Updates on crank hub situation?

[///Mani]

Hello fellow Bimmer Enthusiasts!

I recently bought a 2015 BMW M4 with 8,000 miles. I feel like I should've done more research before buying it since there seems to be a major problem with the crank hub in the car that results in catastrophic failure. After reading that I haven't been able to drive the car and its always in the back of my mind. I feel like I can't even enjoy my new car (It's my first BMW, always have been huge fan).
Are there any current updates to the situation? Is BMWNA recognizing that there is a problem and offering solutions to cars out of warranty? Also are the solutions from MAXPSI and Gintani working/worth it? I don't really want or have the money to have another crankhub installed as I put all of my savings down on the car and home renovations. Also are there any other issues that I should be looking out for?
Thanks in advance for your insight. I really love the car and I haven't even got to push it as it's my first car of this caliber but I am getting anxiety from this issue.

Your friend,
Nick

[damageprone]

Just drive the car. Obviously the majority of us are still driving our cars just fine. Yes the fear is out there, but the percentage of failure is small.

If it really bothers you, slap a crank hub capture bolt on there and call it a day.

[///Mani]

Originally Posted by damageprone

Just drive the car. Obviously the majority of us are still driving our cars just fine. Yes the fear is out there, but the percentage of failure is small.

If it really bothers you, slap a crank hub capture bolt on there and call it a day.

Do you know the potential price at a minor failure? Having that money saved might ease my mind a little. Also do you know any good ones, I've seen some throughout the forums but I am wondering if there were some that stood the test of time and that others recommend. Thank you for your reply.

[NickyC]

The car is fine, stop worrying and enjoy it.

[icegrill]

What?!? It's people who are running tunes and e85. Nothing to worry about.

[damageprone]

Originally Posted by ///mpower.nick

Do you know the potential price at a minor failure? Having that money saved might ease my mind a little.

Failure if not caught in time could warrant a new motor at worst case scenario. This is obviously bothering you, as I said, slap a crank hub capture bolt on it and call it a day. $100 part and you should feel better knowing it's "fixed."

Originally Posted by icegrill

What?!? It's people who are running tunes and e85. Nothing to worry about.

Not necessarily true. There are reports of stockers spinning as well.

[jdub486]

Buy an extended warranty. It appears none of the aftermarket solutions are 100% proven at this point.

[///Mani]

Thanks for the assurances guys. Also I appreciate the help.

[allinon72]

It's really disheartening to see how this crank hub drama has blown up to the point where people aren't enjoying their cars. The perception has been shifted to where every car is a ticking time bomb, and that is NOT true.

[damageprone]

Originally Posted by allinon72

It's really disheartening to see how this crank hub drama has blown up to the point where people aren't enjoying their cars. The perception has been shifted to where every car is a ticking time bomb, and that is NOT true.

Agreed. 33K smiles and counting

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by jdub486

Buy an extended warranty. It appears none of the aftermarket solutions are 100% proven at this point.

Seriously. This is the best crank hub solution out there. It even covers all your other engine problems at the same time should something go wrong. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm not aware of any of these other solutions coming with warranties including engine replacement if it doesn't work. If they do, then THAT'S the solution to pick.

Not saying the other solutions don't work, but the second cars start spinning them with the "fixes" installed, this is going to blow up 100x worse than it is now. I already see the lawsuits and counter arguments over installation errors. It's only a matter of time.

[parabmw]

Originally Posted by ntgarage44

Seriously. This is the best crank hub solution out there. It even covers all your other engine problems at the same time should something go wrong. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm not aware of any of these other solutions coming with warranties including engine replacement if it doesn't work. If they do, then THAT'S the solution to pick.

Not saying the other solutions don't work, but the second cars start spinning them with the "fixes" installed, this is going to blow up 100x worse than it is now. I already see the lawsuits and counter arguments over installation errors. It's only a matter of time.

However I'd guess most who go with hub fix are usually tuned.
Do you think they'd warranty an engine failure with a tuned car?
Seems unlikely

[matty088]

Stock cars are fine. Seems like to me any tune. Even stage one. Increases your probability. I might not flash my car due to this issue. However I think the probability goes up substantially when you run e85.

[Mazen189]

I understand your worries

But I look at it this way.

-I can lose control being immature and crash my car.
-Uninsured motorist can hit me.
-other mechanical failures

I'm sure there's other worries that others can think of. But if you're pretty much stock. Enjoy the car, enjoy yourself and hopefully it doesn't happen to you.

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by jdub486

Buy an extended warranty. It appears none of the aftermarket solutions are 100% proven at this point.

Exactly what I did, I'm covered until February 2023. The car is fast enough as it is and I absolutely adore it, keeping her stock with some insurance in the pocket which I'll hopefully never need.

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by parabmw

However I'd guess most who go with hub fix are usually tuned.
Do you think they'd warranty an engine failure with a tuned car?
Seems unlikely

Of course not. But as far as I'm aware, the OP doesn't have a tune. So I was suggesting/upvoting the best crank hub solution - extended warranty.

