MajorCommonEngine

BMW M5: S63TU VANOS Solenoid Sticking and Cam Timing Faults

S63TU VANOS Solenoid Sticking and Cam Timing Faults is a common engine fault on the BMW M5 on the 2011–2016 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $500 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. 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
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

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The S63TU runs four VANOS solenoids and they gum up or fail electrically with age, throwing cam-timing correlation codes, hurting cold-start smoothness and putting the car into reduced power. Standard practice past 100,000 km is to replace all four together — piecemeal replacement tends to be followed by the next one failing. Not catastrophic if attended to, but ignored VANOS faults mask other timing problems.

What you would notice

Rough or hesitant cold start
Engine management light with VANOS or cam-correlation codes
Flat spots or hesitation at low RPM
Reduced power mode after hard driving

How to check it

Where to look. Front of each cylinder head — two VANOS solenoids per bank

Start the car stone cold and listen through the first minute — hesitation, stumble or an uneven cold idle points at VANOS. Check the history for solenoid replacements and whether all four were done. On the drive, watch for hesitation on light throttle at low RPM. If a workshop inspection is possible: read VANOS position and cam-correlation live data on a scan tool.

What it costs to put right

$500 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, 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

“Have the VANOS solenoids been replaced, and how many?”
“Any engine light history with cam timing codes?”
“Does it ever start rough when cold?”

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 has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

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 vanos solenoid sticking and cam timing faults serious on a BMW M5?

We rate it major and common on the BMW M5. The S63TU runs four VANOS solenoids and they gum up or fail electrically with age, throwing cam-timing correlation codes, hurting cold-start smoothness and putting the car into reduced power. Standard practice past 100,000 km is to replace all four together — piecemeal replacement tends to be followed by the next one failing. Not catastrophic if attended to, but ignored VANOS faults mask other timing problems.

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

$500 to $1,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. 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.