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      08-12-2016, 02:42 PM   #1
quad_drive2
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Opinions on N55 Engine Replacement


Hi,
I need opinions on what to do...

Back-story:
I purchased a 2014 BMW X5 35i with 15k miles from CarMax a month ago. I took the car into BMW dealer for service and some rattle noise in the engine bay. Took them 3 weeks to determine the car needs a new engine after trying a few things to resolve the rattling noise. The engine will be replaced under factory warranty at a BMW dealer.

I don't know if engine replacement is a good thing or a bad thing for the car in the long term as far as reliability and resale value.

CarMax offered me an out to buy-back the vehicle because it has been in the shop for almost 4 weeks now.

Options:
A) Keep the car (with new engine)
B) Take the buy back option and move on

Please advise. Thank you!
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      08-12-2016, 02:50 PM   #2
Taran.J
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Take the buy back, start afresh
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      08-12-2016, 04:01 PM   #3
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Yep opt for the buy back, who knows what else is wrong or if the thing was abused resulting in the engine issue, could be trans next who knows.
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      08-12-2016, 04:16 PM   #4
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This is strange because yours is the 3rd N55 that needed to be replaced within the last 2 months due to rattle/ticking sounds.

Mine developed a rattle between idle and 3K which the dealer could not diagnose despite replacing a bunch of parts. I opted for the buy back option and got into a new car. I told the SA I do not want a Frankensteined car back with non stop issues because half the drivetrain was taken apart. My car only had 7K miles on it and was always well taken cared of and oil changed on my own dime at 5K miles with BMW oil.
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      08-12-2016, 04:41 PM   #5
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Alan how did they support your buyback with all the aftermarket stuff you did with that car?
Did they pay for the removal or take into account in trade less depreciation.
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      08-12-2016, 05:12 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by knepsterd View Post
Alan how did they support your buyback with all the aftermarket stuff you did with that car?
Did they pay for the removal or take into account in trade less depreciation.
BMW credited me back for all of my parts since they were all M performance stuff. I had all the receipts. They had my car for 5 weeks before the buyback happened.

Alan
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      08-12-2016, 07:24 PM   #7
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CarMax will have the engine replaced at BMW and then sell it to the next guy, who won't know it has a new engine unless the DCS report is pulled.

I'd just give it back to Carmax, and like another poster said, start fresh.
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      08-12-2016, 07:35 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan l.
Quote:
Originally Posted by knepsterd View Post
Alan how did they support your buyback with all the aftermarket stuff you did with that car?
Did they pay for the removal or take into account in trade less depreciation.
BMW credited me back for all of my parts since they were all M performance stuff. I had all the receipts. They had my car for 5 weeks before the buyback happened.

Alan
Alan, what year is your X5? I am curious if it's a bad batch of motors from BMW. I am looking to get into another X5, hopefully finding something I like soon.
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      08-12-2016, 08:38 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by quad_drive2
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alan l.
Quote:
Originally Posted by knepsterd View Post
Alan how did they support your buyback with all the aftermarket stuff you did with that car?
Did they pay for the removal or take into account in trade less depreciation.
BMW credited me back for all of my parts since they were all M performance stuff. I had all the receipts. They had my car for 5 weeks before the buyback happened.

Alan
Alan, what year is your X5? I am curious if it's a bad batch of motors from BMW. I am looking to get into another X5, hopefully finding something I like soon.
Alan's was 2015.
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      08-12-2016, 08:53 PM   #10
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I think you got a bad apple but have been fortunate to have bought the car from a dealership that will buy back the car from you.
I say be thankful for the second chance and ditch the car. It may have seemed impossible to find the "perfect" used car but another one will come along.
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      08-12-2016, 09:34 PM   #11
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Agreed with others, take the buyback.
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      08-13-2016, 10:38 PM   #12
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Thanks for all the advise... Took the buyback today... Picked up a 2015 x5 M Sport :-) hopefully, better luck this time around
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      08-13-2016, 10:54 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by quad_drive2
Thanks for all the advise... Took the buyback today... Picked up a 2015 x5 M Sport :-) hopefully, better luck this time around
You should. The N55 motor has its quirks but in the long term if mistreated but we are better off than the N54 days
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      08-14-2016, 02:35 PM   #14
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I think otherwise. If you are getting a new engine under the factory warranty, I would definitely keep the vehicle. Look. There are more advantages than disadvantages from this outcome.

1. Most importantly, you are getting a new engine.
2. Withe the new engine, the problem is most likely fixed.
3. You are probably entitled to a new warranty for the new engine.
4. The new engine will have 0 miles as supposed to 15k miles when you bought it.
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      08-14-2016, 04:22 PM   #15
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The problem is having some tech swap the entire drivetrain perfectly. If you are lucky you get a tech that's done tons of F15 N55 swaps but if not you'll be plagued with non stop issues. Factory install > some tech at the dealer IMO.

Alan
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      08-14-2016, 04:33 PM   #16
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Engine swaps are usually performed by senior techs who have done it more than dozen times. I do not see any problems there.
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      08-14-2016, 10:35 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wifesbimmer View Post
I think otherwise. If you are getting a new engine under the factory warranty, I would definitely keep the vehicle. Look. There are more advantages than disadvantages from this outcome.

1. Most importantly, you are getting a new engine.
2. Withe the new engine, the problem is most likely fixed.
3. You are probably entitled to a new warranty for the new engine.
4. The new engine will have 0 miles as supposed to 15k miles when you bought it.
It was a tough call on our end. The car has all the options and color combo we wanted. Having a new engine is a good deal, not getting new warranty though, 4yr/50k stays the same.
Like Alan said, just too many variables with the replacement job.

If we had owned the car for some time and then I will probably stick with the car. Since Carmax is offering me buy-back, I figured I have one less thing to worry about.
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      08-15-2016, 06:50 AM   #18
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buy back and move on
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      08-17-2016, 05:44 PM   #19
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Glad I took the buyback option after seeing the scene of the 'surgery'.
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      08-18-2016, 12:15 AM   #20
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I had mine replaced on my e70 50i by BMW dealer. Engine died around 65K miles
It has been running fine (it happend 20K miles and 1.5 year ago) no complains.
The hardest part is to sell the car, though, when people learn that the engine has been replaced they freak out. BMW use "refubrished" engnine, suppose to be good, but kind of sketchy: who knows how many miles it had?
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      08-18-2016, 06:40 AM   #21
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I guess it also depends on how much they recycle from the old engine. The turbo, intercooler, radiators etc and some electronics are often kept and mounted on the new engine block. So you cant always say you got a completely new engine.

I work with heavy trucks and we get engines replaced now and then. It's not always a perfect experience. There's always some loss of function, some electronic feature not working properly. Last time they put in a new one, they got dust into the turbo and we blew it too some two days after replacement.

Still, replacing seems better than renovating one, replacing pistons, head gaskets etc. That thing never works out well and just feels like prolonging the life a little while for a dying patient.
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