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Thread: 2013 4.4 Liter Twin Turbo V8 Catastrophic Engine Malfunction

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    4

    2013 4.4 Liter Twin Turbo V8 Catastrophic Engine Malfunction

    After 9 service visits to my local BMW dealer in the last 2 years mostly for the dreaded Drive Train Malfunction, my engine seized last Saturday. 3 years ago I was using 2 quarts of oil every 1,200 miles as indicted by the Low Oil warning light. I was told by my BMW Service Technician that was normal for a twin turbo V8. A year ago after a fuel injector fix for a Drive Train Malfunction, the Low Oil Level warning light stopped going on. My Tech told me they had fixed the oil consumption problem. The BMW Service Center analysis of the blown engine showed only 3 quarts of oil (9 quart capacity) and recently 20 Low Oil Level warnings that I never saw. The car is out of warranty as of August 2016 and my tech told me a new engine would be $39,000 and a used for about $20,000. The fact that the Low Oil warning light did not illuminate when the oil level was dangerously low leading to catastrophic engine malfunction is driving me crazy. I'm wondering if the Service Center did something when replacing the fuel injector that prevented the oil warning light from going on.

    Any advice would be helpful.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Chicago
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    2016 m sport 550i xdrive
    I would first ask the service manager if they can courtesy replace this engine because you never got the low oil warnings and if he can't help you then contact BMW USA.

    How was the oil consumption fixed?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    1,591
    My Cars
    13' 535I XDrive
    I considered getting a F10 550 and was all set to buy one at CarMax, but i read stories on these engines which made me go with the N55 based F10. I have heard that it is a solid engine. Very happy with the car. I learned my lesson from the 335D that i had, wont do that again.

    Anyway im very sorry to hear of your engine failure. That is a tough thing to have to face. I would say to rip the engine out yourself and rebuild the bottom end for a few grand, but i dont know if you know how to do that. I suppose the heads are likely fin and you can get them checked.

    I had both heads fixed on my old 550 for peanuts and did some bottom end work. Had a vibration that i couldn't get rid of and thought it was the valvetronic. It was the valve guides leaking. $1k out the door for both heads repaired, new seals, guides, decking and pressure checking. Was way worth it.

    What do you have to lose, its broken anyway...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Edmonton, Canada
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    137
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    2012 550i x drive
    Quote Originally Posted by pargolf View Post
    After 9 service visits to my local BMW dealer in the last 2 years mostly for the dreaded Drive Train Malfunction, my engine seized last Saturday. 3 years ago I was using 2 quarts of oil every 1,200 miles as indicted by the Low Oil warning light. I was told by my BMW Service Technician that was normal for a twin turbo V8. A year ago after a fuel injector fix for a Drive Train Malfunction, the Low Oil Level warning light stopped going on. My Tech told me they had fixed the oil consumption problem. The BMW Service Center analysis of the blown engine showed only 3 quarts of oil (9 quart capacity) and recently 20 Low Oil Level warnings that I never saw. The car is out of warranty as of August 2016 and my tech told me a new engine would be $39,000 and a used for about $20,000. The fact that the Low Oil warning light did not illuminate when the oil level was dangerously low leading to catastrophic engine malfunction is driving me crazy. I'm wondering if the Service Center did something when replacing the fuel injector that prevented the oil warning light from going on.

    Any advice would be helpful.

    Thanks
    http://www.swengines.com/used-engine...model=5_Series

    https://www.tlsautorecycling.com/sea...0i/266137.html

    http://www.autopartsfair.com/bmw-use...theautochannel




    Before you buy a new motor try to find a machine shop that works on BMW v8s and ask them about rebuilding your own. If you didn't put a hole in the engine block those costs seem pretty crazy for what is essentially cleaning up the cylinder bores and replacing pistons. I would think there is more labor involved in r and r on the engine than in the actual repair. Do not rely on the dealer for anything non warranty. Find a reputable BMW specialist private shop in your area and see what they say. They should be able to give you the r and r cost for the engine and then you can source your own. It might take a while to find the engine but consider that if a 11-13 550 is written off in an accident, the whole salvage vehicle is sold at auction for well under 10k so paying 20k for an engine is definitely "full retail".

