BMW N55 Rod Bearings Replacement

Today we replace the Rod Bearings on my 2011 BMW 535i N55.
Link to my F10 Build Sheet - docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
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Rod Bearing Replacement parts:
Oil Pan Gasket - www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-...
Oil Pan Bolt Set - www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-...
King Bearings - www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-...
Connecting Rod Bolts - www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-...

[@janofb]

When I was younger I wouldn't have hesitated to do this job. Now that I'm older, not thanks. But I appreciate that you did all the work yourself and thanks for posting!

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Thanks for supporting the channel.

[@evelynsahoe8896]

I work for BMW and I asked my foreman who was around when N55's were new about the rod bearing issue, he told me he never saw one spin bearings that was maintained properly and that the issue was overblown. He told me just change the oil frequently and he wouldn't worry about it, his wife's N55 just hit 200k with the only major fix being the eccentric shaft. In stock form N55's really are solid ass motors, I see them all the time pushing 150k+ and the motors still running beautifully. It's just the cheaper they get the lower the chances are they will be properly maintained and that goes for all cars really but especially BMWs. He did tell me if I was planning to do more than FBO and a tune it wouldn't be a bad idea to upgrade the rod bearings for peace of mind, they do tend to be the weakest link internally.

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Yeah, I think the issue is over blown as well. I spoke to a buddy that works for a BMW dealership and he said he believes the issues result from initial oil change intervals, that was incorrect from BMW when the N55’s were released. Some apparently had a first oil change around 15k miles. 🤷‍♂️

[@supple_gnar_weaponry]

You’re my hero! Haha you’re doing all the hardest jobs on this series and making it look easy

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Thanks for the support!!

[@tyronehernandez9962]

I wish he was my neighbor 🤣

[@patrickconway2587]

back wheels on ramps is GENIOUS

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

🙏🏽

[@RayFiore13]

thank you grant, im going to be swapping my rod bearings and upgrading to a stage 2 pure turbo within the next two weeks and this video really helped me

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Awesome man. Report back and let me know what you think of the Pure 2. I am planning on upgrading to the F55 FrankenTurbo when it’s released shortly.

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

@@RayFiore13 Yeah, I went with King bearings. Everything else is stock.

[@Carbon_F10]

I love your videos, this just motivated me to do my bearings when I get the time. It's going to be rough since it's xDrive but fun at the same time. I've been following your channel for a while and the content you put out is amazing.

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Thanks for the support!

[@jeffa.8976]

BEST CHANNEL FOR F10 ENTHUSIASTS

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Thanks for your support!!!!

[@jeffa.8976]

I like that you are not a pro mechanic and you show the struggles you have with certain issues so guys like me know what to expect. When I was looking for down pipe tutorials, the other videos made the change look easy. Yours was more realistic.

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

@jeffa.8976 Thanks for your support.

[@omaraki01]

Great to see your content grow brother!!! Keep it up!!!!

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Thanks for your support!

[@95blkmax]

I'll be doing mine soon bro! Thank you for the overview!

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Thanks for your help! Let me know when to hit the highway.

[@mohammadabdullahkhan360]

did you do it?

[@marcuss6662]

wow man much respect to y'all -great job and great vid Thank you & God bless

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Thanks! God bless you too!

[@F80__Los]

god bless both of you amen ✝️

[@reginald8405]

Grant great video brother. I need to do mine.

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

You should!

[@ismail9693]

Definitely, a smart move if you're adding power. What other internal components should be replaced or upgraded if you're adding more power?

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Depends on the power level. From what I understand the n55 stock internals should be good up to around 650whp. Depends on who you ask though.

[@The6Serie]

Hey! excellent content! How do you know which rod bearing needs to be bought? i hear that there are some options

[@1995dabeast]

I’m looking to get mine done on my 640i pretty soon. Im sitting right at 130xxx miles beautiful car BTW.

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Thanks man! Good stuff, let me know how your Rod Bearing replacement goes.

[@rook2043]

Honestly wasn't thinking of that, my rw 535i f10 has 83k. Definitely a project for future.

