Another Rod Bearing Question

mlove · 10-07-2022, 10:43 AM

Let me start by saying my apologies to contribute to the Rod Bearing rigmarole.

I am getting the rod bearings done on my 2013 M3 with 38k miles in two weeks and wanted to ask a question. The shop said they have two options.

1. BE bearings with BE (ARP) rod bolts for $2,900. This includes new motor mounts supplied by them. I am supplying the oil pan gasket and oil (Liquid Moly).

2. ACL bearings with BMW OEM rod bolts (ARP rod bolts are on back order until ?) for $2,500 This includes new motor mounts supplied by them. I am supplying the oil pan gasket and oil (Liquid
Moly).

I am indecisive on what to do. Its a $400 difference. Does it really matter? I do not track the car. Its a weekend fun car.

Your thoughts?

kolosy · 10-07-2022, 10:47 AM

Pretty subjective. The whole point of doing rod bearings (esp on a '13 car with low mileage) is peace of mind and a form of insurance. If I were in your shoes, I'd spend the extra $400 because BE is viewed as the gold standard. That said, when I did bearings on my E93, BE was out of stock so I went with ACL race and was fine with it.

The bolts don't really matter if the shop is comfortable with the extra work.

Helmsman · 10-07-2022, 12:38 PM

Do the shop say what ACL shells it is mate?

asma123 · 10-07-2022, 12:53 PM

Personally I’d spend the extra and use the BE bearings with ARP bolts.
Oem bolts leave too much room for error plus BE is like the golden standard to most people since they’re individually measured.
I have acl bearings and arp bolts in mine since BE was back ordered at the time. I’ve taken it to the track no issues at all. Already put almost 10k km since I had them done. If I was to do it all again I’d deff go for BE. I went with the custom ACL from m motorsports.

DrFerry · 10-07-2022, 04:21 PM

^^^^ Spend the extra and go with BE Bearings & BE (ARP) Bolts.. You'll be glad you did and perhaps sleep a little better too.

Redd · 10-07-2022, 06:06 PM

I'd spend the extra $400. ARP bolts are re-usable in the future.

pbonsalb · 10-07-2022, 06:22 PM

ACL bearings and stock bolts should be a lot more than $400 cheaper so if that is all the savings I would go with the BE/ARP combo.

NeverL8 · 10-07-2022, 08:41 PM

$2900 and you’re supplying pan gasket and oil?

Seems a bit high, unless you’re not in California.

akkando · 10-08-2022, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlove

Let me start by saying my apologies to contribute to the Rod Bearing rigmarole.

I am getting the rod bearings done on my 2013 M3 with 38k miles in two weeks and wanted to ask a question. The shop said they have two options.

1. BE bearings with BE (ARP) rod bolts for $2,900. This includes new motor mounts supplied by them. I am supplying the oil pan gasket and oil (Liquid Moly).

2. ACL bearings with BMW OEM rod bolts (ARP rod bolts are on back order until ?) for $2,500 This includes new motor mounts supplied by them. I am supplying the oil pan gasket and oil (Liquid
Moly).

I am indecisive on what to do. Its a $400 difference. Does it really matter? I do not track the car. Its a weekend fun car.

Your thoughts?

I'd go with the ones actually measured to be the right size. Bonus they come with bolts that are easier and faster to install and much less error prone as the OEM bolts are complicated and tedious to install. Wouldn't want someone getting distracted during install and end up torquing them wrong over $400.

6thGears · 10-08-2022, 08:48 PM

$400 bucks is nothing compared to a spun bearing.

mlove · 10-10-2022, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheRussski

$2900 and you’re supplying pan gasket and oil?

Seems a bit high, unless you’re not in California.

Unfortunately, I am in MD East coast. Yes, its is more and most shops wont do the job.

I think I am going with the BE / ARP setup. My inclination was BE. Thanks for all the insight.

