F10 M5 S63 twin turbo V8 — reliability at 100k km, what to expect

about 2 months ago· 1 posts

I have owned my F10 M5 for 3 years now and just crossed 100,000 km. Wanted to share my experience for anyone considering one of these as a used buy. The S63TU engine is a 4.4L twin turbo V8 making 560hp stock. It is an absolute weapon on the highway and surprisingly refined for daily driving in comfort mode. Issues I have had: - Oil consumption: about 1L per 3000km, which BMW considers normal for this engine - Turbo coolant lines replaced at 75k km (preventive, common failure point) - Injector replaced (cylinder 6) at 82k km — 800 EUR - Rod bearing service done at 90k km as preventive — 3500 EUR - Various oil leaks from valve cover gaskets and oil filter housing — 1200 EUR total Running costs are high but not catastrophic if you maintain it properly. The key is preventive maintenance — do not wait for things to fail. The turbo coolant lines and rod bearings are the two big ticket items. Performance wise, with a stage 1 ECU remap the car makes around 650hp and the torque is absolutely brutal. The ZF 8HP gearbox handles the power well with a TCU tune. Would I buy another one? Absolutely. Nothing else offers this combination of luxury, performance, and presence for the money.

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Replies (3)

TorqueTony

about 2 months ago#1

Great write-up. I have an F10 M5 at 85k km and your experience mirrors mine almost exactly. The oil consumption and turbo coolant lines are the two things every S63 owner needs to watch. For the turbo coolant lines, I replaced mine with silicone lines from a company called FTP Motorsport. They are much more durable than the OEM plastic lines and should last the life of the car. Cost was about 200 EUR for the kit plus 3 hours of labor. On the stage 1 tune — I am running a BM3 stage 1 map on 98 octane and the difference is dramatic. The car feels like it has an extra 100hp in the midrange. The ZF 8HP with a TCU tune shifts so fast it feels like a dual clutch.

4 posts · 0 rep

Stefan

about 2 months ago#2

The F10 M5 is an underrated bargain right now. You can pick up clean examples for 25-35k EUR, which is incredible value for a 560hp luxury sedan. The depreciation has been brutal but that works in the buyers favor. One thing I would add to the maintenance list — check the differential fluid. The M diff runs hot and the fluid breaks down faster than BMW suggests. I change mine every 30k km with Castrol SAF-XO. Also, the carbon ceramic brakes (if equipped) are a double-edged sword. They last a long time but when they need replacement, budget 8000+ EUR for a full set. Many owners switch to steel rotors at that point.

3 posts · 0 rep

TCU Tuner

about 2 months ago#3

Regarding the ZF 8HP TCU tune on the F10 M5 — it is genuinely transformative. The stock calibration is already good in sport mode but a TCU tune from xHP or BM3 makes the shifts almost instantaneous. Launch control becomes much more aggressive too. I would say the TCU tune is the single best modification you can do to any BMW with the ZF 8HP automatic. The improvement in driving experience is immediate and dramatic, and it costs a fraction of what engine tuning costs.

1 posts · 0 rep

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