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Yeah, definitely worth it, if you don’t know the full history on the car. The most important thing is the first oil change interval.

[@fireheadmt85]

Great video. Thanks for confirming for me that I really don't want to do this job myself haha, but it may have to happen. Question - what headlights do you have? I have the condensation issue and need to replace mine, I love the ones you have.

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Mine are RVG LED headlights. BMW F10 535i LED Headlights DIY Install kzbin.info/www/bejne/ep7Yf3aJrbmiqac

[@C63V8]

Excellent

[@3v3y]

I did mine like half a year back at like 135k one thing I’d recommend is to replace all the other parts that are hard to access like water pump, thermostat, control arms thrust arms ball joints motor mounts etc

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Good recommendations!

[@enayetkhan9397]

How is it running since the change? I am still after of rod knock even after changing the bearings. The bearings at 120k looked great. No issues.

[@Stoley_S4]

@@enayetkhan9397crankshaft bad

[@evelynsahoe8896]

always a good idea to try and get ahead of issues on older cars especially if you're planning to push power thru them.

[@hishams89]

Great content as usual! BY the way, what display do you have? Can you make a video about it?

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

I believe I went over the Android Headunit in this video. More Cosmetic BMW F10 535i Mods kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYmom3SumK6Fhbc

[@EuphoriaMusic1]

Maybe you've already touched on this in a diff video before, but what do you do for a living? I'll also be replacing the bearings on my F10 soon so this will definitely be of help, thank you and great video!

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Hopefully this video will help some. It's not a detailed, step by step process since this was my first time ever doing Rod bearings. Oh, and I am a Mechanical Engineer for an Oil and Gas company.

[@DROXX2387]

Mannnn my guy i need you as a friend lol 😂 i sure need all the help in the world with my f30

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

😂😂😂😂 I’m probably not local.

[@lefty954]

great vid, that initial start up and crank turn is very crucial. ill be doing mine over the winter because i need to do my oil pan gasket 125k on my tuned f10. i think i might get a set of motor mounts because they are right there and with the tune i would hate to see them fail. do yu have vid of you pressing the bearings in and other short outtakes.

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Yeah, priming the engine properly is critical. Keep me posted on how your rod bearing replacement goes. I plan to add the new Vargas motor mount inserts and hopefully the Tuner motorsport Control arms in a few months. My idea is I will have the subframe out again, for a turbo upgrade. We will see. lol

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Oh, and unfortunately I don't have any videos of setting the bearings in place. It was really easy and I didn't have a lot of room for recording under the car. I really need a lift in my garage.

[@juanvh30]

​@@JohnsonMotorsports how do you do #1 the one under the oil pump do you have to deal with the timing ? Thanks great content

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

@@juanvh30 You have to pull the oil pump. There is a bracket tool that you use to hold the chain and sprocket in place. It doesn’t affect timing.

[@juanvh30]

@@JohnsonMotorsports thank you. Is the one you put on the top the one put on line the camshafts?

[@makoguseynov6607]

what is the year of bmw what is the difference with 2011 2012 2013 ve.s 2014?

[@iamepimethus]

Could the crank bearings be suspect for the wear too?

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

They could, but it’s not a common culprit. From what I have found and heard, it’s typically just rod bearings.

[@CarlosRamirez-wh9gz]

Do you know the production date of your 535? Somewhere in the middle of 2011 bmw updated the oil pump for the n55 the cause for rod bearing failure is most likely a faulty oil pump on early production 2011 n55 s

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Yeah, pretty sure my build date is 6/2010. My car is early production.

[@AhmenElect999]

My 535i F10 is still mostly stock. Hopefully I don’t ever have Rod issues with it

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Facts!!!

[@kameroncarey1018]

did you measure clearance at all or did you take your chance with std fit bearings?

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

I rolled the dice. From what I read and from talking with a BMW tech the standard clearance bearings would do the trick regardless.

[@shelray2154]

Do you have the part # and name of the special tool you used to Hold the engine oil pump sprocket in place?

