Something Every X5M owner should check every 80-100k miles.

[Upurock]

Subscribing for future reference 👍

[Bobby_Drake]

Got this done on my F85 at 52,000 mi. It was out spec. Per my indy shop guy, the oil pump chain had 17mm of play, spec is 10mm +/-2. Set oil pump chain play to 10mm.

My car did have some weird noise as if something is loose upon start-up and when initially pressing on the gas, this seemed to have eliminated that noise. Either way, I am glad this was addressed.

Good lookin out OP!

[Franktea1$]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Redneck

Most F85/86's are well under 100K miles but I thought I would also post this here for future use and for the few that are or about to have their warranty expire:

The N63, S63, N63TU, and S63TU used in the E70, F15, & F85 are unique in that they all share the same oil pump and drive chain design up to the 2018 model year. Unlike the S63 & S63TU used in the M5, this chain drive does not have a tensioner so it is very likely and almost certain the drive chain will eventually become loose and is something that should be checked every 80-100K miles. I recently checked mine after reading some stories of engine failure and was lucky I did, it was more then 10 times out of spec and about to fall off.

BMW made access to the oil pump and chain adjuster pretty straight forward. It will only add an extra hour or so to your normal oil change time. As a bonus, the lower pan gasket that is notorious for leaking as these engines age is replaced as part of the process. Below are instructions, parts and tools needed plus a short video on the adjustment procedure.



Parts Needed (parts are the same for all engines and all platforms):
(1) Lower Pan Gasket # 11137566808 https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...x5-11137566808
(25) Oil Pan Bolts # 07129909333 (you can save money and use Loctite 242 or other removable Loctite on old bolts) https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...mw-07129909333
(6) Reinforcement plate bolts (Do not reuse, these are one time use only) #33306772888 https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...er-33306772888
Gasket Tack: https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-8006.../dp/B000HBNV9E



Tools Needed:

Torque Wrench
Torque Wrench Angle Gauge
Cordless Ratchet (highly recommended, 31 bolts to remove and reinstall)
3/8" extensions
8mm long reach hex socket
T45 Torx socket
E10 External Torx socket
16mm Socket

Instructions (short video below with more details on chain adjustment):


1 - Drive up on 4 ramps or jack up truck as level as possible.
2 - Drain Oil, Reinstall oil drain plug.
3 - Remove the Reinforcment plate.



4 - Remove Oil level sensor connector(Fig.1)
5- Remove the 25 E10 Torx bolts (Fig.2) holding on the lower engine pan (Fig.3).



6 - Remove the oil pump rear T45 torx bolt (Fig.2)



7 - Tighten chain adjuster using 8mm hex socket (see video for more info)
8 - Adjust to 10-12mm total (5-6mm side to side) chain movement.
9 - Reinstall Oil Pump T45 Torx bolt, tighten to 27Nm.
10 - Clean lower oil pan and Install new gasket, (ridged side faces towards engine), use gasket tack to keep in place.
11 - Replace 25 E10 Torx bolts with new or apply removable Loctite 242 to threads if reusing the old bolts and install lower pan. Tighten in standard crisscross pattern all bolts first to 10Nm, then 24Nm.
12 - Replace oil filter & refill oil.
13 - Install reinforcement plate and Tighten new bolts to 56Nm, then use Torque Angle Gauge and further tighten an additional 90 degrees.

Hi my car 2016 X5M has 87k on it, i believe I had the same chain on my e39 540 at 225k when i did the timing chain guides. I did tighten the chain on the e39 but i would think 100k is very early to do this, but I'll take a look at it as you suggested. I also spoke with a dealer here in NY, they have no SIB on this.

Best,
Frank

[dentprotony@gmail.com]

Got my chain tightened today, had pretty major slop in it, have 70k miles on my f85. Fairly easy job overall, i reused oil pan bolts and replaced oem gasket with the elring part

[musa]

Originally Posted by Franktea1$

Hi my car 2016 X5M has 87k on it, i believe I had the same chain on my e39 540 at 225k when i did the timing chain guides. I did tighten the chain on the e39 but i would think 100k is very early to do this, but I'll take a look at it as you suggested. I also spoke with a dealer here in NY, they have no SIB on this.

Best,
Frank

I was told the same by a trusted shop foreman at my local dealership, but I still went ahead and did the procedure myself since it's pretty straight forward. Clearly, the chain was out of spec and the weird chattering noises coming from underneath the vehicle that I used to hear upon cold start, went away ... go figure. And incidentally I found the oil pan was leaking. Overall, glad I did the repair on those two points and did not listen to "expert opinion". But, thinking of it, it's to their benefit if you do nothing ... .

[GotV8?]

