The summary of ‘BMW N63 Engine | Common Problems & Reliability’

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00:00:0000:12:29

The video provides a comprehensive discussion on the common issues associated with the BMW N63 engine, which has been in production since 2008 and has undergone several updates. Zach from 8020 Media highlights that the first iteration of the engine (2008 to mid-2012) was particularly unreliable, leading BMW to issue a customer care package to address numerous problems. Key issues include excessive oil consumption due to the "hot V" design, fuel injector and high-pressure fuel pump failures, and timing chain failures, which can cause severe engine damage if not addressed.

Additionally, the video discusses problems like leaking valve stem seals, which were mostly resolved by the N63TU update in mid-2012, and further improved in a 2018 update. The design also causes valve cover gasket leaks, oil pan gasket leaks, and cooling system issues, primarily in the early models. These issues led to significant technical updates over time, transforming the N63 into a more reliable engine. Despite high repair and maintenance costs, the N63 is now considered mid-tier in reliability among high-performance engines. The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to interact with the video and explore additional content on the BMW N63.

00:00:00

In this segment, Zach from 8020 Media discusses common problems with the BMW N63 engine, which has been in production since 2008 and undergone multiple updates. He focuses on the first iteration of the engine from 2008 to mid-2012, highlighting it as particularly unreliable. BMW even issued a customer care package to address numerous issues with this version. One of the main problems discussed is excess oil consumption, attributed to the engine’s “hot V” design, where turbochargers and exhaust manifolds are housed within the V of the engine, leading to intense heat buildup. This design persists in newer models, continuing to cause various issues.

00:03:00

In this part of the video, the discussion focuses on oil consumption issues with the BMW N63 engine, noting that the design and heat trapped around the engine lead to higher oil burn-off. BMW states that one quart of oil per 1,000 miles is normal, although some owners report needing oil every 500-600 miles. To manage this, frequent oil changes and keeping spare oil handy are recommended. The video then highlights two other common problems: fuel injector and high-pressure fuel pump failures. The N63 engine’s fuel injectors are expensive, and while the high-pressure fuel pump is less problematic than in the N54, it remains a concern. Moving to the third problem, it mentions timing chain failure primarily in N63 engines from 2008 to mid-2012 due to poor design, which can lead to significant engine damage if the chain stretches and timing is lost.

00:06:00

In this part of the video, the speaker discusses the potential severe consequences of intake and exhaust valve collisions with pistons, which can cause extensive engine damage, including bending rods and cracking pistons, potentially leading to complete engine failure. This issue can sometimes be fixed by repairing the timing chain unless it’s extremely severe. They mention the problem was addressed with the N63TU update in mid-2012, reducing the risk for newer models, although occasional failures still occur.

Next, the video addresses leaking valve stem seals, a common issue seen in both the N62 and N63 engines. Symptoms include white smoke from the exhaust and increased oil consumption. While the repair kit is inexpensive, the labor costs are significant, ranging from $2,000 to $3,000, making it a challenging repair for non-experts. This issue was mostly resolved with the N63TU update in 2012 and further improved with the third technical update in 2018, making it a minimal concern for 2018 models and newer. The segment concludes with a brief mention of other general issues, such as oil and coolant leaks in the N63 engine.

00:09:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the common issues and updates associated with the BMW N63 engine. The “Hot V” design leads to heat build-up, resulting in valve cover gasket leaks, oil pan gasket leaks, and occasional main seal leaks. Cooling system issues such as coolant leaks, cracked hoses, radiator, and water pump problems are also common, especially in early models. BMW addressed these problems with a customer care package and technical updates, significantly improving reliability. The modern N63 is vastly different, with most original components redesigned, except for the engine block and 4.4-liter twin-turbo design. Despite its early reputation for unreliability, the N63 has improved and is now considered mid-tier in terms of reliability among high-performance engines.

00:12:00

In this part of the video, the speaker explains that repair and maintenance costs for a BMW N63 are higher than for an average car and engine, but it doesn’t have many major issues. However, when problems do arise, the repair bills are typically more expensive. The speaker then encourages viewers to like the video, subscribe to the channel, and check the description for more content on the BMW N63.

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