scored bearings

[a.k.a. Jorg Muller]

All they are going to do is put it back together with new crank bearings. I have been resisting the urge all day, but enough is enough. I was told that any inordinate wear would be evaluated and most likely scored bearings would result in a replacement engine. The oil pan was clean as a whistle when I arrived, I was not given the opportunity to see it after the oil was drained, it had been wiped clean.

Crank bearings #2 and #4 show significant scoring.I also have spent over $900 (yes, that's not a typo) on oil and filters, have changed the oil at least 10 times in the 15 months I've had the car. Before any driving event, the engine would get new oil and a new filter. I have gone to tremendous lengths to properly maintain this car, I am supremely confident that had I not gone to these lengths, my engine would have spun bearings and I would not now be in this position. I feel relatively sure that if there is scoring on the crank that the main bearings and or crank surface may have damage not readily visible to the naked eye. This and no replacement engine ?

It was also insinuated by my local service writer that BMW could void any warranty by virtue of me having attended ANY driving school, but the BMWNA rep to whom I spoke asked me to let that one go. Prior to this statement, I had had great respect for my service writer.

I have a loaner, and I will be driving it until my car is returned to me with a replacement engine.

I also know of one individual who had an engine replaced with nothing more than high lead levels in an oil report. I've kept that one under my hat long enough.

I'm writing my letter to Tom Purves now, and BMWNA will be hearing from my attorney, as will the North Carolina Attorney General.
<http://members.roadfly.com/jorg/Roeb03Sig.jpg>

[ChuckD]

And not the red one.

I am astonished! How far did this go up the food chain?

Pressure my friend.. apply it! The only assitance I can offer is my voice.. not sure that would do any good by itself... but it was the masses that got us this far. We might have to leverage the masses again to get through the induvidual bullsh1t such as this.

Best O luck to you Jorg..

PS service writers don't know squat.. this has been proven time and time again.

[a.k.a. Jorg Muller]

Look at these bearings and tell me there's not likely crank or main bearing oil-starvation damage, and after I spent $900 on oil/filters to ensure I was doing the BEST for my engine ? Had I not wasted all that money, my engine would have spun it's crap bearings long ago, I'd have a new engine, and you wouldn't be getting yet more embarassment. I cared enough about this car to do my very best to protect it, despite your shoddy manufacturing quality control. You even went so far as to replace the engine in someone's car based solely on an oil lab report (name STILL withheld out of deference to one of your Montvale employees). Wait until these photos show up in AutoWeek, Road & Track, Car & Driver, Automobile, Car, to name a few, accompanied by the story of the person who cared so much for his car that he spent nearly a thousand dollars making sure his high performance race-bred car had the best and freshest oil it could have, once a month !

[Jim in Oregon]

Fight them for a new engine....those bearings are shot. Downplay the driving schools...I had a fight with BMW with my rotors that I warped on the track. They refused to cover the rotors since I had my car on a track. Now, I just tell them I drive hard on the backroads.

Keep us informed as to how it goes.

[TGray5]

Now, I'm wondering if I should have insisted on seeing my bearings. I had seen reports of engines being replaced during the bearing service, so I assumed BMW would do the right thing if mine weren't in good shape. Not a good assumption, I guess.:mad:

[Nick325xiT 5spd]

:yikes:

All I can say is good luck with BMW.

[SteveT]

Sounds like the Service Advisor needs and adjustment in attitude. Was the BMW rep any better? They should be willing to listen to your position regarding the facts shown by the bearings.

I don't know the actual reason for the oil starvation problem. The oil changes wouldn't have hurt, but if there's some oil flow problem due to a mechanical issue in the oil path, not much but a mechanical fix will work. If this is a tolerance problem, if your engine's on the wrong side of the tolerance, you will get starvation. If you've got scored bearings someone ought to check the crank very closely.

Hang in there, BMW has done the right thing even though some of the dealers have been jerks.

[shep01]

it is their fault - BMW - the "red bearing fiasco" that backfired on them when they tried to fix an isolated problem with out of spec components that they coild not identify. The bearings provided more tolerance while at the same time interfered with oil flow. There is no groove in the jornal for pooling of the oil so the outlet oil supply was compromised. They are hiding behind the usual garbage regarding oil pump polution this time around but have not addresed the fact that the polution would have to effect the crank bearings; cam lobes; etc. The magic pollution seems to only have an appetite for rod end bearings - what a crock.

Typical BMW! Really makes me want to start looking for a GT3 to test drive.

[a.k.a. Jorg Muller]

Ralf,
You know how I feel about my car vs my fiance's 996, but if BMWNA doesn't do the right thing by me, I'll be driving a Porsche within a month. Count on it. There are some discounts going on, we have a very good friend at the local dealer on their sales staff, and I'll be a Zuffenhauser before you can say Norbert Singer.
David