I recently bought a used 2001 M3 and from day one of arrival I noticed each and every recall problem it had without having any prior knowledge of them. I noticed a clunking in the rear end shifting at low load in first to second and to reverse which they told me is apparently normal. Then I asked about the grinding noise in the rear when turning sharp corners and they fix that by changing the rear diff. fluids. And now we are dealing with a 'ticking' sound in the motor that gets louder the higher the rpms. Also sometimes on the highway she makes this god awful grinding, clunking, howling sound that my wife described as like someone blowing in to the top of a pop bottle. So for months now it has been in addressing this 'ticking' noise. They have adjusted the valves, replaced all the exhaust seals now for the third time have had BMW Canada rep. come over to look that the car as per my last visit where I said they could keep the car if they couldnt fix this flipping ticking noise. So the rep last week looked at it again after having my car left there for over a week and has now leaned toward the possibility of it being the guide bearing or something like that which in the end if it proves to be they will have to recall the whole motor. So bonus in some respects that I could get a new motor out of the deal but man...this must cost BMW a fortune in recalling motors of this. On the flip side I wont get to drive my "new to me" M3 for like two months. So come Monday they will take pics of the motor all apart and the dude from BMW Canada will decide on the recall from those pics.


Anyone else get their motor recalled and if so how long did it take for them to do the swap for you?

Just so you know, the notorious S54 engine recall does not include any 2001 cars. Engines affected were built between 10/01/2001 and 2/28/2002; they are all 2002 cars. Details about the recall can be found here:

http://members.roadfly.org/bmw_e46_m3/index.html

Check out SI B11 02 03.

Yes in fact I am aware of that stipulation but the rep. from BMW Canada has said that this car might go against that and infact those recall notices are not written in stone but more of a guideline and it can occur outside those dates. :eek:

I guess Monday will tell...

PS: nice ride btw mine is below its a Carbon black on Cinnimmon
http://www.hackchat.com/album_pic.php?pic_id=9

Well now they have ruled out the bearing recall so now they suspect it might be a piston but anyways they are now looking on the top half of the motor instead of the bottom.


...i just want my car back. :rolleyes:

Good news!!!! Apparently BMW Canada has decided to replace my engine with a brand new 2004 engine and not a refurb either but a brand spankin new motor. Should be here this week and then completed and in within a couple days following that. So this incident proves that those dates of recall on the motors are only a guideline and the recall can infact happen outside of those dates. :alright

Good news!!!! Apparently BMW Canada has decided to replace my engine with a brand new 2004 engine and not a refurb either but a brand spankin new motor. Should be here this week and then completed and in within a couple days following that. So this incident proves that those dates of recall on the motors are only a guideline and the recall can infact happen outside of those dates. :alright
Cool... I'd make sure you still have the extended (6-year/100K-mile) engine warranty even after you've got a 2004 engine, too. :cool:

I know I have one until 2007 but do you think they will restart the drivetrain warranty from when the new motor is installed?

I know I have one until 2007 but do you think they will restart the drivetrain warranty from when the new motor is installed?

Your warranty begins when you take delivery of the M3, not when they replace the engine...just like any other factory warranty on your car.

Your warranty begins when you take delivery of the M3, not when they replace the engine...just like any other factory warranty on your car.
That'd be strange, though. If your original motor blows up and gets replaced by a new one after, say, three years of ownership, does that mean the new engine will only have three-year warranty? Also, how would you calculate the mileage part in that case? Subtract the mileage accumulated on the original engine from 100,000 miles?

That'd be strange, though. If your original motor blows up and gets replaced by a new one after, say, three years of ownership, does that mean the new engine will only have three-year warranty? Also, how would you calculate the mileage part in that case? Subtract the mileage accumulated on the original engine from 100,000 miles?


It's like anything else on any car.... if your radio stops working just before the warranty runs out, you don't get an extended warranty on the radio, do you?

It's like anything else on any car.... if your radio stops working just before the warranty runs out, you don't get an extended warranty on the radio, do you?
No you don't, but the extended engine warranty was specially offered in order to address the concerns of the owners about the S54 engine problem. If the new engine would only carry the remainder of the warranty years/mileage, what's the point of taking the trouble to add the engine-specific warranty?

I am not saying you're wrong. All I'm saying is a policy like that significantly offsets the benefit of the extended engine warranty.

No you don't, but the extended engine warranty was specially offered in order to address the concerns of the owners about the S54 engine problem. If the new engine would only carry the remainder of the warranty years/mileage, what's the point of taking the trouble to add the engine-specific warranty?

