1987 528e connecting rod bolts - Re-use?

E28 technical advice asked and given! Troubleshooting, modifications and more.
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JoelTell
Posts: 15
Joined: Sep 21, 2022 6:55 PM
Location: Sacramento, CA

1987 528e connecting rod bolts - Re-use?

Post by JoelTell »

Just wondering if these are single use or if I can re-torque them without concern.
turbodan
Posts: 9153
Joined: Jan 09, 2007 10:19 PM

Re: 1987 528e connecting rod bolts - Re-use?

Post by turbodan »

I would not consider it.
Philo
Posts: 2166
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Long Beach, CA

Re: 1987 528e connecting rod bolts - Re-use?

Post by Philo »

You can probably get away with it if you can't afford new bolts. The eta engine is low reving so I'm sure many in the past have reused bolts. But if it were my car I'd buy new ones for peace of mind.
Mike W.
Posts: 26872
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: California Whine Country

Re: 1987 528e connecting rod bolts - Re-use?

Post by Mike W. »

I'm shocked on all this. Having been way into M10s and M30s, which are for the most part the same thing, they use reusable bolts and reusable head bolts. Even with my limited M20 knowledge I've been well aware of M20s needs for new head bolts, but the rods surprise me. Not contesting it at all, my knowledge is very limited here, just surprised.
gadget73
Posts: 1176
Joined: Nov 22, 2017 10:30 PM
Location: New Jersey

Re: 1987 528e connecting rod bolts - Re-use?

Post by gadget73 »

if it doesn't specify in the manual, the torque specs ought to be a clue. If its got something about degrees of rotation, thats a torque to yield bolt and cannot be re-used.

if you want to do it more science-like, measure the diameter of the bolt. If it gets thinner in the middle, its stretched.
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