Hi everyone, I recently found a 2013 X5 35i with 116k miles for only $2500 USD ($3500 CDN) at a local dealership..! (Note: not BMW dealership)

The back story is that they took it on trade and sold it but the new owner noticed a loud tick within a few weeks of owning it. The dealership hauled it to the nearest BMW dealership and BMW diagnosed the problem as a bad bearing or bearings due to metal particles in oil plan and advised “needs a replacement engine”. BMW quoted this dealership $19000 for a new engine.

I am seriously considering purchasing this broken 2013 X5 and swapping the N55 engine. I was able to start it with a boost pack and it still runs smooth but it does have a loud engine tick. I then did some Youtube research and discovered that N55 engines are infamous for failed rod bearings or crank bearings. (Probably due to lack of maintenance or low oil). Some owners have been successful in replacing the bad bearings, resurfacing and/or replacing crankshaft. One guy replaced just one set of con rod bearings ($30), polished crank himself and put it back together and it ran good. So was thinking I might need an engine but maybe I could get away with a less costly repair such as bearing replacement. Either way, I will be doing the engine work myself.

Any advice, suggestion or thoughts?