BMW N62 Reliability What To Look For When Buying A N62

[@donnythomas0078]

Remedied valve seals and coolant issues. Best engine I have ever had. Run it like a sports car and it's gold. I have it in a 2010 550i e60. Change oil at 5000 mi. This is a great engine.. Mine has 200,000 mi.

[@anthonyk]

i recommend a 90c thermostat too

[@nature10879]

Mine has 165k. Been very reliable but now i need seals.

[@fadilyacoubou9221]

Love love the N62😤 I’m at 199k and counting

[@mmmooo485]

Just Grabbed One from Manheim for 6000 172,000 miles Msport 2010 Has some carfax and says runs and drives well with no leaks hope to get it up to 200,000 miles aswell Anything else to check for?

[@Darktimesv]

@@mmmooo485 from my experience with mine. CoolingFan, Coolant cross over tube, valve stem seals along with timing chain, alternator bracket seal, engine oil cooler (recently replaced), and BMW Integrated Supply Module (IVM) all had to be replaced over the years. I had the car since 2017 at 85k miles and now at 159k miles. Runs like a champ. One of my favorite engines from BMW.

[@MrTruthAddict]

I put a $350 pick a part junkyard N62 in an X5 (had a bad engine) and we've put 50k miles on it so far. Pretty sure it had 200k when I installed it. The key is to put a lower temp 88C thermostat in it. Everything lasts longer, plastics, rubber seals, etc. BMW only runs them at 100C for emissions reasons. That's what kills the valve seals. I've towed an RV cross country with it. We use it to tow a horse trailer now. I did have to put it on INPA when I first installed it to troubleshoot a couple issues. Other than that it's run like a top ever since.

[@orlanmedina3693]

So u don't really need ista like Nathan says. I have inpa

[@MrTruthAddict]

@@orlanmedina3693 I have ista but I don't use it. Inpa works but I think ista has more features

[@anthonyk]

i did this on my 750i with a 90c seems to burn oil much less too

[@kristiankumanov5732]

@@anthonyk Can you give me please infomation, where can i buy this 90c Thermostat?

[@fadilyacoubou9221]

I can attest to this! I run redline 5w50 with a 90c thermostat.. the n62 loves it

[@doorsmith641]

This is an amazing engine. I had mine since 2020 I got it with 299,877 km and right now it's at 450,009 km. Very quiet engine and worth every dollar I put into it.

[@MrTommy2977]

Change oil every 6000 miles from the start and the valve stem seals will stay correct. Coolant and trans 40,000 miles …. Car is bulletproof my 08 has been great🍾

[@MrTommy2977]

@@Ali-uv3dz😂

[@RoRo20699]

203k miles on my ‘06 e66 now. All those things I’ve fixed already. Just got in a small accident, and insurance paid out $7k to fix + rental. Thought they’d total it for sure.

[@chris8880]

I have the 2004 645CI and bought it second hand. I have found over time that keeping up with a 10k kms Service interval over the BMW scheduled services, the motor runs extremely better and lasting longer. I was also able to change the parameters for the services within the car itself to make things more streamlined. Love the car - specially on long trips!

[@randytaylor31]

I have a 2006 650. It continues to be a great car to drive.

[@rankzwazhere]

I have a E63 just did a Alternator Bracket gasket a couple months ago. Pain in the ass. Besides that the engine is fairly reliable and powerful enough. Love it.

[@jamesm768]

I have a 2008 550i that I got in January 2019 and I love it, even with all the problems it has given me. I've had to replace the valve cover gaskets, spark plug tubes, upper timing chain cover gaskets, intake and exhaust valve stem seals, alternator bracket seal, lower oil pan gasket, the vacuum pump seals, the coolant expansion tank, water transfer pipe and seals, the valley pan cover, and the water jacket seal. Those were just to fix leaks and I've had to replace more to have it working properly. But I have the car sorted out now and I love everything about it. Car has 150k miles and it runs, drives, and handles great.

[@fadilyacoubou9221]

It’s an amazing car that people are scared of because of maintenance lol. I’m approaching 200k and she’s stilling pulling like new. Enjoy your 550!

[@diablocls55]

I nearly bought a 2007 550i back in February of 2020. Ended up buying a 2007 Mercedes E550 instead. Glad I did. Have been daily driving it for two years now and have 156k miles on it.

