New to me used 2012 X5 50i

[skvitt5]

Hi folks! This is my first Bimmer. Am I doomed? Or are there any good words about N63?
So far it has 115K km (72K miles) on it. Sounds healthy and drives good.

[X5 MAN]

Take it on a long test drive on highway at 80mph and see if any check engine light comes up

Get new plugs and coils replaced before you buy. Check engine partions for crumbling.

[skvitt5]

Originally Posted by X5 MAN

Take it on a long test drive on highway at 80mph and see if any check engine light comes up

Get new plugs and coils replaced before you buy. Check engine partions for crumbling.

Thanks, but it's already mine. However I test drove it at 80 mph, nothing came up.

[X5 MAN]

Enjoy the 50i

Its the best SUV money can buy. I have the same 2011 50i and after a few updates., it drives like a champ. Nothing comes close to it except maybe a Porsche Cayenne.

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by skvitt5

Hi folks! This is my first Bimmer. Am I doomed? Or are there any good words about N63?
So far it has 115K km (72K miles) on it. Sounds healthy and drives good.

TLDR version: Throw away your engine cover, toss your rear partition, let your engine compartment breath, avoid stop and go traffic like its the plague (take the long way), you have a 5300lb performance SUV with a twin turbo V8, it was made to CRUISE and FAST. Use Liqui Moly 5-40 for your oil change. Oh and buy the 10" android screen upgrade, worth every penny.

Long version:
I Have 2012 50i with 141K on it. I put 40,000 miles on in it in one year so I drive it hard. The biggest problem with the 50i (and M) is that the engine is a reverse flow "Hot Vee". This means the exhaust manifolds and catalytic converters, items normally located away from the engine, are actually placed in the center of the valley of the engine, underneath that pretty engine cover.

Yes thats right, items that reach well over 1000 degrees are tucked in there along with all kinds of wonderful plastic hoses and bits and then covered up by that engine cover which also has sound deadening material that also acts as amazing heat blanket(BMW actually calls it an Acoustic cover). To make it worse, the 50i is unique with its crazy air filter system that further traps heat soak from the exhaust system and cooks the living hell out of the heads, thus why our coils and CCV tubes fail much sooner then the M version of the engine as it has a different air filter design. Throw that damn engine cover out and toss your rear partition (alot of users will disgree with me on that one, but until they get a 140K on their N63 powered X5 in the AZ heat, they know not what they speak of)

So unless they have recently been replaced, look out for the following within the next 10-30K miles:

Misfire codes & engine malfunctions from worn plugs and coils.

Misfire and rough "surging idle or underboost codes from cracked CCV tubes
Coolant leaks from the hoses going to the turbos, head to head hose under alternator.

If the previous owner was a dick and used cheap oil then expect blocked turbo oil return lines (your engine will smoke like a James Bond smoke screen if this happens)

around 90 to 100K, most N63's start smoking pretty bad due to bad valve seals. Install catch-cans with adjustable CC Vacuum and get at least another 40K out of it without having to spend 3 grand to have them replaced (or 1000 dollars in tools and 40 hours to do it yourself) , I am working on a write up how to do these, been taking me forever but will have it up long before its a issue for you.

Change your tranny oil at 80K, BMW says its lifetime because their marketing team has a drug problem(obviously), ZF the actual maker of your ZF8HP70 transmission recommends changing it at 80 because they believe in reality. One would think the actual maker of the transmission would know best.


Do you see the pattern here? All items are heat related and thats why I always shout my mantra of throwing away the engine cover and rear partition, get some friggen air flow in that tomb of an engine compartment. Twin turbo v8 reverse flow with an damn engine cover and an engine compartment so tight you can pour water on your engine and a drop wont hit the ground.....they need to bring back drawn and quartered specific for whoever thought that was a good idea.....

So as mentioned before, Enjoy the 50i, it drives like no other, but be prepared. You have a complicated machine....any car that has 3 water pumps and enough wires and tubes to reach the moon if put in end to end is going to be. Get a Foxwell 510, 520, or Bimmergeeks Protools and start surfing for the best coil and plug prices & CCV component prices (avoid Bosch Coils made in Slovenia like the Plague, Eldors are a safe bet, get generic Bosch plugs or be fancy and get the Iridium NGK's, I have them, they rock) Even if you dont do the work yourself, having the scan tools and being informed will prevent you from being bootyraped by the repair shop/dealer.

