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YOUR RESEARCHM96 apparently has nothing on the BMW N63B4400
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Replace .html
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Replace because of a leak causing over consumption of oil
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My car mainly had the valve seats replaced because of a leak causing over consumption of oil.
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The oil is changed every 3000 still using the recommended Mobil !.
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I've only ever changed the oil, and I have 96k on the clock now and it's never skipped a beat.
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Needed everything that was a pump (fuel, water, power steering) to be replaced right after it hit 10 years, but otherwise no major problems.
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Suggestion
I'm guessing KrazyK now has a 650i that he is busy documenting the 371 Modes Of Failure on and trolling BMW forums everywhere while trying to wangle a date with Chip, the owner of Vee Eight Innovations...After polishing the now exposed engine parts from the inside out he's going to work on replacing the battery with one of his own design (using a large russet potato and a paperclip) and then plans to sell it for half of what he paid for it while thinking about the good old days with his Toyota Corolla reliability-like 996.
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
67 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
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My 210k mile S430 4matic daily is giving up the ghost, so started watching the auction list (I have a dealer's license). Lo and behold, up for sale today was a 2010 BMW 750Li xDrive with 104k miles. Auction estimate valued about $11,500. That's exactly what I was looking for. I went out to preview it and it was in decent condition but with an odd warning message about the battery being discharged during driving. Hmm. I start researching and, HOLY CRAP!! Apparently the N63B4400 engine used in all "50i" cars from 2008 to 2013 makes the M96 look like a Hans Mezger design. Anybody out there with experience with both engines?
Needless to say, I passed on the big Bimmer.
They don't call it Brings Mechanic Work for nothing.
Buy this one instead. Fun to drive and looks cool.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2004-Jaguar-...m=122183350951
Plaintiff bring this class action lawsuit against BMW on behalf of all persons who currently own or lease a 5 Series, 6 Series, 7 Series, X5 and/or X6 model BMW equipped with the 4.4-liter V8 version of the N63B4400 engine, manufactured between 2008 and 2013.
As alleged, these engines suffer reliability issues that result from problems relating to the timing chain, fuel injectors, mass airflow sensors, crankcase vent lines, battery, the engine vacuum pump and low-pressure fuel sensors. Such problems led to more serious concerns such as excessive battery drainage (the “Battery Defect”), oil leakage (the “Oil Defect”) and engine seizure, often causing pistons to crack the engine block due to the high pressure (the “Engine Defect”). Such engine reliability issues have arisen with the N63 Engine regardless of mileage, sometimes even occurring in vehicles with less than 20,000 miles.
(Sauce:
http://gotaclassaction.com/bmw-named...b4400-engines/
)
I’m being ironic, of course, but what shocked me was that today, some BMW engines barely make it past the 62,000 mile (100,000 km) mark. As my mechanic was talking, I was getting more and more intrigued.
The N63B44O0 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 is a bomb on wheels
What he was saying wasn’t making any sense. He claimed that the original N63 engine that goes by the codename N63B44O0 is a downright bomb on wheels. According to him, he changed at least a dozen of them because of faulty injectors or a faulty high pressure fuel pump.
It seems like the injectors would shoot too much petrol inside the cylinder which would in turn cause some shrapnel to come off that would eventually get stuck in all sorts of places and cause the piston to crack the case. Basically, you’d be in for a surprise when a rod or even a piston would shoot through the engine block.
(Sauce:
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/bm...ems-88225.html
)
I have the 535xi wagon and love it. It has the dreaded n54 twin turbo motor that is supposedly plagued by problems. I've only ever changed the oil, and I have 96k on the clock now and it's never skipped a beat.
I'm guessing KrazyK now has a 650i that he is busy documenting the 371 Modes Of Failure on and trolling BMW forums everywhere while trying to wangle a date with Chip, the owner of Vee Eight Innovations...After polishing the now exposed engine parts from the inside out he's going to work on replacing the battery with one of his own design (using a large russet potato and a paperclip) and then plans to sell it for half of what he paid for it while thinking about the good old days with his Toyota Corolla reliability-like 996.
I'm
ed.
ed I tell you that there are problems with a BMW motor!
Oh. Wait. That's not right. What's the opposite of
?
My love is e30s. They had problems back then and they still have problems now. It's simple, their German. You want reliable, look to the eastern parts of the Asian continent.
