I'm wondering if you are thinking of the last of the Z3M Coupe with the S54 instead?Smartbear wrote: I thought the early z4m's were fitted with the stretchy bolts? I seem to remember owners being really irked that bmw didn't treat them in the same manner as the m3 guys.
Rob
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S54 rod bearing
- Fishy Dave
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S54 rod bearing
Corvette C6
Mazda RX-8 race car
Now sold: Z4M Roadster, the best all round car I have owned.
Mazda RX-8 race car
Now sold: Z4M Roadster, the best all round car I have owned.
- Fishy Dave
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S54 rod bearing
I know what you mean but actually the Z4M's relative simplicity was part of it's appeal to me. Comparing it to my colleagues Boxster 3.4 of the same era he says that my car looks really basic (because the Boxster has buttons everywhere). There are no paddles on the M and only four buttons on the wheel Yes, it is a chunky wheel but you can always change it? Elsewhere the dash design is clean, it was designed to look and feel quite retro. My car had no heated seats but driving in cold conditions with the roof down took some of the fun away, so I retro fitted them, it only adds two buttons so not sure it spoiled the looks greatly?DMC63 wrote: It's got controls all over it and it's too fat. I hate the paddles and buttons on a steering wheel. It looks s**t, especially in a roadster. When they start to add gadgets to a sports car it turns into a Dad car. That's why I like the 2003 pre-facelift with the bare steering wheel, no heated seats. Bare essentials. Look at all the good old roadsters. Bare bones. A fun car to drive with no bells or whistles. Nowadays it's all about comfort without consideration for looks. The 'average Joe' buys for comfort more than looks.
I think the brushed ali and basic leather trim nailed it. tbh, ali floors without carpets would've been cool too. Imagine the 2003 interior in an M. That would be nice. Fast and functional. None of this comfort crap! Well, you asked
I drove my race Caterham on the road for seven years so am all for stripped out fun, but one some of the longer, winter journeys I could have cried I was so cold, wet and uncomfortable! Take a look again at an M, you might be surprised how basic they are compared to more modern cars?
Sorry for the off topic.
Corvette C6
Mazda RX-8 race car
Now sold: Z4M Roadster, the best all round car I have owned.
Mazda RX-8 race car
Now sold: Z4M Roadster, the best all round car I have owned.
- DMC63
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S54 rod bearing
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience with the M. Wow, driving a Caterham for seven years in all weather is hardcore! I tip my hat to you sir.Fishy Dave wrote:I know what you mean but actually the Z4M's relative simplicity was part of it's appeal to me. Comparing it to my colleagues Boxster 3.4 of the same era he says that my car looks really basic (because the Boxster has buttons everywhere). There are no paddles on the M and only four buttons on the wheel Yes, it is a chunky wheel but you can always change it? Elsewhere the dash design is clean, it was designed to look and feel quite retro. My car had no heated seats but driving in cold conditions with the roof down took some of the fun away, so I retro fitted them, it only adds two buttons so not sure it spoiled the looks greatly?DMC63 wrote: It's got controls all over it and it's too fat. I hate the paddles and buttons on a steering wheel. It looks s**t, especially in a roadster. When they start to add gadgets to a sports car it turns into a Dad car. That's why I like the 2003 pre-facelift with the bare steering wheel, no heated seats. Bare essentials. Look at all the good old roadsters. Bare bones. A fun car to drive with no bells or whistles. Nowadays it's all about comfort without consideration for looks. The 'average Joe' buys for comfort more than looks.
I think the brushed ali and basic leather trim nailed it. tbh, ali floors without carpets would've been cool too. Imagine the 2003 interior in an M. That would be nice. Fast and functional. None of this comfort crap! Well, you asked
I drove my race Caterham on the road for seven years so am all for stripped out fun, but one some of the longer, winter journeys I could have cried I was so cold, wet and uncomfortable! Take a look again at an M, you might be surprised how basic they are compared to more modern cars?
Sorry for the off topic.
I like the M, but I'm kinda put off by threads I've read about high maintenance costs. The bearing thread for instance. £2,000 at 70k miles, and general wear and tear seem to make it a bit of a money pit to keep up to scratch. All I really want from my car is a bit more power. I reckon the supercharger will deliver that and get it around the 5.5 sec mark. That way I get to keep the very basic steering wheel.
BMW Z4 2003 2.5i and lots of bits and pieces - 2016 - 2020 Sold
- sixspeed
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S54 rod bearing
So I know it's been a while, but the engine is nearing completion of build and I've had a bunch of photos through that I thought I'd share. Some might say these are a little... knackered.sixspeed wrote: Thanks. Found out today its being delivered back into the UK this Friday (to GSR). Unfortunately Will, the engine builder, is over at Imola for a couple of weeks, so still won't be stripped til first week November. But will keep all informed of the outcome..
It's probably a miracle it didn't go sooner tbh.
Still, the block is all looking nice now!
Should be back together early next week (just waiting for a few shims for the valves that the guys didn't have in stock), then fitted up and hopefully collect the following week. Been a while now. Looking forward to getting back into it and back on track!
- sixspeed
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... oh and if I gave you the bill for the rebuild work, your eyes would water. To me its worth it as I've had 10 years in this car, and plan to have another 10 or more. Ok, i've thrown an upgrade or two in there at the same time, but just the bare rebuild costs alone are probably a good 3-4 times the cost of the shell swap work on an otherwise healthy engine. Doing these as preventative maintenance is a no brainer tbh, and I will be more vigilant in the future. I know I said to myself that I'd probably do them over the winter anyway, but I wonder if I really would have... At least it has been taken out of my hands now!
- LostBoy_84
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S54 rod bearing
Was the crank ok then? What bearings and bolts have you gone for?
Any signs of wear on the cam followers?
Bet you can't wait!
Any signs of wear on the cam followers?
Bet you can't wait!
Gone but not forgotten
2007 Z4///M Coupé | Silver Grey | Imola Nappa Leather | Carbon Leather Trim | Nav | Cruise | PDC | Heated Seats | CSL's | H&R's
Current
2009 Ibis White Audi R8 V10 | 6-speed Manual | Lots of Carbon
2007 Z4///M Coupé | Silver Grey | Imola Nappa Leather | Carbon Leather Trim | Nav | Cruise | PDC | Heated Seats | CSL's | H&R's
Current
2009 Ibis White Audi R8 V10 | 6-speed Manual | Lots of Carbon
- sixspeed
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S54 rod bearing
Crank needed grinding but wasn't toast. Think a conrod needed replacing, but thankfully they had one that could be matched and balanced with the existing. Went with new Schrick cams and BMW motorsport followers, so these have been replaced although the originals were fine. New oil cooler (uprated), oil pump, shells are OE since the jury is out on whether coated provide any benefit...LostBoy_84 wrote:Was the crank ok then? What bearings and bolts have you gone for?
Any signs of wear on the cam followers?
Bet you can't wait!
Will need running in for a few hundred miles when I've got it back, but we're back at the 'Ring for DN17 on the 2nd May, so got to get some miles on in the next few months!
- GuidoK
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S54 rod bearing
Can you even get coated bearings in +0.25 undersize?sixspeed wrote:shells are OE since the jury is out on whether coated provide any benefit...
Z4 3.0i | ESS TS2+ | Quaife ATB LSD | Brembo/BMW performance BBK front/rear | Schrick FI cams | Schmiedmann headers+cats | fully polybushed | Vibra-technics engine mounts | H&R anti rollbars | KW V3 coilovers | Sachs Race Engineering clutch
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S54 rod bearing
Glad you will have it back on the road soon! With new cams will you need a tune as well? I think my bearing shells will need to be done this year, who did you use?
07 Z4MC standard spec
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- Lifer
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S54 rod bearing
Wow.....Them are fooooooked,and looks like the thrust end have been splattered..
Glad its all coming together...
i didnt realise that you could get OEM bearings once the crank had been ground...
I know a few companies were grinding and widening the journal to stop the bearing spin and wear...Obviously using non OEM bearing shells to compensate.
Glad its all coming together...
i didnt realise that you could get OEM bearings once the crank had been ground...
I know a few companies were grinding and widening the journal to stop the bearing spin and wear...Obviously using non OEM bearing shells to compensate.
- Beedub
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S54 rod bearing
those pics are scary!!
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- sixspeed
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Geoff Steel Racing are doing the engine build.Viren wrote:Glad you will have it back on the road soon! With new cams will you need a tune as well? I think my bearing shells will need to be done this year, who did you use?
Cams will be tuned. I've spoken to Randy already at Epic Motorsports in the US after he supplied me the Alpha-N tune for the Evolve airbox, and he is good to provide me an update to the software to cater for the new cams. I'm going to get some dyno time to fine tune things once its fully run-in.
- sixspeed
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Z4M-2006 wrote:Wow.....Them are fooooooked,and looks like the thrust end have been splattered..
Yep!
Good point! I'll check with the guy and update that, as I've probably got that wrong! Pretty sure we didn't go with coated bearings though...Z4M-2006 wrote: i didnt realise that you could get OEM bearings once the crank had been ground...
I know a few companies were grinding and widening the journal to stop the bearing spin and wear...Obviously using non OEM bearing shells to compensate.
- Vanne
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Holy crap Sixspeed, yeah man, i guess those bearings were well and truly shot mate. What changes/additions are you making while the block is apart? good on ya for rebuilding mate.
2007 EuroSpec Z4///MC Building/Developing Z4 GT3
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- MrPT
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S54 rod bearing
Actually feel a bit ill just looking at that.sixspeed wrote:
2008 Z4MC: heavy wheels | crap suspension | skittish rear end | wobbly engine | not enough induction noise | underwhelming turn in | inconsistent braking | lardy battery | chubby steering wheel
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone
2006 Z4 2.5si: gone