BMW X5 50i (E70) engine: which one, problems and replacement

The BMW X5 50i in the second X5 generation (E70, built 2006–2013) was built with one engine, the N63B44: a 4.4 L petrol V8 with 407 hp.

This guide tells you which engine your X5 50i 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: N63B44
• Output: 407 hp
• Replacement engines in stock: 184 from 3.877,00 €

Which engine is in your X5 50i?

N63B44 in the X5 50i

The N63B44 was used in the E70 X5 50i, built 2008–2013. It is a 4.4 L twin-turbo petrol V8 with 407 hp and 600 Nm.

Reading the code: N marks an N-series code, the generation of BMW engines introduced from 2001; 63 is the family number; B stands for petrol (from the German Benzin); 44 is the capacity in decilitres, so 4.4 litres.

X5 50i engines by model year

The X5 50i 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 50i

A replacement engine does not have to come from another X5 50i. 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.

N63B44: BMW F01 750i, BMW F10 550i, BMW F07 550i.

How to confirm your engine code

The X5 50i only used the N63B44, 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 50i engine problems

The N63B44 in the X5 50i shares the known weak points of the N63 family. Full N63 guide.

Oil consumption from valve stem seals. Early engines burn oil because heat inside the V hardens the valve stem seals. BMW issued a customer care programme for this.

Piezo injectors (early N63). Early piezo injectors fail and cause misfires; updated versions are more reliable.

Timing chain stretch. Chains stretch on high-mileage engines, especially with long oil intervals.

Turbo coolant and oil lines. Heat in the V damages coolant and oil lines to the turbochargers.

Crankcase ventilation. The crankcase vent lines and valve cover breathers fail.

Battery drain. The N63 cars need strong batteries because of after-run cooling pumps.

Symptoms to watch for on the X5 50i

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.

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.

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.

Long cranking before the engine starts. On direct-injection engines, a weak high-pressure fuel pump or leaking injector lets pressure drop when the engine is off.

Looking after the X5 50i engine

• Oil: 5W-30 BMW Longlife-01, about 8.5 litres with filter.
• Service interval: Oil every 10,000 km at most; BMW's own updates shortened the interval.
• Timing drive: Timing chains at the front, one per bank.
• Workshop notes: Prefer N63TU and later engines where the car allows it. Check the version letter on the engine code (B44A, B44B, B44C, B44D) before ordering.

Buying a used engine for the X5 50i: checklist

1. 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.
2. Compression or leak-down figures. Even compression across all cylinders tells you more than mileage. Ask for the figures, not just a pass or fail, and compare the highest and lowest readings: a spread above 10 to 15 percent deserves a question.
3. 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.
4. Sump, oil pickup and drive variants. Rear-drive, xDrive and front-drive cars can use different sumps, oil pickups and engine mounts even with the same engine code. Check that the sump matches your subframe and front axle.
5. 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.
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. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Injectors and high-pressure fuel pump. Direct-injection engines rely on high-pressure pumps and precise injectors. Ask whether the injectors are original or updated and whether there were fuel pressure faults.
11. 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 50i replacement engine cost

We currently hold 184 X5 50i engine engines. The cheapest is 3.877,00 €, the most expensive 7.062,00 €, and half of them cost less than 4.968,00 €.

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 50i engine prices by model year

Engines from 2010–2014 have a median of 5.006,00 €, while units from 2015–2019 sit at 4.934,00 €. Newer engines usually cost more because they come from younger donor cars with lower mileage and later updates.

X5 50i 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.

1 of these come from E70 donor cars, priced from 7.062,00 €. 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 50i

Here is a selection of X5 50i engines currently on our shelves, photographed in the yard. Click any of them for the full photographs, mileage and specification.

