[Shadycrew31]

Posting for a friend on the E90 group.

Please take the poll, I want to see how many people have done the OFHG or how many have had it done and if so, if their engines are still running. I know most N55 owners don't post here, but let's see.

[bimmer456]

The N55 is also in the F30. So they would post here.

[TheShadow]

almost all n55 owners post here.

[Jake From State Farm]

Replaced mine about 10K miles ago no problems.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by Shadycrew31

Posting for a friend on the E90 group.

Please take the poll, I want to see how many people have done the OFHG or how many have had it done and if so, if their engines are still running. I know most N55 owners don't post here, but let's see.

Lol...mine didn't lock up.....but app recorded it did.

[upsidedownfunnel]

I changed my E60's N54 OFHG. Probably drove on the new one for about 30k miles afterwards without any issues. Engine ran great (other than requiring new turbos and HPFP under warranty and a new water pump).

Considering pretty much all N54/N55 (and many other BMW) engines need this service once before 100k miles, I don't think it's very common for engines to seize up after this service. Either someone grossly incompetent did the work, or it was just a coincidence.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

I changed my E60's N54 OFHG. Probably drove on the new one for about 30k miles afterwards without any issues. Engine ran great (other than requiring new turbos and HPFP under warranty and a new water pump).

Considering pretty much all N54/N55 (and many other BMW) engines need this service once before 100k miles, I don't think it's very common for engines to seize up after this service. Either someone grossly incompetent did the work, or it was just a coincidence.

That's not my definition of an engine running great if it's leaving you stranded and/or all that stuff needed to be replaced. Though I see other threads saying the same thing, how their car ran great except for needing a million things done either under warranty or otherwise, maybe DIY or whatever. Running great in my book means nothing other than regular oil changes and maintenance needs to be done.

[upsidedownfunnel]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

That's not my definition of an engine running great if it's leaving you stranded and/or all that stuff needed to be replaced. Though I see other threads saying the same thing, how their car ran great except for needing a million things done either under warranty or otherwise, maybe DIY or whatever. Running great in my book means nothing other than regular oil changes and maintenance needs to be done.

I was being half sarcastic. The turbos and HPFP were obviously issues with the N54. The N55 is far more reliable. Also, technically the car did always run fine. The turbos just caught the attention of a tech and they replaced them while I had it in for another service. And the HPFP just put me into limp mode one time. Restarted the engine and never gave me an issue again. BMW of course replaced the HPFP after that fault though. So it never left me anything close to stranded ever. I know though, that people who weren't more careful with maintenance often had much larger issues. I know sometimes anyone can get a lemon, but I believe that paying a lot of attention to maintenance makes owning a BMW a significantly smoother experience.

And regarding the water pump and gaskets. That's just part of owning a BMW. It's not ideal but whatever. You just have to consider them a maintenance item. There's a reason they had to use the parts they did and they couldn't figure out a cost effective way to make them more reliable. At least they made them really easy to change out. I have a theory that BMW says coolant is lifetime fill because every owner will inevitably be changing out the water pump before 100k miles and will thus be flushing their coolant.

Other than those "small" things, the engine was always great. IMO, it was smoother and more powerful than the N55, advertised figures notwithstanding.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

I was being half sarcastic. The turbos and HPFP were obviously issues with the N54. The N55 is far more reliable. Also, technically the car did always run fine. The turbos just caught the attention of a tech and they replaced them while I had it in for another service. And the HPFP just put me into limp mode one time. Restarted the engine and never gave me an issue again. BMW of course replaced the HPFP after that fault though. So it never left me anything close to stranded ever. I know though, that people who weren't more careful with maintenance often had much larger issues. I know sometimes anyone can get a lemon, but I believe that paying a lot of attention to maintenance makes owning a BMW a significantly smoother experience.

And regarding the water pump and gaskets. That's just part of owning a BMW. It's not ideal but whatever. You just have to consider them a maintenance item. There's a reason they had to use the parts they did and they couldn't figure out a cost effective way to make them more reliable. At least they made them really easy to change out. I have a theory that BMW says coolant is lifetime fill because every owner will inevitably be changing out the water pump before 100k miles and will thus be flushing their coolant.

Other than those "small" things, the engine was always great. IMO, it was smoother and more powerful than the N55, advertised figures notwithstanding.

I heard transmission was lifetime fill, didn't know coolant was also. I had to add coolant for some reason early on as that was an issue with the B58s but haven't had to since. The reservoir isn't sealed like the transmission, maybe they think you may need to add some due to evaporation even though it's not supposed to allow that to happen. They pressure tested it and said there wasn't any leak, and it hasn't indicated low coolant since. So far I'd say it isn't any worse than a toyota or honda. So far no limp home mode just low tire pressure which disables sport mode until you add air. Also had a runflat taken out by a pothole, was still able to drive even with a gash in the side of the sidewall until the next day when I had it replaced under road hazard coverage. So stuff that happens in any car.

[Mr Podman]

What'sa OFHG?





podman

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by Mr Podman

What'sa OFHG?





podman

Oil filter housing gasket. I had to look it up too.

[rbol13]

had mine changed a couple thousand miles ago at 39k, no issues so far as I can tell.

[neonnblack]

Changed mine last Thursday. All good.

i agree with someone seriously fucked up or the engine was on its way out already and just happened to be at the same time.

[f30jadyn]

Replaced mine. Engine siezed still trying to figure out wtf I’m gonna do lol.

[Revoltos]

Replaced mine myself a couple of years ago. Pulled the injector plugs and cycled the engine on the starter for three cycles, probably 20 to 30 seconds in total of cranking after buttoning it all back up. No issues what so ever since.

[Fliplegend]

Originally Posted by Jake From State Farm

Replaced mine about 10K miles ago no problems.

10K on my new valve cover, ofhg, oil cooler seal and intake manifold seals. Car is sitting at 70K.

[thejeremyman9]

Originally Posted by f30jadyn

Replaced mine. Engine siezed still trying to figure out wtf I’m gonna do lol.

This is an old thread... but its probably a priming issue.

[Orion4]

Replaced mine at 64K Now at 205k and getting ready to do again.

[Alek Melkonian]

Replaced mine at 120,000. Didn't even prime the oil system. Car is fine, 170,000 no issues.

[amancuso]

OFHG have been issues on BMWs for decades. This simple service should not seize an engine, unless it's incompetently installed and oil is leaking out of it like a geyser.