BMW 740d (F01) engine: which one, problems and replacement

The BMW 740d in the fifth 7 Series generation (F01, built 2008–2015) was built with 2 different engines over its life: the N57D30T (313 hp, 2009–2018) and the N57D30C (313 hp, 2010–2018).

This guide tells you which engine your 740d has, what goes wrong with it, what a replacement costs from our stock and what else to plan for when you fit one.

• Generation: fifth 7 Series, 2008–2015
• Body styles: F01 (saloon)
• Engines: N57D30T, N57D30C
• Output: 313 hp
• Replacement engines in stock: 111 from 2.031,00 €

Which engine is in your 740d?

N57D30T in the 740d

The N57D30T was used in the F01 740d, built 2009–2018. It is a 3.0 L twin-turbo diesel inline-6 with 313 hp and 630 Nm. It has the same output as the N57D30C, so the build date decides which one your car has.

Reading the code: N marks an N-series code, the generation of BMW engines introduced from 2001; 57 is the family number; D stands for diesel; 30 is the capacity in decilitres, so 3.0 litres; T identifies the version or output stage.

N57D30C in the 740d

The N57D30C was used in the F01 740d, built 2010–2018. It is a 3.0 L turbocharged diesel inline-6 with 313 hp and 630 Nm. It has the same output as the N57D30T, so the build date decides which one your car has.

Reading the code: N marks an N-series code, the generation of BMW engines introduced from 2001; 57 is the family number; D stands for diesel; 30 is the capacity in decilitres, so 3.0 litres; C identifies the version or output stage.

740d engines by model year

The engine changed once during the F01 run, in 2010. Changes usually come with BMW's mid-life update (LCI) or a new emissions standard, so a car registered early in a year can still have the older engine. The VIN settles it.

Other cars with the same engine as the 740d

A replacement engine does not have to come from another 740d. These models left the factory with the same engine code, so a unit from any of them is a candidate donor once the sump, mounts and ancillaries are matched to your car.

N57D30T: BMW F10 535d, BMW F15 X5 40d, BMW F07 535d.

N57D30C: BMW F10 535d, BMW F15 X5 40d.

How to confirm your engine code

Because the 740d used more than one engine, the badge alone does not tell you which one your car has. The build date is the first clue; the VIN is the proof. Send us the last seven characters of the VIN and we read the engine code from BMW's records, or look for the code stamped on the block. How to find your BMW engine code.

Known 740d engine problems

The N57D30T and N57D30C in the 740d share the known weak points of the N57 family. Full N57 guide.

Swirl flaps. Swirl flaps can stick or break.

EGR cooler. The EGR cooler can leak; BMW issued a recall for some cars.

Diesel particulate filter. The DPF clogs on short-trip cars.

Timing chain. Chains stretch on some high-mileage engines, but far less often than on the N47.

Injectors. Injectors leak or fail.

Symptoms to watch for on the 740d

Rattle for a few seconds after a cold start. The classic sign of a weak timing chain tensioner or stretched chain. It must be checked quickly: a chain that jumps a tooth can bend valves.

Rattle or whine from the gearbox end. On engines with the timing chain at the rear, a rattle or whine from the back of the engine is the warning sign of chain stretch or guide wear.

Whistle, loss of boost or limp mode. A split charge pipe, a sticking wastegate or worn turbo bearings. Check the pipes first, then the turbo shaft for play.

Black smoke under acceleration. Too much fuel for the air available: boost leaks, a sticking EGR valve, a dirty air mass meter or a leaking injector.

Hard starting when cold. Glow plugs or the glow plug control unit. On older diesels, also check the injection pump and fuel lines for air leaks.

Particulate filter warning. Short trips stop the DPF from regenerating. A long motorway run often clears it; a filter that keeps blocking may be covering an injector, EGR or turbo problem.

Sudden metallic noise followed by misfire. On diesels with swirl flaps, a broken flap or screw can enter a cylinder. Stop the engine immediately; continued running usually destroys the piston and head.

Looking after the 740d engine

• Oil: 5W-30 BMW Longlife-04, about 6.5 litres.
• Service interval: Oil every 10,000 to 15,000 km.
• Timing drive: Timing chain at the rear (gearbox end).
• Workshop notes: Check the EGR recall and the swirl flaps when buying.

