[dirtyvegas]

What expected repairs am I coming up on. So far I came out of pocket 1k $ for high pressure fuel pump. (Re manufactured pump from FCPeuro and indy). I'm not counting tires/pads/rotors and other regular maintenance. Had plugs replaced around 60k miles.

I'm at 87K Miles. right now.

I know this is a wide open question. Just wondering if it's worth keeping an extra 20k miles or not. (the little voice in my head says "no".)

[Stück]

You're overdue for automatic transmission and rear differential services, about $1500 done correctly.

At 87k your valve cover/PCV valve and ignition coils are on borrowed time. $2k job

Differential bushing is surely smoked if it hasn't been changed yet. $1k job

Thrust arm bushings likely cracking and slopping if not changed yet. $1k job

Oil filter / cooler housing gaskets done yet? $800 job.

Water pump and thermostat median life span is 75-125k mi $1500 job

Oil pan gasket is likely leaking $1200 job.


If your goal is drive a $60k car as long as possible and you're allergic to maintenance you might want to get out now.

[Ickdeep]

Originally Posted by Stück

If your goal is drive a $60k car as long as possible and you're allergic to maintenance you might want to get out now.

This.

[Shieldze1025]

Originally Posted by Stück

You're overdue for automatic transmission and rear differential services, about $1500 done correctly.

At 87k your valve cover/PCV valve and ignition coils are on borrowed time. $2k job

Differential bushing is surely smoked if it hasn't been changed yet. $1k job

Thrust arm bushings likely cracking and slopping if not changed yet. $1k job

Oil filter / cooler housing gaskets done yet? $800 job.

Water pump and thermostat median life span is 75-125k mi $1500 job

Oil pan gasket is likely leaking $1200 job.


If your goal is drive a $60k car as long as possible and you're allergic to maintenance you might want to get out now.

[dirtyvegas]

Car has been good to me. Besides tires, fuel pump and oil changes haven't put anything else into it. I expected higher maintenance, but dayum. I can afford it, but do I want to?

[SC300T]

I would certainly think about the waterpump and thermostat really soon as that will leave you on the road dead. On my E90 it failed at 105k, which is typical. I would also have the tranny drained and refilled if it were my car. I believe there is an integral filter to the pan that gets swapped and drives the cost up. Prices quoted are on the high(ish) side, my local BMW dealer doesn't charge *quite* that much, and an Indy would charge less still - $950-$1100 for the waterpump /thermostat. The waterpump alone is $400+.

I recently got a quote from the dealer for spark plugs and coils and octane adaptations reset for $700. I would have those other items inspected and done "on condition" I doubt everything on that list needs done immediately - just chip away a little at a time.

[Stück]

Prices vary by market, and are on what is typical at a legitimate independent shop here in Houston. Dealers here charge waaaaay more than what was stated.

[dirtyvegas]

Dealer quoted me 2k for high pressure fuel pump. Got it done at an Indy for 1k.

[Big_CG]

Originally Posted by Stück

You're overdue for automatic transmission and rear differential services, about $1500 done correctly.

At 87k your valve cover/PCV valve and ignition coils are on borrowed time. $2k job

Differential bushing is surely smoked if it hasn't been changed yet. $1k job

Thrust arm bushings likely cracking and slopping if not changed yet. $1k job

Oil filter / cooler housing gaskets done yet? $800 job.

Water pump and thermostat median life span is 75-125k mi $1500 job

Oil pan gasket is likely leaking $1200 job.

If your goal is drive a $60k car as long as possible and you're allergic to maintenance you might want to get out now.

Whats with the fear mongering? Why would anyone do any of those services unless they needed to be done?

The N55 is a solid motor, the only common reported issues are valve cover gasket, oil housing gasket, and belt tensioners. Its not like its an N54 or N63. Even water pump failures are rare.

All your prices are absolutely insane by the way, at least 2-3x what real world cost is at a good indy shop.

OP- Ignore this guy, he is just trying to scare you into selling due to his own buyers remorse. Find a good indy shop and sleep well knowing that the N55 has a great record of reliability with over a decade of evidence.

