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BMW2011–2023 Critical issues documented

BMW M5 F10: common faults & what to check

The F10 is the BMW M5 built 2011–2016. It was sold here with the 4.4 twin-turbo V8 petrol (S63TU). Of the 6 faults documented for the M5, 3 apply to this generation, each with its symptoms, what to inspect and a typical repair cost. Free, no account needed.

Check this exact BMW M5

  • Odometer history
  • Money owing
  • Reported stolen
  • Ownership history
  • Official NZ vehicle register data
  • NZ owned and operated

Type the plate for the free basics. The full record is a paid check from $13.49, one car at a time, no subscription.

No NZ plate yet, or buying in Australia? Pick the generation and engine and start a free check below. New to KickTyres? How the check works →

6

Documented faults

Critical

Most serious

$500–$3,500

Typical repair

15

Service milestones

You're looking at the F10 · 4.4 twin-turbo V8 petrol (S63TU)

Everything below is narrowed to this variant. Pick a different one to change it.

Choose a different generation

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

A 2011 BMW M5 is the F10 generation (2011 to 2016).

Start your free check on this BMW M5

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

BMW M5 F10

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Can't confirm for this car

BMW M5 · 2011

Narrowed to the year. No engine is recorded for this vehicle. Pick an engine to see which faults apply.

Tell us the engine, or check the engine code on the car, before relying on this.

  • No engine is recorded for this vehicle.

matched on year only

What to look out for

We have not documented any faults for the exact BMW M5 you picked.

That is a gap in our research, not a clean bill of health — it does not mean this combination is trouble-free, and it is not a reason to skip the checks. Every one of the 6 faults documented across the BMW M5 is still listed further down this page.

Show every year and engine again

A 2011 BMW M5: what is due, and when

Servicing

Nothing left on the schedule

Every milestone is behind this car. The ones below are the receipts worth asking for.

Placed by the car’s age, not read from the dash — 103,500–241,500 km after 15 years.

Timing

Our research does not record which this engine uses, and it depends on the engine rather than the model. Check the owner’s manual rather than assume: on a belt-driven engine, an overdue belt is the failure that takes the engine with it.

Behind it

  • 60,000 kmInitial spark plug and ignition coil service is recommended to maintain peak twin-turbo efficiency.
  • 80,000 kmCooling system components, such as plastic coolant hoses and expansion tanks, may begin to show signs of brittle aging due to the high under-bonnet heat.
  • 100,000 kmConsidering a professional intake carbon cleaning service to remove deposit buildup from the direct injection ports.

“Behind it” means the car has driven past that distance, not that the work was done — ask to see the receipts. These are the intervals for the F10 M5 · 4.4L V8 Twin-Turbo (S63) - First turbocharged M5 · Petrol; only the car’s own service book says what has actually been done to it.

See all 3 issues for this oneDocumented for the exact year and engine you picked.
Depends on the exact engine — 3 moreDocumented for a specific engine we could not confirm from what you picked. Check the engine code on the car.
Engine, transmission & cooling3

01S63TU Fuel Injector Failure and Misfire (pre-2014 injectors)

Go through the service history looking for injector replacements — count how many and when.petrol2011–2016EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

02S63TU VANOS Solenoid Sticking and Cam Timing Faults

Start the car stone cold and listen through the first minute — hesitation, stumble or an uneven cold idle points at VANOS.petrol2011–2016EngineRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

03M-DCT Overheating, Fluid Leaks and Harsh Shifting

Look under the car after it has been parked for signs of fresh fluid.petrol2011–2016Transmission
OccasionalTransmission $800–$7,000 to fix

Can't confirm for this car

The F10 M5's 7-speed M-DCT generates serious heat under hard use and is sensitive to its fluid: leaks from the pan gasket or cooler lines degrade shift quality quickly, and overheating brings harsh shifts, drivetrain warnings and in the worst cases limp mode or clutch damage. A DCT that has never had a fluid service on a high-mileage car is the risk case — the fluid is a service item even though some schedules called it lifetime.

Symptoms to notice

  • Harsh or clunky low-speed shifts, worse when hot
  • Drivetrain or transmission warning after spirited driving
  • Fluid spots under the car after parking
  • Shudder pulling away

What to check

Look under the car after it has been parked for signs of fresh fluid. On the test drive, get the drivetrain properly warm and make repeated low-speed shifts and a few full-throttle upshifts — harshness that worsens with temperature is the pattern. Ask for DCT fluid service records with dates and mileage. If a workshop inspection is possible: check the DCT pan and cooler lines for weeping and read clutch-temperature and adaptation data.

