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

  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 Vladyslav Lytvyshchenko on Unsplash The N63 is BMW's twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8. On paper, and in person, if you're honest about it, it's a magnificent thing. Four hundred horsepower in a 5 Series. Five hundred in the right M Sport trim. A sound that makes a grey Tuesday feel like something worth being alive for. It is also, particularly in its early years, a bit of a nightmare. BMW put the turbos in the V-engine valley, between the cylinder banks, tucked right into the hottest part of the engine. The engineering term for this layout is 'hot-V'. It helps reduce turbo lag. It also generates extraordinary heat in places where rubber seals and gaskets were never really designed to live. The early N63s, roughly 2008 to 2013, burned oil, leaked everywhere, ate timing chains, and sometimes failed fuel injectors before the car had done 30,000 miles. BMW eventually acknowledged all of this. More on that shortly. The good news is that if you own a BMW N63 engine...