I will be doing rod bearings on my Z4M soon. It uses the same engine as the E46 M3, the S54 engine. Using BMW bolts requires tightening the connecting rod bolts to 5 Nm, then 30Nm, then angle torquing to 70 degrees in one continuous motion. Then, using a breaker bar, loosen the bolt one full turn and repeat the torquing procedure. Then, do it all again. Three times this has to be done per bolt to properly stretch the bolt. The number of steps gets up there when doing the 6 cyl engine.
6 cyl * 2 bolts per connecting rod = 12 bolts
12 bolts * 4 step torquing procedure * 2 times + 12 bolts * 3 step final torquing procedure = 132 steps to correctly torque the connecting rod bolts.
Whew! Some of the more expensive digital torque wrenches have an angle torque feature built into them.
Salty
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2005 BMW 330Ci ZHP Jet Black/Black with aluminum cube
Bone stock at the moment