[X5 MAN]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

TLDR version: Throw away your engine cover, toss your rear partition, let your engine compartment breath, avoid stop and go traffic like its the plague (take the long way), you have a 5300lb performance SUV with a twin turbo V8, it was made to CRUISE and FAST. Use Liqui Moly 5-40 for your oil change. Oh and buy the 10" android screen upgrade, worth every penny.

Long version:
I Have 2012 50i with 141K on it. I put 40,000 miles on in it in one year so I drive it hard. The biggest problem with the 50i (and M) is that the engine is a reverse flow "Hot Vee". This means the exhaust manifolds and catalytic converters, items normally located away from the engine, are actually placed in the center of the valley of the engine, underneath that pretty engine cover.

Yes thats right, items that reach well over 1000 degrees are tucked in there along with all kinds of wonderful plastic hoses and bits and then covered up by that engine cover which also has sound deadening material that also acts as amazing heat blanket(BMW actually calls it an Acoustic cover). To make it worse, the 50i is unique with its crazy air filter system that further traps heat soak from the exhaust system and cooks the living hell out of the heads, thus why our coils and CCV tubes fail much sooner then the M version of the engine as it has a different air filter design. Throw that damn engine cover out and toss your rear partition (alot of users will disgree with me on that one, but until they get a 140K on their N63 powered X5 in the AZ heat, they know not what they speak of)

So unless they have recently been replaced, look out for the following within the next 10-30K miles:

Misfire codes & engine malfunctions from worn plugs and coils.

Misfire and rough "surging idle or underboost codes from cracked CCV tubes
Coolant leaks from the hoses going to the turbos, head to head hose under alternator.

If the previous owner was a dick and used cheap oil then expect blocked turbo oil return lines (your engine will smoke like a James Bond smoke screen if this happens)

around 90 to 100K, most N63's start smoking pretty bad due to bad valve seals. Install catch-cans with adjustable CC Vacuum and get at least another 40K out of it without having to spend 3 grand to have them replaced (or 1000 dollars in tools and 40 hours to do it yourself) , I am working on a write up how to do these, been taking me forever but will have it up long before its a issue for you.

Change your tranny oil at 80K, BMW says its lifetime because their marketing team has a drug problem(obviously), ZF the actual maker of your ZF8HP70 transmission recommends changing it at 80 because they believe in reality. One would think the actual maker of the transmission would know best.


Do you see the pattern here? All items are heat related and thats why I always shout my mantra of throwing away the engine cover and rear partition, get some friggen air flow in that tomb of an engine compartment. Twin turbo v8 reverse flow with an damn engine cover and an engine compartment so tight you can pour water on your engine and a drop wont hit the ground.....they need to bring back drawn and quartered specific for whoever thought that was a good idea.....

So as mentioned before, Enjoy the 50i, it drives like no other, but be prepared. You have a complicated machine....any car that has 3 water pumps and enough wires and tubes to reach the moon if put in end to end is going to be. Get a Foxwell 510, 520, or Bimmergeeks Protools and start surfing for the best coil and plug prices (avoid Bosch Coils made in Slovenia like the Plague, Eldors are a safe bet)

I have been telling everyone who cares to hear that 50i V8 is meant for Interstate cruising and not soccer-mom games, milk and grocery runs. Then people say it has burnt up all the innards.
If you want a soccer-mom SAV then do NOT buy the 50i or X5M

[skvitt5]

Thanks guys for the input. It gives me some hope after I read all the horror stories. My normal drive is a 15-20 min on a country road with a few stop signs. No have traffic.
I'm very good mechanically, so far had no issues maintaining and fixing my Volvo XC90 and Tundra. From wright-ups and videos about repairs on the web, I see nothing that I can't handle myself. However I bought extended warranty with it, just too many other projects on the go.