[Stück]

There is no fear mongering, the gentleman asked what to expect upcoming on his car at 90k.

I work on these cars for a living, in a BMW Specialist shop and I see 100+ N5x powered 3's and 5's every month through the shop. The services I talked about are super common in the stated mileage ranges.

Prices are real world here in Houston, and spot on average for any legitimate independent specialist here in Houston. I also stated prices vary by region. You can also find someone dirt cheap with no certifications, no experience, no warranty, to install aftermarket parts that won't be in business long enough for any promised warranty to have value. You can always find that anywhere.

Heck, prices I talked about for stated work is still 30-50% under what the dealers here in Houston charge. Just because it isn't *your* real world doesn't mean its anyone elses.

[SC300T]

Water pump and thermostat median life span is 75-125k mi $1500 job

Just a point of reference in Cincinnati, a well know M-car specialist independent Enthusiast Auto (they hoard the market on used M cars) charges $1100 for waterpump / thermostat on the xi versions... They are not known to have the best prices in town, but they do super work. BMW of Cincinnati North was about the same, this was a year ago.

[5soko]

Originally Posted by Stück

You're overdue for automatic transmission and rear differential services, about $1500 done correctly.

At 87k your valve cover/PCV valve and ignition coils are on borrowed time. $2k job

Differential bushing is surely smoked if it hasn't been changed yet. $1k job

Thrust arm bushings likely cracking and slopping if not changed yet. $1k job

Oil filter / cooler housing gaskets done yet? $800 job.

Water pump and thermostat median life span is 75-125k mi $1500 job

Oil pan gasket is likely leaking $1200 job.


If your goal is drive a $60k car as long as possible and you're allergic to maintenance you might want to get out now.

Very Excellent round up of items and mileage of common failures on this car!

[203banshee]

I agree that you came off quite harsh. Fear mongering is what I assumed. I have had multiple N54's and N55's and never had any of those problems.

I traded my 2011 535Xi with 90k miles and never had any of those things done. It was serviced at two different BMW dealerships as it was CPO and they never even recommended it. Car never had any of those issues.

My question, have you personally done all things on that list with your own personal car?

I ask because it sounds like you are a tech / sales guy who is just pushing a whole bunch of unNEEDED repairs onto someone to make some commision. I know thats not the case here , but thats what it looks like...

Originally Posted by Stück

There is no fear mongering, the gentleman asked what to expect upcoming on his car at 90k.

I work on these cars for a living, in a BMW Specialist shop and I see 100+ N5x powered 3's and 5's every month through the shop. The services I talked about are super common in the stated mileage ranges.

Prices are real world here in Houston, and spot on average for any legitimate independent specialist here in Houston. I also stated prices vary by region. You can also find someone dirt cheap with no certifications, no experience, no warranty, to install aftermarket parts that won't be in business long enough for any promised warranty to have value. You can always find that anywhere.

Heck, prices I talked about for stated work is still 30-50% under what the dealers here in Houston charge. Just because it isn't *your* real world doesn't mean its anyone elses.

[Stück]

*shrug* I look at higher mileage cars all day long that come in that have "never needed anything" and we show the owner how many items have been overlooked by their prior service facility. We find issues with CPO cars during PPI's even. Dealer techs are no standard of measure these days with the majority being fresh out of UTI with minimal real world experience with these cars comprising the majority of the service staff with true BMW Master techs spartanly peppered in to moderate. We also give second opinion to owners fresh out of a dealership with estimate shock and look over the car to see much of the work isn't needed for a long time that is presented as "right now" type priority. I won't sell a service to anyone unless its needed, that sort of speculation isn't welcome. Unfortunately I see a lot of major service needed as a result of not attending to smaller ones in a timely manner. The biggest one I see all too frequently is leaking oil filter/cooler housing gaskets causing serpentine belt failure, which gets ingested through the crankshaft seal and piled into the sump. A fairly routine gasket replacement turns into dropping subframe, oil pan to clear belt debris from the sump and put back together.

N54/N55 powered cars are our bread and butter, as I expect would be the case for any other professional independent BMW specialist. Sorry if my abbreviated list comes off as harsh or fear mongering, its just what I see all day every day.

