The BMW N63 series V8 is a high-performance engine, with different versions all putting out over 400 horsepower. It's definitely an innovative engine, as it includes important firsts for BMW and the automotive industry in general. But in a set-and-forget world, it would not be a good engine; the N63 requires too much attention and maintenance care to fit that moniker. Those important innovations included a design architecture that created life-long issues for users. With an open mind regarding engine care, though, you might decide that it is a good engine after all.

The N63 engine has been in production since 2008, and finds a home in BMW's higher end offerings to this day. The engine has seen three updates (N63TU1, 2, and 3), multiple technical service bulletins, two important lawsuits, a Customer Care Package, and a Battery Check program. BMW still finds utility in the engine architecture, though. Given the specifics of the N63's design, it would be very easy to spot if the company stopped using the ideas behind it or moved into a new iteration.