[@dashamashenko5401]

@@diablocls55550i more impressive . Looks better as well

[@diablocls55]

@@dashamashenko5401 but it’s slower 🤣

[@ignacioromero5014]

Eccentric shaft motor on my N52 E90 did not require me to recalibrate, I put it back in and it ran rough, I removed it and reinserted it using the allen key to twist it on until it bottomed out and cycled the key and it loaded it and learned it automatically car runs perfect.

[@rhiantaylor3446]

You should do the transmission video to help people wanting to know if there any differences in approach if they have that plastic pan.

[@chrisN80]

I have my 2008 bmw 550i sport since 2013 I got it with 54k miles and is going on 164k now. I haven’t had any issues with the car other than the ones on the video. I replaced the alternator bracket gasket 4 times. Since then. I did a major service last year. Replace all water hoses. Valve steam seals valley pan and water transfer pump. Transmission oil change differential oil change. And it runs like new. If you take car of the car you won’t have any issues with it. So I love it and I’m going to keep it for ever.

[@baitse7676]

Is this the engine in my E53 4.8is? Eccentric shafts have nothing to do with valve timing. They are for variable valve lift. After these engines warm up, they no longer use the throttle body to regulate air flow. It uses the valve lift as throttle, unless the engine is cold or in a limp mode. Check it out in INPA. The eccentric shafts will find their limits automatically, even without a scanner.

[@Jonny2by4]

when i did the vcg, i just disconnected the battery. then cycled the car from off to accessory and waited for the motors to click before starting it and it worked fine. but you are right, you can also recalibrate through INPA

[@AkuNoHana]

My 2008 550i had a number instances of oil leak valve cover gaskets, vacuum pump etc. Not serious when taken care of promptly. Upper and lower radiator hoses needed frequent replacement. I'm rigorous with maintenance and no expenses were spared. It's at 110k miles and running strong. Enjoyed every miles and cents I've put into it.

[@aadonisk]

Currently looking for a 550 myself. How much approximately have you put into maintenance? I love the car but I'm worried that the maintenance will be on-par with an M car, and at that point I'd just buy an M3.

[@johncoss5604]

Great to see the videos more often again.

[@utubefan991]

John Coss the geologist?

[@Lookatthebottom]

I salvaged 2007 750Li that I am about to dig into.

[@zhihengli8051]

Alternate gasket + valve cover gasket + valve stem seal if you can do it your self it will not cost you over 500$ n62b48 is a great engine

[@elliottpalumbo7407]

The number 1 biggest common problem with those N62 V8s and N73 V12 engines were the OEM coolant transfer pipes leaking.

[@xmyar53]

I've heard good reports about Forte Valve Stem conditioner and Rear Main Seal conditioner to help put off the stem seal replacement.

[@Chris-rs3dj]

N62 is solid when all the leaks are addressed. Much better than N63.

[@radianm6]

This engine (545i) taught me how to work on cars. After getting azz raped by shops and couldn’t afford it I had no choice it to learn how to work on it if I was going to keep it. Now engine rebuilt and suspension/ front body new

[@michael-rl9yh]

That's what I'm going to have to do with my 550i

[@FELIPE8226M]

Lol so true

[@soundseeker63]

Is it a reasonably DIY friendly car? There are some dirt cheap 540/545/550s out there now which are so tempting! But I'm scared of biting off more than I can chew. I am pretty decent at DIY but what with them being complex engines with a lot of electronics... Just seems like I could end up getting in over my head. The old straight 6s were a piece of cake though.

[@radianm6]

@@soundseeker63 if you have some tools do not be afraid!!

[@radianm6]

@@soundseeker63 also look for manual!! Like i said if you have tools dont be afraid. This is the first and really only car ive worked on and ive gone as far as removing heads with engine still in car…

[@jasonjones4268]

As others mentioned, the alternator bracket seal.

[@soundseeker63]

You can pick up seriously cheap 540i/545i/550i cars these days and they look like an absolute steal - So much luxury, comfort and peformance for the money. And if you get the touring, quite practical too. I've done lots of work on older BMWs and I'd probably pick up a 545i tomorrow if I felt confident I could DIY on that too but the complexity of the motor + the electronics does scare me a bit. Are they DIY-able to an average skilled home mechanic with INPA/ISTA?