The quality of these cars is often a testament to how many repairs they need, and or direly need but maintain the ability to keep on racking up the miles... but that shouldn't be confused for not needing maintenance.

My own (rather modified) 535i only has 38,000mi on it. I haven't needed to do anything to it maintenance wise except a front brake service, in which I upgraded to 550i rotors/calipers because I was smoking the 535i standard fare, and of course oil services and tires. My diff bushing is about half way torn through so that's on the to-do list. If you check my posted thread history you'll see I'm very hands on among F10 owners and I do all of my own work without question. I'm a E30 guy at heart and BMW, Jalopnik have picked up my E30 builds....

[5soko]

Originally Posted by Stück

*shrug* I look at higher mileage cars all day long that come in that have "never needed anything" and we show the owner how many items have been overlooked by their prior service facility. We find issues with CPO cars during PPI's even. Dealer techs are no standard of measure these days with the majority being fresh out of UTI with minimal real world experience with these cars comprising the majority of the service staff with true BMW Master techs spartanly peppered in to moderate. We also give second opinion to owners fresh out of a dealership with estimate shock and look over the car to see much of the work isn't needed for a long time that is presented as "right now" type priority. I won't sell a service to anyone unless its needed, that sort of speculation isn't welcome. Unfortunately I see a lot of major service needed as a result of not attending to smaller ones in a timely manner. The biggest one I see all too frequently is leaking oil filter/cooler housing gaskets causing serpentine belt failure, which gets ingested through the crankshaft seal and piled into the sump. A fairly routine gasket replacement turns into dropping subframe, oil pan to clear belt debris from the sump and put back together.

N54/N55 powered cars are our bread and butter, as I expect would be the case for any other professional independent BMW specialist. Sorry if my abbreviated list comes off as harsh or fear mongering, its just what I see all day every day.

The quality of these cars is often a testament to how many repairs they need, and or direly need but maintain the ability to keep on racking up the miles... but that shouldn't be confused for not needing maintenance.

My own (rather modified) 535i only has 38,000mi on it. I haven't needed to do anything to it maintenance wise except a front brake service, in which I upgraded to 550i rotors/calipers because I was smoking the 535i standard fare, and of course oil services and tires. My diff bushing is about half way torn through so that's on the to-do list. If you check my posted thread history you'll see I'm very hands on among F10 owners and I do all of my own work without question. I'm a E30 guy at heart and BMW, Jalopnik have picked up my E30 builds....

I can vouch for stuck, he is about one of , if not, the most knowledgeable F10 owners and N55 owners on this board and that i have met..

If any advice is to be taken, id take his on these cars.

[Shieldze1025]

Originally Posted by Stück

. The biggest one I see all too frequently is leaking oil filter/cooler housing gaskets causing serpentine belt failure, which gets ingested through the crankshaft seal and piled into the sump. A fairly routine gasket replacement turns into dropping subframe, oil pan to clear belt debris from the sump and put back together.

This right here.

Noticed mine leaking over the weekend while doing some maintenance. It's the other crap that piles up from lack of attention that will get you later on.

Replacing my gasket ASAP before my belts get destroyed and cause more damage.

[Big_CG]

Originally Posted by Shieldze1025

This right here.

Noticed mine leaking over the weekend while doing some maintenance. It's the other crap that piles up from lack of attention that will get you later on.

Replacing my gasket ASAP before my belts get destroyed and cause more damage.

Same here. I did mine on Saturday, along with the belt and tensioner.

The housing gaskets really aren't too bad as long as you have the right tools and are careful about not dropping parts under the intake manifold

1/4 12" wobble extension (for the hidden bolt)
E10 1/4 socket (for the hidden bolt)
5/16 ratcheting wrench (for the lowest filter housing bolt)
11mm magnetic nutsetter (to place the nuts on the intake manifold to prevent dropping

[Alpine5x]