BMW G12 750i N63B44 Engine 2019, 162,700 km3.992,00 €BMW G12 750i N63B44 Engine 2012, 61,800 km4.738,00 €BMW G30 550i N63B44 Engine 2018, 160,100 km4.565,00 €BMW G30 550i N63B44 Engine 2012, 203,800 km4.757,00 €BMW G12 750i N63B44 Engine 2014, 140,800 km5.987,00 €BMW F15 X5 xDrive50i N63B44 Engine 2017, 184,600 km4.981,00 €BMW F10 550i N63B44 Engine 2016, 58,100 km4.049,00 €BMW F15 X5 xDrive50i N63B44 Engine 2012, 69,100 km4.743,00 €BMW F10 550i N63B44 Engine 2016, 163,300 km5.031,00 €BMW F15 X5 xDrive50i N63B44 Engine 2017, 104,000 km4.397,00 €BMW G12 750i N63B44 Engine 2017, 101,500 km5.820,00 €BMW F10 550i N63B44 Engine 2014, 64,300 km4.320,00 €

BMW G12 750i N63B44 Engine 2019, 162,700 km — 3.992,00 €, reduced from 4.850,00 €. It comes from a 2019 donor car with 162,700 km, and 7 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW G12 750i N63B44 Engine 2012, 61,800 km — 4.738,00 €, reduced from 6.000,00 €. It comes from a 2012 donor car with 61,800 km, and 20 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW G30 550i N63B44 Engine 2018, 160,100 km — 4.565,00 €, reduced from 5.350,00 €. It comes from a 2018 donor car with 160,100 km, and 19 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW G30 550i N63B44 Engine 2012, 203,800 km — 4.757,00 €, reduced from 5.750,00 €. It comes from a 2012 donor car with 203,800 km, and 29 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW G12 750i N63B44 Engine 2014, 140,800 km — 5.987,00 €, reduced from 6.950,00 €. It comes from a 2014 donor car with 140,800 km, and 7 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW F15 X5 xDrive50i N63B44 Engine 2017, 184,600 km — 4.981,00 €, reduced from 5.650,00 €. It comes from a 2017 donor car with 184,600 km, and 14 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F10 550i N63B44 Engine 2016, 58,100 km — 4.049,00 €, reduced from 4.900,00 €. It comes from a 2016 donor car with 58,100 km, and 12 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F15 X5 xDrive50i N63B44 Engine 2012, 69,100 km — 4.743,00 €, reduced from 5.900,00 €. It comes from a 2012 donor car with 69,100 km, and 29 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F10 550i N63B44 Engine 2016, 163,300 km — 5.031,00 €, reduced from 6.000,00 €. It comes from a 2016 donor car with 163,300 km, and 25 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F15 X5 xDrive50i N63B44 Engine 2017, 104,000 km — 4.397,00 €, reduced from 5.250,00 €. It comes from a 2017 donor car with 104,000 km, and 15 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW G12 750i N63B44 Engine 2017, 101,500 km — 5.820,00 €, reduced from 6.850,00 €. It comes from a 2017 donor car with 101,500 km, and 17 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F10 550i N63B44 Engine 2014, 64,300 km — 4.320,00 €, reduced from 5.450,00 €. It comes from a 2014 donor car with 64,300 km, and 26 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

Will it fit my X5 50i?

Will the N63B44 fit my BMW E70 X5 50i?

For the BMW E70 X5 50i, the N63B44 is the factory engine and the one to order. The second X5 was built 2006–2013, and the N63B44 was produced 2008–2013, 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 E70 X5 50i?

We have 1 N63B44 engine from E70 donor cars, priced from 7.062,00 €. 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.

Fitting a replacement engine in the X5 50i

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. 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.
3. Reset VANOS adaptations. Clear the VANOS adaptations so the ECU learns the camshaft positions of the new engine.
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

Every X5 50i 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.

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.

A 12-month warranty covers eligible internal failure when the engine is fitted by a qualified workshop with new fluids and filters. You can pay by card, bank transfer or crypto and receive the invoice by email straight away.

All E70 engines · N63 engine guide · BMW X5 50i engines for sale · Send us your VIN