S54 Treated Rod Bearing Upgrade Kit - Early (-01/03)

Address the factory wear/failure issue with our race-ready bearings and high-strength ARP rod bolts

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Price:
$779.99

Our S54 Treated Rod Bearing Upgrade Kit for early model engines (-01/03) is the ideal solution for one of the only drawbacks of the legendary S54 motor. Unfortunately, the S54 used in E46 M3 and MZ3 cars was released with a rod bearing problem in earlier 2001-2003 model years, which often leads to failure.

The factory eventually addressed the issue with a rod replacement, but they left room on the table for a better bearing solution. This upgrade kit, consisting of treated rod bearings and race-quality ARP hardware, is highly recommended for cars that see track use, as it's crucial to address this oiling issue.

Our treated rod bearings are not coated; coatings tend to add too much material and interfere with proper tolerances, causing more problems than they solve. The bearings we use in our kits have been treated with a process that not only makes the grain structure in the surface of the bearing smoother, but also aids in oil retention, providing more lubricity in this critical area of the S54 engine. 

ARP Pro Series connecting rod bolts are precision CNC-machined to exacting specifications and designed for optimum reliability. They're thread rolled after heat treating, which gives them about ten times better fatigue strength than lower-quality studs that are threaded prior to heat treatment. This makes them far superior to standard OEM fasteners in terms of durability, and they're fully capable of handling the extra stress of high-combustion engines.

NOTE: To protect your engine and prevent failures with or without our kit, we highly recommend a premium-quality oil, such as Red Line with a higher zinc content. Correct oil operating temperature is 220°F+. Always let your car warm up properly before subjecting the engine to higher throttle angles and RPMs.

Kit fits all -01/03 S54 engines and includes one set of rod bearings and ARP Pro Series rod bolts.

BMW Fitments:


3 Series

E46 (01-1/03) > M3
Z Series
E36/7 / E36/8 (01-02) > MZ3 S54
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