CriticalCommonEngine

BMW X5: N63 V8 oil consumption, valve stem seals and turbo failures (xDrive50i)

N63 V8 oil consumption, valve stem seals and turbo failures (xDrive50i) is a common engine fault on the BMW X5 on the 2010–2018 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $4,000 to $15,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 41 documented faults on the BMW X5.

Vehicle: BMW X5
Only on: Bi-Turbo / twin-turbo
Engine: N63
Years: 2010–2018
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the BMW X5 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All BMW X5 faults41 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Turbocharger yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The twin-turbo N63 V8 in E70/F15 xDrive50i models runs its turbos in the engine's hot vee and cooks its valve stem seals, injectors, and turbo oil seals — heavy oil consumption and smoke are endemic. BMW ran the 'N63 Customer Care Package' in some markets replacing seals, injectors and batteries; NZ-new and imported cars vary in whether they got it. Repairs are among the most expensive on any BMW SUV; buy the six-cylinder unless the V8's history is bulletproof.

What you would notice

Blue smoke on start-up and overrun
Oil use over 1 L per 1,500 km
Repeated flat batteries (excessive drain)
Turbo whistle/rattle

How to check it

Where to look. V8 engine — turbos in the engine vee, valve seals in the heads

Cold start and watch for blue smoke; ask precisely how much oil it uses. Ask whether the Customer Care Package / stem seal job was ever done, with invoices. A compression/leak-down test pre-purchase is justified on this engine.

Parts involved: Turbocharger.

What it costs to put right

$4,000 to $15,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the N63 Customer Care Package or valve stem seal job been done?”
“Exact oil consumption per 1,000 km?”

Now check the BMW X5 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

BMW N63 Customer Care Package service action (SI B00 01 14)
Bimmerpost N63 oil consumption megathreads
Doug DeMuro/authoritative press coverage of N63 issues

BMW X5 buyer questions

Is n63 v8 oil consumption, valve stem seals and turbo failures (xdrive50i) serious on a BMW X5?

We rate it critical and common on the BMW X5. The twin-turbo N63 V8 in E70/F15 xDrive50i models runs its turbos in the engine's hot vee and cooks its valve stem seals, injectors, and turbo oil seals — heavy oil consumption and smoke are endemic. BMW ran the 'N63 Customer Care Package' in some markets replacing seals, injectors and batteries; NZ-new and imported cars vary in whether they got it. Repairs are among the most expensive on any BMW SUV; buy the six-cylinder unless the V8's history is bulletproof.

How much does it cost to fix on a BMW X5?

$4,000 to $15,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which BMW X5 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2010–2018 BMW X5. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.