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

No I do not. I had a buddy send me the tool for use.

[@shelray2154]

@@JohnsonMotorsports OK. Thanks for the Reply

[@chrisbradley3224]

What oil do you use? I know you’re not the original owner but your bearings look pretty damn good for that mileage.

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

I use Liqui Moly, but I didn’t pick up the car until 125k miles.

[@mohammadabdullahkhan360]

@@JohnsonMotorsports i about to buy a E93 2011 335I with the n55 for around 8k its at 125k miles do you recommend?

[@jorgeguaman6904]

Do you think it’s worth to machine the crank because I have two spun bearings and I can’t decide whether to machine it or buy a new engine

[@jorgeguaman6904]

When I would accelerate the vehicle would rattle inside opened the engine and saw my bearings completely ruined

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Well, I think you may need to get the pricing on both. I’m pretty sure a N55 engine will run close to 5k.

[@rafaluiz1679]

130k miles is a good number to major engine repairs, like rod bearings, and even piston rings, oilpump just in case too... it is better to use a boroscope to acess the piston rings life

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

I agree. Definitely a good idea. I need a boroscope.

[@eleanor5219]

*MY 2011 X6 N55 HAS 185K MILES. ENGINE IS STILL NEVER BEEN OPEN. I JUST ADD LUCAS STOP LEAK EVERY 5K MILES OIL CHANGE*

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Nice!!!! That great to hear!

[@michaelhall9138]

Use the purple Simple Green. The green stuff eats aluminum.

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Crap, didn’t realize that.

[@homie1557]

*MY N55 ENGINE IS AROUND 150MILES STILL EVERYTHING ORIGINAL. IM TOO OLD TO DO THIS WORK. IM JUST USING LUCAS STOP LEAK EVERY 3K MILES OIL CHANGE AS PROTECTION FOR MY ROD BEARINGS*

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Sounds good. Keep the oil changes at that threshold and make sure the engine is up to operating temperature before really hammering on it and you should be fine.

[@Troymatti]

I'm at 100k and Im already doing oil pan gasket ,should I consider the bearings as well?

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Depends on the oil change intervals of you car, but it can’t hurt.

[@Troymatti]

@@JohnsonMotorsports I do it every 3k since I got the car when it was at 50k

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

@@Troymatti Yeah, unfortunately the ones that truly matter are the 1st couple oil changes. BMW had them slated at 15,000 miles which was incorrect. Can you check your service history?

[@Troymatti]

@Grant Johnson I'll have to pull the history for that but I guess Im just gonna change them and call it a day , I'm actually planning to get the oem bearings ! Is there any way to find the code other than the crankshaft ?

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Not that I know of.

[@anthonygomez8694]

How many rod bearings do I buy?

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Depends, I did just the bearings for just the Rods, so 6. I have seen others say that they replaced the bearings on both ends of the Crankshaft as well.

[@chewybacchus5918]

Is that the S55 oil pan?

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

No sir, but I’ve been kicking the idea around.

[@jeromepatten8763]

Hey Grant or anyone changed their Eccentric Shaft Actuator W/ Seal OEM ?

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

I replaced the Valvetronics motor, but not the Essentric shaft. BMW F10 535i Valvetronics Motor Replacement and Ista Learn Procedures kzbin.info/www/bejne/imTahHada9CBaZY

[@jeromepatten8763]

Okay mine has 210 miles I think it's time to do that

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

@@jeromepatten8763 Are you getting any error codes?

[@jeromepatten8763]

@@JohnsonMotorsports Yes I did its is the shop right now getting my Fuel Tank Breather Valve changed my advisor at Grapevine BMW said the Eccentric Shaft Actuator needs to be change that code came up.

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Well, it’s really up to you guys. I was able to change my Valvetronics motor without changing the shaft.

[@kaosaefong2270]

I haven't done a rod bearings but my car when I got it was $97,000 Miles I'm at $130,000 Mi almost so hopefully mine rod barrings should be due around 160k?🤔

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Just depends on oil change intervals. Apparently, the most important is the interval to the initial oil change.