Buying a used engine for the 740d: checklist

1. Look at the oil and coolant. Clean oil without metal particles and coolant without oil are good signs. Milky oil, oily coolant or a burnt smell mean the engine needs further checks before it is fitted.
2. Warranty terms in writing. Read what the warranty covers, how long it runs and what fitting conditions apply. Most warranties require a qualified workshop, new fluids and filters, and replacement of the cooling parts that caused the original failure.
3. Confirm the exact engine code. Read the code stamped on the block and compare it with the code for your car. Send us the last seven characters of the VIN and we confirm the match before anything is paid.
4. Photographs from every side. Good suppliers photograph the actual engine you will receive. Look for the block stamp, the sump, the timing cover and any broken brackets or connectors in the pictures.
5. List of what is fitted. Engines are sold with different ancillaries: some have the turbo, injectors, manifolds, alternator and starter, others are long blocks. Agree the list in writing so you know which parts must come from your old engine.
6. Turbocharger shaft play and oil. Rotate the compressor wheel by hand. A small amount of side play is normal; in-and-out play or wheel contact with the housing is not. Oil pooled in the intake or intercooler pipes points to worn seals.
7. Injector correction values. On a diesel that can be run before removal, the injector correction values show whether one injector is delivering more or less fuel than the others. Large deviations mean an injector is on its way out.
8. Particulate filter and EGR history. Short-trip diesels clog their DPF and EGR systems. The engine may be fine, but ask whether the donor car had DPF warnings, and plan to clean or check your own filter before fitting.
9. Swirl flaps. Check whether the swirl flaps are in place, blanked or removed. Broken swirl flaps are a known cause of engine failure on several BMW diesels, so many owners fit blanking plates when the intake is off.
10. Timing chain noise. Listen for a rattle at the front of the engine for the first seconds after a cold start. On an engine that cannot be run, look at the chain guides through the oil filler or with the valve cover off.
11. Gearbox-end timing chain. On this engine the timing chain sits at the gearbox end, so replacing it normally means removing the engine. If the chain has not been replaced, the time to do it is before the engine goes into your car.

BMW 740d replacement engine cost

Across 111 740d engine units in our stock today, prices start at 2.031,00 € and reach 6.017,00 €. The median — the price in the middle of the range — is 3.923,00 €.

Prices depend on the exact version, the donor's mileage, how complete the engine is and the demand for that code. Higher-output versions, low mileage and dressed engines with turbo, injectors and ancillaries cost more; long blocks and higher mileage cost less.

740d engine prices by model year

Engines from 2010–2014 have a median of 4.283,00 €, while units from 2020–2024 sit at 3.783,00 €. Newer engines usually cost more because they come from younger donor cars with lower mileage and later updates.

740d engine prices by mileage

Mileage matters less than history on a well-maintained BMW engine, but it is a useful guide. A low-mileage unit from a younger car gives you more life for a modest premium.

4 of these come from F01 donor cars, priced from 2.729,00 € to 5.972,00 €. An engine from the same body is the most direct swap because the sump, mounts and ancillaries already match.

On top of the engine, budget for the workshop's labour and the parts that are best replaced while the engine is out: engine mounts, the rear main seal, cooling parts, a clutch or converter seal, fluids and filters.

Replacement engines in stock for the 740d

Here is a selection of 740d engines currently on our shelves, photographed in the yard. Click any of them for the full photographs, mileage and specification.

BMW 750d F01 N57D30C Engine 2010 · 251,000 km5.511,00 €BMW F01 740d N57D30T Engine, Premium Grade5.972,00 €BMW F01 740d N57D30C Complete Engine2.729,00 €

BMW 750d F01 N57D30C Engine 2010 · 251,000 km — 5.511,00 €, reduced from 6.500,00 €. It comes from a 2010 donor car with 251,000 km, and 12 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW F01 740d N57D30T Engine, Premium Grade — 5.972,00 €, reduced from 6.480,00 €. It comes from a recorded donor car, and 23 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F01 740d N57D30C Complete Engine — 2.729,00 €, reduced from 3.200,00 €. It comes from a recorded donor car, and 26 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

Will it fit my 740d?

Will the N57D30T fit my BMW F01 740d?

For the BMW F01 740d, the N57D30T is the factory engine and the one to order. The fifth 7 Series was built 2008–2015, and the N57D30T was produced 2009–2018, so check that your car's build date falls inside that window. Confirm the drive type (rear-drive or xDrive), the gearbox (manual or automatic) and the emissions standard, because these can change the sump, the flywheel and the software. Send us the VIN and we check all of it for you.