I am not saying you're wrong. All I'm saying is a policy like that significantly offsets the benefit of the extended engine warranty.

Maybe I'm just not understanding you here....

what's the point of taking the trouble to add the engine-specific warranty?

The point is that for a period of time, some engines had some problems. These problems have been fix (New oil pump and bearings) or replaced by engines with the updated parts. The reason for the extended warranty is to cover these affected engines, and protect the resale value of the cars in that period. The point is not to give you a warranty on the engine that lasts forever.

I don't understand why this is any different than if BMW shipped cars with defective radios, found the problem and replaced all of the bad radios for free. On top of that, they extended the warranty on your radio, just in case, for 100,000 miles. It just shows they are standing behind their product, and making sure you don't get beat up when you unload the car in a few years.

There has not been any more problems with the S54 engine than with any other high performance engine, except for the 09/01 - 02/02 period. There have been some engines explode outside that period, but if you look on the Porsche or Honda S2000 boards, you would see the occasional detonation too. Those guys don't have anywhere near the warranty BMW gave S54 M3 owners....

There has not been any more problems with the S54 engine than with any other high performance engine, except for the 09/01 - 02/02 period. There have been some engines explode outside that period, but if you look on the Porsche or Honda S2000 boards, you would see the occasional detonation too. Those guys don't have anywhere near the warranty BMW gave S54 M3 owners....
I know what you're saying. But the real reason BMW gave the extended engine warranty to all the 2001-2003 cars is that they wanted to give the owners a sense of safety. That being the case, what if your engine blows after five years of ownership. They sure fix it under warranty, but that one blow is enough to make you wonder if it's gonna happen again. Then you realize that you've only got one year of warranty left for the engine. Does that help you feel comfortable?

IMHO, this engine warranty should be treated as a special case.

I know what you're saying. But the real reason BMW gave the extended engine warranty to all the 2001-2003 cars is that they wanted to give the owners a sense of safety. That being the case, what if your engine blows after five years of ownership. They sure fix it under warranty, but that one blow is enough to make you wonder if it's gonna happen again. Then you realize that you've only got one year of warranty left for the engine. Does that help you feel comfortable?

IMHO, this engine warranty should be treated as a special case.

I would agree if this were an ongoing problem that they were unable to come up with a fix for, and the engines exploded all the time, or every "X" number of miles.....

But this is not the case. If I had my rod bearings and oil pump replaced (I did) or got a new engine, I would (and do), as you put it "feel comfortable" that my engine will last just as if the issues had not come up.

I don't know of any precedent for your warranty extension suggestion in the automotive history of any recent manufacturer.....

But this is not the case. If I had my rod bearings and oil pump replaced (I did) or got a new engine, I would (and do), as you put it "feel comfortable" that my engine will last just as if the issues had not come up.

I don't know of any precedent for your warranty extension suggestion in the automotive history of any recent manufacturer.....
Well in terms of precedence, I don't think there's been any such case. BMW being on the leading edge of technologies can certainly pave the way for it, though. ;)

All I can say is that I am extremely pleased to be getting a brand spankin new motor out of the deal and that part pleases me to no end but I do have a question here though...

According to what I have read and heard from the dealership here...BMW said they can not simply 'repair' this bearing problem so they must recall the motor. So if this is so then how did you get yours repaired then?

According to what I have read and heard from the dealership here...BMW said they can not simply 'repair' this bearing problem so they must recall the motor. So if this is so then how did you get yours repaired then?

You are correct - if there is damage, then the bearings cannot be fixed - you need a new engine, or at least a bottom end - BMW just replaces the whole thing - which is good for you.

I had the bearings replaced and the oil pump replaced as part of a service action on all 11-01 to 02-02 engines. My engine never showed any sign of failure, so I got to the problem before I had an issue - if I ever would have.

So you are correct - if there is any noise or other sign of failure, time for a new engine.

Thanks for explaining that I appreciate it. BTW...love your car.

Thanks for explaining that I appreciate it. BTW...love your car.

Thanks.....me too!

Well its here. Here is a pic of the engine still in the box. :eek:

http://www.hackchat.com/images/engine1.jpg

Apparently I am getting the car back by tuesday at the latest. :buttrock

Got the car back and already have put on 600kms :buttrock Only 1400 more to go before breakin period is up. :alright

Got the car back and already have put on 600kms :buttrock Only 1400 more to go before breakin period is up.
:clap:

Yup and she purrs like a kitten now. Life with an M is a beautiful thing. :coolquick