    If I had to do this I would explore the idea of upgrading to the newer TU engine if I could find one used, but not sure about compatibility of the engine computer.

    Good luck and keep us posted.
    Last edited by nuck; 02-20-2017 at 12:42 AM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    4
    The dealership negotiated with BMW USA to cover the replacement engine under warranty. Total cost was $55,000. Had to replace fuel injectors a few weeks later. Almost $60,000 in cost. I asked why they didn’t give me $55,000 towards a new car. They only said that was BMW USA’s decision.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
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    Ca
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    2001 525it
    How is it that BMW can not build a good engine any more

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Houston, TX.
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    21,298
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    15 X5, 02 330i, 09 MiniS
    2 quarts of oil per 1200mi is far in excessive of normal for these engines, and exceeds BMW's corporate favored guideline for consumption.

    I have two Alpina B7's in my shop right now with engines that suffered similar fates. One seized with no low oil warning given, 1.5qt was recovered from the sump. The other had more, but it was excessively dark, full of metallic particulate in suspension, and has god awful rod knock. Both are getting new BMW crate engines.

    The knocking engine isn't economically feasible to rebuild, cost to do so and be able to warranty it is too close to the cost of a new crate engine to justify.
    Tenured Automotive Service Professional - Avid BMW Enthusiast

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    4
    My Cars
    2005 BMW 545i
    I know this isn’t the right forum but my 2005 545 transmission went out at 102,000 miles. I had it checked twice at the deal for shifting issues BEFORE my 100,000 mile extended warranty ran out. New trans was over 10 grand. The dealer contacted BMWUSA and I ended up with a new trans and my cost was a little under 4 grand. If the dealer won’t help you, first bash them online then BMWUSA involved. They have treated me fair I believe.

    i now have 2013 550 with 66,000 miles, about 30,000 of them my miles (AND I bought the extended warranty just in case). I’m hoping for no problems. It’s been great so far.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
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    James twon
    Posts
    23
    My Cars
    2013 550i xDrive
    Quote Originally Posted by pargolf View Post
    After 9 service visits to my local BMW dealer in the last 2 years mostly for the dreaded Drive Train Malfunction, my engine seized last Saturday. 3 years ago I was using 2 quarts of oil every 1,200 miles as indicted by the Low Oil warning light. I was told by my BMW Service Technician that was normal for a twin turbo V8. A year ago after a fuel injector fix for a Drive Train Malfunction, the Low Oil Level warning light stopped going on. My Tech told me they had fixed the oil consumption problem. The BMW Service Center analysis of the blown engine showed only 3 quarts of oil (9 quart capacity) and recently 20 Low Oil Level warnings that I never saw. The car is out of warranty as of August 2016 and my tech told me a new engine would be $39,000 and a used for about $20,000. The fact that the Low Oil warning light did not illuminate when the oil level was dangerously low leading to catastrophic engine malfunction is driving me crazy. I'm wondering if the Service Center did something when replacing the fuel injector that prevented the oil warning light from going on.


    Any advice would be helpful.

    Thanks
    This does not apply to you since you got it for free but for others who have to pay, there is actually some good news in this, BMW just recently lowered the price of the N63 engine (they call it a short engine but in US terminology its a long block with head) to....~3000 dollars! Assuming you do not want to be ripped off by dealers, a competent independent shop can do the labor for 4500-5000, bringing your total cost to about 8-9k instead of 39k. BTW you can get these engines directly from the dealers (they are re-manufactured engines by BMW and warrantied by them basically new) link:

    https://www.jakesweeneybmwparts.com/...SABEgKfafD_BwE

    This particular one is for 750 model but they are interchangeable. I am in the process of getting my 2013 550i xDrive engine swapped. BTW if re-manufactured bothers you, you can get a new one for about 7k. These prices includes a core charge of 1k so your out the door price is 4k prior to turning in the core.
    Last edited by idofgrahf; 02-22-2018 at 02:47 AM.

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