MT Auto Parts Blog | Expert Tips for BMW enthusiasts on BMW Parts, Accessories, Engines and More

  Photo by Renaldo Matamoro on Unsplash   The BMW 4 Series has been around since 2013, when BMW split the 3 Series coupe into its own line. Two generations later, the F32 (2013–2020) and the G22 (2020 onwards), there is now a reasonable spread of used examples on the UK market at various price points. Which one to buy comes down, more than almost anything else, to which engine is under the bonnet. Here is an honest comparison of every significant engine option across both generations. F32 BMW 4 Series (2013–2020) — Engine by Engine N20 — the one to avoid The N20 2.0-litre petrol went into the early F32 420i and 428i. It is not a terrible engine, but it has a known timing chain problem that has affected enough owners to give it a poor reputation in the BMW community. The chain and its plastic guides can wear and crack, particularly on cars that have been run on extended oil change intervals. The symptoms, a rattle at cold start that clears after a few seconds, are easy to miss ...

  Photo by Angelica Levshakowa on Unsplash The BMW X5 has been in production since 1999 and has gone through four distinct generations. It is one of the most successful premium SUVs ever made in the UK and Europe, and it is also one of the most owned BMWs in the country. That means plenty of used examples at a range of prices and plenty of owners navigating the maintenance costs that come with running one outside of warranty. This guide focuses on the E70 (2006–2013), F15 (2013–2018), and G05 (2018–present) generations, the cars that make up the majority of the UK's current X5 ownership base. We cover the most common problems by generation, which engines to prioritise or avoid, what the known faults cost to fix, and where second-hand BMW X5 parts fit into the ownership picture. Quick Generation Overview  E70 (2006–2013) – Second-generation X5. Stronger body than the E53 but more electronics. N52/N55 petrol and M57 diesel are the reliable engine choices. N63 V8 is the generati...

  Photo by Angelica Levshakowa on Unsplash The BMW X5 has been around since 1999. That's over twenty-five years of the same nameplate, four completely different generations, and enough engine variants to fill a small car park. If you're trying to work out which one to buy, or you already own one and want to understand what you're dealing with, the sheer choice can feel overwhelming. People search for this question for different reasons. Some are shopping for a used X5 and trying not to make a £15,000 mistake. Others own one that's giving them grief and want to know whether it's the car or just bad luck. And some are simply curious: across twenty-five years and four generations, which BMW X5 actually holds up? This guide gives you a straight answer. We've ranked every generation and covered the engines that matter, the ones worth having, the ones to be cautious about, and the ones to walk away from entirely. No padding, no vague reassurances. Just the truth about...