Originally Posted by Stück

*shrug* I look at higher mileage cars all day long that come in that have "never needed anything" and we show the owner how many items have been overlooked by their prior service facility. We find issues with CPO cars during PPI's even. Dealer techs are no standard of measure these days with the majority being fresh out of UTI with minimal real world experience with these cars comprising the majority of the service staff with true BMW Master techs spartanly peppered in to moderate. We also give second opinion to owners fresh out of a dealership with estimate shock and look over the car to see much of the work isn't needed for a long time that is presented as "right now" type priority. I won't sell a service to anyone unless its needed, that sort of speculation isn't welcome. Unfortunately I see a lot of major service needed as a result of not attending to smaller ones in a timely manner. The biggest one I see all too frequently is leaking oil filter/cooler housing gaskets causing serpentine belt failure, which gets ingested through the crankshaft seal and piled into the sump. A fairly routine gasket replacement turns into dropping subframe, oil pan to clear belt debris from the sump and put back together.

N54/N55 powered cars are our bread and butter, as I expect would be the case for any other professional independent BMW specialist. Sorry if my abbreviated list comes off as harsh or fear mongering, its just what I see all day every day.

The quality of these cars is often a testament to how many repairs they need, and or direly need but maintain the ability to keep on racking up the miles... but that shouldn't be confused for not needing maintenance.

My own (rather modified) 535i only has 38,000mi on it. I haven't needed to do anything to it maintenance wise except a front brake service, in which I upgraded to 550i rotors/calipers because I was smoking the 535i standard fare, and of course oil services and tires. My diff bushing is about half way torn through so that's on the to-do list. If you check my posted thread history you'll see I'm very hands on among F10 owners and I do all of my own work without question. I'm a E30 guy at heart and BMW, Jalopnik have picked up my E30 builds....

is this or the recommended service items you posted above applicable to the f10 n20 (2013)

[supraken]

Originally Posted by Stück

You're overdue for automatic transmission and rear differential services, about $1500 done correctly.

At 87k your valve cover/PCV valve and ignition coils are on borrowed time. $2k job

Differential bushing is surely smoked if it hasn't been changed yet. $1k job

Thrust arm bushings likely cracking and slopping if not changed yet. $1k job

Oil filter / cooler housing gaskets done yet? $800 job.

Water pump and thermostat median life span is 75-125k mi $1500 job

Oil pan gasket is likely leaking $1200 job.


If your goal is drive a $60k car as long as possible and you're allergic to maintenance you might want to get out now.

What are the symptoms for a failing differential bushing ? and what are the symptoms of a failing thrust arm bushing ?

[Stück]

I usually identify failing control arm bushings by looking at tire wear on the front tires inner and outer shoulders right on the service drive.

Differential bushing never had a customer complaint or an outward sight, just a visual inspection on all 5/6/7 F Chassis cars you can bet your life on if the car in question has more than 40-50k on it. When the bushing tears the differential sags and throws the driveline angle off, increasing wear rate on other components like the flex disc couplings, center support bearing, axles etc.

[whinojosa]

Originally Posted by Big_CG

Same here. I did mine on Saturday, along with the belt and tensioner.

The housing gaskets really aren't too bad as long as you have the right tools and are careful about not dropping parts under the intake manifold

1/4 12" wobble extension (for the hidden bolt)
E10 1/4 socket (for the hidden bolt)
5/16 ratcheting wrench (for the lowest filter housing bolt)
11mm magnetic nutsetter (to place the nuts on the intake manifold to prevent dropping

Did you happen to follow a DIY that you could link us to?

I'm no stranger to wrenching as I did plenty on my old E46 & E90 (N52), but there just seems to be so many little "gotchas" on the F10. I did the OFHG on both of the aforementioned vehicles. The N52 seemed much easier, as you said, with the right tools.

[supraken]

Originally Posted by Stück

I usually identify failing control arm bushings by looking at tire wear on the front tires inner and outer shoulders right on the service drive.

Differential bushing never had a customer complaint or an outward sight, just a visual inspection on all 5/6/7 F Chassis cars you can bet your life on if the car in question has more than 40-50k on it. When the bushing tears the differential sags and throws the driveline angle off, increasing wear rate on other components like the flex disc couplings, center support bearing, axles etc.

Thanks, can failing control arm bushing cause bump.steer ?

As for the differential bushing, are there better (than OEM) replacements given that they are so prone to failure ?