing issue. I save up my money for college and I did all preventative maintenance on my car other than rod bearings since I was told rod bearings are not a big issue on these engines given that you change the oil frequently and don't drive it hard when the engine is warming up (both precautions I took seriously when owning the car). I'm not one to complain about life being unfair and whatnot but this situation really sucks. I think my best bet is to sell it and stick with something better as a DD. Who knows though. I'm either going to have to marry it or dump it and right now I'm certainly leaning towards dumping it since I did all the necessary maintenance to keep this car running and I can't keep feeding money into it all the time. It's truly a shame and I am disappointed to say the least

[ezaircon4jc]

Before you go crazy, do what 95blkmax says and have an oil analysis performed.

[David_Vasha]

I should be able to get the oil analysis done this upcoming week. Although I feel that the results will still ward something negative in results.

[OnlyGerman]

2011 n55 strikes again

[95blkmax]

Originally Posted by OnlyGerman

2011 n55 strikes again

Not picking on you but you bring up a point there. Im sitting at work so lets put at end to the very common internet myth that N54 rod bearings were crap, and that N55 rod bearings were better, then newer N55 rod bearings were even better that those... Because BMW used the SAME N54 rod bearings from N54s and N55, as well as some S55..

I looked up a few samples with no VIN (so I'd see all available options for a given PN). Note that Uppers and lowers have different part numbers depending on the color marking on the rod bearing found upon disassembly (be it violet/ yellow for uppers, blue/ red for lowers). This is what I have for PN endings-

E90 N54- Uppers-715-714, Lowers- 035-034

2011 N55 (my car) Uppers-715-714, Lowers- 035-034

F10 LCI N55 Uppers-715-714, Lowers- 035-034

F80 M3 S55 Uppers-715-714, Lowers- 035-034

F80 LCI M3 S55 Uppers-715-714, Lowers- 035-034
------------------------------------
Having said that, we can say that all N54s, N55s, and S55 use the IDENTICAL SETS of rod bearings.

With that in mind, we can make some educated observations about their craftmanship-
1- They all crap out with age
2- How much time you have will depend on your driving style, your engine warm-up habits (how hard or not you drive the car as the oil warms up), the frequency of oil changes, the quality of oil and filter you use, and unfortunately- luck

I will share that (and this is by no means an all mighty/ absolute that it will happen to all that fall under this)... every single N55 and N54 that we've ever had to replace due to rod bearing failure- went over their first oil change interval. Due at 10k and not brought in for that first oil change until 12k, sometimes further.

I can attest that 10k miles is a ridiculously long oil change interval for any manufacturer to use. But honestly, most don't care. Possibly because by the time this becomes an issue the car is out of warranty (that's just an assumption, of course).

[David_Vasha]

Great write up 95blkmax. I just got to accept either fixing her or getting something different that's more simply for work on myself. Anyone have any opinions about older gen corvettes? I like the c4 model.

[beegeezy]

Originally Posted by David_Vasha

Great write up 95blkmax. I just got to accept either fixing her or getting something different that's more simply for work on myself. Anyone have any opinions about older gen corvettes? I like the c4 model.

It could be nothing, so don't jump to conclusions.

However, you're a college student or about to be one and this is your primary car? I thankfully never had to rue my own poor decisions about what car I drove when I was in college...none of the high performance, unreliable cars I shuffled through (and there were many) had any major failures while in my possession. But it could have easily been a disaster many times over.

Do yourself a favor while you're in school and not making disposable income...sell the BMW, forget the vette. Buy a Camry. It hurts, but you'll sleep easier knowing you can afford it if it breaks. *If you have to have a "nice" car, get an older used Lexus (LS400 or 430 would be my choice). You could drive 500k miles on those with little to no issues at all.

[David_Vasha]

Originally Posted by beegeezy

It could be nothing, so don't jump to conclusions.

However, you're a college student or about to be one and this is your primary car? I thankfully never had to rue my own poor decisions about what car I drove when I was in college...none of the high performance, unreliable cars I shuffled through (and there were many) had any major failures while in my possession. But it could have easily been a disaster many times over.

Do yourself a favor while you're in school and not making disposable income...sell the BMW, forget the vette. Buy a Camry. It hurts, but you'll sleep easier knowing you can afford it if it breaks. *If you have to have a "nice" car, get an older used Lexus (LS400 or 430 would be my choice). You could drive 500k miles on those with little to no issues at all.

I appreciate the advice. I really do. I am currently halfway through my college career at chapel hill so I am starting to lean towards that option. I, like many of you, love BMWs not because of the status symbol but because of how fun they are to drive and how good they look while doing it. I've always wrenched on my car and I of course factored in that it's more money to own but I guess I was naive to think I could avoid this issue when I got to the mileage I have now. Hopefully when I get out of college I can start thinking again about what car I can start throwing a bit more money into.

[BimmerHausPerformance]

Are you going to do the Blackwell analysis to avoid jumping to any conclusions?

[David_Vasha]

Originally Posted by BrowBMW

Are you going to do the Blackwell analysis to avoid jumping to any conclusions?

Yes I am

[BimmerHausPerformance]

Originally Posted by David_Vasha

Yes I am

Nice keep us posted. Hoping for the best.

[beegeezy]

Originally Posted by David_Vasha

I appreciate the advice. I really do. I am currently halfway through my college career at chapel hill so I am starting to lean towards that option. I, like many of you, love BMWs not because of the status symbol but because of how fun they are to drive and how good they look while doing it. I've always wrenched on my car and I of course factored in that it's more money to own but I guess I was naive to think I could avoid this issue when I got to the mileage I have now. Hopefully when I get out of college I can start thinking again about what car I can start throwing a bit more money into.

Go Heels! Coincidentally, I grew up in Durham and lived in NC until after high school.

Another option, if you do sell the car, would be pretty much any non-turbo, in-line 6 BMW. The turbo cars are just so much more expensive to maintain. All BMWs are going to have cooling system and normal suspension required maintenance that exceed most any Japanese car. Regardless of which route you choose, good luck!

[David_Vasha]

Thank you! I've had an e85 z4 beforehand and that engine (although the upkeep was more than a typical car) was quite reliable and I could always depend on it with the proper maintenance. I think if need be, I'll go with an e46 or e92 328i.

[David_Vasha]

Update: I was able to pull out the oil filter and thoroughly checked for shavings inside of it and didn't see any. It's only been about 500 miles or so. I'm also going to collect the oil analysis as well for black stone so hope to hear from them ASAP after I send it. Wish me luck. No knock and drives fine so far. Haven't been pushing the car either.

[BimmerHausPerformance]

Originally Posted by David_Vasha

Update: I was able to pull out the oil filter and thoroughly checked for shavings inside of it and didn't see any. It's only been about 500 miles or so. I'm also going to collect the oil analysis as well for black stone so hope to hear from them ASAP after I send it. Wish me luck. No knock and drives fine so far. Haven't been pushing the car either.

Any word?

[David_Vasha]

@BrowBMW They should hopefully get back to me soon. My tracking number tells me they received it.

[David_Vasha]

Excellent news gentlemen. No signs of rod bearing failure here? Not really sure where the flakes are from now if it's not the bearings

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by David_Vasha

Excellent news gentlemen. No signs of rod bearing failure here? Not really sure where the flakes are from now if it's not the bearings

Looks like that engine needs a One-A-Day!