Would disagree ^^. Too much technology and liberal climate change agenda forced auto makers to make smaller and much more complex FI motors. Germans, being German, piled all kinds of new tech into their engines with predictable results. The more moving parts you add, the less reliable unit becomes.
Same BMW and Mercedes V8s from 1990s are extremely strong. 4.4 V8 engines from BMW were smooth, reliable, and very powerful. 6 speed 540i from 1997 will give a run to your average 993 in 0-100 mph. Benz V8s from that era are legendary, no other word for it. 4.3, 5.0, 5.5 motors from 1990s are extremely reliable.
Hell, there was just a story about 400k mile E55 being on sale a few months ago. We are talking about 500 hp supercar with SC V8 motor that will still still run neck-in-neck with latest 911tts and lamborghinis. Reason for the longevity? Very simple and under-stressed engine. Single overhead cam, big blower on top, limited engine electronics.
http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...-amg-for-sale/
I purchased an X5 diesel the year they became available in the US (2010) - and while I did like the massive torque, there were things about the car I didn't like. Example: when the urea additive tank emptied, the car would refuse to start. Sure, you got some number of warnings, but...if those warnings happen when you're up a mountain or otherwise in the middle of nowhere, you're boned.
The issue that soured me on the car was when the EGR cooler failed (cracked), it allowed exhaust to circulate into the cabin. The X5 was less than a year old when this component failed so it was fixed under warranty (I believe that service visit added up to $2K). As similar stories started popping up on the Internet, I decided to let that car go and "downgrade" to a Nissan Murano. The Nissan may not have environmentally conscious bamboo-inlaid trim, but it does seem to route all exhaust out the tail pipe rather than through the cabin. Which is nice.
Putting that thing in 2nd with the traction control off and standing on the brakes to spin the turbos up waiting for a light to go green, though, was FUN. Many other drivers were confused at how a 3-ton SUV just blew them off the line - but after the first 60 feet, the gig was up.
Still have a soft spot in my chest for my first high school ride... '73 2002, ran amazing even after my amateur "high performance" rebuild. Those cars were solid rides. That being said, my 996 gives me those feelings still. Closest car in feel to my little hotrod 2002. I think with all marques, there will always the bad with the good, cars from the Asian side of the house are not excluded from that.
I dunno, the family E46 (my first car) has been pretty solid. Needed everything that was a pump (fuel, water, power steering) to be replaced right after it hit 10 years, but otherwise no major problems.
Bought a 2013 328i. Turns out it has a design issue with the timing chain that can grenade the motor. Glad it's under warranty until the end of the decade. Something about me and buying cars with fatal engine design flaws.
Check out the Nissan VQ35DE engine history. Maximas, 350Zs, Muranos, and Altimas all had this engine. They are failing at an alarming rate.
The early BMW E46 M4 S54 engine was plagued with the rod bearing issue.
Honda engines will always have a warm place in my heart.
My favorite thing I read was that they shortened the N63 service interval to 10,000 miles or 1 year, whichever came first. AND you must change the battery at EVERY oil change.
Seems normal.
My first '02 e55 motor didn't care for the aftermarket supercharger and folded on me. My second '05 did much better but with the factory SC and was fairly reliable. My cl65 started randomly expelling small parts during oil changes. My '11 M3 was starting to have multiple issues when I turned it back off lease at 55k, fun car but was going to be expensive. My 997tt turbo disintegrated and took out all of the O2 sensors with it (thanks to my x-pipe).
I also considered an e63 M5 pretty seriously until I researched all of the issues they had. Holy crud now that thing had problems.
Reliability of the high performance models does not seem to be a German specialty but damn I love their cars.
believe it or not... I own a 996 and an N63 BMW... I have to say that the BMW, luckily under warranty has been to the shop a fair amount of time. Mainly for small things but still a little annoying. The car is fantastic to drive but you read tons of horror stories about them. My car mainly had the valve seats replaced because of a leak causing over consumption of oil. When you would floor it, you could see a decent amount of smoke coming out the back. Nothing like diesel trucks but still for a car that price it should not be. The BMW CPO warranty has been good to me, but I think I'll sell it once it is over. Again a shame considering my 2011 X5 drives fantastically.. I am dreading buying anything else because I love it so much. About the battery charge, I had that too, but they updated my software and no problem anymore. the thing is that they used to keep the turbo water pump and fan on for a while after shut off, but they had to reduce that to help save batteries. I assume sacrificing a bit or reliability there as well. German engineering is beautiful....ly complex !
