I can't yet verify this, but it's worth a look...

http://forums.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e46m3/forum.php?postid=816008&page=1

It's what BMW should do.
Now whether they do so or not still remains to be seen.

Not holding my breath, but would go a long way in alleviating some of the concerns many of us have on our S54's.

I know I'll drive easier with this kind of warranty, not to mention what this will do for resale value on our M's.....

I dunno, sounds alot like a rumor... I'd wait until I've gotten a paper from BMWNA or from a credible source. I will start asking around with my BMWNA contacts tho.

> 6yr / 100K

That's what they did for the Nikasil M60 V8s that corroded due to high-sulfur fuel. That problem was a good deal less spectacular than what appears to happen to the problematic S54s, too.

Sounds good!

OT: I got my 330 from Fields.

Boy did they ever sit on this one! It is way overdue. Something else that is way overdue is an explanation about what is basically wrong with our engines.

Originally posted by nn_bob
Boy did they ever sit on this one! It is way overdue. Something else that is way overdue is an explanation about what is basically wrong with our engines.

I doubt we’ll ever see an ‘explanation’ why our S54 engines are failing as they are.
I think there’s a few specific factors combined have caused this issue.

1. Our S54 engines have more ‘motorcycle’ and ‘racing’ technology than ‘car’ technology. Apparently the S54 engine’s pistons travel almost as fast as a F1 engine (or something like that)? This high tech does not necessarily translate to bulletproof durability, say compared to a lower tech push rod V8 that redlines at 6000 rpm.

2. You also have people regularly racing the E46 M3’s on tracks. If similar cars were also pushed to this extreme, then I’d speculate that we’d see similar failures on any other engine.

3. During the manufacturing process of specific engine parts, during the fabled few months where we’ve noticed most of the engine failures, there looks like there was a substandard or flaw with the process somewhere.

4. I find that in the circle of E46 M3’s that I know locally, approx. half are owned by adults in their teens, to early twenties. Also, more often than not, their parents for them have purchased these cars. (Damn wish I were that lucky!) My observation is they tend to run their cars harder, and are less inclined to adhere to break in procedures, which we know is critical to an S54 engine. (No flames plz. just my observation). Know a local E46 M3 owner in his early 20’s that managed to have his E46 M3’s engine fail on him. Not surprised considering how he’s treated the car. (Almost on his 3rd set of rear tires at 30,000 kms!?) :rolleyes:

Speculating some of these these factors, and I’m sure there’s more to it, have some 'bearing' (no pun intended):D on the failures were noticing. Also taking things into perspective, looking at the overall quantity of S54 engines out there, the overall ratio of failures is low.

Originally posted by tlaselva
1. Our S54 engines have more ‘motorcycle’ and ‘racing’ technology than ‘car’ technology. Apparently the S54 engine’s pistons travel almost as fast as a F1 engine (or something like that)? This high tech does not necessarily translate to bulletproof durability, say compared to a lower tech push rod V8 that redlines at 6000 rpm.


I think at redline... 8000rpm, each piston is travelling about 89.1 feet per second if my memory serves me correctly.