Gather a bunch of BMW enthusiasts and ask them about which one of the German manufacturer’s cars they wish to own, and you’re certain to find a group that yearns for the BMW E60 M5. This group of power-hungry petrolheads is also very likely to never go through with buying one, even if the opportunity did present itself in the most enticing way. That’s because, for everything that the fourth-gen M5 did right, it managed to do at least a couple wrong.
Considered by many as the best BMW that one should never own, the E60 M5 is one of the most iconic sports sedans to ever wear the BMW badge.
A wildly unreliable machine in its original state, owning the E60 M5 was like a whirlwind affair bound to end in heartbreak. However, on the flip side, BMW equipped this car with an astonishingly powerful, naturally-aspirated V10 engine that’s unlike anything you’ll ever get to experience today.
There are two polarizing sides to owning and living with a BMW E60 M5. This guide will cover all there is to know about one, along with common issues, like the dreaded rod-bearing failure you might have to deal with if you buy one.
BMW E60 M5 — Significance
Well before the BMW E60 came along, in 1980 the M Division came up with the M535i, a high-performance iteration of the E12 5-Series. The E12 M535i was the first M car designed and developed for road use and not a homologation special like the cars that BMW Motorsport previously produced. The E12-generation 535i was followed by an identically badged version from the E28 generation, and it was only in 1985 that the M5 moniker made its debut.
The first couple of generations of the car, the E28 M5, and the E34 M5, were powered by inline-six engines, while the third-gen E39 M5 received a V8 unit. The E39 M5 would become an extremely popular machine after it was introduced, putting an immense amount of pressure on the successor that the engineers at BMW M had planned. The Bavarians then came up with a rather straightforward solution — to fit the next-gen M5 with a larger, more powerful, segment shattering engine.
The E60 M5 reigns supreme as the greatest iteration of the iconic performance sedan for several reasons, but the biggest one is undoubtedly the engine that made it the most powerful M Division car at the time.
The First Production Sedan with a Petrol V10 Engine
The E60 M5 was unveiled when manufacturers had a lot more leeway with the vehicles they were developing, unhindered by the strict emission norms and regulations that they have to comply with today. Unsurprisingly, the decision to produce a naturally-aspirated 5.0L V10 engine came rather naturally to BMW, and they decided to throw everything they had at it.
Unlike previous iterations of the M5, where the engines were effectively high-performance versions of a standard engine, the one on the BMW E60 M5 was built from the ground up. BMW called its creation the S85. At the time, BMW built V10 engines for the Williams F1 team, and so they just took a derivation of the engine block from the F1 engine and put together a new powerhouse for the M5.
The result? Almost exactly 100hp per liter, a staggering figure at the time for motors of this size. The S85 at the heart of the E60 M5 produced 500 hp at a stratospheric 7,750 rpm and 384 lb-ft of torque at 6,100 rpm. Even by today’s standard, those are jaw-dropping figures, let alone nearly two decades ago. The engine also revved to a spine-tingling 8,250 rpm, resulting in an exhaust note that is best compared to an enraged alligator’s territorial bellows — trust me, find a clip online, and you’ll hear the resemblance.
Speaking of redlines, the E60 M5 featured a cool graphic around the tachometer that showed you what the rev limit was based on the engine’s running temperature. On a cold start, this red and orange graphic is located higher up in the rev range, and it will eventually reach the 8,200 rpm mark as the engine warms up.
The S85 features a dual overhead camshaft setup and BMW’s double-VANOS (variable valve timing) system. The E60 M5 came with three driver-selectable engine modes — P400, P500, and P500 S. In P400, peak power output was down by 100 hp to 400 hp, while P500 and P500 S gave drivers access to all 500 horses. The difference between P500 and P500 S was that the latter enabled a more aggressive and immediate throttle response.
Transmission Options
The BMW E60 M5 was first introduced with an SMG-III 7-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission (AMT). The gearbox was capable of decently quick shifts but was riddled with issues and required a lot of money just to keep running.
Luckily, BMW developed a slower but less-problematic 6-speed manual transmission for the M5 available solely in the U.S. market. However, only a few hundred of this car were sold, so it’s an incredibly rare machine to come by.
Design, Interior, and Features
The E60 M5 shared most of its design with the standard E60 5-Series however, the team at BMW M did make some cosmetic and functional changes to better aid its performance-oriented nature. These updates included wider wheel arches, additional air intake panels on the front bumper, and aggressive-looking side skirts, resulting in a more efficient aerodynamic package.
On the inside, the M5 was revolutionary for its time. It was one of the first road cars to feature different drive modes that altered performance and had seats that you could electronically adjust the bolstering on.
Is the BMW E60 M5 Reliable?
The BMW E60 M5 is, by far, one of the most unreliable vehicles to have ever left the German manufacturer’s R&D department. We say this as true BMW fanboys. It’s almost like BMW released the car before they could finish adequately testing it.
While most of the expensive issues are centered around the engine, there are several other inconveniences, from faulty electronics to gearbox troubles. Even though you may be able to overlook some of its shortcomings, there’s no escaping the fact that keeping an E60 M5 in proper running order will cost you a lot.
Known Issues and Common Problems
Here are some of the most common issues you’ll probably have to deal with on a BMW E60 M5.