10-07-2022, 10:43 AM	#1
mlove Private 18 Rep 53 Posts Drives: 2013 M3 Lemans Blue 6MT ZCP Join Date: May 2021 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 BMW M3 [0.00]	Another Rod Bearing Question Let me start by saying my apologies to contribute to the Rod Bearing rigmarole. I am getting the rod bearings done on my 2013 M3 with 38k miles in two weeks and wanted to ask a question. The shop said they have two options. 1. BE bearings with BE (ARP) rod bolts for $2,900. This includes new motor mounts supplied by them. I am supplying the oil pan gasket and oil (Liquid Moly). 2. ACL bearings with BMW OEM rod bolts (ARP rod bolts are on back order until ?) for $2,500 This includes new motor mounts supplied by them. I am supplying the oil pan gasket and oil (Liquid Moly). I am indecisive on what to do. Its a $400 difference. Does it really matter? I do not track the car. Its a weekend fun car. Your thoughts?
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10-07-2022, 10:47 AM	#2
kolosy Colonel 1548 Rep 2,071 Posts Drives: over potholes Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Chicago iTrader: (2)	Pretty subjective. The whole point of doing rod bearings (esp on a '13 car with low mileage) is peace of mind and a form of insurance. If I were in your shoes, I'd spend the extra $400 because BE is viewed as the gold standard. That said, when I did bearings on my E93, BE was out of stock so I went with ACL race and was fine with it. The bolts don't really matter if the shop is comfortable with the extra work. __________________ Current '21 DG X5MC, '22 X5M50i, '11 E90 M3 Recent Past '12 E92 M3 ZCP, '08 E93 M3, '18 F80 ZCP, '04 E46 M3 I think I have an M3 problem.
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10-07-2022, 12:38 PM	#3
Helmsman Major General 4485 Rep 7,129 Posts Drives: 2011 AW E90 M3 ZCP Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Stockholm, Sweden iTrader: (0)	Do the shop say what ACL shells it is mate?
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10-07-2022, 12:53 PM	#4
asma123 Private First Class 190 Rep 123 Posts Drives: E92 M3, 5G 4Runner, 9G Civic Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Personally I’d spend the extra and use the BE bearings with ARP bolts. Oem bolts leave too much room for error plus BE is like the golden standard to most people since they’re individually measured. I have acl bearings and arp bolts in mine since BE was back ordered at the time. I’ve taken it to the track no issues at all. Already put almost 10k km since I had them done. If I was to do it all again I’d deff go for BE. I went with the custom ACL from m motorsports.
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10-07-2022, 04:21 PM	#5
DrFerry Field Marshal 6732 Rep 1,829 Posts Drives: '08 E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Greenville, SC iTrader: (5) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [5.25] 2015 BMW X5 [4.50]	^^^^ Spend the extra and go with BE Bearings & BE (ARP) Bolts.. You'll be glad you did and perhaps sleep a little better too. __________________ '08 E92 M3 DCT Melbourne Red/Bamboo Beige Leather/EDC/SSP Spec-R DCT clutch discs/SSP Pro-Gold DCT Fluid/Quaife LSD/3:45 Final Drive by Diffs Online/BE Bearings & ARP Bolts/Vibra Technics Engine Mounts/M3 World HFC X-Pipe/LUX H8 180/BPM Sport DCT Tune/PFC Z-Rated Pads/ECS Brass Brake Caliper Bushings/Alex Shop Solid Sub-frame Bushings/Motul 600/Tint
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10-07-2022, 06:06 PM	#6
Redd Brigadier General 3913 Rep 4,180 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW E92 M3 Dakar Edition Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Malaysia iTrader: (0)	I'd spend the extra $400. ARP bolts are re-usable in the future.
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10-07-2022, 06:22 PM	#7
pbonsalb Lieutenant General 5269 Rep 10,664 Posts Drives: 18 F90 M5, 99 E36 M3 Turbo Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: New England iTrader: (4)	ACL bearings and stock bolts should be a lot more than $400 cheaper so if that is all the savings I would go with the BE/ARP combo.
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10-07-2022, 08:41 PM	#8
NeverL8 Captain 523 Rep 743 Posts Drives: Slow Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: SD iTrader: (0)	$2900 and you’re supplying pan gasket and oil? Seems a bit high, unless you’re not in California.
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10-08-2022, 08:48 PM	#10
6thGears New Member 3 Rep 14 Posts Drives: BMW M3 E93 Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: San Diego, California iTrader: (0)	$400 bucks is nothing compared to a spun bearing.
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