BMW X5 4.8i (E70) engine: which one, problems and replacement

The BMW X5 4.8i in the second X5 generation (E70, built 2006–2013) was built with one engine, the N62B48: a 4.8 L petrol V8 with 367 hp.

This guide tells you which engine your X5 4.8i has, what goes wrong with it, what a replacement costs from our stock and what else to plan for when you fit one.

• Generation: second X5, 2006–2013
• Body styles: E70 (SAV)
• Engines: N62B48
• Output: 367 hp
• Replacement engines in stock: 104 from 2.173,00 €

Which engine is in your X5 4.8i?

N62B48 in the X5 4.8i

The N62B48 was used in the E70 X5 4.8i, built 2005–2010. It is a 4.8 L naturally aspirated petrol V8 with 367 hp and 490 Nm.

Reading the code: N marks an N-series code, the generation of BMW engines introduced from 2001; 62 is the family number; B stands for petrol (from the German Benzin); 48 is the capacity in decilitres, so 4.8 litres.

X5 4.8i engines by model year

The X5 4.8i kept the same engine for the whole E70 run, which makes ordering simple: any unit with the same code fits, subject to the gearbox, drive type and sump.

Other cars with the same engine as the X5 4.8i

A replacement engine does not have to come from another X5 4.8i. 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.

N62B48: BMW E60 550i, BMW E63 650i, BMW E65 750i.

How to confirm your engine code

The X5 4.8i only used the N62B48, but the exact version can still change with the build date, gearbox and market. 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 X5 4.8i engine problems

The N62B48 in the X5 4.8i shares the known weak points of the N62 family. Full N62 guide.

Valve stem seals. Seals harden and let oil run into the cylinders. The engine smokes blue at start-up and after idling at traffic lights.

Alternator bracket gasket. The water-cooled alternator bracket gasket leaks oil into the valley under the intake.

Valve cover gaskets. Both valve covers and their Valvetronic motor seals leak oil onto the exhaust manifolds.

Valvetronic motors and eccentric shaft sensors. The motors and sensors fail and force limp mode.

Coolant transfer pipe. The pipe under the intake manifold leaks coolant.

Timing chain guides. Guides wear on high-mileage engines.

Symptoms to watch for on the X5 4.8i

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.

Poor low-down torque and uneven idle. VANOS seals or solenoids. The engine may run well at high revs but feel flat and lumpy at low speed.

Limp mode with a Valvetronic fault. The Valvetronic motor, its eccentric shaft sensor or the wiring. The engine runs on a reduced throttle until it is repaired.

Looking after the X5 4.8i engine

• Oil: 5W-30 BMW Longlife-01, about 8 litres with filter.
• Service interval: Oil every 10,000 to 15,000 km.
• Timing drive: Timing chains at the front, one per bank, with guides and tensioners.
• Workshop notes: Fit new valve stem seals, the alternator bracket gasket and valve cover gaskets with a used N62 if they have not been done. Access is far easier with the engine out.

Buying a used engine for the X5 4.8i: checklist

1. Ask how the donor car was damaged. Most good used engines come from cars with body damage. A front-end impact can crack sensors, the timing cover or the sump; a rear or side impact usually leaves the engine untouched. The yard records the damage on each unit.
2. 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.
3. Gearbox and flywheel match. Manual and automatic engines differ at the flywheel or flexplate, and sometimes at the crankshaft spigot. Make sure the engine you buy matches your gearbox or that you transfer the right parts.
4. Why your old engine failed. Before fitting a replacement, find out why the original failed. An overheating radiator, a blocked intercooler or a failed turbo can destroy a second engine if they are not fixed.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. VANOS operation. Rough idle, a rattle from the front of the head and a loss of torque at low revs point to VANOS seals or solenoids. These are serviceable parts and are easier to renew with the engine out.
8. Double VANOS units and solenoids. Ask for the adaptation values or fault history if the engine was running. Solenoids are inexpensive and are often replaced as a matter of course on a used engine.
9. Valvetronic motor and eccentric shaft sensor. The Valvetronic motor and its sensor cause limp-mode faults when they fail. Inspect the connector and the seal around the motor for oil.
10. Both cylinder banks. On a V engine, check compression, plugs and coils on both banks. Faults on one bank alone are common and easy to miss on a quick test.