Owned a 2011 550XI for two years. Could not get out of that car fast enough.
BMW made the best Lexus with the F10s without reliability. I did not have any problems with it during the two year ownership but it drank oil slowly and took it in for its CCP. Did I mention I was so glad to get out from underneath it?
I currently own a 2010 E60 535 MSport (N54) w/93k miles (all mine) and I have nothing but great things to say about MY car. I see the horror stories on the BMW forums and I have not experienced any of that.
I've recently been considering moving on but there's' nothing out there I'd like more than my current car without dropping $80k (it's fast as hell, comfortable and handles very well for a sport sedan) so I'm holding tight for now.
uh, what? Both the BMW and Mercedes v8s have serious timing chain guide issues that can cause some pretty major repairs if they fail. And when you're making 280bhp from a 4.4L v8, it should be pretty reliable. Lets not get into the nikasil issues either.
As for the non-sense about the 540i giving a run to the average 993, from car and driver, a new 540i took 14.1 to 100, which dropped to 13.6 when at 40k miles.
car and driver tested a 993 at 12.1 to 100.
Thats between 1.5 and 2 seconds slower. Thats an eternity in this contest.
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...long-term-test
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...ad-test-review
Big fan of the E36 BMWs, but that's where my "like" ends for them. We put 150k on an '04 S55 AMG, it was stellar all the way, phenomenal car. So far -at least with "modern" stuff, I'm sticking with 911s and the AMG offerings. That said, most of my daily drivers are 45 or more years old.
I'm dreading the day my E61 gives up the ghost, I love that wagon and sadly there is nothing comparable on the market to replace it. But like you I have experienced nothing in the terms of the stories you read about
Sorry to disappoint all you BMW naysayers. I have an 08 N54 535i which I purchased new with every sport option offered that model year. I drive it like I stole it and have had zero replacement of anything except the run flats and windshield wipers. The oil is changed every 3000 still using the recommended Mobil !. I have owned 5 six Cyl. BMWs and have always driven them very briskly. They were all stick, except this last one with the expectation my wife would drive occasionally. Maybe it's my Uber scheduled maintenance regimen since I can say the same for all the rest of the brood.
Another vote for BMW - I have a 2010 535xi M6 E61 wagon with the dreaded N54 motor and love this car - best I have ever owned. Wagons are falling out of favour unfortunately.
I'm certainly not a BMW hater. We have 3 of them in the garage right now, including the '08 528xi I bought yesterday. I have had two 7-series in the past and they were good cars. Looks like I will wait until the 2014 models drop into the teens before I get another. So, see you in 4 years.
I have a coworker with a 2013 550i xdrive. I give him crap and call it a plug in hybrid because he has to keep it on a trickle charger. It's gotten much better since he got a special charger for it that is supposed to increase the health of the battery, but still, charging problems and battery replacements during servicing are real.
Not bashing BMW here. I have an E30 daily, E36 track car, and 2002tii. Former owner of another E30, E36 hatch, and E21.
Brands with the worst engine reliability:
10. Mitsubishi: Engine failure rate according to Warranty Direct: 1 in 59 (1.7%)
9. Volkswagen: Engine failure rate according to Warranty Direct: 1 in 52 (1.91%)
8. Renault: Engine failure rate according to Warranty Direct: 1 in 46 (2.13%)
7. BMW: Engine failure rate according to Warranty Direct: 1 in 45 (2.2%)
6. Peugeot: Engine failure rate according to Warranty Direct: 1 in 44 (2.26%)
5. Vauxhall: Engine failure rate according to Warranty Direct: 1 in 41 (2.46%)
4. Saab: Engine failure rate according to Warranty Direct: 1 in 40 (2.49%)
3. Mini: Engine failure rate according to Warranty Direct: 1 in 40 (2.51%)
2. Audi: Engine failure rate according to Warranty Direct: 1 in 27 (3.71%)
1. MG Rover: Engine failure rate according to Warranty Direct: 1 in 13 (7.88%)
Engine reliability - top 10 brands according to Warranty Direct:
1. Honda (failure rate: 1 in 344)
2. Toyota (failure rate: 1 in 171)
3. Mercedes-Benz (failure rate: 1 in 119)
4. Volvo (failure rate: 1 in 111)
5. Jaguar (failure rate: 1 in 103)
6. Lexus (failure rate: 1 in 101)
7. Fiat (failure rate: 1 in 85)
8. Ford (failure rate: 1 in 80)
9. Nissan (failure rate: 1 in 76)
10. Land Rover (failure rate: 1 in 72)
for the BMW owners in this thread bragging about not having problems....just wait! it's coming...
