Mandelon
Coffee makes me poop.
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2007
- Messages
- 14,023
- Reaction score
- 18,744
My wife's 2011 BMW X-5 spun a lower bearing last week. We are out of warranty at this point. It only had like 80,000 miles on it. It was regularly serviced and had very few issues. Water pump last year was the most major repair so far. My mechanic says the internals are now full of metal bits.
There's not a lot of BMW engine re-builders around here that I can find. So we are mulling over putting in a used take out engine. Although the cheapest I can find online is $5500 and they go up to $8500 for a mid mileage used engine. She has the 3.0 gas, so it is harder to find than the 4.4 engine. That seems crazy expensive to me. I can get a sweet 383 Stroker motor for that budget!
There's not a lot of BMW engine rebuilders around here. Our independent mechanic is checking his sources but not coming up with much.
Does anyone know a decent rebuild shop that finishes on time with good history? I found a few guys but they seem sketchy. Checking on the BMW forums for referrals I found a guy in Texas, but he needs four weeks minimum, and guy in Oklahoma City has a couple in stock, but only takes cash wired to his account for payment. LOL, yeah right. Mandy's not doing that.
I have even been checking salvage auctions for a damaged car. 2011 to 2013 apparently has the same N55 engine. I am told the engine setup in the Xdrive 35i is a little different than the other N55 applications since it is all wheel drive. Does anyone on here have a dealer license that can bid on salvage cars? If I can find one in SoCal it might be worth while.
The vehicle is worth maybe $15,000-$18,000 in running condition. She keeps it in near new condition cosmetically. But with a toasted motor it ain't exactly bringing much in trade. LOL
Any ideas for me? A SoCal Engine shop that can do the rebuild? I am not coming up with much in my searches.
We may just buy her something else and once this one is repaired just sell it on. It doesn't seem like a speedy repair.
And yes, I know owning a European car out of warranty is risky... Doh!
There's not a lot of BMW engine re-builders around here that I can find. So we are mulling over putting in a used take out engine. Although the cheapest I can find online is $5500 and they go up to $8500 for a mid mileage used engine. She has the 3.0 gas, so it is harder to find than the 4.4 engine. That seems crazy expensive to me. I can get a sweet 383 Stroker motor for that budget!
There's not a lot of BMW engine rebuilders around here. Our independent mechanic is checking his sources but not coming up with much.
Does anyone know a decent rebuild shop that finishes on time with good history? I found a few guys but they seem sketchy. Checking on the BMW forums for referrals I found a guy in Texas, but he needs four weeks minimum, and guy in Oklahoma City has a couple in stock, but only takes cash wired to his account for payment. LOL, yeah right. Mandy's not doing that.
I have even been checking salvage auctions for a damaged car. 2011 to 2013 apparently has the same N55 engine. I am told the engine setup in the Xdrive 35i is a little different than the other N55 applications since it is all wheel drive. Does anyone on here have a dealer license that can bid on salvage cars? If I can find one in SoCal it might be worth while.
The vehicle is worth maybe $15,000-$18,000 in running condition. She keeps it in near new condition cosmetically. But with a toasted motor it ain't exactly bringing much in trade. LOL
Any ideas for me? A SoCal Engine shop that can do the rebuild? I am not coming up with much in my searches.
We may just buy her something else and once this one is repaired just sell it on. It doesn't seem like a speedy repair.
And yes, I know owning a European car out of warranty is risky... Doh!
...looks like it was made for it, smog may be an issue, have to dummy up an ODBII port...possibly maybe theoretically speaking.
