Page 4 of 6 FirstFirst 123456 LastLast
Results 76 to 100 of 140

Thread: BMW N63 ENGINE FAILURE - 2009 to 2014 BMW 5 series, 6 series, 7 series, X5, and X6

  1. #76
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    13,674
    My Cars
    2005 325Xi
    Going thru a quart of oil every 2-3000 miles is nothing to worry about, and has been normal for BMW engines since forever. You cannot totally eliminate oil consumption form an internal combustion engine, particularly with the style of engine ventilation that BMW uses.
    Quote Originally Posted by B4SH View Post
    If anyone knows, it's this guy who knows literally nothing about everything.
    Quote Originally Posted by fcvapor05 View Post
    Do you even OT? The mean 401k around here is probably about $6, what with all the shiny cars and $1,000 watches and donations to get other members' Volvos running.


  2. #77
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    High Point, NC
    Posts
    12
    My Cars
    05 325xi 10 328i 16 428
    Purchased a 2012 550xi with 75722 miles for my son on 31 May 2019. Nice car, clean engine, no signs of leaks, clean CARFAX. Just overall a very nice looking car. Son loved it from the start. Jump to 12 October 2019 with 78771 miles, car cuts off and he rolls to the side of road. We have the car towed to Indy BMW shop and they state engine is locked. During this time, I’m doing research on the N63 engine and find all of these horror stories. I go into the local BMW dealership and let them know what has happened to my son’s car and the info I know on the N63 CCP. They hand me information on the N63 CCP and tell me to have the car towed in to the dealership. From here, every printed document from the dealership states the customer had car towed in after learning of BMW Class Action Lawsuit. No big deal, I continue with them and they tell me they have to get approval from BMW NA. I pay $182.55 for what I have no clue, but come to find out some TeleSpecialist at BMW NA says engine damage was not due to oil consumption based on all data he looks at and photographs. So all repairs are denied. I have car towed back to my Indy shop and have engine replaced. I won’t go to any other place to have work done and shop knows that so I will get engine replacement back in time (due to the holidays Thanksgiving and Christmas didn’t get the car back until first week of 2020 which now I don’t have to make appointments for service on any of my other cars for a while). After all of this, I’m still dealing with local BMW dealership and BMW NA. Question for both of them is, how can BMW TeleSpecialist say engine damage is not due to oil consumption but the local dealership can’t tell me what engine damage is until I pay $3000 for engine teardown?


  3. #78
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    High Point, NC
    Posts
    12
    My Cars
    05 325xi 10 328i 16 428
    Senior 17 years old......still pursuing this issue

    - - - Updated - - -

    Been driving BMW since 1989 and loved them ever since, no research done since 2012 528 was purchased just a few weeks before and was just fine

    - - - Updated - - -

    BMW dealership probably did, but they wouldn't tell me anything, it's like everything is classified. Still pursuing this issue.

  4. #79
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    High Point, NC
    Posts
    12
    My Cars
    05 325xi 10 328i 16 428
    BMW dealership probably did, but they wouldn't tell me anything, it's like everything is classified. Still pursuing this issue.

    - - - Updated - - -

    I reposted my original situation on this issue. My question now is why would I pay 3K for an engine teardown, when TeleSpecialist already say oil consumption is not the issue? But no one can tell me why the engine locked up.

  5. #80
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    .
    Posts
    7,708
    My Cars
    .
    Here's the deal. The class action lawsuit is specifically related to oil consumption. These engines have a secondary problem. They like to spin rod bearings, turning the engine into nothing but a paper weight. The problem is spinning a bearing, requiring engine replacement, is not directly related to the original issue of oil consumption due to oil leaks or valve stem seals.

    Any vehicle that comes in to a dealership requesting repairs related to the class action law suit, must be in normal operational condition. Any mechanical damage, such as a spun rod bearing, or seized engine does not qualify for repairs under the class action lawsuit.

    Yeah it sucks, but at the moment, that's the way it is. Call BMW and open a case. Do you have a good reputation with your servicing dealership? Here's another point: if you buy and service your cars there, they are more likely to go to bat for you with BMW. Every dealership has a "customer value" screen in their system. You buy cars there and have your car serviced there, you're going to get some help. You're a Joe Blow off the street that has never spent a dime at the dealer, then why would they want to help you?

    Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

  6. #81
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    13,674
    My Cars
    2005 325Xi
    Quote Originally Posted by White94RX View Post
    Here's the deal. The class action lawsuit is specifically related to oil consumption. These engines have a secondary problem. They like to spin rod bearings, turning the engine into nothing but a paper weight. The problem is spinning a bearing, requiring engine replacement, is not directly related to the original issue of oil consumption due to oil leaks or valve stem seals.

    Any vehicle that comes in to a dealership requesting repairs related to the class action law suit, must be in normal operational condition. Any mechanical damage, such as a spun rod bearing, or seized engine does not qualify for repairs under the class action lawsuit.
    This is generally true, but it is not impossible to get around this with the right set of circumstances. (see below)

    Yeah it sucks, but at the moment, that's the way it is. Call BMW and open a case. Do you have a good reputation with your servicing dealership? Here's another point: if you buy and service your cars there, they are more likely to go to bat for you with BMW. Every dealership has a "customer value" screen in their system. You buy cars there and have your car serviced there, you're going to get some help. You're a Joe Blow off the street that has never spent a dime at the dealer, then why would they want to help you?

    Because replacing an engine is $10-15k in revenue for the dealer. Advisors earn about $150 and techs earn about $750 for each engine replacement. Parts alone is $7-12K, depending on whether or not turbos also need to be replaced. And some of the 5 Series N63 vehicles were the ones where the low oil indicator light doesn't work, so it's possible for the engine to run dangerously low on oil without warning the driver, leading to low oil pressure and manifestation of the bearing seizure that they are susceptible to display. The dealer should charge the customer an hour or two of labor to drain the oil and do some other basic checks. If they find there's less than 5L of oil in the engine, then they have a good case for getting it covered under the Class Action.

    - - - Updated - - -

    We've done 3 or 4 N63 engine replacements under the Class Action on seized engines due to the vehicle not warning the driver that the engine oil was low. All required some extra legwork getting the Area Manager involved, but it is possible. Also, all of them had records of recent oil changes, or oil top-offs, to the point where the vehicle consumed a gallon or more of oil in some ridiculously low amount of miles (like, less than 3-4000 miles) that the owner couldn't really be blamed for not having checked the oil so soon after an oil change or top off.
    Quote Originally Posted by B4SH View Post
    If anyone knows, it's this guy who knows literally nothing about everything.
    Quote Originally Posted by fcvapor05 View Post
    Do you even OT? The mean 401k around here is probably about $6, what with all the shiny cars and $1,000 watches and donations to get other members' Volvos running.


  7. #82
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Columbus, Ohio
    Posts
    3
    My Cars
    2009 BMW 750Li

    DIYer advice on swapping crate engine.

    Hey. Figured I could contribute if anyone is a DIYer such as myself.

    I flip cars as an additional source of income on the side. I obtained a 2009 BMW 750Li N63B44O0 engine. Wouldn't turn over basically. Previous owner bought the 86k mile car from a dealer, who bought it at auction, for 5k. Previous owner did not research the car and lost 4k when I bought it for 1k. That car sat for sale for about a year before I bought it. No one was interested in touching it, but I am very familiar with German cars. I removed the engine and performed a failure analysis. It was obvious at some point the engine experienced a significant timing failure resulting in complete destruction of one cylinder, shattering one exhaust valve, severely impinging the upper compression ring which subsequently broke into 3 segments. This severely marred the cylinder wall, which is a non-sleeved, all aluminum [alusil] design. Basically unfixable. It was obvious all the remaining 31 valves were bent. It appears none of the valve shrapnel made it into the turbine as the turbos are pristine. All at 86k miles. I have images of everything if anyone is interested in seeing them. I bought the car for 1k as I had researched their history pretty thoroughly prior to purchasing. I was able to obtain a crate engine from BMW for $3700 with an approximately $2500 core charge. The long block replacement came with a full set of plugs, water pump, all new sensors, VVT actuators and more. I was impressed. The replacement engine was badged as N63B44A and appears externally identical with a minor difference in the engine valley. The turbocharger oil return is different and requires an updated line which I sourced for about $140. I believe this design comes from a later model 5 series, but I can't find anything t support that. I'm a big time DIYer and I do this stuff for fun and extra moolah. I can walk anyone through what I've done so far, but it's a pretty straight forward engine swap. Just an ASTOUNDING amount of parts. I documented carefully and I'm about a week or two away from starting. If you need advice for replacing the engine, I can offer it. I believe I will have about 5K in parts after all is said and done. Very clean 750, Brand new 2 year unlimited mileage warranty engine from BMW. Hope this relieves a little stress!