Where to look: Transmission — 7-speed M-DCT behind the engine; pan gasket and cooler lines underneath

Parts involved: Clutch.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the DCT fluid ever been changed, and is there an invoice?”
  • “Any transmission warnings or limp mode, especially on track or hard road use?”
  • “Has the car been tracked?”
Other BMW M5 engines and years3 documented issues that do not apply to the one you picked.
Engine, transmission & cooling2

01S63TU4 Coolant Expansion Tank Cracking in the Hot-V — Injector and Coil Damage

The F90 M5's plastic coolant expansion tank sits in the hot valley of the 4.4 twin-turbo V8 and is known to crack along its seam.petrol2018–2023CoolingRead the full fault: symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller

02Fuel Pump Faults — 2018-2019 HPFP Recall and Low-Pressure Pump Failures

petrol2018–2023Engine
OccasionalEngine $0–$3,500 to fix

Does not apply

Early F90s were recalled to fix a high-pressure fuel pump that was not always properly attached to the engine, which could crack and leak, and separately for ECU software that could stop the fuel pump; the transmission wiring harness had its own 2018 recall. Beyond the recalls, low-pressure fuel pumps have failed in service — the classic pattern is an engine that dies or refuses to restart hot after a long consistent run, or fuel pressure dropping under sustained load.

Symptoms to notice

  • Engine dies or cranks without starting when hot
  • Loss of power under sustained high-speed running
  • Fuel pressure or drivetrain warning
  • Long cranking after a short stop

What to check

Ask any BMW dealer to run the VIN for open recalls before you buy — the HPFP, fuel-pump software and wiring-harness recalls are all VIN-checkable in minutes, and completion should be in the service history. On the drive, include a sustained motorway stint followed by a stop and hot restart. If a workshop inspection is possible: log low- and high-side fuel pressure under load.

Where to look: High-pressure pumps on the engine; low-pressure pump in the fuel tank

Parts involved: High-pressure fuel pump.

Ask the seller

  • “Have all recalls been completed on this VIN?”
  • “Has it ever cut out or struggled to restart when hot?”
  • “Any fuel-system parts replaced outside recall work?”
Fluid leaks1

01S63TU4 Oil Leaks from the Oil Cooler and Valve Cover Gaskets

F90s are showing oil seepage as they age, most often from the oil cooler connections and valve cover gaskets.petrol2018–2023Fluid Leaks
OccasionalFluid Leaks $600–$2,500 to fix

Does not apply

F90s are showing oil seepage as they age, most often from the oil cooler connections and valve cover gaskets. Caught early it is gaskets and labour; left long enough it fouls belts, coats the underside and makes every later diagnosis harder. On a car this dense in the engine bay the labour is the real cost, so a seller's 'minor weep' quote deserves scrutiny.

Symptoms to notice

  • Oil spots where it parks
  • Oil smell or light smoke off the engine after a run
  • Visible wet edges along the valve covers or around the oil cooler

What to check

With a phone torch, sight along both valve cover edges and around the oil cooler and its lines for wet, dark staining — dusty dry film is history, glossy wet is active. Check where the car usually parks for spots. Ask when any gaskets were last done. If a workshop inspection is possible: inspect from underneath on a hoist and clean-and-recheck to locate the true source.

Where to look: Valve covers on both banks; oil cooler and lines at the front of the engine

Parts involved: Rocker / valve cover.

Ask the seller

  • “Any oil leaks repaired, and which gaskets?”
  • “Does it lose oil between services?”
  • “When was it last inspected underneath?”

BMW M5 faults in detail

Narrowed to the BMW M5 · 2011. Each of these has its own page: the symptoms, where to look, what to ask the seller and what the repair costs. Free, no account needed.

S63TU Fuel Injector Failure and Misfire (pre-2014 injectors)Major · EngineS63TU VANOS Solenoid Sticking and Cam Timing FaultsMajor · Engine

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the BMW M5’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

Other BMW models

BMW 3 Series88 documented faultsBMW 5 Series58 documented faultsBMW 1 Series50 documented faultsBMW X342 documented faultsBMW X541 documented faultsBMW 2 Series27 documented faults

BMW M5 buyer questions

Is the BMW M5 reliable?

Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 6 documented faults for the BMW M5, the recurring problem areas are cooling, transmission, and engine. A BMW M5 with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.

What are the most common problems with a used BMW M5?

We've catalogued 6 known faults for the BMW M5, covering cooling, transmission, and engine. All 6 are written out in full on this page, with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each. Free to read, no account needed.

How much do repairs cost on a BMW M5?

Most single repairs on the BMW M5 fall between $500–$3,500 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 6 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.

Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a BMW M5?

Yes. A BMW M5 inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $24.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.