Unless you're going for huge power where you have the budget anyways for a new engine if something blows, don't even bother with a stage 1 or 2 tune. What looks like a couple grand for a tune and downpipes is actually a $30,000 gamble. A $4000 crank hub "fix" can make you feel better, but nobody really knows if it works or not. No one can prove it, only provide evidence to support it. So a tuned car with a crank hub fix hasn't spun yet? Compare that to the number of tuned cars without the fix that haven't spun. And that's not even getting into the mileage of each car or anything else. It's just not provable.

Until a manufacturer of one of these "fixes" provides some kind of warranty for fixing or replacing an engine that spins with their part installed, they're selling a "just trust us" promise. And based on the cost of the parts and the culture of the aftermarket, that's just not going to happen.

[matty088]

Originally Posted by ntgarage44

Of course not. But as far as I'm aware, the OP doesn't have a tune. So I was suggesting/upvoting the best crank hub solution - extended warranty.

Unless you're going for huge power where you have the budget anyways for a new engine if something blows, don't even bother with a stage 1 or 2 tune. What looks like a couple grand for a tune and downpipes is actually a $30,000 gamble. A $4000 crank hub "fix" can make you feel better, but nobody really knows if it works or not. No one can prove it, only provide evidence to support it. So a tuned car with a crank hub fix hasn't spun yet? Compare that to the number of tuned cars without the fix that haven't spun. And that's not even getting into the mileage of each car or anything else. It's just not provable.

Until a manufacturer of one of these "fixes" provides some kind of warranty for fixing or replacing an engine that spins with their part installed, they're selling a "just trust us" promise. And based on the cost of the parts and the culture of the aftermarket, that's just not going to happen.

This is well said. But i guess my question is...is stage 1 a gamble? It seems like its more common on e85 and above. If it comes down to probability. whats a realistic way of thinking about it. I think the risk grows exponentially when you run e85 and up. So lets call it like this. Is a stage 1 a 5% increase in risk versus a e85 tune at 30%?

I am trying to understand if there is a marginal level where the risk outweighs the gain? If my risk increases by 5% by adding 100hp/tq but then it rises to 30% by adding 150hp/tq it may make sense to stop at the +100 level. I am guessing this is pretty accurate. So i will likely go to stage 1 and stop.

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by matty088

This is well said. But i guess my question is...is stage 1 a gamble? It seems like its more common on e85 and above. If it comes down to probability. whats a realistic way of thinking about it. I think the risk grows exponentially when you run e85 and up. So lets call it like this. Is a stage 1 a 5% increase in risk versus a e85 tune at 30%?

I am trying to understand if there is a marginal level where the risk outweighs the gain? If my risk increases by 5% by adding 100hp/tq but then it rises to 30% by adding 150hp/tq it may make sense to stop at the +100 level. I am guessing this is pretty accurate. So i will likely go to stage 1 and stop.

Nobody knows the answer to that, but let me rephrase your question in monetary terms. Is a $600 tune for 50-60hp worth denying your $30,000 warranty claim should your hub slip and motor goes, even if the probability is 100% the same as stock? The risk is the same as stock, but because you put a mild tune on it your warranty is shot.

The gains outweigh the risk when you're doing upgraded turbos and full engine rebuild and fuel system, because at that point, you're already blowing $20-30k, and you have the budget for a new motor even if something goes.

Anything less than that is just throwing your warranty away in my opinion.

[matty088]

i dont think its 50 rwhp. Its taking a car from low 12s to low 11s.

But look. i understand your thinking.and you are right no one does know the answer. however there must be a consensus and that is what I am trying to find.

[ntg44]

Originally Posted by matty088

i dont think its 50 rwhp. Its taking a car from low 12s to low 11s.

But look. i understand your thinking.and you are right no one does know the answer. however there must be a consensus and that is what I am trying to find.

I was just trying to answer your question that there was no consensus. The information you're trying to find doesn't exist yet. Look at the poll in the engine section sticky on this. The consensus is that there's no indication that stage 1 or 2 tunes are any less safe than stock or anything else for spinning. I guess that was my point, not trying to convince anybody to stay stock. I just think it's financially stupid given the data we have at the moment. But I'll bow out here, I guess I made my point enough already.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by matty088

This is well said. But i guess my question is...is stage 1 a gamble? It seems like its more common on e85 and above. If it comes down to probability. whats a realistic way of thinking about it. I think the risk grows exponentially when you run e85 and up. So lets call it like this. Is a stage 1 a 5% increase in risk versus a e85 tune at 30%?

I am trying to understand if there is a marginal level where the risk outweighs the gain? If my risk increases by 5% by adding 100hp/tq but then it rises to 30% by adding 150hp/tq it may make sense to stop at the +100 level. I am guessing this is pretty accurate. So i will likely go to stage 1 and stop.

Like others have said, any flash at any power level is a gamble at some level. But imo, the spun hub issue is still extremely infrequent and the VAST majority of people can tune their car with no issues. If you are looking at something relatively benign like a stage 1 tune I wouldn't worry about it.

There is still no known cause for the spun crank hub. While it seems to be more prevalent in higher powered tuned cars it has also happened to some stock vehicles. In either case it's still a very small percentage of vehicles.

[overlook637]

Speculation and guesses. That is all we have about why, when, and whats the fix.