    -J-rod
    Last edited by MistaJRAWD; 05-12-2020 at 08:01 PM. Reason: I accidentally struck enter

  8. #83
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Columbus, Ohio
    Posts
    3
    My Cars
    2009 BMW 750Li
    I should also mention this:

    Some important things to know that are not a "straight forward engine swap."
    1.) A new battery will need to be coded to the ECM if it is replaced.
    2.) The fuel injectors, if reused, MUST have all seals and decoupling elements replaced.
    3.) The fuel injectors will have to be recoded to the respective cyinders using a 2 way coding device. [One can be bought from ECS tuning for $185]
    4.) A special tool is required to remove and replace the fuel injector seals. it's about $80.
    5.) I screwed around cleaning the throttle bodies, so I'm sure I will have to re-adapt the home locations. Can be done with the tuner.
    6.) Cycling engine to build up oil pressure prior to starting. etc.
    7.) GOOD manuals that are easy to navigate are hard to come by, so I've had to dig up a lot of this information myself. Which I will happily provide to interested parties.

  9. #84
    Join Date
    May 2020
    Location
    Columbus, Ohio
    Posts
    3
    My Cars
    2009 BMW 750Li
    Annnnnnnnd some pictures:

    The destruction:




  10. #85
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    13,674
    My Cars
    2005 325Xi


    No pics.
    Quote Originally Posted by B4SH View Post
    If anyone knows, it's this guy who knows literally nothing about everything.
    Quote Originally Posted by fcvapor05 View Post
    Do you even OT? The mean 401k around here is probably about $6, what with all the shiny cars and $1,000 watches and donations to get other members' Volvos running.


  11. #86
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Golden. Triangle
    Posts
    29
    My Cars
    2004 745Li
    So I bought a 2012 650i two days ago. I did notice a burnt coolant smell driving it yesterday so I think I might have the leaking coolant in the valley problem.

    I don't plan on driving it again until the weekend, if I go out & I'll make sure to check the oil before I start her up.

    The car has 81,400 miles on it. It drove well, good power & that's the best automatic transmission I ever drove.

    I've spent the last four/five hours learning about what a crappy engine this is & now I'm wondering if the CCP work had been done on this car or not, so I'll be calling my dealer in the morning.

    But if it hadn't, I should be able to take it to my dealer & get it done right? Even though I'm the 2nd owner?

    Another question, seems like the newer N63TU engines dont have the oil consumption & failing fuel injector problems. Do they use a different valve seal, would these new seals be installed on the CCP? Are the valve guides the same, or is that another issue that will creep up even with the new seals?

    Silly question, but the vehicles getting new engines, they're getting the updated revised engines correct? So is it safe to assume it's a straight swap, or does it entail new sensors or wiring harnesses, or adapters?

  12. #87
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    .
    Posts
    7,708
    My Cars
    .
    The newer N63TU engines do have some of the same oil consumption and injector issues, but not nearly to the same extent. They use the same valve seals. I think BMW reduced the oil change interval. Some of the cooling circuits on the TU have been revised, and may lead to certain areas of the engine running a few degrees cooler, which will prolong the life of the seals.

    There is no "revised" engine. To the best of my knowledge, nothing internal to the engine was changed or updated. It is a straight swap. Everything that was on the old motor, goes right back onto the new motor.
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

  13. #88
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    12
    My Cars
    2011 BMW 550i GT
    Hi

    I have a 2011 550i GT with 131K and my car is currently at BMW of SF doing the oil consumption test. I had read that BMW is able to do the valve stem replacement as part of a settlement as long as your car is deemed to have excessive oil consumption due to the valves seals. My car runs fine but does leak and burn oil, mainly due to the faulty valve stems. Assuming what I have read is true, do you have a link or an email to someone at BMW NA that I can work with on this? My dealer is saying the cut-off was at 120K but I have read differently. Marc

    - - - Updated - - -

    Hi&nbsp;<br><br>I have a 2011 550i GT with 131K and my car is currently at BMW of SF doing the oil consumption test. I had read that BMW is able to do the valve stem replacement as part of a settlement as long as your car is deemed to have excessive oil consumption due to the valves seals. My car runs fine but does leak and burn oil, mainly due to the faulty valve stems. Assuming what I have read is true, do you have a link or an email to someone at BMW NA that I can work with on this? My dealer is saying the cut-off was at 120K but I have read differently.&nbsp; &nbsp;Marc

  14. #89
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    13,674
    My Cars
    2005 325Xi
    The cutoff is 120k.

