Help! 2008 BMW x5 4.8 Engine Failure

[Emden]

Originally Posted by Skyline

Did they suggest you get a used motor, (as, in reality, it's the only sensible thing to do here,) or did they say they'd sell you one and do the install??? A BMW dealer installing a used motor is a new one to me.

The key to getting a used engine installed, is that some junkyards, (usually at slightly higher price), will guarantee a used engine for 90 days. Not only that, if the engine is no good, they will provide another engine and reimburse the shop for doing another swap. Since it's always a toss up on any used motor, and it's about 12-14 hours labor to do the swap, you want the labor guaranteed as well.

So if the BMW dealer offers to provide an engine, will they guarantee it for a certain period, INCLUDING labor? 90 days is plenty to know if the motor is good, and if you choose, get you onto an aftermarket warranty.

They are now suggesting we buy the engine and they will install it.

[lanbrown]

How much for the install?

[Emden]

Originally Posted by lanbrown

How much for the install?

They have dropped labor down to $2,750. I have an outside shop that is willing to do it for $2,800

[Emden]

I attached a picture of the oil filter.

It is a Hengst oil filter.

[Emden]

Originally Posted by trader4

Well, there you have it. Despite certain folks here telling us for sure
that no BMW dealer would ever do that, it turns out they are willing
to install a used engine. I'm right again.

I don't know what they were talking about. BMW said right from the beginning that they would install a used engine. They even sent prices on different salvage places that they had used previously for other people.

Another dealer in Waukesha Wisconsin said the same thing. . .

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by Emden

They have dropped labor down to $2,750. I have an outside shop that is willing to do it for $2,800

Again, the key is to get the labor AND engine tied together with something like a 90 day warranty for both. I know a shop near me that does this all the time.

Clearly, if you buy an engine, and the dealer puts it in, you're going to be SOL if it's no good.

Also, both of those figures seem a little high, but I could be wrong. Does anyone on here have access to the book rate hours on this job?

[lanbrown]

Emden,

Do you have the money to buy the used engine and have it installed? If so, I'd do it and then sell the vehicle or see if you can still get the extended warranty that will actually cover repairs. My feeling though, this vehicle will have more problems down the road.

[Emden]

Originally Posted by Skyline

Again, the key is to get the labor AND engine tied together with something like a 90 day warranty for both. I know a shop near me that does this all the time.

Clearly, if you buy an engine, and the dealer puts it in, you're going to be SOL if it's no good.

Also, both of those figures seem a little high, but I could be wrong. Does anyone on here have access to the book rate hours on this job?

The engine will come with a 1 year full coverage warranty and BMW has a 1 year warranty on all labor regarding the engine.

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by trader4

Since Emden just reported that the BME dealer has just suggested
he buy a used motor and they will install it, I guess the "NO way"
part was wrong. As to both dealers having "reasonable outs", I beg
to disagree there too. It's far too soon to make any such determination,
we don't even know what exactly failed, what caused it to fail, etc.
We do know that he brought the car in with major symptoms, BMW
claims to have fixed it, yet in less than a mile, the CEL was on again.
He immediately went back, they reset the light, told him it was nothing,
sent him on his way. Twenty miles later the car is toast. Based on
that, you think the BMW dealer has reasonable outs? I wouldn't want
you on my jury.

I stand corrected on the BMW dealer installing a used engine. Would never happen around here. In my state dealers are required to stand behind all repairs for a certain time. I would think this would preclude them from installing a used engine unless there's some sort of loophole in that law for used parts. Or maybe that law is not in place in the OP's state.

I guess the whole key is what the CEL was on for. Even if the light was cleared, unless the service records show the code, they could always say whatever they want...ie. Loose Gas cap or whatever.

[Emden]

Originally Posted by lanbrown

Emden,

Do you have the money to buy the used engine and have it installed? If so, I'd do it and then sell the vehicle or see if you can still get the extended warranty that will actually cover repairs. My feeling though, this vehicle will have more problems down the road.

I have the money,

I am just attempting to get BMW or MB to help cover the cost.

BMW clearly made a mistake by not diagnosing the car correctly when I brought it in.

Another BMW mechanic at the same dealer specifically said when I first inquired about them not testing it further that the mechanic who did the job did not follow procedure. To me that is a sure sign that BMW is at some sort of fault.

Also the fact that they did not keep any record of the check engine code and that it only took twenty miles for the engine to break, suggests to me as well that this was an ongoing problem; possibly even that the reason why the original code was going off was because of the same malfunction with the engine.