austin.wranglerMay 21, 04:41 AM

Blackstone Report: High Copper/Lead PPM on 2011 BMW M3 (S65 V8). Rod bearings time?

Got my oil analysis back today from Blackstone. Copper is at 28 ppm and Lead is at 19 ppm on a 5,000-mile interval using Liqui Moly 10W-60. No metallic sheen in the filter yet, but these numbers are double the universal averages. Am I looking at immediate rod bearing wear, or can I push it to the end of the summer track season?

Discussion

5 comments

boosted_austinMay 22, 04:53 PM

With lead and copper that high on an S65, your copper layers are already exposed. Do NOT track it. You risk throwing a rod and destroying the block, which is a $15k mistake.

philly_stanceMay 23, 01:00 AM

Did you recently switch to Liqui Moly? Sometimes different additives can trick the spectrometer, but honestly lead doesn't lie. That's bearing material. 📊📉📉

connor_ls3May 24, 10:39 AM

28 ppm copper is definitely rod bearings wearing down. Universal averages for lead are around 2-4 ppm. You're at 19 ppm. Swap them out for VAC extra clearance bearings and ARP bolts immediately.

detroit_iron_68May 25, 06:32 PM

Honestly, Blackstone reports can vary. Did you take the sample mid-drain or from the bottom of the pan? If it was the first stream out, it might just be concentrated contaminants

nyc_taxi_runnerMay 25, 08:38 PM

I'd park it. Once the S65 starts ngl showing lead, ur on borrowed time. Better to pay $2,000 now for preventive bearing replacement than $15,000 for a new engine.