Rod Bearing Issues
The rod bearing issue is such a nightmare with the S85 that it’s sometimes the only reason people turn away from buying a BMW E60 M5. While a rod bearing failure can occur on any car, the likelihood of it happening on this M5 was unnaturally high. Even low-mileage cars were no exception, and you’ll find several posts on M5 forums from owners who have faced the issue.
Rod bearings allow the connecting rods to rotate the crankshaft without breaking under pressure. If they start to wear out and fail, it can result in catastrophic issues and engine knocking. As they begin to fail, they damage the crankshaft and affect the normal motion of the pistons. This causes a deep tapping sound from the engine, commonly referred to as rod knock. If you hear this noise, you’re in store for a rather expensive repair bill.
Failing rod bearings can cause some symptoms, like metal shavings in the engine oil, that you can easily spot. If caught at the right time, you can minimize the damage done to the engine and, consequently, the cost of repair. For reference, rebuilding an S85 completely will cost around $30,000.
The bearings themselves aren’t that expensive but replacing them is a labor-intensive job that can take over 24 hours. So, expect to park your car at a service center for at least a week if you need to rectify a rod bearing issue.
If this hasn’t deterred you from buying an E60 M5, you should know that there are some things you can do to delay the issue or try and avoid it altogether. A rod bearing is most likely to fail when deprived of oil. Letting your engine warm up properly before going hard on the gas pedal will significantly reduce the probability of damaging the bearings.
Proactively having them replaced at around the 50,000-60,000 mile mark will also reduce the risk of wearing the rod bearings out.
Throttle Actuator Issues
The S85 features 10 throttle bodies controlled by two throttle actuators. Multiple owners have reported that these actuators have failed on their cars. On inspection, the most common culprit was found to be the gears inside the actuators that wore out and failed over time. This is a relatively easy fix as the gears simply need to be replaced.
The throttle actuator might also fail due to an electrical issue, requiring more time, patience, and knowledge to resolve. If the actuators fail, it’s likely to send your M5 into limp mode. You can also plug an OBD-II diagnostic tool into your car and check for error codes; CDC0, 2B21, or 2B57 indicate that the actuators will need a look at.
SMG Transmission Problems
As we mentioned above, the sequential manual gearbox (SMG) on the BMW E60 M5 was somewhat problematic. This is the more common transmission option out there, and you’re far more likely to find one of these over a manual transmission M5.
One of the most common trouble points was the failure of the hydraulic pump motor on the SMG automatic transmission. Most owners experience a gearbox-related problem at around the 60,000-70,000 mark, but don’t be surprised if you have to deal with one sooner.
Valve Cover Gasket Oil Leaks
BMWs and leaking valve cover gasket — name a more iconic duo. Jokes aside, the S85 does suffer from a valve cover gasket-related issue that ultimately leads to an oil leak.
You’ll notice that your car’s oil levels drop sooner than expected. If the oil leaks onto high-temperature components around the engine, it will result in smoke as it evaporates and the smell of its vapors inside the cabin.
If left unattended, an engine that’s deprived of oil can cause severe problems, one of them being the rod bearing failure mentioned above.
Interior and Exterior
On the inside, things were very different. Much like the interior of the standard BMW E60, the M5 version featured a well balanced design that offered comfort and style, while remaining rather functional. The version with the Imola Red interior is still by far one of the best looking cockpits you can plant your behind in.
The E60 M5 came with BMW EDC (Electronic Damper Control), which was essentially adjustable suspension with the option of choosing between Comfort, Normal, and Sport settings.
In Sport mode, the suspension is lowered for improved handling, but this results in less range of motion for the suspension. As a result, cars that were used in Sports mode extensively are likely to have damaged suspension seals or oil leaks, and this is something you should be able to see with a peek under the wheel arch.
To reduce weight, BMW used aluminum for the front end of the car. If a pre-owned M5 you’re looking at has major damage on the front hood or around it, you should consider the cost of having these parts replaced as well.
Is it Worth Getting a BMW E60 M5 in 2022?
The BMW E60 M5 is one of the very last high-performance cars produced with a naturally aspirated V10 engine. Over its five-year production run, BMW made just under 20,000 units of the car. Luckily for us, the U.S. was its most successful market, where around 9,000 were sold. However, most of these are equipped with the SMG gearbox, so it’s a rather troublesome bunch.
The truth is, buying an E60 M5 is one of the most impractical automotive decisions you can make. Yet, it’s one that you should consider if you have the means. Because, for every couple of things that the M5 didn’t get right, it was absolutely spot on with something else. When it comes to matters of the heart, sometimes the most impractical decisions make the most sense. On a day that the car is running as it should, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a reason to complain.
If you can find a car that has been cared for and one whose previous owner solved many of the known issues we’ve discussed, then go for it. On the other hand, buying an E60 M5 with questionable service history is the financial equivalent of playing Russian roulette with a semi-automatic pistol.
Get The Right Parts for Your BMW E60 M5
If there’s one universal truth to BMW Motorsports cars, it’s that many of the notorious problems these cars sometimes face can be prevented through proper maintenance. The same goes for the BMW E60 M5. Here at Bimmers.com, we fully understand just how much effort goes into keeping one of these cars on the road.
Because of that, we’ve made it our mission to offer our customers everything they need to maintain and repair their Bimmers. When you select your vehicle using our built-in selection tool, you’ll be presented with genuine, OEM and quality aftermarket parts that are a guaranteed fit for your BMW.
