BMW X5 Cylinder Head Replacement Parts

The engine code is the single most important detail for matching a cylinder head — it tells the breaker exactly which head casting, port layout, and valve configuration your engine uses, and two X5s from the same year can have completely different heads depending on which engine is fitted. You'll find the engine code on your V5C registration document or by running a VIN check. Always give this to the breaker before agreeing a price, as fuel type and gearbox type also affect which engine was fitted and therefore which head is correct.

The E53 was the first-generation X5, produced from 1999 to 2006, while the E70 ran from 2006 to 2013 — these are entirely different generations with different engine families, so their cylinder heads are not interchangeable. Even where engine codes sound similar across the two generations, the head design, bolt pattern, and ancillary locations changed significantly. Always confirm against your specific engine code with the breaker.

Yes, both fall within the E70 generation (2006–2013), which did receive a facelift in 2010, but whether a head from a pre-facelift car fits a post-facelift one depends entirely on whether the engine code is the same — the head follows the engine, not the facelift year. If your 2009 and 2013 cars share an identical engine code, fitment is much more likely, but ancillary and mounting changes mid-production mean you should confirm the exact match with the breaker against your registration before buying.

The F15 is the third-generation X5, produced from 2013 to 2018, with a mild update around 2016. Within the F15 range, the cylinder head you need is determined by your engine code first, then fuel type and gearbox — if the engine codes match exactly, fitment across the generation is a strong starting point, but confirm ancillary and mounting details with the breaker against your registration, as mid-production changes can affect which parts transfer cleanly.

Trim level — whether SE, Sport, M Sport, or xLine — makes no difference whatsoever to cylinder head fitment, as the head is determined entirely by the engine code, fuel type, and gearbox, none of which change between trims. An xDrive30d SE and an xDrive30d M Sport with the same engine code will use the same head. The only differences you might notice between stripped parts from different trim cars are cosmetic items like covers or ancillary finishes, which have no bearing on whether the head itself fits and functions correctly.

Petrol and diesel cylinder heads are completely different components — the combustion chamber shape, injector locations, port design, and head gasket face are all specific to the fuel type, and they will not interchange under any circumstances. Always confirm your fuel type alongside the engine code when asking a breaker for a quote, as fitting the wrong head type would result in engine failure. This is one fitment rule where there is no grey area.