How much is a replacement engine for a BMW F01 740d?

We have 1 N57D30T engine from F01 donor cars, priced from 5.972,00 €. Delivery to your door is included, and the engine carries a 12-month warranty when fitted by a qualified workshop. Add fitting labour and the parts you replace at the same time — seals, cooling parts and mounts — to estimate the total.

Will the N57D30C fit my BMW F01 740d?

Yes, the BMW F01 740d left the factory with the N57D30C, so an N57D30C from another car is the direct replacement. The fifth 7 Series was built 2008–2015, and the N57D30C was produced 2010–2018, so check that your car's build date falls inside that window. Confirm the drive type (rear-drive or xDrive), the gearbox (manual or automatic) and the emissions standard, because these can change the sump, the flywheel and the software. Send us the VIN and we check all of it for you.

How much is a replacement engine for a BMW F01 740d?

We have 3 N57D30C engines from F01 donor cars, priced from 2.729,00 € to 5.605,00 €. Delivery to your door is included, and the engine carries a 12-month warranty when fitted by a qualified workshop. Add fitting labour and the parts you replace at the same time — seals, cooling parts and mounts — to estimate the total.

Engine swaps and upgrades for the 740d

These engines were fitted to other versions of the F01 at the factory, which makes them the most practical upgrades: the body was designed around them and many parts are shared.

Can I fit the N57D30S in my 740d?

Yes, it is one of the more common upgrades. Both are diesel inline-6 engines, so the mounting points are similar, but the N57D30S needs its own wiring and engine control unit, the matching gearbox or clutch, and often a different sump, cooling and exhaust. The gain is 68 hp and 110 Nm. In Germany and most of Europe an engine swap must be inspected and registered.

Can I fit the N63B44 in my 740d?

It is a full conversion: the N63B44 runs on petrol and the N57D30C on diesel, so the fuel system, wiring, engine control unit, instrument coding and usually the gearbox change too. The gain is 94 hp and 0 Nm. In Germany and most of Europe an engine swap must be inspected and registered.

Can I fit the N63B44O1 in my 740d?

It is a full conversion: the N63B44O1 runs on petrol and the N57D30C on diesel, so the fuel system, wiring, engine control unit, instrument coding and usually the gearbox change too. The gain is 137 hp and 20 Nm. In Germany and most of Europe an engine swap must be inspected and registered.

Fitting a replacement engine in the 740d

1. Inspect or replace the timing chain parts. Look at the guides and tensioner. On high-mileage engines, replacing them now costs far less than doing it later.
2. Replace the rear timing chain if in doubt. On engines with the chain at the gearbox end, chain work needs the engine out. If the history is unknown, replace the chain, guides and tensioner before fitting.
3. Prepare the turbo. Fit new oil feed and return seals, clean the intercooler and pipes of any oil or debris from the old engine, and prime the turbo with oil before starting.
4. Code the injectors and bleed the fuel. Enter the injector correction codes into the ECU, check the glow plugs and bleed the fuel system so the engine does not crank dry.
5. Check the particulate filter. If the old engine failed with oil or coolant entering the exhaust, the DPF may be contaminated. Check its back-pressure before relying on it.
6. Fill with the right oil and prime it. Fill with new oil of the correct specification and a new filter. Crank with the fuel and ignition disabled until oil pressure builds.
7. Coding and adaptations. On modern BMWs, the engine ECU must be matched to the car's immobiliser (CAS, FEM or BDC). Reset adaptations, register the battery and clear faults with diagnostic software.
8. First start and leak check. Start the engine, let it idle and watch oil pressure, temperature and fault codes. Check for leaks and bleed the cooling system.
9. First 1,000 km. Drive gently for the first few hundred kilometres, vary the engine speed and avoid full load. Change the oil and filter after about 1,000 km to remove any assembly debris.

The full fitting and first-start procedure.

Delivery, warranty and payment

Every 740d engine we sell is drained, sealed at each opening, strapped to a heat-treated pallet and shrink-wrapped before it leaves Hamburg. You receive photographs of the packed engine and a tracking number.

Delivery is door to door and included in the price. Most European addresses receive the engine within five to ten working days; Germany and its neighbours are usually faster.

Every engine carries a 12-month warranty on eligible internal failure when a qualified workshop fits it with new fluids and filters. Payment is by card, bank transfer or crypto; your invoice is emailed as soon as you order.

All F01 engines · N57 engine guide · BMW 740d engines for sale · Send us your VIN