BMW S85 engine report, M5 E60
BMW S85 · M5 (E60)
5.0 LPetrolV102005–2010
25/100
Checked by hand
[avoid]
A V10 to buy cheap, with money kept back for the bearings
Only worth it if the price already reflects the risk. Rod bearings replaced within the last 60,000 km, with paperwork, and at least €5,000 kept back for the throttle actuators and VANOS.
ExcellentGoodSolidRiskyAvoid
- Known issues
- 4
- Critical
- 1
- Sources
- 46
Verdict
Buy this V10 only at a low price and with a repair fund behind you.
On the S85 the rod bearings fail very often and critically, and a failure can wreck the engine, so either they have been done or their cost comes off the price. The throttle actuators and the VANOS solenoids both fail very commonly, and a failed actuator sends the car into limp-home mode. Expect the occasional ECU or wiring fault as well.
Specs
- Displacement
- 5.0 L4,999 cc
- Layout
- V10
- Fuel
- Petrol
- Production
- 2005 – 2010
- Chassis
- E60
- Fitted
- 2005–2010
Known issues
4 confirmed · sorted by severity
CriticalRod bearing failure
Connecting rod (big end) bearing wear or spun bearing, usually from oil starvation or extended oil-change intervals -- can destroy the engine if not caught early.
Symptoms
- Knocking Noise
- Warning Light
How often
Very common · Design weakness. Can destroy the engine if ignored. Not safely drivable.
ModerateThrottle actuator failure
The electric actuators that open the throttles wear out their gears or lose their control boards. The engine drops into limp-home mode with throttle fault codes. On engines with one actuator per cylinder bank, either side can fail.
Symptoms
- Limp Mode
- Warning Light
- Hesitation
- Loss of Power
How often
Very common · Design weakness. Does not normally destroy the engine. Not safely drivable.
Evidence
2 owner reports back this, confidence 45/100.
LowVariable valve timing solenoid/actuator failure
VANOS/VTEC/VVT-style variable valve timing solenoids or actuators fail or clog, causing rough idle, rattle on start, or reduced power.
Symptoms
- Rough Idle
- Reduced Power Mode
- Warning Light
How often
Very common · Design weakness. Does not normally destroy the engine. Still drivable.
LowECU fault or wiring issue
ECU hardware fault or injector wiring loom degradation causing misfires or no-start conditions.
Symptoms
- Warning Light
- Misfire
How often
Occasional · Manufacturing defect. Does not normally destroy the engine. Still drivable.
Evidence
2 owner reports back this, confidence 40/100.
- Critical
- High
- Moderate
- Low
Rod bearing failurefrom 60k km
Check the car you're looking at
Owners rarely say at what mileage this engine's problems start, so they aren't sorted by mileage here. These are the ones to ask the seller about, the ones it's best known for first.
Buying checklist
BMW S85 (M5 E60) · Buying checklist
Sources
Updated 15 Sept 2026 · scoring v2.7
Behind this report sit 46 owner posts, forum threads and official records. Nothing gets on the list on one person's word. It takes a recall, or owners on separate platforms describing the same fault. The score then sets how often a problem turns up against the damage it does.