Originally Posted by musa

I was told the same by a trusted shop foreman at my local dealership, but I still went ahead and did the procedure myself since it's pretty straight forward. Clearly, the chain was out of spec and the weird chattering noises coming from underneath the vehicle that I used to hear upon cold start, went away ... go figure. And incidentally I found the oil pan was leaking. Overall, glad I did the repair on those two points and did not listen to "expert opinion". But, thinking of it, it's to their benefit if you do nothing ... .

just ordered all needed parts from FCP today.. about to hit 40k (oil change was done yesterday) on my odometer...will be doing this on my next oil change at 45k as a preventative....will report in my findings when I tackle this. thanks in advance

[musa]

Originally Posted by GotV8?

just ordered all needed parts from FCP today.. about to hit 40k (oil change was done yesterday) on my odometer...will be doing this on my next oil change at 45k as a preventative....will report in my findings when I tackle this. thanks in advance

I'd also order the reinforcement plate bolts - it'll be the last time you spend money on them. A word of caution on the oil pump T45 torx bolt - take it easy, obviously, while tightening. Silly me overtightened it to the point it snapped - what a nightmare to replace it.

[Chilled]

Originally Posted by GotV8?

just ordered all needed parts from FCP today.. about to hit 40k (oil change was done yesterday) on my odometer...will be doing this on my next oil change at 45k as a preventative....will report in my findings when I tackle this. thanks in advance

Let us know what you find. I'm at 32K and kind of want to do it out of boredom.

[8202632]

I ordered too. Will be doing this in the next month or so and will report back as well. 54k

[NikNala]

I just did this today and my 2016 at 64k had double the 10mm total play. I used high tack to keep the gasket in place while I started the bolts. Overall about a 45 minute job on top of an oil change.

[shimmy23]

so basically all these cars out of spec, some at relatively low miles. Is this something that will have to be checked every couple years?

[musa]

Originally Posted by shimmy23

so basically all these cars out of spec, some at relatively low miles. Is this something that will have to be checked every couple years?

It's like having to go to the doctor to bend over, if you wait too long, it may be too late ...

[jrizzle]

you mention up to model year 2018... does this include model year 2018 having the same design?

[suitedcboy]

As far as doing this every 40K: On ATV and motorcycle timing chains and some other chains in oil baths, I have always found the wear is loaded up front. Roller chains run on gears that are usually not precision ground and will have wear-in polishing and then little wear afterwards. Has anyone done their oil pump chain a second time? I'm curious if this chain does see similar wear in the next 30K or more after being checked and adjusted the first time.

[iam_tylerbrown]

Great DIY!

[8202632]

So I did this a couple of weeks ago. Pretty easy DIY. Except I snapped one of the oil pan bolts due to over torquing. My wrench didn’t click! So I kept turning and then “pop!” So that was my bad. I ended up with a leak and long story short had to take to an Indy to extract the bolt and basically redo the gasket and lower drain pan. Argh!! $2 bolt cost me $1,300! Tried to extract myself but I didn’t want to botch it up and ruin the lower housing.

But the car is definitely quieter at startup with whatever slight “rattle” I was hearing now gone.

[Chilled]

Originally Posted by 8202632

So I did this a couple of weeks ago. Pretty easy DIY. Except I snapped one of the oil pan bolts due to over torquing. My wrench didn’t click! So I kept turning and then “pop!” So that was my bad. I ended up with a leak and long story short had to take to an Indy to extract the bolt and basically redo the gasket and lower drain pan. Argh!! $2 bolt cost me $1,300! Tried to extract myself but I didn’t want to botch it up and ruin the lower housing.

But the car is definitely quieter at startup with whatever slight “rattle” I was hearing now gone.

Did you try to measure the slop in the chain, was it a significant amount?

[8202632]

It’s wasn’t awful but it definitely needed adjustment. Meaning it wasn’t on the verge of falling off. It was similar to the videos that were posted. I’m at about 57k

[shimmy23]

thanks all for sharing your experiences and links here! 50i owner here but i'll be doing this around 50k. i'm at 33k now

[V i C]

This is so epic, it ought to be considered for a sticky. I’ve saved it in my phone to review with my service guy whenever i do service.

I have/currently own MB so, i’m new to BMW cars but this, in my mind, is tantamount to the head bolt issue with the w204 c63. Well, not exactly, but in some ways. And probably many other car situations have similar ‘ounce of prevention’ tips/issues.

Thanks again. Point of the post is to consider this a sticky.

[pachieh]

Curious as to what others paid to have this done. Had a local Indy shop do a quote and they said $1100 in labor and parts.

[pachieh]

Update… $781 for labor and a recommendation to replace the chain since they are in there already.