    For the first 12 months after the Class Action was launched, there was a "grace period" during which vehicles up to 11 years and 132k miles qualified for repairs, but that grace period has ended.
    Quote Originally Posted by B4SH View Post
    If anyone knows, it's this guy who knows literally nothing about everything.
    Quote Originally Posted by fcvapor05 View Post
    Do you even OT? The mean 401k around here is probably about $6, what with all the shiny cars and $1,000 watches and donations to get other members' Volvos running.


  15. #90
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    .
    Posts
    7,708
    My Cars
    .
    Quote Originally Posted by Critter7r View Post
    The cutoff is 120k.

    For the first 12 months after the Class Action was launched, there was a "grace period" during which vehicles up to 11 years and 132k miles qualified for repairs, but that grace period has ended.
    This is correct.
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

  16. #91
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    13,674
    My Cars
    2005 325Xi
    Also, our Area Manager has told us that there will be "absolutely" no Goodwill Assistance for repairing these vehicles after the Class Action period has ended.
    Quote Originally Posted by B4SH View Post
    If anyone knows, it's this guy who knows literally nothing about everything.
    Quote Originally Posted by fcvapor05 View Post
    Do you even OT? The mean 401k around here is probably about $6, what with all the shiny cars and $1,000 watches and donations to get other members' Volvos running.


  17. #92
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    .
    Posts
    7,708
    My Cars
    .
    Sounds about right. I’ve got an x6 that spun a bearing. It had the seals done more than a year ago. Thus far, BMW has told them to pound sand, no goodwill assistance.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

  18. #93
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    13,674
    My Cars
    2005 325Xi
    Quote Originally Posted by White94RX View Post
    Sounds about right. I’ve got an x6 that spun a bearing. It had the seals done more than a year ago. Thus far, BMW has told them to pound sand, no goodwill assistance.
    We've seen those too. Do the valve stem seals and it comes back 6 months or a year later seized up.

    We've seen a few N55s just seize up on the customer while driving for no apparent reason, too.
    Quote Originally Posted by B4SH View Post
    If anyone knows, it's this guy who knows literally nothing about everything.
    Quote Originally Posted by fcvapor05 View Post
    Do you even OT? The mean 401k around here is probably about $6, what with all the shiny cars and $1,000 watches and donations to get other members' Volvos running.


  19. #94
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Golden. Triangle
    Posts
    29
    My Cars
    2004 745Li
    Does the N63 & S63 use the same bearings, valve seals, timing chain & tensioner?

  20. #95
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    .
    Posts
    7,708
    My Cars
    .
    As far as I know, they do, but I can't say for 100% certain.

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by White94RX View Post
    Sounds about right. I’ve got an x6 that spun a bearing. It had the seals done more than a year ago. Thus far, BMW has told them to pound sand, no goodwill assistance.
    Here's an update on this vehicle. BMW told them to shove it. They came and picked up the car with a tow truck. Off to an independent shop, I'm sure. And we'll probably see it back in a month or so when they screw it up. We've seen that countless times.
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

  21. #96
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    13,674
    My Cars
    2005 325Xi
    Another awful part about this is that you can't even offer them a used engine, because they're all crap.
    Quote Originally Posted by B4SH View Post
    If anyone knows, it's this guy who knows literally nothing about everything.
    Quote Originally Posted by fcvapor05 View Post
    Do you even OT? The mean 401k around here is probably about $6, what with all the shiny cars and $1,000 watches and donations to get other members' Volvos running.