[@imthatguypal_]

You don’t really need ISTA for any of these problems except the eccentric shaft calibration, you could use an Autel or High end Snap on tool for that. Any big shop with at least 4 lifts will have one of those. Although a lift and some special tools will be required for some of the big problems (leaking alternator gasket, valve stem seals)

[@Dustinsfishtanks]

Great video. I’ve been waiting to hear your thoughts on this car. So when you do the eccentric shaft you need to reset it with Inpa correct? It’s on top and looks easy to do mine is leaking on my 550. Doesn’t seem to affect anything but why not get it because it’s up there. Great content and knowledge

[@joneshgw6378]

Change the coolant temperature sensor in the waterpump after time, if its old or defective it sends low temperature values to the DME, resulting in the DME thinking the engine is cold and runs fat... wanting to heat the engine but the engine is already on temperature, resulting in seals going dead.

[@meatman6660]

Thanks for doing some BMW repairs. Missed your vids when you bought the Porsche and G-Wagon. Looking for you to finish the 1600, or throw in the towel and admit it is too far gone. Need more info when things are too expensive, rusted, abused, etc, etc. 2012, 128i owner.

[@lp2565]

Great video. Thanks for sharing, Nathan!

[@MrDrRemi]

I have a 2006 650i throwing active steering codes, and the upper radiator hose keeps losing pressure and coming off the radiator. Problems left and right but Nonetheless I still love the car

[@gregcampbell5551]

So what’s the main problem when it says that code active steering

[@Mrwinecontreras]

I have 08 bmw x5 e70 4.8i so N62 engine no problems what so ever love my truck I have it for 4 years now I bought it with 185 miles I’m on 232 miles and counting really planning on keeping it until engine give up and maybe replace the engine and tranny or maybe upgrade to 2015 and up x5 and yes has to be v8 lol love my bimmer this truck drives like a sport car

[@650ie63]

I have a N62/TU When I brake quickly to standstill idle drops and then then the car accelerates. Idle speed is always about 740, in D or N or P

[@PrecisionBimmer]

The eccentric motors are self calibrating on my vehicle as well as many others.

[@jonathanowen6147]

Good stuff. Can’t wait for the follow up videos.

[@manuelaguilar2798]

I agree on the electronics with the E65, it is a great car, but the electronics are the hot topic on those, I have a 2002 745i running good, but valve cover gaskets and the alternator bracket gasket are giving me a problem, good content Nathan.

[@acourtneylawson2065]

I also own two 745li..with over 200,000 miles

[@michaeleno3498]

Hello, you forgot to mention the hidden starter, it's took me 2 days to reach. Also my vaccum pump give a poko-poko sound. My next repairs will be the alternator bracket seal.

[@michaeleno3498]

Please I notice that my alternator was replaced with a used one from a 3 series, while mine is E60 n62 v8 2004 545i

[@Crusher103]

man i remember owning one of these N62s, never again. Good luck to all that decided to own one.

[@soothingsounds1942]

Hi Nathan, what was the issue with the cold start chirp you mentioned?

[@diehardpatriot2231]

I have a 2011 750li with 169k miles on it and it just started white smoke out the exhaust when I idle or been driving for a awhile i think it’s burning coolant

[@Delsbo]

You need to talk more about expression Andy, especially when it comes to drumming. So many people are missing out. They lack the experience to appreciate the art of drumming.

[@OzzyTheFerret129]

I like the 4.8 good motor no big job for alternator braket gasket on the new ones

[@wayneshaw5760]

Please do the transmission video thanks for doing these bmw

[@willbrown679]

Great video!

[@radianm6]

I have the manual N62 545i,, would you recommend changing transmission fluid or leave it alone? 197,000 miles

[@OzzyTheFerret129]

E53 and e70 have no secondary air witch is nice

[@Garik.e60]

I’d rather overall avoid this engine and get something with the n54. An ECU flash will get you more power than n62. I guess the only issue with that is they don’t have it on the 6 and 7 series of that era.

[@NathansBMWWorkshop]

Yea but the n54 is far more unreliable

[@gilgonzalez5902]

N54 has a lot of issues even if you get a later N54. From waste gate rattle to injectors to HPFP issues its not only unreliable but the issues it has are expensive to fix. I have an N55 which isnt as performance friendly as the N54 but i would consider it a reliable engine and you can still easily get 100HP over stock with simple add ons. N54 is an engine i consider for enthusiasts only, that know the engine well inside and out.

[@Masteranddisaster13]

But then again you won't be having a NA V8

[@gilgonzalez5902]

@@Masteranddisaster13 yea thats special all on its own, the sound is amazing on these N62/N63 engines.

[@Dustinsfishtanks]

Out of the box an n54 335 Will get you more speed stock. It’s a smaller car. But those turbos aren’t exactly built to last forever. Get behind the 550 and stomp it in a big car….It’s a good feeling

[@elcolin_]

I'm considering purchasing like an 07 X5 4.8 or 4.8is. Wonder if it's a decently reliable engine. At least vs the terrible N63

[@acourtneylawson2065]

Owned 2 silver 745li 02 and 05...they're ok...but the 2008 750li white...that i own is waaaaay more reliable....I'll never sale it...the 4.8 is a monster..and have no problems...225,000 and still going....can't even hear it run..and it shines on the parking lot....head turns daily...stay away from the 02 to 05 e65s...06 to 08...they hit the mark....even 10 models are problematic..trust me..I've owned 3 in less than 2 years...06 to 08 7ers are the best and most reliable.

[@sammik3959]

​@@acourtneylawson2065You must be blessed with luck,because i had 2009 650i and the engine was pain in the ass.

[@yyag78]

often occurs with throttle body failures on N62 engines

[@sputnik8407]

So á BMW 650 07 would be a pretty safe v8 BMW to get if you get one that has been serviced ? Better than n63 ? Thanks !

[@mja351]

If you can work on it yourself they are an incredible car for the money

[@gregcowart8229]

Are you going to use the Valvoline max life all vehicle on that one too

[@NathansBMWWorkshop]

Yes

[@imthatguypal_]

Not bad if you have a lift and tools. Was expecting worse, seems like nothing is catastrophic on one of these engines. Not bad not bad. Was trying to figure out if I should get an e39 540i or e60 550i.

[@thetoughcookie3665]

Nice video, thanks.

[@Phineas1626]

I’m looking at a 2005 545i with this N62B44 at 63,000 miles. Does it make sense to just do all this - coolant lines, valve stems, valve cover gaskets, etc. -right when I get the car? In other words, does being proactive help?

[@kristiankumanov5732]

Is the N62 TU better engine compared with earlier N62 according to technical issues?

[@bjenks2]

Looking into the 6 speed manual 645ci. Any issues with the transmission besides what's mentioned in this video.

[@harishseethapathi7110]

No problem with the alternater gasket?

[@trevishornsby7385]

Thank you for this video

[@orlanmedina3693]

Do the trans video. I was just looking for one of those. There's a 645 up for sale. Not US market. It's got 91,000km seems pretty clean SMG transmission. Coupe for $13,000 And one US convertible for $10,000 both clean

[@Therez0r]

Simply dont buy smg

[@manoelpereira7942]

Wonderful video

[@tonychamoun2970]

Love your video

[@Ugh-bq8zu]

I wish my E90 328i had a ZF transmission instead of the GM 6L45 ☹️

[@HungLe-ej5yp]

Hello Nathan I have a question maybe you know this issue I have 2006 BMW 550i 4.8l only when engine is cold misfires, idle up & down but after warmup then is fine run smooth sometime running rough, I installed all new ignition coils and spark plugs but still showing misfire cylinder 1,2,3,4,5 can you please give me some advice please help me Nathan ?

[@atx-cvpi_99]

The 3.6 and 4.4 variants more likely to have timing chain problems.

[@EstherAvalos-d5q]

Where is the oe sensor located

[@donnythomas0078]

Buy a schwaben scan tool by Foxwell.

[@MaurqueseJackson-l9w]

im looking at a bmw 650i 2007 150k miles for 5000 clean title is that a good deal ?

[@JesseLA2IE]

Oil leaks! Oil leaks… high cost to repair, but so fun !

[@sammik3959]

Very hard engine to work on. It missfires from literally anything. Honestly, this is 5/10 in reliability car

[@Keezy-1]

I got a n62TU 2007 750li 120,000 miles and I need seals🤦🏽‍♀️

[@kennethbentley3348]

04 545i came with it.

[@belvedere69]

I Found a X5 4.8is with 62000 KM on it, do u guys think thats gonna make problems??

[@georgesunnyt]

Is the n52 more reliable than the n62?

[@pascutia]

Yes, absolutely. But an N62 will be more reliable than an N54. With the N52, you have to make sure that the electric water pump and thermostat are done every 100k miles. Otherwise, it’s a brilliant engine.

