[budmun]

Hi All,

I purchased a n63 with a blown motor (aftermarket oil filter failed and motor was starved). As it stand the car will need a new motor and the turbos rebuilt or replaced. I have been able to source a remanufactured BMW motor (from dealer) and the parts needed to rebuild the turbo's.

I can do the work myself but do not have access to a lift which is the fasted way to drop out the motor and trans. Out of curiosity few local garages in Massachusetts and the range to do the work is $5,500- $7,800 (surprisingly the dealer was closer to the lower end of the spectrum vs the independents). All the prices seem excessive for a 20/30 hour job.

My questions are:
1) Has any done a similar engine replacement - what did it cost?
2) Besides using a lift what would be the best way to remove the engine (cherry picker or remove the front crash support)?
3) Recommendations for n63 turbo rebuild kit?
4) Any DYI guides in the forms? (already have the shop manual)
5) Does any builder rebuild n63 motors with better parts? May be willing to go that route if I can get a more stout motor.

Cheers

[SchillerM]

1. I can look at dealer hours if I can find my invoice.
3. Buy some Alpina turbos from 747Flyboy for a nice fun mod
5. Steve Dinans new shop (eurobahn or something?) Has done a few M5 builds. I would hit the M5 side of this forum and get names of companies, most stuff is likely shared between the two for build up.

It sucks, had mine replaced under 3rd party warranty, $16k or so total with motor. But it's running strong now. I wish I had the option what to do, they got a used motor and installed it, had no option to rebuild anything..
Good luck
Matt

[budmun]

Thanks for the info; will look into the alpina turbos.

[535_BiTurbo]

Originally Posted by budmun

Hi All,

I purchased a n63 with a blown motor (aftermarket oil filter failed and motor was starved). As it stand the car will need a new motor and the turbos rebuilt or replaced. I have been able to source a remanufactured BMW motor (from dealer) and the parts needed to rebuild the turbo's.

I can do the work myself but do not have access to a lift which is the fasted way to drop out the motor and trans. Out of curiosity few local garages in Massachusetts and the range to do the work is $5,500- $7,800 (surprisingly the dealer was closer to the lower end of the spectrum vs the independents). All the prices seem excessive for a 20/30 hour job.

My questions are:
1) Has any done a similar engine replacement - what did it cost?
2) Besides using a lift what would be the best way to remove the engine (cherry picker or remove the front crash support)?
3) Recommendations for n63 turbo rebuild kit?
4) Any DYI guides in the forms? (already have the shop manual)
5) Does any builder rebuild n63 motors with better parts? May be willing to go that route if I can get a more stout motor.

Cheers

How many miles did the filter have on it?

[addy27]

N63 engines have dropped in price significantly, you can pick one up for under $4k form your local dealer, buy the Dinan water coolers and Alpina turbos as upgrades. Rest of the items you can swap from your current engine...

Including labor with the low engine price, you should be under $10k in terms of out the door price...rough guestimate

[addy27]

Carbahn will build you a nice stroker but you are on the east coast, just the shipping to and from will not be cheap and at that price, you might as well get into an M5

[747flyboy]

Originally Posted by SchillerM

1. I can look at dealer hours if I can find my invoice.
3. Buy some Alpina turbos from 747Flyboy for a nice fun mod
5. Steve Dinans new shop (eurobahn or something?) Has done a few M5 builds. I would hit the M5 side of this forum and get names of companies, most stuff is likely shared between the two for build up.

It sucks, had mine replaced under 3rd party warranty, $16k or so total with motor. But it's running strong now. I wish I had the option what to do, they got a used motor and installed it, had no option to rebuild anything..
Good luck
Matt

Matt,

I will take the trade

[budmun]

Originally Posted by 747flyboy

Matt,

I will take the trade

Managed to get a reman motor from BMW - started the process of pulling the current motor; its piles of work but what else would I be doing on my weekends. Will try to take as much pictures as possible.