  22. #97
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    12
    My Cars
    2011 BMW 550i GT
    Hi, I would be interested in staying in touch. BMW is offering me a new engine installed at the dealer for $7K give or take. I think they should do it for $0. Do you have any documentation that might give me some leverage on this? My car is a 2011 550i GT with 131K. I've been complaining about the oil consumption to the dealer for a couple of years and they tossed it over the fence to BMW.
    Please send me your email in order to stay in touch on this. I have not decided on whether or not to move forward with this yet.
    Marcus

  23. #98
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Michigan
    Posts
    13,674
    My Cars
    2005 325Xi
    Quote Originally Posted by Victor545i57 View Post
    Hi, I would be interested in staying in touch. BMW is offering me a new engine installed at the dealer for $7K give or take. I think they should do it for $0. Do you have any documentation that might give me some leverage on this? My car is a 2011 550i GT with 131K. I've been complaining about the oil consumption to the dealer for a couple of years and they tossed it over the fence to BMW.
    Please send me your email in order to stay in touch on this. I have not decided on whether or not to move forward with this yet.
    Marcus

    The Class Action only covers vehicles up to 120k. With you paying $7k, they're offering "Goodwill" to cover 25%-50% of a replacement engine (varies depending on whether or not you need the turbo replaced. It's about a $10k job total without, or $15k job total with turbos).

    The oil consumption isn't a fatal issue unless you run the thing out of oil. You don't have to replace the engine.
    Quote Originally Posted by B4SH View Post
    If anyone knows, it's this guy who knows literally nothing about everything.
    Quote Originally Posted by fcvapor05 View Post
    Do you even OT? The mean 401k around here is probably about $6, what with all the shiny cars and $1,000 watches and donations to get other members' Volvos running.


  24. #99
    Join Date
    Sep 2020
    Location
    Bechhofen, RP, Germany
    Posts
    1
    My Cars
    2012 BMW 550i xDrive
    Hello everyone. I sure wish I had found this forum and post last year.

    I live in Germany and bought a used BMW 550i XDrive (from a private party) so I could take advantage of the Autobahn. I've had nothing but problems with the vehicle since I bought it. It has been in the shop 6 times in 9 months. It has mainly had problems during acceleration (jerky, hesitation, error codes, etc). I've had plugs replaced, injectors cleaned, and that helped for a brief time. 2 weeks ago I picked it up from my local mechanic (he had to replace spark plugs and wires on 1 side - the plugs were coated white) and it still felt like it was running rough and I could tell it sounded a little different, but he said it was good to go. As soon as I got outside the small town though, it started to shake when I pressed the accelerator. I knew it was a new problem that I hadn't experienced before (even though there was no error showing) and I started looking for somewhere to pull over, but was a on a 2 lane road with no shoulder and hoped I could find a spot soon and was going to stop at the next town less than 1 km away. I never made it. The engine stopped and it showed an error code about it being in "park". It wouldn't turn over. I had it towed back to the mechanic that night.

    His English is a bit broken, but it sounds like a timing chain was faulty and the oil pump was not pumping oil. Now the engine is toast. Do I have any recourse?

    If not, does anyone know where I can find a low priced reconditioned engine in Germany? I live in the greater Kaiserslautern area.

    Thank you for any help you can offer.

    Best,
    Bryan

  25. #100
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    .
    Posts
    7,708
    My Cars
    .
    Go to a dealership and get a remanufactured engine direct from BMW. That's about as cheap as you're going to get. Don't buy some unknown junk engine from a scrap yard.
    ASE and BMW Master Certified Technician

Page 4 of 6 FirstFirst 123456 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. 2004 BMW 545i Engine Failure at 68k loud tapping noise
    By galenpowers in forum 2004-2010 (E60,E61)
    Replies: 40
    Last Post: 12-31-2015, 01:21 AM
  2. Engine failure - 2009 335i
    By rimshotsnap in forum General BMW Mechanical Help sponsored by RM European Auto Parts
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 08-25-2015, 07:07 PM
  3. BMW 740, engine failure, vibration and poor acceleration
    By lollis in forum 1995 - 2001 (E38)
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 03-19-2012, 09:16 AM
  4. Replies: 11
    Last Post: 04-01-2008, 04:58 PM
  5. This Sucks!!! BMW F1 Engine Failure Trends
    By Phantom in forum Professional Motorsports sponsored by Bimmerworld
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-12-2002, 02:10 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •