swapping out N62 in an X5

B&K-X5 · #1 02-13-2020, 09:13 PM

I have determined that the motor is bad in my '05 X5. Going to swap out the motor. I found a 4.4 in California with only 78,000 miles on it and am having it shipped here to Wisconsin. So I decided to walk out to the Out House and grab my Bentley manual (it now takes the place of the old Sears and Roebuck catalog) As I expected; it does not have any info about removing the N62 motor. It only discusses the M62. Now I'm guessing the procedure is similar; but since the motors are different I would think that there may be some differences worth mentioning. Bentley says that I need to remove exhaust, trans and front differential to get the motor out. This sounds Absurd to me ! Has anyone swapped out an N62 motor in an E53 X5 ? If so, can you give me any info on if this is true. Or if I can avoid all the extra work entailed in removing trans and diff. Also, is there going to be any extra emissions or smog stuff from the Cali motor that I have to deal with or remove ? thanx in advance

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CapeX5 · #2 02-13-2020, 10:05 PM

I just went through this. It is pretty basic. It is tight, but it can be done with just removing the engine. No need to remove front diff. I would also just unbolt but do not disconnect the lines on the ac compressor. The exhaust just gets unbolted from the headers. I would highly recommend taking LOTS of pictures before removal. Also, are you getting a motor from an E53?? If it is from a sedan, you will have to swap the passenger side head. The exhaust has a different bolt pattern. Don't ask me how I know this....Pretty basic swap, but take your time. Also make sure the dowel locators on the bell housing/and the engine block are in their corresponding holes. You will see what I mean once you remove the old and compare to the new. And use lot's of socket extensions/universals to get the upper bolts on the bell housing.

B&K-X5 · #3 02-16-2020, 09:37 PM

Yes, the motor is from a 2006 X5. So I am now wondering if I will need to replace all the gaskets, valve covers etc. With such low mileage and if they aren't leaking; its gonna be tempting not to. But on the other hand, if they are gonna leak eventually then I definitely should change them all out when I have it on the engine stand and out of the vehicle. The next question I have to decide; do I go with genuine BMW or what ever NAPA sells ? Since all the BMW gaskets are all junk and leak anyways; I figure going with NAPA and spending half as much money can't hurt...Opinions...?

CapeX5 · #4 02-17-2020, 04:28 AM

Forget NAPA, just go with FCP, ECS etc. For obvious reasons. Yes, I would replace obvious gaskets. These things leak like crazy. The most important one to replace is the alternator bracket gasket. They are almost impossible to replace with engine in the car. Also do the timing chain tensioner on the pass. side. If you do the valve cover gaskets be very careful of the cam position sensors. They break easily and are expensive. Also the valve cover bolts are different sizes along the bottom and top. Just pay attention and mark them. Forget the mileage on the new engine. It is still 15 yrs old and gaskets, etc dry out with time. All of this work will be much easier on the stand than in the car. Also consider the seals on the differential. You will have a few hundred into the gaskets, but you won't have to worry about it after. Keep us posted.

LVP · #5 02-17-2020, 06:53 AM

I agree with Dave. If I knew then what I know now, I should have just dropped the engine when I bought it, did every gasket and seal I could find and put it back in. Rear main seal, the rear coolant gasket, valley pan pipe, cover gaskets, that bloody alternator bracket...the list goes on. Agreeably, some are doable with the engine in the car, but it's piecemeal and painful - fix one leak, wait for the next

B&K-X5 · #6 02-17-2020, 07:39 PM

Ya Im finding that BMW s leak like old Harleys used to. At least Harley solved their problems ! Its pretty sad when you think about how much these vehicles cost; that they leak worse than a '70's Harley. lol. We also have a E92 335 XI which is starting to leak as well. I have old pieces of carpet that I lay down on the garage floor under these $50,000 vehicles so they don't leave oil slicks all over the garage... sad sad sad...My old '94 E34 leaks bad as well; but I cut it slack cuz its like 25 years old and has 265,000 miles on it. But what can I say, I love the way they drive so I keep on buying them. And the only way we can afford to own these vehicles is to buy them used and keep fixing them. Sometimes its like a full time job for me to keep them running. Latest addition is a F25 X3 for mom with only 28,000 miles on it. So hopefully it will be a couple years till it starts leaking and need all kinds of repairs.

B&K-X5 · #7 03-11-2020, 10:53 PM

Ok, we got the motor out. I took out the diff. but did not remove tranny or transfer case and pulled it out the top. The new motor arrived from a 2006 4.4 X5. While I'm looking over the new motor; I noticed that it does not have the cast in secondary air tubes in the heads above the exhaust manifolds. The motor that I took out of my 2005 X5 does. Does anyone know if BMW changed the heads in 2006 ? and are the secondary tubes in a different place like under the intake. Even bigger question; will this motor work in my 05 ? I found N62B44A stamped on the block of the new motor so the block is correct. But the heads are different.
Anyone know what to make of this ?

Dezcars · #8 03-03-2021, 01:24 PM

Good afternoon Sir,
I’m doing the same thing as you did. I’m wondering if you installed your engine with the differential already bolted to your engine or did you install the engine first and then install the diff??