Which N62 repairs are worth doing before they fail?
Enter your VIN. In seconds we check whether it likely has the N62 4.4L or 4.8L V8 (or the newer twin-turbo N63), whether it's in the brake vacuum pump recall (10V-446) model list, and list every NHTSA recall for your model.
Illustration, not to scale. Source badges are explained in Weak parts.
Recalls to check: brake vacuum pump 10V-446 (power brake assist) · V8 stall 07V-479 · 7 Series rollaway 12V-502 and doors 17V-328, certain cars. Recall repairs are free at BMW dealers. Check your VIN at NHTSA
Recall details & sources
Covers 745i/745Li (2002–2005) · 750i/750Li (2006–2008) · Alpina B7 (2007–2008) · 545i · 645Ci (2004–2005) · 550i · 650i (2006–2010) · X5 4.4i · X5 4.8is (2004–2006) · X5 4.8i (2007–2008) · X5 xDrive48i (2009–2010). Have a 2009-on 750i, 2011-on 550i or 650i, or an X5/X6 xDrive50i? Those have the twin-turbo N63: see the N63 page. The 760i/760Li has a V12, and earlier 540i, 740i and X5 4.4i/4.6is the older M62; this page doesn't cover them.
4.7% of N62 complaints
62 of 1,324 NHTSA complaints mention the brake vacuum pump or a loss of brake assist, the subject of recall 10V-446. Engine-internal problems are rarer: 31 complaints (2.3%). COMPUTED FROM NHTSA DATA
See the chart ↓10V-446 (brake vacuum pump, certain 2004–2010 5/6 Series and 2002–2008 7 Series), 07V-479 (V8 stall), 12V-502 (7 Series rollaway). No valve stem seal recall. Check by VIN. OFFICIAL
Check your VIN for all recalls ↑Sums of range midpoints from each part's card (mixed sources: see the badges). Worst case, not an expected cost.
See the cost table ↓1,324
VIN-confirmed N62 owner complaints filed with NHTSA NHTSA DATA
- 78% give a usable mileage
- NHTSA bulk file dated Oct 19, 2026
- Repair prices fetched Oct 20, 2026
Built on NHTSA government data, plus clearly labeled shop, retailer and owner sources
We took every BMW complaint in NHTSA's bulk complaint file and kept only the ones whose VIN decodes to an N62 car: model, model year and a 4.4L or 4.8L eight-cylinder engine, leaving out M cars, the V12 760i, the older M62 V8 and the twin-turbo N63.
Source: NHTSA's bulk complaint file (FLAT_CMPL, dated Oct 19, 2026), VIN-checked with NHTSA's vPIC decoder. Counts come from keyword matches in owners' free-text complaints; they are self-reported, unverified and not adjusted for how many cars were sold. Most N62 complaints are about airbags (284), electrical faults, brakes and stalling, not the engine. The repairs shops and forums know the N62 for, valve stem seals and the coolant transfer pipe, are mostly out-of-warranty repairs on older cars and show up rarely in NHTSA's data. Engine version (4.4L or 4.8L) is from the decoder or our estimate from model and year. See Method.
Vacuum pump and engine-internal share by model year (table)
| Model years | All complaints | Vacuum pump | Share | Engine-internal | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 80 | 4 | 5.0% | 5 | 6.2% |
| 2003 | 67 | 2 | 3.0% | 0 | 0.0% |
| 2004 | 168 | 7 | 4.2% | 5 | 3.0% |
| 2005 | 178 | 16 | 9.0% | 3 | 1.7% |
| 2006 | 361 | 23 | 6.4% | 7 | 1.9% |
| 2007 | 228 | 8 | 3.5% | 6 | 2.6% |
| 2008 | 183 | 2 | 1.1% | 2 | 1.1% |
| 2009–10 | 59 | 0 | 0.0% | 3 | 5.1% |
Free fixes to check first
Recall repairs are free at BMW dealers. We found no BMW warranty extension for N62 engine parts. Recalls depend on your VIN and build date, so ask a BMW center before you pay for anything. Dates below are as NHTSA published them.
Other recalls on N62 cars (not engine)
- Battery cable bulkhead connector: 12V-126 (2012) covers certain 2004–2010 5 and 6 Series: the positive battery cable connection in the trunk can loosen and overheat. NHTSA's record for 12V-126: “Overheating could lead to a fire, even while the vehicle is not in use. As a precaution, owners are advised to park outside until the remedy has been made.” Free inspection and repair. OFFICIAL
- X5 fuel pump: 16V-746 (2016) replaces in-tank fuel pump modules on certain 2007–2011 X5s, including the X5 4.8i and xDrive48i. OFFICIAL
- No engine warranty extension: we found no BMW warranty extension or recall for N62 valve stem seals, the coolant transfer pipe or oil leaks in NHTSA's records. OFFICIAL
The 6 N62 parts owners and shops most often report failing
Tap a card or a numbered dot on the diagram at the top of the page; the violet dots are recall checks. Every figure has a badge for where it comes from: OFFICIAL (NHTSA or BMW documents), SHOP/RETAILER (retailer prices, published shop quotes and shop articles), FORUM/BLOG (owner forums, enthusiast blogs, quote sites that collect owner prices, and repair bills owners quoted in NHTSA complaints: real reports, but unverified), ESTIMATE (our estimate where no good public number exists) or COMPUTED FROM NHTSA DATA (our analysis of NHTSA's public complaint data). A figure with several sources shows the weakest one. On this page the "if it fails" figure is a dealer price, bills owners reported or our estimate, as each card says. Repair prices are from BMWTuning, Select Luxury Service and FCP Euro, fetched Oct 20, 2026, plus bills owners quoted in NHTSA complaints. We found no reliable published N62 water pump or timing-chain prices.
What it costs: fix early vs. after failure
Fix-early costs are independent-shop prices or parts prices, using the midpoint of each range. The "if it fails" column uses dealer prices, owners' bills or our estimates for an unplanned repair, so part of the gap is shop choice, not just timing. It's a reported range for repair bills, not a prediction for your car.
| # | Part / system | Reported failure range | Fix early | If it fails | Ratio |
|---|
Essentials = coolant transfer pipe, alternator bracket gasket, brake vacuum pump and water pump/thermostat: the items where acting early is clearly cheaper or safer. Valve stem seals and valve cover gaskets are repairs you do when symptoms start. Free recalls aren't in these sums. The "if every part fails" sum overstates real exposure. ESTIMATE
What to bundle (and why it saves labor)
Most of an N62 repair bill is labor, and the valley and front of the engine are crowded, so pair jobs that share the same teardown.
Valve stem seals + valve cover gaskets
- Valve stem seals (all 32)
- Valve cover gaskets, both banks
- Spark plugs and any oil-fouled coils
- Crankcase vent valve check
The valve covers come off for the seals, so the gaskets and plugs add little labor. ESTIMATE
Alternator bracket + water pump + thermostat
- Alternator bracket gaskets
- Water pump and thermostat
- Belts, tensioner and idler pulleys
- Coolant flush and bleed
These parts share the front of the engine and the cooling system, so one visit avoids repeat labor and coolant. ESTIMATE
Recall 10V-446 + vacuum pump
- Ask a dealer whether recall 10V-446 was done (5, 6 and 7 Series)
- Check for oil at the vacuum pump and in the booster hose
- Vacuum pump gasket or pump if leaking
Recall work is free; a leaking pump after the recall is a separate repair (item 5). OFFICIAL
An N62 report isn't available yet
Our planned $19 personalized ownership report covers N20 cars only, and its order form turns away other VINs. If enough N62 owners ask, we'll build an N62 version.
- Join the N62 list and we'll email you if an N62 report launches
- We take no payment and don't promise a launch date
- Every email has an unsubscribe link
Own an N20 (2.0L, 2012–2018) BMW too? See the planned N20 report.
Join the N62 list →Join the N62 list
We'll email N62 updates, including if an N62 report launches. No date is promised.
Why trust this? Our method in 60 seconds
1 · Government data, filtered by VIN
We took every BMW complaint in NHTSA's bulk complaint file (dated Oct 19, 2026), decoded each complaint's partial VIN with NHTSA's vPIC decoder and kept only the ones that match an N62 model and model year with a 4.4L or 4.8L eight-cylinder engine: 1,324 complaints filed 2002–2026, 32 of them in 2023 or later. We left out M cars, the V12 760i, the older M62 V8 (1999–2003 540i/740i and 2000–2003 X5) and N63 cars. 1,038 (78%) give a usable mileage. Part counts come from keyword matches in owners' free-text complaints.
2 · Labeled sources
Recalls come from NHTSA's recall records (OFFICIAL). Repair prices come from BMWTuning's N62 guide and bills owners quoted in NHTSA complaints (FORUM/BLOG), and from Select Luxury Service's published prices and FCP Euro (SHOP/RETAILER). Our statistics are COMPUTED FROM NHTSA DATA; anything we couldn't source is ESTIMATE.
3 · Honest about limits
These are reported ranges, not predictions or failure rates. Complaints are self-reported, and N62 cars are now 16–24 years old: most known N62 repairs happened out of warranty and were never reported to NHTSA. Several cards rest on one or two published prices. Engine version is our estimate from model and year. Nothing here guarantees a part won't fail, and none of it replaces an inspection by a qualified technician.
Independence: we don't take money from shops or retailers for placement, and the retailer links on this page are not paid links. If any become paid (affiliate) links, each one will be labeled “Paid link” where it appears. Commissions would never change the numbers. Our recommendations are not influenced by affiliate commissions, and any future paid shop referrals will be disclosed.
N62 FAQ
Which BMWs have the N62 engine?
In the US, the N62 non-turbo V8 is in the 2002–2005 745i/745Li (4.4L), the 2006–2008 750i/750Li (4.8L), the 2004–2005 545i and 645Ci (4.4L), the 2006–2010 550i and 650i (4.8L), the 2004–2006 X5 4.4i and 4.8is, the 2007–2008 X5 4.8i and the 2009–2010 X5 xDrive48i (4.8L). The 2007–2008 Alpina B7 has a supercharged version of the 4.4L. Watch out: the 2009-on 750i, the 2011-on 550i and 650i and the X5 and X6 xDrive50i have the twin-turbo N63 (the X6 never had the N62); a 2010 550i can be either, so the VIN check uses the engine size. The 760i/760Li is a V12, and 1999–2003 540i/740i and 2000–2003 X5 V8s have the older M62. Outside BMW, Morgan and Wiesmann used versions of the N62; this page covers BMWs only.
What's the difference between the N62 and the N62TU?
BMW updated the N62 in 2005 (N62TU; in the US from the 2006 model year): the 4.4L was replaced by a 4.8L in the 550i, 650i and 750i, with a two-stage intake instead of the original continuously variable one and other changes (Wikipedia). The 2004–2006 X5 4.8is already used a 4.8L. In NHTSA's data, 14 of 537 complaints on 4.4L cars and 17 of 787 on 4.8L cars mention an engine-internal problem, about 2–3% for both.
Is there a recall for N62 valve stem seals?
No. We found no recall or BMW warranty extension for N62 valve stem seals, the coolant transfer pipe or oil leaks in NHTSA's records. Only 23 of 1,324 N62 complaints mention oil burning, but shops and forums report valve stem seals as the best-known N62 repair. The seals-in-the-car method at an independent shop usually costs far less than a heads-off dealer quote.
What does recall 10V-446 fix?
NHTSA's record says a check valve of the brake vacuum pump can leak oil into the brake booster on certain 2004–2010 5 and 6 Series and 2002–2008 7 Series, which can reduce or, in extreme cases, remove power brake assist. Dealers repair it free; the recall began November 24, 2010. X5s aren't in its model list. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a BMW dealer.
Is the N62 water pump electric?
No. The N62 (including the N62TU) has a belt-driven mechanical water pump, unlike BMW's six-cylinder engines of the same years, which use electric pumps. Its thermostat is electrically heated and map-controlled. Only 12 NHTSA complaints name the N62 water pump or thermostat.
What about N62 timing chain guides?
Only 3 of the 1,324 NHTSA complaints mention the N62 timing chain, and we found no reliable published price for a chain-guide job, so it isn't a card on this page. If you hear a rattle at start-up, have it diagnosed by a shop that knows the N62.
How accurate are these repair costs?
They come from BMWTuning's N62 guide, Select Luxury Service's published valve stem seal prices, FCP Euro's parts prices and bills owners quoted in NHTSA complaints. Several rest on one or two sources, and we found no reliable published price for the water pump or timing chain jobs. Every figure is labeled by source type, as our Estimate, or as Computed from NHTSA data. Prices vary by region and shop; get a written quote before any work.
Will doing this work keep my engine from failing?
No one can promise that. Replacing known weak parts early can lower your exposure to some expensive failures, but parts can still fail, and other things can go wrong. The "if it fails" numbers are reported ranges for repair bills, not predictions.
Is there an N62 report?
Not yet. Our planned $19 ownership report covers N20 cars only, and its order form turns away other VINs, so please don't try to order it for an N62. Join the N62 list on this page and we'll email you if an N62 version launches. We take no payment and don't promise a date.
Do you store my VIN?
No. The VIN check runs in your browser and sends the VIN only to NHTSA's public vPIC decoder and recall API; we don't store or log it. (If you open a shared link that contains a VIN, our host, Cloudflare, receives that address as part of the request; the page then removes it from the address bar.) If you join the N62 list after a check, we save only the decoded model (for example "2008 BMW 550i") with your email and the fact that you signed up from the N62 page. We don't sell it, and we delete it on request. See the privacy policy.