[TriumphTim]

Great to hear, I think you are in the clear, enjoy!!

[Taylorsi]

Latest Blackstone results tracks with residual filter material potentially causing elevated wear, though Blackstone seems to think there is something more serious going on.

At ~400 miles now on current oil so should have another 1k miles sample to send out in the next few weeks.

High silicon is interesting, probably need to chase down a vacuum leak.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by Taylorsi

Latest Blackstone results tracks with residual filter material potentially causing elevated wear, though Blackstone seems to think there is something more serious going on.

At ~400 miles now on current oil so should have another 1k miles sample to send out in the next few weeks.

High silicon is interesting, probably need to chase down a vacuum leak.

Yeah, the iron levels in particular are continuing to rise every time
Do you feel good about the replacement oil filter?
How is the cage in the filter cap?
Did you do a motor oil flush by chance?
Hate to even say it, but do you have any contingency plans to trade it in if necessary?

[Taylorsi]

I've used Mann filters from FCP euro ever since the suspected counterfeit filter incident and have not had any similar issues since.

Cage in the filter cap is intact. When the counterfeit filter issue initially occurred the filter had collapsed and the cage was loose but in the subsequent oil changes since then the filter and cage have remained secure.

I have yet to use a motor flush product. Initially I did a few short interval drain/fill/filter cycles to try to get more crud out before running longer intervals for the Blackstone samples. I've though about using LM engine flush at the end of this cycle to see if it helps. Seems like the primary intent of these products is to help break up carbon deposits but maybe there are additional detergents to help remove more of the filter material.

If the UOA trend doesn't improve in the next cycle I'll likely start exploring options to trade/sell. Also debating swapping in a lower mileage N51 if it comes to that but worried the "while you are in there stuff" will nickel and dime me to the point its not worth the time/cost.

Ultimately I have other cars to drive and can always go buy something else if those fail and I need transportation, but I really like this particular e90 for some reason.

[TriumphTim]

Maybe revisit the VANOS recall work for 100% confirmation?

Are the iron and AL levels pointing to bearing or some other type of wear?

[Taylorsi]

A quick search suggests N52 bearings are made of an aluminum alloy strengthened with chromium and manganese so its possible the elevated levels are caused by a bearing, however chromium and manganese levels are comparable to Blackstone baseline so hard to say definitively.

Assuming the residual filter material isn't contributing to, or causing, the elevated wear metals, I suspect the elevated wear metals are coming from the top end as the steel cams ride on the AL head, or potentially the VANOS units. That said I wont be surprised if there are other iron/AL contact points within the engine Im not aware of.

At ~600 miles on the current oil so I should be able to get a sample out to Blackstone in the next few weeks. Car still runs great, no codes, smooth idle, consistent MPG, etc.