my N62B44 V8 in my X5 required valve stem seal replacement at 100k miles. Yes, 32 of them. Needless to say, such a huge job that even the local Indy BMW shops didn't want to do it. So I did it myself. took 5 weeks. What else has failed on this 06? Brake booster, water pump, multiple oil seals, coolant hoses, window regulator, door handle carrier, LED headlight module......
the whole car is a f**king bomb. But I love driving it
I love the BMW driving experience but hate the reliability.
I hate to say it but you are wrong, in fact you couldn't be more wrong. Yes just like every car out there BWM's have their fair share of problems and the myths that go along with them. The reality of the situation is that not all cars will have a failure, some make it through their lifespan without skipping a beat. As of now I fall into the latter category, and hopefully I stay there. I'm not sure what I would do if my wagon gives up the ghost as there is nothing on the market that is comparable I could replace it with. My 996 goes kaput, it gets an LS, my 535xi goes kaput, I have problems.
LOL you're joking right? Or smoking crack.
what am I wrong about? that BMWs have reliability issues? Read the BMW forums. There's gobs of threads with "common failures" to expect.
My local BMW mechanic told me the newer BMWs have the worst reliability he's seen in years.
look at the stats posted above. BMW has one of the worst reliability ratings. you need to accept that.
dont' get me wrong, I love BMWs - i've had multiple E36s, E46 m3, E24, E30, E53. But the newer cars just suck for reliability.
Oh my god, yeah the S85 motor has some /legendary/ issues. As a proud 996 owner, that's a whole different level of crazy. Nooooo thank you.
But at full tilt, there's no other sedan in the world that sounds like an E60 M5. Like a goddamn racecar.
Instagram
Since we're in here ****ting on BMWs...
My e36 has been perfect, 150k on it and in 4 years the only thing that has failed was a rubber intake boot that was getting cracked. That's it. Car has been to HPDEs, autox, and DD and hasn't missed a beat.
So far the e90 hasn't eaten the rod bearings, although it does have some "new-bmw" issues like horrid brake shield? scraping noise at high lateral G, a power-mirror connector I had to clean, and the windshield trim is rotting after only 60k/8 years.
Only failure my 100k 996 has had was a crank position sensor I caused to fail by pinching the wire after doing an AOS.
You can't get old-car simplicity and running costs with new car performance and comfort. Or can you?
Once I met a guy who knew a guy who shook hands with someone who's third cousin's uncle's best friend said he heard about a guy with a BMW that had no problems.
True story.
I'll take an unreliable Japanese engine over a regular German engine.
No problems in either of the VQ35s I've had.
When I traded my X5 with the N62, the dealer made me stand on the gas in the parking lot while they looked for smoke coming from the tailpipes.
I traded my '07 X5 4.8i Sport in on my pickup and I miss it terribly, even as unreliable as it was. Mine had the Active Steering and air suspension and all the electronic trickery allowed it to corner flatter than my 996. There was next to *no* body roll on that thing.
+1...I traded my '07 in at 94k miles and got $11,500 for it. The rear part of the 4-zone HVAC went out completely (not that the AC ever cooled it properly anyway), the giant moonroof worked intermittently, the air suspension was completely replaced, the blower motor blew twice, the resistor on the motor blew twice, the head gasket needed replacing, and the AC evaporator needed to be replaced. That last one requires the whole dash to come out and my independent mechanic respectfully declined to do the job.
Also EBC (Electronic Body Control?) errors, and the vehicle always thought the parking sensors and backup camera were broken even though they worked.
If I would have fixed everything that was wrong with the vehicle at 94k miles, it would have cost as much as I had paid for it--when everything worked. I once asked the BMW mechanic to diagnose all the crazy messages I got and he literally typed on the work order that "this is just the beginning of a long process". That's when I knew I needed to dump the thing.
