E60 M5, E63 M6 Rod Bearing Set

Rod bearings should be replaced as a preventative measure before 80,000 miles. This is the set of rod bearings for the S85 V10 in the E60 M5 and E63 M6 (BMW part numbers 11247841703 and 11247841702). This is just the set of bearings and does not include any of the other items that need to be replaced at the same time (connecting rod bolts, oil pan gasket, hardware, etc). Click here for the complete M5/M6 rod bearing replacement kit.

Rod bearings continue to be a sore subject among M3, M5, and M6 owners. The rod bearings in the S85 V8 have been known to fail within 60,000 miles. There could be a number of reasons for premature failure with a lot of finger-pointing as to the real cause. Whatever the reason, rod bearings are wearing out sooner than expected and their replacement should be considered a required preventative maintenance item. We suggest a replacement interval of between 60,000-80,000 miles with frequent engine oil analysis done along the way*. Driving moderately and allowing the engine to warm up before hard use will also extend rod bearing life.

* BMW released an updated rod bearing around 2011 that uses different materials than the original design. The old rod bearings were constructed with several layers or metal, including copper and lead. If an engine oil analysis revealed high levels of these specific metals then it was a sure sign that the rod bearings were nearing replacement. However, the new BMW bearings do not use copper or lead so an oil analysis will not alert you to heavy bearing wear. The new bearings are also a harder material which prolonged the life of the bearing but increased the liklihood of crankshaft damage if a bearing failed. Even though the bearing theoretically lasts longer it's even more important to preventativly replace them before they damage the crankshaft.

This set fits the following BMWs:
2006-2010 E60 BMW M5
2006-2011 E63 BMW M6