N53 vs S68

Side-by-side reliability comparison

Higher reliability score
S68 BUY 84/100
+32 points over N53
0 / 100
CAUTION N53 BMW
0 / 100
BUY S68 BMW

Specifications

N53
S68
Brand
BMW
BMW
Verdict
CAUTION
BUY
Reliability
52
84
Years
2006--2013
2022--present
Displacement
2996 cc
4395 cc
Layout
I6
V8
Type
Petrol Na
Petrol Turbo
Power
190--272 hp
530--727 hp
Known Issues
7
1
Total Risk Cost
€620--€4,800
€0--€0

Character

N53

"Direct-injection version of the N52 for Europe only (it needs low-sulphur fuel). It shares the N54 fault list minus the turbos: piezo injectors, the high-pressure fuel pump and the NOx sensor/catalyst are the expensive items, plus oil leaks with age. Buy only with records showing late-index injectors and the pump already done."

S68

"BMW M's current 4.4 twin-turbo V8 (2022-), with both turbos inside the V and a 48-volt mild-hybrid motor in the gearbox; 530 PS in the X5/X7 M60i, 544 PS in the 760i, and more as a plug-in hybrid in the XM and M5. No pattern failures reported so far beyond a 2023 exhaust-fastener recall, but it is too new for long-term data, and its N63/S63 predecessors with the same hot-V layout earned their bad name only after years in service."

Issues Comparison

N53 7

▲ HIGH
High-pressure fuel pump failure N/A--N/A 24,000 km--161,000 km
▲ HIGH
Piezo injector failure — misfire and rough idle €220--€1,800 N/A--N/A
▲ HIGH
NOx sensor and NOx storage catalyst failure €400--€3,000 N/A--N/A
● MODERATE
Oil leaks and consumption — valve cover, breather, oil filter housing N/A--N/A N/A--N/A
○ MINOR
VANOS solenoid valve failure N/A--N/A N/A--N/A
○ MINOR
Carbon deposits on intake valves and injectors (direct injection) N/A--N/A N/A--N/A
○ MINOR
Ignition coil failure (2007-2008 service campaign) N/A--N/A N/A--N/A

S68 1

○ MINOR
Exhaust-to-catalyst fasteners not tightened (recall, 2023 X7 M60i / XM) €0--N/A N/A--N/A

Models

N53 5

6 Series E63 2007--2010 5 Series E60 2007--2010 5 Series E60 2007--2010 3 Series E90 2007--2011 3 Series E90 2007--2012

S68 4

XM G09 2023--present 7 Series G70 2023--present X5 G05 2023--present M5 G90 2024--present
Full N53 Report Full S68 Report