[@kaosaefong2270]

@@JohnsonMotorsports ok I see

[@kaosaefong2270]

@@JohnsonMotorsports ok thanks, obtw so don't depend on how reliable BMW engine are all maybe not anyways I took her to the test I drop the first 10,000 miles and after that I try to go 5,000 but accidently it went up another 3000 so I went 8,500 miles after it and then 5,000 again...and yet despite that or the oil has been up to date (changed) and I'm at almost 130,000 miles and it's the original battery and it was lasted 10 years because my car is a 2012 535i twin turbo...so yeah so far he's been pretty amazing...and no damage to the engine or check engine light on ...I've never seen it on before, is that normal?

[@kaosaefong2270]

yep...

[@isaacgarza1069]

Why’d you do all that extra stuff ? Can’t you just take oil pan off and plastic then access bearings ?

[@axeppo]

Bought my F11 535i when it was at 267 000km, engine blew at 270 cause of faulty rod bearings. So yeah, change your rod bearings if you are unsure of history of the car!

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Man that sucks! So I assume you had to buy a new engine??? How's that running?

[@axeppo]

@@JohnsonMotorsports Yes, I had to buy a new engine... I bought a used one, and I am now in the process of changing the rod bearings on that one as a preventetive meassure :)

[@BurrNinja]

You make me wanna get a rwd 535i and get rid of my xdrive 535. Lmao much more work to do for xdrive to remove the subframe.

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

I bet. Have you removed your's yet?

[@BurrNinja]

@@JohnsonMotorsports Not yet. Eventually I wanna do an entire regasket of everything, engine mounts an everything else while in there. Good job though man, were you nervous on the first start up with fresh bearings?

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Man, I was really nervous. Really happy everything was good.

[@Motor_Bay]

Hey, man how are you? I just wanted to say that your front brake rotors are installed incorrectly. You need to swap them so that the notches are in the direction of drive. Have a nice day, bro.;)

[@battleaxe4784]

The internal disc vanes dictate whether a rotor is 'directional', not the surface slots/dimples/holes.

[@JVR_Funwithdesign]

@@battleaxe4784 Exactly, and a lot of rotors (Zimmerman for example) don't even make a left/right version. The vanes are not directional in that case.

[@user-tk3ut2qf1s]

Your from okc yoo me too 2011 e92 n55

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

I’m actually in the Tulsa area, but I plan to head back to OKC for the dyno.

[@rebelliondoor]

My n52 rod bearings went out at 156k miles

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Dang. Have you pulled the bearings to see if you can just replace them?

[@rebelliondoor]

@@JohnsonMotorsports yes , I was getting metal in my oil filter it was throwing vanos codes and crankshaft codes due to that metal was sticking to the sensors

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Dang and did you replace the rod bearings? Are you good now?

[@rebelliondoor]

@@JohnsonMotorsports yes I’m good now I just started it up after the second week. no more knock hopefully this engine last me another 150k

[@tyronekey8700]

I didn’t do my rod bearings 186thousand miles on my f10 motor seized in the process of getting a used motor and everything is getting done on it before placing it in my car

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Good idea to take care of as much as possible before it’s in the car.

[@tyronekey8700]

@@JohnsonMotorsports I should be good for a while I went and checked it out it sounds so good like it’s brand new

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

@@tyronekey8700 Awesome! Do you plan to add power?

[@tyronekey8700]

@@JohnsonMotorsports I’m not sure yet I was thinking about it the shop it’s at is a performance BMW Shop that does it all and they have a dyno I was thinking about a catless down pipe

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

@@tyronekey8700 Yeah, just depends on how far you want to go.

[@Chillalexin]

dude you didnt even show anyrhing ....wtf? thanks for telling us you did your rod bearings and your seal but you could of just told us you did them without the fake rod bearing replacement video lol this guy its cool i like his style lol

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Thanks, I guess.

[@cali_cal]

hell nah. you record everything thats not important and like we want to see the rod bearing toque and all. lol

[@JohnsonMotorsports]

Not the easiest thing to record with the car only a foot in the air.