[@ashodmay]

Rod bearing failure 😢

[@leemaxwelltv]

You go to bmw college? Your knowledge is insane

[@EstherAvalos-d5q]

Exactly

[@clonetrooper576]

hmmmmm people go 15k miles between oil changes and wonder why their stem seals start leaking

[@MechaniclifeJDM]

Nathan amazing as usual! But I would like to drop some info here if you don’t mind. Do the valve guides when you do the stem seals, the main problem is in the metallurgy friends. N62 rebuild guide coming to my channel soon. Check out Memphis motorwerks guy named Mike 👍🏽 boom ya welcome

[@olliegreipl]

367 horsepower.

[@DakotaWoods-pu4bz]

2.5 to 4k a year to maintain. What does this 550i owner have to say about the N62..I'd be joking if I said it was the easiest engine to maintain.. The engine reliability is amazing. And is such a beautiful sounding V8 if you have open headers. Especially when you pull up to a v6 mustang😂 it's the best feeling in the world. But the cons for ME is the space..there is no room to work on it atleast for the E60 community I'm sure they know what I'm talking about, there is a reason the the E60 community are respected owning the N62 or M5.. the wiring harnesses are a nightmare to remove the intake manifold just to reach a simple sensor. A 30 min job turns to a 4 to 5 hour labor.. so you can imagine gaskets "cough" alternator bracket seal. The coolant issues..this engine runs so immaculately HOT. It loves heat. So it chews up bmws genuine plastic coolant parts. The valley pan pipe will shatter if you have changed it yet.. that's another fun 8 hour labor job..luckily for ECS we have a retractable pipe now. Couldn't imagine owning it in 2008... because parts are still expensive.. Wiring problems..and hiccups in the control modules.. Just an honest opinion from a real e60 owner, and e60 life is the best life. I'm not pushing anyone away from buying a 545 or 550 or M5. I'm just saying these cars don't like lazy people😂 she will burn your house down

[@jhonsmith2150]

I bought a 2010 550i dark blue 🔵 with peanut butter 🥜 interior she was clean as F@$& with 110kmiles! Then after my 1st payment, the bck windows stop working an the rearend went out 😱😲🤷 WTF! An the dealership didn't Wana do the work to fix it, so I traded tht Bish n for newer 2019 SUV! 👏👌😎

[@Chris-rs3dj]

If you needed to finance a 10 year old Bmw, you belong in a suv..stay away..this video isn’t for you

[@jhonsmith2150]

@@Chris-rs3dj well we all no ppl over value European cars cuz there built in a different country , especially Benz an BMW🤷🙄🥴! An we no how reliable they they are 😬😳🥺! So even with warranty, they didn't wanna fix🤷🤬! So your Right, I did trade that Bisshhh in for a SUV, an it was a 2019 with 6yr dealership warranty 👏👌! Ahhhh yes ,I feel much better ann happier 🤙😉

[@ecocav0222]

@@jhonsmith2150 Only until you realize it only covers the powertrain and then that's even limited. But either way no matter what you buy it will break down. And some of us rather fix up older vehicles and use the saved money for other things. At the same time it can payoff to buy a slightly used vehicle or new. Depending on the situation at that time for the individual really. Also when it's that old you can mod it out your way and not worry about warranty denials. In the long run just get what makes you happy for peaks sake. Life is short to stress about every little detail.

[@dukedub]

@@Chris-rs3dj bro people finance anything, and it’s not always because they can’t afford it. Generally people wanna build credit reputation and having a $200 a month payment on an old bmw is a low risk credit build.

[@justinherring1899]

A 2019 hyundai SUV? Or did you get a Kia? I'm so proud of you! And BTW, your 550i traded you in, not the other way around.

[@wm7089]

I have a 2007 650i...3 years with no issues but yesterday I pressed the sport button, accelerated (not that hard) and after a few seconds the "Active steering" light came on and the car lost all power with zero throttle response...tried starting several times but sounds like its not getting fuel? A fuel pump that broke maybe?

[@leonwarrick3663]

I,m currently about too buy a 650i 2010 with 117.000 miles I,m kinda scared because their notoriously expensive too fix..

[@NathansBMWWorkshop]

@@leonwarrick3663 sounds like a terrible idea

[@efabiano82]

The best trick to avoid the infamous BMW unreliability is to not buy used BMW's.

[@Mrguy-ds9lr]

Bite your tongue sir!