BMW X5 4.8i replacement engine cost

We currently hold 104 X5 4.8i engine engines. The cheapest is 2.173,00 €, the most expensive 6.663,00 €, and half of them cost less than 2.800,00 €.

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.

X5 4.8i engine prices by model year

Engines from 2005–2009 have a median of 2.788,00 €, while units from 2010–2014 sit at 2.705,00 €. Newer engines usually cost more because they come from younger donor cars with lower mileage and later updates.

X5 4.8i 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.

26 of these come from E70 donor cars, priced from 2.251,00 € to 6.585,00 €. 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 X5 4.8i

Here is a selection of X5 4.8i engines currently on our shelves, photographed in the yard. Click any of them for the full photographs, mileage and specification.

BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2007, 21,500 km2.402,00 €BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2006, 86,800 km2.649,00 €BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2009, 153,400 km2.508,00 €BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2010, 160,200 km3.194,00 €BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2009, 19,300 km2.251,00 €BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2009, 66,200 km2.630,00 €BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2005, 202,300 km3.215,00 €BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2009, 123,600 km3.004,00 €BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2010, 145,900 km2.255,00 €BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2007, 33,500 km2.472,00 €BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2005, 22,300 km3.252,00 €BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2006, 126,900 km2.586,00 €

BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2007, 21,500 km — 2.402,00 €, reduced from 3.050,00 €. It comes from a 2007 donor car with 21,500 km, and 14 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2006, 86,800 km — 2.649,00 €, reduced from 3.450,00 €. It comes from a 2006 donor car with 86,800 km, and 30 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2009, 153,400 km — 2.508,00 €, reduced from 3.600,00 €. It comes from a 2009 donor car with 153,400 km, and 11 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2010, 160,200 km — 3.194,00 €, reduced from 3.850,00 €. It comes from a 2010 donor car with 160,200 km, and 8 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2009, 19,300 km — 2.251,00 €, reduced from 3.400,00 €. It comes from a 2009 donor car with 19,300 km, and 18 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2009, 66,200 km — 2.630,00 €, reduced from 3.950,00 €. It comes from a 2009 donor car with 66,200 km, and 27 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2005, 202,300 km — 3.215,00 €, reduced from 4.100,00 €. It comes from a 2005 donor car with 202,300 km, and 11 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2009, 123,600 km — 3.004,00 €, reduced from 4.000,00 €. It comes from a 2009 donor car with 123,600 km, and 16 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2010, 145,900 km — 2.255,00 €, reduced from 3.600,00 €. It comes from a 2010 donor car with 145,900 km, and 16 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2007, 33,500 km — 2.472,00 €, reduced from 3.300,00 €. It comes from a 2007 donor car with 33,500 km, and 9 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2005, 22,300 km — 3.252,00 €, reduced from 4.250,00 €. It comes from a 2005 donor car with 22,300 km, and 28 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW E70 X5 4.8i N62B48 Engine 2006, 126,900 km — 2.586,00 €, reduced from 3.650,00 €. It comes from a 2006 donor car with 126,900 km, and 10 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

Will it fit my X5 4.8i?

Engine swaps and upgrades for the X5 4.8i

These engines were fitted to other versions of the E70 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 N63B44 in my X5 4.8i?

Yes, it is one of the more common upgrades. Both are petrol V8 engines, so the mounting points are similar, but the N63B44 needs its own wiring and engine control unit, the matching gearbox or clutch, and often a different sump, cooling and exhaust. The gain is 40 hp and 110 Nm. In Germany and most of Europe an engine swap must be inspected and registered.

Fitting a replacement engine in the X5 4.8i

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. Reset VANOS adaptations. Clear the VANOS adaptations so the ECU learns the camshaft positions of the new engine.
3. Teach the Valvetronic limit stops. Run the Valvetronic learning routine so the ECU knows the eccentric shaft limits.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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

Before an X5 4.8i engine leaves our Hamburg yard it is drained of oil and coolant, every opening is sealed, and it is strapped to a pallet and wrapped. We send photographs of the packed unit and the tracking details.

Door-to-door delivery is included to the address you give at checkout. Typical delivery takes three to five working days within Germany and neighbouring countries and five to ten working days to the rest of Europe and the UK.

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 E70 engines · N62 engine guide · Send us your VIN