The BMW twin turbo v8 engine is an incredible example of how technology and power can coexist in a car. Although the BMW N63 was revolutionary for its day, it had many initial engine issues. Overfueling, broken fuel injectors, broken timing chains, leaky valve stem seals, and rapid battery drain are among the most typical issues with N63 engines.
You should examine these issues before purchasing an N63-powered BMW, even if the N63 is undeniably powerful. In this post, we will examine the most typical issues with the BMW engine and provide solutions and the reasons behind these problems.
The 5 Most Common BMW Twin Turbo V8 N63 Engine Problems
The BMW N63 has many great features but is not without complaints. Remember that BMW has fixed some of these problems in later N63TU engine versions, although they were far more prevalent in earlier N63B44O0 vehicles. These are the top five issues that arise with BMW N63 engines:
- Excessive Use of Oil
- Problems with Fuel Injectors
- Failure Timing in a Chain
- Leaking Valve Stem Seals
- Fast Battery Drainage
1) N63 Engine Problems – Excess Oil Consumption
Everyone knows that the N63 is an oil glutton, even when it’s brand new. The engine’s design is primarily to blame for this problem; the turbos are located in the engine’s valley, or the center of the “V” shape. Because of the intense heat, the engine requires more oil and gaskets dry up, which increases the risk of leaks. How many ounces of oil does it use? Although 1 quart per 1000 miles is considered normal according to BMW specs, several owners report using a quart every 600 miles.
The owners still rave about the twin-turbo v8 engine, even if they have to change the oil every four to six thousand miles and have a few quarts on hand in case the indicator goes out. There is no need to get under the hood and fiddle with these automobiles because they don’t have a dipstick. When it’s time to replenish another quart of oil, the BMW I-Drive will notify you. Have a couple of gallons on hand; you could need them. Adding oil to the automobile is a simple process, costing about $10 for a quart.
Although a final settlement has not yet been reached, the plaintiffs demand certain conditions. These conditions include the replacement of older, inefficient N63 and N63TU engines with more modern, up-to-date N63TU2 engines. Additionally, the plaintiffs are requesting free quarts of oil in between oil changes as part of their demands.
2) N63 Engine Problems – Fuel Injector Failure
These problems persisted throughout the BMW twin turbo v8 engine. Not even low-mileage vehicles were immune. According to one user on this site, the fuel injectors started acting up at around 20,000 miles. These injectors aren’t inexpensive, so keep that in mind if you’re looking at models with this engine. Including labor, the cost of a single injector is roughly $200. So, when the injector is involved, what symptoms might one anticipate?
Issues with the N63 Fuel Injector:
- Rough Idle
- Poor acceleration
- Unburned gasoline leaves a black deposit on the bumper and black exhaust tips.
- Check engine light
- Misfires
If you’ve experienced any of these problems, all signs point to the injectors. Though we discuss this further, we advise you to check the ignition coils and spark plugs for damage first because these symptoms are nearly identical. Although it may save you time and money in the long term to replace all of the fuel injectors at once, the upfront expense is around $300 per unit.
It has been done, but the DIY is at an expert level.
3) N63 BMW Twin Turbo V8 Engine Problems – Timing Chain Failure
It is well-known that the timing chains on N63s manufactured between 2008 and 2014 stretch out over time, leading to increased valve train wear and poor performance. When the belts are overly stretched, they might bend the valves of the cylinders or even skip a tooth, both of which lead to expensive repairs.
It may not be immediately apparent until you notice a rough idle or the presence of a check engine light, but this problem can quietly kill your engine. Faulty valves or engine failure can result from ignoring the problem. We will get to the extensive service bulletin that BMW issued to fix the problem shortly, which is excellent.
BMW says, “The timing chains on the N63 have been found to stretch and wear out prematurely, resulting in premature valvetrain wear and reduced engine performance.”
Thankfully, BMW is well-informed on this matter. The technician will check the timing chain when you take your BMW in for routine maintenance. If it breaks down unexpectedly, BMW will pay for most of the repairs, which can cost more than $15,000.
4) Leaky Valve Stem Seals – BMW N63 Engine Issues
Is that smoke coming from your engine, or have you just finished a burnout? In all likelihood, your engine was the source of the N63 BMW twin turbo v8. If these seals failed, the exhaust and turbos in the engine’s valley would produce extremely high temperatures, which would cause the exhaust to leak and produce a tremendous cloud of white smoke.
Breakdown Signs of the N63 Valve Stem Seals:
- White smoke from the tailpipes
- Too much oil use (more than 1 quart every 5 to 7 days)
Your valve stem seals are likely the culprit if you notice white smoke emanating from the tailpipe. Good news: the components are available here for less than $60. To replace them, you must lower the engine, which is terrible news. Yes, remove the engine from the vehicle. On this webpage, you may observe the correction. Even while some have succeeded in replacing them without removing the engine, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who isn’t a professional technician. The parts are inexpensive if you want to do it yourself.
5) Fast Battery Drainage
Despite not being an official engine element, it plays a crucial role in the N63. So far, Efficient Dynamics at BMW has been successful. When it comes to components, BMW is all about improving fuel efficiency. Instead of charging the batteries through belt rotations, this technology in the N63 used the vehicle’s coasting motion to do it.
While this helped reduce engine effort and improve fuel efficiency, coasting isn’t something most 50i owners do. Also, the electronic systems would continue to run the cooling system, keeping the turbos located in the engine’s center of the V cold even when the vehicle was not in use. It has long been known, and is still well recognized, that the N63 is a battery hog. The BMW service manual recommends changing the battery every other oil change.
It felt like BMW was trying to bandage a more significant problem by offering to replace the old batteries with bigger, newer ones. The quick draining of the battery is a typical issue with the BMW twin turbo v8 engine.
Closing Remarks
Most owners appreciated BMW’s efforts to resolve this significant issue, and it was a commendable effort overall. Even if you’ll have to cope with specific problems with the BMW twin turbo v8, most owners agree that the delight is worth it.
Additionally, it is highly recommended to have a pre-purchase examination performed to identify any additional underlying concerns. However, keep in mind that this is an engine designed for high performance; therefore, it requires special handling.