Going to get a turbo rebuild kit - any recommendations (pure, tubo labs?). Anyone in Mass do the balancing?

[M-Performance]

Following

[addy27]

Get the Alpina turbos from 747Flyboy, and put in either alpina intercoolers or dinan intercoolers, much easier to do while the engine is already out and no oil/coolant has entered the setup. Also, get m5 downpipes or careless if you are able to..

[addy27]

Also, while you are there, try to cover allege oil and cop coolant lines sitting in the hot V with heat shield tape/material..

[budmun]

Originally Posted by 535_BiTurbo

How many miles did the filter have on it?

Not sure - but it was an aftermarket filter that apparently failed. I purchased the car as is locally. The dealer report just notes that non-genuine oil filter failed, engine seized, turbo's potentially oil starved as difficult to turn. Will post up some pictures of the progress - so far the hardest part was getting the radiator assembly off.

[budmun]

Originally Posted by addy27

Also, while you are there, try to cover allege oil and cop coolant lines sitting in the hot V with heat shield tape/material..

Was thinking of changing the fittings to brass for some of the connections - will need to look into the pros/cons of wrapping the hoses; they were replaced at some point based on the service history.

[budmun]

Originally Posted by addy27

Get the Alpina turbos from 747Flyboy, and put in either alpina intercoolers or dinan intercoolers, much easier to do while the engine is already out and no oil/coolant has entered the setup. Also, get m5 downpipes or careless if you are able to..

This all sounds expensive. Way too expensive. Turbo rebuild kits are $145 per side or so, I am assuming alpina turbos are in the thousands.

[addy27]

If you want more power then this is the way to go. If you want to keep it stock, and you think the 400hp is more than sufficient, then you're on the right track
Take lots of pictures and update here as you go along

[535_BiTurbo]

Originally Posted by budmun

Not sure - but it was an aftermarket filter that apparently failed. I purchased the car as is locally. The dealer report just notes that non-genuine oil filter failed, engine seized, turbo's potentially oil starved as difficult to turn. Will post up some pictures of the progress - so far the hardest part was getting the radiator assembly off.

How does an oil filter fail? Must have never been changed

[budmun]

Originally Posted by 535_BiTurbo

How does an oil filter fail? Must have never been changed

Actually the opposite - it was serviced frequently just by a indie - not sure who selected to use aftermarket filter but good oil filters use synthetic filtering elements; some of the aftermarket ones are paper. This poses a risk of collapse under hard acceleration (especially in the new type filters that are no longer in a metal shell).

https://goo.gl/images/g8MJTU

[budmun]

Anyone know the best way to upload pictures - Looks like I need to resize them? Pretty much only have a few more bolts on the sub-frame to drop the motor out.

[535_BiTurbo]

Im glad I only use the Wix oil filters from O'reillys.

[budmun]

Originally Posted by budmun

Anyone know the best way to upload pictures - Looks like I need to resize them? Pretty much only have a few more bolts on the sub-frame to drop the motor out.

Have a lot more pictures that need to get resized but - engine out is doable at home with a few basic tools. Raise the car on jack stands, lover the complete subframe with a engine crane while supporting the transmission with rolling jack.

Will pick up the reman motor from dealer tomorrow and begin swapping parts.

Anyone have incite to if it makes sense to put in new transmission main seals? Does anyone have leaks?

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by budmun

Have a lot more pictures that need to get resized but - engine out is doable at home with a few basic tools. Raise the car on jack stands, lover the complete subframe with a engine crane while supporting the transmission with rolling jack.

Will pick up the reman motor from dealer tomorrow and begin swapping parts.

Anyone have incite to if it makes sense to put in new transmission main seals? Does anyone have leaks?

Year? Miles on present engine?

My insight is as the parts are already out, why not? You have easy access to parts that will eventually need to be replaced anyway. I'd probably replace all the rubber parts and gaskets that I have access to now that might be hard to reach after installation.

[EZgo]

How much did you pay for the car?