The Lemon Index
BMW's 4.9 L naturally aspirated 90° V8, DOHC in the Z8 and M5 (E39), model years 2000–2003. YouTube likes the 2001 best.
Middle of the pack: YouTube owner tone 50/100, #78 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the middle third); no engine-related recall on record.
Everyday cars with this engine Tap a year for that car's full report.
- BMW 5 Series BMW M5 (E39)2000200120022003
Model years from EPA version lists. Only years we have a car page for.
Reliability by year
Not enough complaints to chart. Owners filed 24 complaints with the government that we can tie to this engine's cars, 2000–2003, about any part of the car. Performance versions are mostly filed under their base model (a Shelby GT500 is filed as a Mustang), so we only count complaints whose model name or the owner's own words tie them to this engine, and lead with YouTube, recalls and the automaker's repair notes.
YouTube videos are most positive about the 2001 (50) and least about the 2000 (49); neighboring years share many of the same videos, so small gaps mean little.
How we count: owner complaints only where the car's name and year leave no doubt; YouTube tone from videos that name this engine or its cars. How we count
Owner complaints (NHTSA) are filed by model and year, not engine. We count one for this engine only when the model name and year had no other engine (e.g. "488 GTB", "GT-R"), or when the owner's own words name a version that had only this engine that year (Z06, ZR1, Hellcat, GT500 ...). They cover the whole car (wheels, air bags, electrics ...), not only the engine, and none of them is a failure rate. We chart them only for engines with 30 or more, over 3 or more years. YouTube tone = how positive the videos are, 0–100, from titles and transcripts (praise vs trouble words, the title counts 3 times), weighted by views; a year needs at least 3 videos' worth. A video counts for this engine when its title names the engine or a car that only had this engine in the years it names; a video whose title names no model year counts toward every year of that car, so neighboring years share most of their videos.
All the numbers, year by year
Recalls on cars with this engine 5
None of them is about the engine itself.
17V047000 Air Bags · Bmw M5 2001–02
15V318000 Air Bags · Bmw M5 2002–03
03V421000 Air Bags · Bmw M5 2001
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A MICROPROCESSOR IN THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE, WHICH ACTIVATES THE FRONT AIR BAGS, THE SIDE AIR BAGS, THE FRONT SEAT SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONERS, AND THE BATTERY SAFETY TERMINAL, MAY HAVE A …
01V001000 Tires · Bmw M5 2000–01
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 18-INCH TIRES.
00V048000 Exterior Lighting · Bmw M5 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.
NHTSA recalls by model and year. A recall counts here when every confirmed version of that model-year had this engine, or the recall names it. Check a car's VIN for its own open recalls.
Engine problems BMW told dealers about
BMW sent dealers 5 repair notes about the engine on these cars, including:
- Coolant is leaking from under the car which is equipped with the S63 engine
- Fuel level sensor repairs
NHTSA manufacturer communications (technical service bulletins), matched by model name and year like the complaints, engine-related ones only. A repair note is not a recall: ask a seller whether it was done.
Every US version with this engine
| Car and versions | Years |
|---|---|
| BMW Z8 Z8 | 2000–03 |
| BMW M5 (E39) M5 · BMW 5 Series, every year | 2000–03 |
Engine code: S62B50. BMW Dingolfing. Power: 394 hp, factory figures. Versions and years: EPA (fueleconomy.gov). Sources: BMW S62.
Quick answers
What cars have the BMW S62 4.9 V8 engine?
In the US: the BMW Z8, BMW M5 (E39), model years 2000–2003. See the version table for each one.
Is the BMW S62 4.9 V8 reliable?
Mostly. YouTube owner tone 50/100, #78 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the middle third); no engine-related recall on record. Not enough owner complaints to judge it per car: the government files most performance versions under their base model. Its cars had 5 recalls (0 about the engine, fuel or powertrain). Have any used car inspected.
How much horsepower does the BMW S62 4.9 V8 make?
394 hp in factory figures, depending on the car.