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BMW M5: S63TU Fuel Injector Failure and Misfire (pre-2014 injectors)

S63TU Fuel Injector Failure and Misfire (pre-2014 injectors) is a common engine fault on the BMW M5 on the 2011–2016 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs ≈A$740 to ≈A$5,060 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 6 documented faults on the BMW M5.

Vehicle
BMW M5
Only on
Bi-Turbo / twin-turbo / BMW M
Engine
S63
Years
2011–2016
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

This page covers the BMW M5 as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All BMW M5 faults6 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

A single common-rail diesel fuel injector photographed against a plain background.Example of the part — not this vehicle

A common-rail diesel injector. Contamination damages the nozzle at the tip.

Panoha · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The F10 M5's 4.4 twin-turbo V8 suffered a bad run of fuel injectors on early cars; BMW revised the injector for 2014 but dealers commonly replaced them one at a time as each failed rather than as a set. A failing injector misfires, washes the bore with fuel and can take an ignition coil or catalytic converter with it if ignored. Cars still on a mixed set of early injectors keep failing one by one.

What you would notice

  • Misfire or rough running, especially at idle when warm
  • Engine management light with injector or misfire codes
  • Fuel smell after start-up
  • Uneven, lumpy idle after short trips

How to check it

Where to look. Engine — direct fuel injectors under the intake plumbing on each bank of the 4.4 V8

Go through the service history looking for injector replacements — count how many and when; one or two replaced recently suggests the rest of an early set is still in the engine. Listen for misfire at idle from cold start through to warm. Ask whether the injectors were ever done as a full set of eight. If a workshop inspection is possible: read misfire counters and injector correction values per cylinder on a BMW-specific scan tool.

Parts involved: Fuel injector.

What it costs to put right

≈A$740 to ≈A$5,060 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, converted to Australian dollars, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “How many injectors have been replaced, and were they done as a set?”
  • “Any misfires or rough idle since the last service?”
  • “Was injector work done under warranty or goodwill?”

Now check the BMW M5 you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car still has money owing on it, has been written off or reported stolen, what kms it showed in past sale ads, whether it has had accident repair claims and what it is worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate and its state for the A$17.90 Vehicle Check, or the full history from A$24.99.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

BMW M5 buyer questions

Is s63tu fuel injector failure and misfire (pre-2014 injectors) serious on a BMW M5?

We rate it major and common on the BMW M5. The F10 M5's 4.4 twin-turbo V8 suffered a bad run of fuel injectors on early cars; BMW revised the injector for 2014 but dealers commonly replaced them one at a time as each failed rather than as a set. A failing injector misfires, washes the bore with fuel and can take an ignition coil or catalytic converter with it if ignored. Cars still on a mixed set of early injectors keep failing one by one.

How much does it cost to fix on a BMW M5?

≈A$740 to ≈A$5,060 at independent workshop rates, shown as an approximate guide in Australian dollars. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which BMW M5 years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011–2016 BMW M5. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Go through the service history looking for injector replacements — count how many and when; one or two replaced recently suggests the rest of an early set is still in the engine. Listen for misfire at idle from cold start through to warm. Ask whether the injectors were ever done as a full set of eight. If a workshop inspection is possible: read misfire counters and injector correction values per cylinder on a BMW-specific scan tool. Look here: Engine — direct fuel injectors under the intake plumbing on each bank of the 4.4 V8