The average price for the parts of a BMW X5 engine replacement is around $4,000, with a new engine skyrocketing to $5,000 and a used engine dropping to around $3,000. Since the labor takes between 10 and 20 hours for this intensive and complicated procedure, car owners can expect to pay between $800 and $2,000 for the labor. Overall, you can expect to pay between $3,800 and $7,000 for the BMW X5 engine replacement cost.
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Worst Model Years of the BMW X5
The BMW X5 has various concerns across differing model years, with the 2011 having the most overall complaints. Along with the high number of issues during this production year, this year also is regarded as the most problematic and least reliable due to the early onset of issues, high repair costs, and frequency of user complaints.
Regarding all model years, the top three concerns from car owners focus on:
- Engine Stalling While Driving in the 2011 BMW X5, costing $7,000 to fix at 64,000 miles
- Water leaking Into the Interior in the 2008 BMW X5, costing $10,000 to fix at 36,000 miles
- Transmission Failure in the 2013 BMW X5, costing $5,500 to fix at 53,000 miles
2008 BMW X5 Engine Problems
The worst engine problems in the 2008 production year deal with the engine stalling and shutting down while driving, loud chirping noises from the engine, and NHTSA concern about the vehicle speed control.
Fix: Remedy Engine Stalling
The engine stalling in your car is typically due to one of three reasons:
- Lack of fuel
- Not receiving enough air for combustion in the engine
- Insufficient power
The most common reasons for any of the above reasons to cause your engine to stall include an empty gas tank, faulty fuel mechanisms, a malfunctioning ignition coil, fouled spark plugs, water in the fuel tank, or a failing sensor that can no longer communicate with the engine. Any one of these problems can lead to an expensive BMW X5 engine replacement cost.
- Gas Tank – The average price for refilling a tank of gas typically is around $46.20 to fill, while a larger gas tank in a sedan, SUV, or truck can cost upwards of around $57.75.
- Fuel Pump – Replacing the fuel pump in your BMW X5 is usually between $220 and $1,062, depending on the severity of the fuel system issues and any further damage in the fuel delivery lines. Labor is between $124 and $260, with the total procedure taking only around 1.5 to 2 hours to complete.
- Ignition Coil – Replacing the ignition coil in your BMW X is usually between $130 and $185, which is quite low regarding the most common prices for the BMW X5 engine replacement cost. The labor is between $57 and $71, taking only around 45 minutes – 1 hour, while the parts are priced between $74 and $113.
- Spark Plugs – A spark plug replacement in most BMW vehicles is between $226 and $342 on average, with the labor costing between $40 and $150 for replacing every plug.
- Fuel Sensor – The final cause leading to engine stalling and a high BMW X5 engine replacement cost is a faulty fuel sensor. Replacing this sensor costs between $130 and $210 for most BMW X5 model years.
2009 BMW X5 Engine Problems
Owners of the 2009 BMW X5 complain of oil leaking, engine failure, engine excessive oil leaking, and water entering the front intake valve.
Fix: Repair Alternator Bracket Seal
The most common solution is to replace the alternator bracket seal and the alternator in the 2009 BMW X5. The average price of replacing an alternator runs from around $500 to $1,000 for the parts alone. At the same time, the labor will be very extensive, since this procedure is intensive and takes multiple hours to complete.
Owners can expect to pay at least $1,500 for this hefty fix – a price quite close to the estimated BMW X5 engine replacement cost.
2011 BMW X5 Engine Problems
The most common concerns in the 2011 BMW X5 deal with excessive oil consumption, car shutting down while driving, stalling while driving, and reduced engine power due to an engine malfunction.
Fix: Address the Acceleration Problems
While wondering why your car can no longer accelerate properly and loses power while driving, you need to know the most common signs and symptoms and causes of acceleration issues. Some of the most common causes are inadequate fuel pressure, excessive back pressure, sensor issues, internal engine issues, problems with the VVT, or the vehicle stuck in limp mode.
- Replace Fuel Filter – You can fix the inadequate fuel pressure by replacing the fuel filter in your car. This procedure costs only between $50 and $170 total, which reduces the overall BMW X5 engine replacement cost.
- Replace Catalytic Converter – To fix the engine system’s backpressure, you need to replace the catalytic converter for a high price of between $945 and $2475.
- Replace Oxygen Sensor – Replacing the o2 sensor in your vehicle will range between $100 and $200, depending on if you can do the labor yourself. If you do the procedure on your own, you can save a few hundred dollars on the total BMW X5 engine replacement cost.
- Replace VVT – Replacing the variable valve timing control solenoid is between $375 and $449, with the labor between $178 and $224, and the parts priced between $198 and $225.
2012 BMW X5 Engine Problems
The final year that showed concerning engine issues that plagued car owners was the 2012 production year. Owners of the 2012 year cited oil leaks, engine failure, metal in the oil, reduced engine power, turbine oil seals breaking, and NHTSA concerns with the gasoline delivery method.
Fix: Engine Rebuild
Unfortunately for car owners, many drivers think that taking the metal shavings out of your oil is an easy fix. When you notice the signs of metal shavings contaminating the oil, like rough idling, the check engine light on your dashboard, strange engine noises, ticking sounds, reduced power, and engine knocking, it is often too late to fix the issue. The only solution at this point in your car’s lifespan is to rebuild the engine of your 2012 BMW X5.