Anecdotes or not, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that many BMWs turn into time bombs about the time you get 60k miles on them.
lets see...valve stem seals, coolant transfer pipe, mechatronics sleeve and adapter. logic 7 amp.
few other things, but those are the biggies. now in a 535xi
LOL you probably think the IMS bearing issues are just idiotic anecdotes, too.
on the flip side of the coin from my prior post, I'll also add that I raced a euro S50B32 engine in an E36 for several years. It was regularly taken to its 8000rpm redline, and never missed a beat. It was still running strong when I sold the car, and has continued to do so for the last few years.
I had an E60 M5 with 108K miles before I sold it. Not a single problem, but I did start it one day and got some catalytic converter errors, and decided it was time to part ways.
With the cost of tech labor going upward to $150 - $200 an hour, repairing anything is just too expensive these days.
Lease is the only way to go, unless you can name me a car reliable up to 100k miles / 10 years.
I really can't think of any car at all that would fit the bill, may be the lexus SUVs, but man they are boring to drive ... may be the reason for their longevity
Shame that Hondas and Toyota as of late are so boring!
This list needs to show specific outputs along with the reliability rating to see how good the engine's engineering really is. Of course there is bad engineering and bad manufacturing.
that goes for many EVERYTHING, with the possible exception of corollas/civics/some lexus.
Cars are complicated items, and they endure a lot of bull****. Hence you get issues. The more complicated you go, the more issues you have...this is not dependent on brand.
Our 996 is doing pretty OK at 75k and almost 16 years
Seriously, it's low maintenance at 12 years is why I ordered a new P!g instead of a X5 (though our e90 has been reliable for it's almost 10 years).
I've had several BMWs.
A 98 740i that was plaqued with problems. Ended up selling it and shortly after the fan clutch seized and disintegrated the fan. In the process it put two fins through the hood and severed all the power steering and coolant hoses. (i felt terrible as it was a friend).
A beautiful Black CPO 525it that had an engine fire and burned to ground. Had just had it detailed so it went out on top.
I had an E46 330i convertible that had its share of oilers but was pretty reliable.
I still have a 2006 e90 330I with a 6sp and sports package. 140K and its been the most reliable and fun daily driver car I've ever had.
They know how to make a six in line. Their V8 have issues in my experience and observations.
No, I'm sorry, but that's not true at all. Getting 100k mostly uneventful miles is a joke to most modern vehicles. Hell, I've got a 10-year-old Land Rover with 125k on it that's never been in the shop for anything but maintenance.
We're not collectively imagining that BMWs--especially the V8 models--have a much less reliable record than almost anything on the road.
OK, I'm sorry but I had to stop at "liberal climate change agenda".
This is utter nonsense. Acceptance of outright ignorance needs to end.
Just responding to a post in the thread. Science and facts do not have agendas.
Umm, yes you are, I would hardly call stats from a source called "warranty direct" reliable. And your Land Rover happened to be one of the biggest piles of poo on the road
yeah, i simply don't believe you.
So you are telling me that in 10 years, your land rover has not required a single part that was not maintenance related?
Bull**** and/or a useless anecdote given the reliability ratings for said vehicles.
BMW V8s are not brilliant. Neither are M96s. Neither is the 991 GT3 motor. neither is the mazdaspeed 3 motor. Neither are the subaru motors. Neither were the m273s in the mercedes.
The average civic, corolla, or camry should have no problems. They are built well and driven normally with mostly highway driving. They are also not nearly as complicated as something like a 7 series.
Every single car manufacturer has problems with their motors, toyota and honda included.
Well, the thread topic is specifically one BMW motor - the N63B4400. Not every BMW engine - just this one. According to its maker, this engine, along with many other issues, requires a battery change with every oil change. That ain't normal. I'm not bashing BMW - I bought a 528xi at the same auction and it seems to be a great mid-size sedan. I also have an E30 convertible bought in 1999 and my high school aged son drives an E53 X5. I've owned at least 10 other BMWs.
I really wanted another 7 series, though. I've owned 2 of them in the past and really enjoyed them. I love the full-sized German sedans, and I understand the risks and maintenance requirements that go along with them. But this N63B4400 engine appears to be a turd of epic proportions. What a shame.
Despite all of the hysteria surrounding the M96, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.
You seem grumpier than usual. Did you peak at your presents and find an insurance policy that explained "no fault" doesn't mean what you think it means?
