X5M advice and issues

[Oguso]

Hi everyone,

I'm considering getting an X5M and am hoping to get some advice on what to look out for.

Does anyone have a list of common issues that these cars suffered from? (I tried searching but there doesn't seem to be a concise list as such)

There seems to be quite a few posts about the injectors being problematic. Was there ever a fix for this? or was there rectified in later models?

Also, does anyone know what tyres came standard with this car from the factory?


Cheers
B

[jksgoh]

It seems that the N63 engine had a lot of issues. Can anyone confirm if the S63 suffered from the same problems??

[gixxerboy63]

There is a recall on the injectors.
http://www.xbimmers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1214699

[gmaurer]

I've had three - 2010, 2013, 2016.
There was a minor recall on the 2010.
Other than that, no problems.
But mine have all been low mileage.

[m5james]

Most anything N63 is slowing coming down our way, mostly because if you goto www.realoem.com, we share the same parts. Some of these are hit and miss, but at the moment this is what I've done and it seems common:

Injectors (there's a recall)
ALL of the PCV lines which will cause a Reduced Power warning (there's a recall on the N63, not on the S63...yet)
Vacuum pump on the back of the engine (there's a recall on the N63, not on the S63...yet)
FRM3 module (no recall but the early versions have software issues that cause them to bootloop when they lose power)
Excessive battery drain usually solved with a newer battery and/or battery grounding cable

Just make sure you take it to BMW directly to check on any open recalls, the usual buyers inspection and you should be good to go. I got my '10 in Alpine White over Sakhira Orange with 57k for $33k OTD and even with the repairs and $2000 in performance mods to give me another 100hp, I'm still WAY under the $95k purchase price someone else paid, so I'm happy.

[Oguso]

Thanks for the info guys.
Re the recall on the S63 injectors, does anyone know if there has been a similar campaign/recall in Australia? (or is it only in the USA?) And also has there been a similar campaign for the N63s here in australia?

When I initially, went to a BMW to test drive an X5M (before I knew of all the potential problems) I did ask them if there was any outstanding recalls and they said "no" (and i don't think the injectors had been replaced on that model).

I understand that the S63 shares many parts with the N63, but have those other issues, e.g. batteries, vacuum pump, etc, actually materialised in S63s?


Thanks for your input.

[m5james]

I replaced the two upper crankcase lines going to the valve covers right after purchase. A month later I wrote BMW NA about my failing injectors (also used on the 3 series cars), pointed out they're the same ones in the N63 campaign and they acted like they knew nothing of it. $900 later I replaced them myself, three weeks later the campaign came out for the S63. Since my buddy works at BMW and we'd already replaced the injectors at my house, he swapped my old injectors with new injectors to resell and recoup my costs, then while it was at the shop he replaced my leaking vacuum pump, spark plugs, I bought the upgraded (different sensor) low pressure fuel rail, he in turn installed all the parts using the book time he'd have used otherwise to R&R the injectors. Now I'm replacing the remaining three crankcase/PCV lines myself since I still get black peppering on the tailgate accompanied with random reduced power warnings.

I'm at work so I can't compare everything online right now via RealOEM, but assume most of the N63 issues are S63 issues as well. Copy and pasted from Google:

This is a 2-part campaign by BMW for cars with the N63 engine. It was announced on 12/29/2014 and called "N63 Customer Care Package", bulletin B001314. The highlights are:

- check the timing chain for stretch; replace if necessary
- check the following items and replace if necessary: fuel injectors, mass air flow sensors, crankcase vent lines, battery, engine vacuum pump, low pressure fuel sensor
- change the oil service interval to 12 months/10,000 miles

1st pic - all the PCV lines that need to be replaced
2nd pic - fouled plugs from the injector failure
3rd and 4th pic - fuel puddling in the cylinders, which in turn washed through the turbos and out the exhaust

[Oguso]

Thanks for the input m5james. very useful information.

I was also wondering if the fixes of these various problems are permanent fixes, or are they just bandaid solutions to keep ppl happy for a year or so?

[m5james]

Updated post with pics.

The injectors should be a permanent fix, the vacuum pump I'm not sure, the PCV is in the air since it's still BMW and their use of plastic in a hot engine bay, the FRM3 is updated with newer software (can be flashed third party), fuel pumps I haven't touched so I'm not certain. Make sure there's no open recalls, buy it and be prepared...it's not anything worse than any of my other BMW's.

Nevertheless it's still an amazing vehicle once given a tune and some light modding that I bought for 1/3 the price of new. It tows, it's great in snow, perfect upgrade from my E53 that I'm looking forward to taking to Bimmerfest and hauls ass when needed on plenty of unsuspecting victims...the boost is addictive and launches are violent, I love it. The bang for the buck is great and it'll only get better as more of the limits are learned from the M5 as mods trickle their way down to us.

[Oguso]

Thanks again m5james. great info.

I think i'll just have to wait for a good one to pop up!

Just wondering with the PCV issues - have there been any after market solutions? surely this could be fixed by simple and better materials?

Also does anyone know what tyres came stock with the cars? A few i have seen have bridgestone Dueler H/T which I'm not sure is suitable for a car with 408kw???

[m5james]

Mileage, regular maintenance and visual condition (color combo was a HUGE thing for me as I didn't want black, then I found mine and jumped on it) were my selling points. Good or bad, but mine spent a LOT of time between two BMW dealerships with about 8k of undocumented service before I bought it. Since then I've replaced injectors, the PCV lines, an oil change and gone through lots of gas abusing it :-)

Travis1807 is the only one so far who's in the middle of working on a solution by replacing the plastic lines with Fragola Series 8000 stuff and incorporating catch cans, but this IMHO is a mod for someone who's looking to push their engines to the limit with tune, meth, bigger turbos, etc vs someone who's just DD'ing their car. BMW has upgraded/revised the lines slighty by putting a sheathing over them, but ultimately I'm guessing they're still gonna be 50k wear items that'll cost about $150-$200 in parts and can all be done in a day.

Stock the info I'm guessing can be found in anyone online review like Autotrader, MSN cars, etc.

[Oguso]

I guess there are no builds from the factory which came with the updated injectors?

[mleun481]

The injectors bulletin is for vehicles produced from March 1, 2009 to April 30, 2013. I don't know what version I have, but mine is a June 2013 build and my VIN is not on the list as being impacted.

[Oguso]

Thanks for the reply.

Anyone know when the index 12 injectors actually became available? or if there were any regional differences? i.e. in Australia?

Reason i ask is that there is an august 2010 build that i am looking at and the car dealer said that the earlier builds had the injector problem but this car did not cause it was a "later" model. I'm obviously a bit suspicious of what he has to say.

[frankenm]

Anything from 2010-2011 is most likely running older injectors if they haven't already been replaced.

[s390er]

ANYONE WITH A S63 X5M X6M ENGINE FAILURE - VISIT THIS THREAD AND POST YOUR CONCERNS - CONTACT BMW NA AND BMW CANADA - https://www.xbimmers.com/forums/show...6#post24786886