When you take the car to the mechanic, they will first see what kind of damage has been done to your engine and engine oil. The metal shavings in the oil are a sign that something else is wrong – that is not the main culprit and cause of your performance problems.
To do an engine rebuild, your mechanic will have to perform the following steps:
- Take off the engine covers, engine valves, and other engine hardware that comprise the internal mechanism.
- Remove the pistons and piston rings so they can be repaired and re-installed on the rebuilt engine.
- Fix any other issues they find in the engine area that can lead to a high BMW X5 engine replacement cost.
Price of Engine Rebuild
The average price of an engine rebuild is between $2,500 and $4,000 for parts and labor costs. However, since the BMW X5 is a luxurious and performance-oriented car, the parts and the labor-intensive work will be much higher than just a regular sedan or SUV.
Many BMW engines are in the $3,000 range, depending on the previous use, the current condition, and any other work that has to be done to repair the engine before installing it on your car. The labor time for rebuilding an engine is typically between 10 and 20 hours of work, with the BMW taking an extensive workforce and time to repair.
Owners can expect to pay between $4,000 and $6,000 for the BMW X5 engine rebuild based on where they go for this procedure.
2021 BMW X5 Reliability
To get an idea of paying the BMW X5 engine replacement cost is worth, you need to know who the 2021 model stacks up to the competition, if it is reliable to purchase, and if drivers feel safe and confident operating this car.
The positives of the BMW X5 include a strong engine, balanced ride, agile handling, lengthy features list, expansive cabin, and plenty of cargo area. However, the negatives of this car include a high starting price and a hefty BMW X5 engine replacement cost.
BMW X5 Ranking
The Car US News Scorecard gave the 2021 BMW X5 ranking of 8.3 out of 10, with the car earning a critics’ rating of 8.9, the performance rating of 8.4, the interior of 7.6, and a safety rating of 9.5. The BMW X5 earned the #2 spot in the Luxury Midsize SUVs category, the #4 spot in the Luxury SUVs with 3 Rows Category, and the #6 spot in the Luxury Crossover SUVs category.
BMW X5 Engine Specs
The X5 used in the BMW is performance-oriented, powerful, and high-tech – leading to a great ride, but a high BMW X5 engine replacement cost.
- sDrive40i and xDrive40i – The sDrive40i and the xDrive40i trims both use a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine that can produce 335 horsepower. With plenty of power for everyday driving, it still provides a good fuel economy, so you don’t have to worry about all the idling you’ll be doing sitting in traffic on your way to and from work.
- xDrive45e – The other option is the engine available in the xDrive45e plug-in hybrid, featuring a twin-turbocharged 3,.0-liter six-cylinder engine and an electric motor that combine to produce a whopping 389 horsepower. With just as much power as the base models, it produces better fuel economy and punchy acceleration.
- All three engine models can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 5.3 seconds.
- M50i Trim – Two high-performance engine variants are available – but at a higher BMW X5 engine replacement cost. With a much higher starting cost than the other models, they are not for the budget shopper – but they are for those who want the most powerful engine available.
- The M50i trim is powered by a 4.4-liter V8 engine that can produce an incredible 523 horsepower and go from 0 to 60 miles-per-hour in just 4.1 seconds.
- The M trim is even quicker than the M50i trim, using the same engine but producing 600 horsepower and reaching 60 miles-per-hour in less than 4.0 seconds.
- With the added performance benefits comes an added price – these two high-end trim levels will often have a much higher BMW X5 engine replacement cost than the base model and the hybrid choice.
BMW X5 Vs. The Competition
For drivers to determine whether they want to pay the expensive BMW X5 engine replacement cost, they need to know how this vehicle measures against similar cars on the market today. If the BMW X5 does not outshine the other cars, and the replacement price is much higher, there are very few positives to purchasing this vehicle – let’s see the outcome.
BMW X5 vs. Mercedes-Benz GLE
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- Both of these cars offer a balanced ride, various powertrain options that can provide ample performance benefits, third-row seating to increase the capacity to 7 people, and various standard features.
- The positives of the Mercedes-Benz GLE when compared to the BMW X5 include a more luxurious interior styling and a lower starting price.
- The positives of the BMW X5 include agile handling and coming in a plug-in hybrid variant for eco-friendly buyers.
- If you are looking for a comfortable and luxurious car, the GLE is your best bet. If you want a performance-oriented car, without worrying about the extra prices and the higher BMW X5 engine replacement cost, the X5 is the better choice.
BMW X5 vs. Audi Q7
- The positives of the Audi Q7 include the standard all-wheel-drive option and the reduced starting price coming in at nearly $4,500 lower than the BMW. Furthermore, the Q7 provides an agile and performance-oriented driving experience, with the ability to take sharp turns, punch the acceleration, and power over bumpy terrain. The final positive of the Q7 is the standard three-row seating that does not increase the starting price.
- The positive of the BNW, when compared to the Q7, is the higher predicted reliability rating.
- If you are looking for a performance-oriented car that is cheaper to buy, go with the Audi Q7. However, if you want a performance car with expansive safety features, we recommend buying the BMW X5 – even with the hefty BMW X5 engine replacement cost.
The Bottom Line
As a car owner, you need to decide if paying between $3,800 and $7,000 for the BMW X5 engine replacement cost is worth the price!