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The BMW S65 engine is undoubtedly one of the best engines this company has ever made. It lay at the heart of every M3 manufactured from 2007 and 2013 and was the last naturally-aspirated unit to power the car (the next-gen M3 used the turbocharged S55).
The 4.0 liter V8 put out 414hp and 295 lb/ft of torque, while also weighing less than the engine on the previous-gen M3. Needless to say, there’s no doubt about the fact that the S65 is an iconic M engine. Unfortunately, it also came with its fair share of problems. Some of them are in the form of minor annoyances, while some can be quite expensive to fix.
So if you’re in the market for an M3 from the S65 era, or just curious about this fantastic engine, here are some of its issues.
BMW S65 Idle Control Valve
The idle control valve regulates air supply to the engine when it’s at idle, thereby regulating the temperature in the combustion chamber. If your engine fails to start, or stutters (or stalls) under 1,500rpm or so, then this may be because there’s a problem with the idle control system.
If your ICV doesn’t fail on you completely, it can also end up putting your M3 in limp mode. Unfortunately, the only way around this is to replace the unit – a new ICV will set you back between $700-800.
BMW S65 Positive Crankcase Ventilation Valve
Like most other cars from the period, the S65 equipped BMW M3 used a Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system. What it essentially does is take unburnt fuel (blow-by gas) and reintroduce it into the combustion chamber, so it’s fully burnt.
However, this system didn’t always work as efficiently as it should on the S65. As a result, oil and carbon particles would make their way into the intake, and build up along the walls of the intake valves. This can have disastrous consequences on the engine.
Luckily, this can be avoided by proper maintenance and routine inspections.
BMW S65 Oil Leaks
High-performance engines get very hot. Several M3 owners have complained about their cars leaking oil and in most instances, it’s from the head gasket or the valve covers. This, like the issue with PCV, can be diagnosed or noticed before things go really wrong.
Oil under your car on your driveway or an unwarranted drop in oil levels are signs that your engine may be leaking oil. If you find yourself topping off your engine oil more than usual, get your engine checked!
BMW S65 Throttle Body Actuators
The S65 uses BMW’s ‘Valvetronic’ system. It’s the German moniker that means electric variable valve actuation. It’s brilliant engineering and extremely exciting when it works the way it should. However, it’s also the part behind one of the more serious problems that the S65 faces. Faulty throttle body actuators can cause havoc in your engine.
The system has two solenoids that have been at the root of problems for several owners. Seriously! Go onto any M3 forum, and you’ll find multiple threads dedicated to the issue. If they fail, the valves can’t open or close as they should and most owners faced with the issue have reported a ticking or tapping noise from the engine.
BMW S65 Rod Bearings
And to bring this list to a close – the infamous M3 S65 rod bearings. A rod-bearing failure can ultimately result in a blown engine, but you won’t find too many people who’ve noticed symptoms and continued to make the problem worse. Having said that, there’s a ton of people who’ve reported that their rod bearings experienced premature wear.
You should also know that the manufacturer addressed the problem by issuing a recall of every S65 equipped E90/92/93 M3 made between 2007-2013, across all markets. BMW also released a statement saying that the rod bearings did not meet specifications. They were manufactured for a life of about 85,000 km, or 53,000 miles, but owners were reporting far less.
A faulty rod bearing can result in metal shavings in your oil and oil filter, and a metallic tapping noise from the engine.
Need BMW S65 Parts?
There you have it – the common problems and the most frequent issues that plague one of the most exciting naturally-aspirated engines created by BMW. The S65 has its fair share of faults, but there’s no escaping the fact that when it does work right, it’s one of the most rewarding engines that you can experience.
If you already own one, you probably already, you probably know that the best way of keeping it running is to service it with Genuine or OEM quality parts. Check out our catalog, and you’ll find everything you need for your M3. Treat that engine well, and it will give you countless years of fun!
