Back in a Tundra

Welcome from Atlanta, clean looking truck, MGM is a beautiful color. I'm sort of the opposite, I sold my 2004 X5 4.4i Sport in Sterling Gray Metallic, and then went to a 2014 1794 Tundra in MGM.

If I can give some input on your X5, I run foreign auto repair shop out here in Atlanta and myself and family all drive Bimmers and Benz. If you are doing your oil changes at anything over a 5k interval I would recommend stepping down to a 5k interval and using a good quality engine oil like Liqui-Moly 10w-40 Leichtlauf High Tech. These engines have a very high operating temperature and generate a lot of heat especially in the top end of the motor due to the "Hot-V' turbo design. As a result they are notorious for cooking alternators, valve stem seals, turbo seals and all the various plastics and rubber gaskets used throughout the engine. Not uncommon to see the fuel injectors and high pressure fuel pumps start to fail around the 60-70k mark.

Being that yours is a 2011 that means you have the N63B44, the first iteration of that engine and also the first production engine to have a "Hot-V" design and first BMW V8 to use direct injection. They were also known to have issues with the timing chain stretching and with the timing chain guides failing prematurely, we have seen guide failure on engines under 50k. All of this stemmed from BMW offering a 4 Year/50,000 Mile warranty. One of the way they cut costs was to extend the oil change interval to nearly 15,000 miles. The result was engine oil turning to sludge and failing to properly lubricate and protect the engine. BMW retroactively released the "Customer Care Package" for these engines which was essentially a recall due to the failure rate they were seeing with these engines as they took a lot of flack from the motoring community and their customers. That being said a full rebuild on one of these engines will run close to $10k of which we have done several. Not trying to scare you or go on a rant but just want to make you aware if you were not already they are amazing SUVs and aside from the problems they have that engine is an absolute beast when it is running right. As a member of both the Tundra and especially the BMW community I enjoy sharing and spreading the knowledge I have gained.

 

Welcome from San Diego

 

Welcome from Obx

 

That's good to know. I have been looking at them for a while. My fear and reluctance to get once is based on an 06 325 that I once owned. That thing was a POS when it came to reliability. Major things such as fuel pump, water pump, and rear oil seal went out during my ownership. I bought the car with 40k on it, and when I sold it, it had only 68k. It was the best driving vehicle I have ever owned and it had lots of power, but it just wasn't reliable.

But I love the looks of the X5 and would love to have one. I bet that 5.0 twin turbo is a blast!!

 

Welcome from CO.

 

Welcome from Nevada

 

Welcome from Arizona.

 

Welcome from AZ

 

So much for holding off on mods till school’s over

 

Welcome from Texas! Gorgeous truck!

 

Welcome from Texas!