BMW M5 (F10) buying guide

The dividing line is the mid-cycle update (LCI), announced in May 2013 for 2014 model year cars. Outside, it brought kidney grilles with a double-spoke design, adaptive xenon headlights and LED tail-lights on every car. Inside, there is a new steering wheel and an iDrive 4.2 controller with a touchpad.

CarWizz reports that owners favor 2014-2016 LCI cars over 2012-2013 cars, citing better options and improved reliability. PistonHeads hears a different view: many contented owners of pre-2014 cars with no problems say paying extra for an LCI car is a waste of money. If you look at an early car, its software history matters more than the badge.

The Competition Package arrived for 2014 and lifted power to 575 hp, with stiffer suspension, 20-inch wheels and a sports exhaust. PistonHeads adds that it also loudened the exhaust, recalibrated the transmission and steering, and dropped the car by 10mm. The 30 Jahre M5 was limited to 300 units with 600 hp and 516 lb-ft, and the 2016 Pure Metal Edition was limited to 20 units in the U.S., also with 600 hp.

On gearboxes, CarWizz recommends the six-speed manual for drivers who want involvement and calls the DCT the faster, more consistent choice. Carbon ceramic brakes with gold calipers were optional, and Bimmer Garage says they last longer on the road but cost a great deal to replace. Drive notes that lane-keeping and night-vision systems were extra-cost options, so check what a given car actually has.

VANOS oil leaks

A rattle from the front of the engine on a cold start points to the VANOS valve-timing system leaking oil. Drive adds that a check-engine light and limp-home mode can follow, sometimes from false alarms by the camshaft-angle sensor, and a software re-flash can sometimes cure it.

Software-related faults

Australian Car.Reviews points to service bulletin SI B12 26 14, which covers 2012-14 cars showing Service Engine Soon, Drivetrain Malfunction and VANOS faults while the engine is mechanically sound. The cause is software settings that are not ideal.

Oil pump driveshaft

Recalled: 2013 cars built July 19 to September 11, 2012 could have the oil pump driveshaft separate from its rotor. Oil pressure could drop suddenly, and the engine could fail completely.

Rod bearings

Rod bearing failures like those on the E90 M3 have occurred, most typically on 2012-13 cars, and PistonHeads describes them as rare.

Fuel system and ignition

Coil packs and spark plugs go wrong, and the high-pressure fuel pump can fail, with long starting as the symptom. On early production cars, AutoTrader.ca says a flawed fuel pressure sensor or pump can trigger a Drivetrain error with a maximum-power-not-available message.

Wastegate linkage corrosion

Corrosion of the turbo wastegate actuator linkage pin can bring a rattle and a loss of power.

Turbo coolant pipes

Each of the four coolant pipes to the turbos can weep a little. A repair kit sorts it out easily, says PistonHeads.

Rear springs and brakes

A noisy rear end can mean the rear coil springs need replacing, and AutoTrader.ca blames a bad batch of factory springs on earlier models. Owners who track the car commonly report brake fade.

BMW suggests a service every 10,000 miles or 12 months. Rear differential fluid is on its own schedule, with a limit of 40,000 miles or 48 months. evo notes that the S63 has timing chains and no belts, and that the third service is the big one, when transmission fluid and plugs are done. Exotic Car Hacks puts an oil change at $300 to $350 from a dealer, against $200 to $250 from an independent shop.

evo reports a full set of genuine brakes at over £1300 (a UK figure) and new tires at hundreds of pounds per corner, though some owners report 20,000-plus miles from rear tires. Bimmer Garage warns that replacing carbon ceramic brakes is very expensive. Our BMW M5 price guide shows what cars are listed for.

Buy a 2014-2016 car with full records, preferably certified pre-owned, the route AutoTrader.ca calls the smartest. CarWizz owners favor the LCI cars for better options and improved reliability, and that settles it unless a 2012 or 2013 car comes with updated software and a clean oil history. The Competition Package adds power and sharper handling if you want it. Compare cars in our used M5 listings.

Skip a 2013 car that cannot be shown clear of the oil pump recall. Whatever the year, ask for the software update history and whether the injectors were replaced under BMW's 120,000-mile warranty, and have the VANOS area checked for leaks on a cold start.