[quick]

Originally Posted by skvitt5

Thanks guys for the input. It gives me some hope after I read all the horror stories. My normal drive is a 15-20 min on a country road with a few stop signs. No have traffic.
I'm very good mechanically, so far had no issues maintaining and fixing my Volvo XC90 and Tundra. From wright-ups and videos about repairs on the web, I see nothing that I can't handle myself. However I bought extended warranty with it, just too many other projects on the go.

Great and welcome to the club. What warranty did you end up purchasing?

[skvitt5]

Lubrico Powertrain with AC and seals and gaskets, 4 years 80k km.

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by skvitt5

Thanks guys for the input. It gives me some hope after I read all the horror stories. My normal drive is a 15-20 min on a country road with a few stop signs. No have traffic.
I'm very good mechanically, so far had no issues maintaining and fixing my Volvo XC90 and Tundra. From wright-ups and videos about repairs on the web, I see nothing that I can't handle myself. However I bought extended warranty with it, just too many other projects on the go.

You should be fine then. If I can get 140K in the hellish 120 degree heat in Phoenix, you will be good to go. I would still toss that damn engine cover though....hate that thing (just in case you couldn't tell). And like X5 man said, this baby was meant to CRUISE. I just did a 400 mile trip to Tucson and back yesterday, drove 90-100 most of the way and still averaged 21.9 mpg! I added Mos2 to the front diff when I changed the oil the night before, I swear its smoother now but probably in my head

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Forgot to add, check your car for the recalls on the airbag and turbo water pump, BMW will do them both for free.

[skvitt5]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

Forgot to add, check your car for the recalls on the airbag and turbo water pump, BMW will do them both for free.

Looks like everything was done, except latest one - passenger side airbag.

[quick]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

Forgot to add, check your car for the recalls on the airbag and turbo water pump, BMW will do them both for free.

Please tell me about the Turbo water pump, is it on N63 or S63 or both?

[Sophisticated Redneck]

It's the same pump for both but I'm not sure if BMW covers the S63 because as you know the M also stands for more ///Money!

[JoeyBimX5din]

I am sitting at 126k and this is the best worst thing I have ever owned. My 27 mile daily commute is all back roads, so this thing murders all of them like a heavyweight rally car.

I like the inverted V concept, its a very good idea, if you do proper heat shielding the packaging in theory is better then a regular V. I know it really helps with the packaging on the Ford 6.7L Powerstoke.

with the f15 X5 going soft, I will probably replace this one with a Cayenne (as long as sport still lives with Porsche Mid sized SUV'S) or something just as sporty

[skvitt5]

It's Friday.

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by skvitt5

It's Friday.

Bwhahha!!!!!

[X5 MAN]

I made a conscious decision to buy N63 2011 even though it so much known for issues. I test drove the F15 X5 and the feeling is of total let down. Sort of like wimpish version of the older X5s

So I bought N63 and spent nearly $6-$7 k to update it and now I don't regret it. Best performance BMW one could ever drive.

[eDubz]

Originally Posted by X5 MAN

I made a conscious decision to buy N63 2011 even though it so much known for issues. I test drove the F15 X5 and the feeling is of total let down. Sort of like wimpish version of the older X5s

So I bought N63 and spent nearly $6-$7 k to update it and now I don't regret it. Best performance BMW one could ever drive.

Originally Posted by X5 MAN

I made a conscious decision to buy N63 2011 even though it so much known for issues. I test drove the F15 X5 and the feeling is of total let down. Sort of like wimpish version of the older X5s

So I bought N63 and spent nearly $6-$7 k to update it and now I don't regret it. Best performance BMW one could ever drive.

Except for an M, of course...

[Sophisticated Redneck]

Originally Posted by eDubz

Except for an M, of course...

True but if you slap on some downpipes and a JB4, you can get M-like performance on a budget. It's what I doing, along with brakes and various other upgrades.

But even stock the 50i is a hell of a ride.

[skvitt5]

So I think the fun has begun for me too - just noticed a significant coolant puddle under the car on the passenger side. Also some sort of whistling sound at certain rpms. I wonder if those two are connected.

[TwinSnailz]

Hey Rednex, did the ngk plugs use the same socket as the bosch? I looked up the part # for the Ngk and the picture shows that it uses hex which I don’t think a regular hex socket will fit through the spark plug tunnel.