BMW X5 M (F85) engine: which one, problems and replacement

The BMW X5 M in the X5 M generation (F85, built 2014–2018) was built with one engine, the S63B44: a 4.4 L petrol V8 with 560 hp.

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

• Generation: X5 M, 2014–2018
• Body styles: F85 (SAV)
• Engines: S63B44
• Output: 560 hp
• Replacement engines in stock: 134 from 8.668,00 €

Which engine is in your X5 M?

S63B44 in the X5 M

The S63B44 was used in the F85 X5 M, built 2010–2017. It is a 4.4 L twin-turbo petrol V8 with 560 hp and 680 Nm.

Reading the code: S marks an S-series code, reserved for engines developed by BMW M; 63 is the family number; B stands for petrol (from the German Benzin); 44 is the capacity in decilitres, so 4.4 litres.

X5 M engines by model year

The X5 M kept the same engine for the whole F85 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 M

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

S63B44: BMW F10 M5, BMW F06 M6, BMW F86 X6 M.

How to confirm your engine code

The X5 M only used the S63B44, 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 M engine problems

The S63B44 in the X5 M shares the known weak points of the S63 family. Full S63 guide.

Rod bearings. Early S63 engines can show rod bearing wear, especially with long oil intervals.

Injectors. Injectors fail and cause misfires.

Turbochargers. Turbos wear and leak oil because of heat inside the V.

Valve stem seals. Seals harden and cause oil consumption.

Timing chain. Chains stretch at high mileage.

Symptoms to watch for on the X5 M

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.

Oil pressure warning or bearing noise at high revs. On M engines, a warning at high revs can be the first sign of bearing wear. Check the oil level and stop driving hard until it is diagnosed.

Looking after the X5 M engine

• Oil: 0W-30 or 5W-30 BMW Longlife-01, about 9 litres.
• Service interval: Oil every 7,500 to 10,000 km; shorter if driven hard.
• Timing drive: Timing chains, one per bank.
• Workshop notes: Prefer later S63TU and T4 engines. Check the version code before ordering.

Buying a used engine for the X5 M: checklist

1. 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.
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. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
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. Bearing and valve clearance history. M engines are built to tighter tolerances. Ask for the last rod bearing replacement and valve clearance check, and consider an oil analysis if the engine can be run.
12. 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 M replacement engine cost

Our X5 M engine stock runs to 134 units, priced from 8.668,00 € to 15.656,00 € with a median of 13.338,00 €.

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 M engine prices by model year

Engines from 2015–2019 have a median of 12.987,00 €, while units from 2025–2029 sit at 11.813,00 €. Newer engines usually cost more because they come from younger donor cars with lower mileage and later updates.

X5 M 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 F85 donor cars, priced from 15.541,00 €. 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 M

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

BMW F90 M5 S63B44 Engine 2020, 77,800 km13.347,00 €BMW F91 M8 S63B44 Engine 2019, 187,500 km10.769,00 €BMW F91 M8 S63B44 Engine 2021, 91,200 km15.255,00 €BMW F90 M5 Competition S63B44 Engine 2017, 150,600 km11.284,00 €BMW F90 M5 S63B44 Engine 2018, 31,300 km12.987,00 €BMW F91 M8 S63B44 Engine 2018, 107,300 km10.769,00 €BMW F91 M8 S63B44 Engine 2023, 37,600 km14.858,00 €BMW F91 M8 S63B44 Engine 2021, 18,600 km12.741,00 €BMW F90 M5 Competition S63B44 Engine 2024, 110,800 km14.109,00 €BMW F90 M5 Competition S63B44 Engine 2019, 109,800 km11.980,00 €BMW F90 M5 Competition S63B44 Engine 2019, 185,800 km10.548,00 €BMW F90 M5 Competition S63B44 Engine 2022, 24,000 km12.264,00 €

BMW F90 M5 S63B44 Engine 2020, 77,800 km — 13.347,00 €, reduced from 14.600,00 €. It comes from a 2020 donor car with 77,800 km, and 27 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F91 M8 S63B44 Engine 2019, 187,500 km — 10.769,00 €, reduced from 11.750,00 €. It comes from a 2019 donor car with 187,500 km, and 12 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F91 M8 S63B44 Engine 2021, 91,200 km — 15.255,00 €, reduced from 16.100,00 €. It comes from a 2021 donor car with 91,200 km, and 16 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F90 M5 Competition S63B44 Engine 2017, 150,600 km — 11.284,00 €, reduced from 12.200,00 €. It comes from a 2017 donor car with 150,600 km, and 23 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

BMW F90 M5 S63B44 Engine 2018, 31,300 km — 12.987,00 €, reduced from 13.800,00 €. It comes from a 2018 donor car with 31,300 km, and 5 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F91 M8 S63B44 Engine 2018, 107,300 km — 10.769,00 €, reduced from 11.550,00 €. It comes from a 2018 donor car with 107,300 km, and 9 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F91 M8 S63B44 Engine 2023, 37,600 km — 14.858,00 €, reduced from 15.600,00 €. It comes from a 2023 donor car with 37,600 km, and 22 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F91 M8 S63B44 Engine 2021, 18,600 km — 12.741,00 €, reduced from 14.000,00 €. It comes from a 2021 donor car with 18,600 km, and 7 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F90 M5 Competition S63B44 Engine 2024, 110,800 km — 14.109,00 €, reduced from 14.800,00 €. It comes from a 2024 donor car with 110,800 km, and 10 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F90 M5 Competition S63B44 Engine 2019, 109,800 km — 11.980,00 €, reduced from 13.250,00 €. It comes from a 2019 donor car with 109,800 km, and 13 units are available. Ask the desk for compression figures or extra photographs before you order.

BMW F90 M5 Competition S63B44 Engine 2019, 185,800 km — 10.548,00 €, reduced from 11.500,00 €. It comes from a 2019 donor car with 185,800 km, and 24 units are available. The listing shows every side of the engine and the fitted parts.

BMW F90 M5 Competition S63B44 Engine 2022, 24,000 km — 12.264,00 €, reduced from 13.500,00 €. It comes from a 2022 donor car with 24,000 km, and 19 units are available. We can confirm fitment against your VIN the same day.

Will it fit my X5 M?

Will the S63B44 fit my BMW F85 X5 M?

The S63B44 is the original engine for the BMW F85 X5 M, which makes it the straightforward choice. The X5 M was built 2014–2018, and the S63B44 was produced 2010–2017, 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 F85 X5 M?

We have 1 S63B44 engine from F85 donor cars, priced from 15.541,00 €. 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 M

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 M 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.

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.

S63 engine guide · Send us your VIN