The Lemon Index
BMW's 5.0 L naturally aspirated 90° V10 in the M5 (E60) and M6 (E63/E64), model years 2006–2010. YouTube likes the 2006 best.
Less liked than most on YouTube: YouTube owner tone 44/100, #117 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the bottom third); 1 engine-related recall on record, 2 known issues listed below.
Everyday cars with this engine Tap a year for that car's full report.
Model years from EPA version lists. Only years we have a car page for.
Reliability by year
YouTube videos are most positive about the 2006 (45) and least about the 2009 (43); 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 2
1 of them is about the engine, fuel, cooling or powertrain. They come first.
12V126000 Electrical System · Bmw M5, Bmw M6 2006–10
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 6-SERIES, MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 M5, AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 M6 VEHICLES.
13V407000 Exterior Lighting · Bmw M5 2008–10
Over time, increased resistance at the taillight electrical contact points may cause damage to the ground terminal and housing of the connector r.
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 11 repair notes about the engine on these cars, including:
- "SUBJECT N62TU: ISTA Service Function for DME ""RAM Backup""
- "N54 Engine: Diagnosis of Cold Start Rough Running with Misfire Faults
- Whistling Noise Coming from the Center Vent - A/C is Off
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.
Known issues on record
Every US version with this engine
| Car and versions | Years |
|---|---|
| BMW M5 (E60) M5 · BMW 5 Series, every year | 2006–10 |
| BMW M6 (E63/E64) M6, M6 Convertible | 2006–10 |
Engine code: S85B50. Power: 500–507 hp, factory figures. Versions and years: EPA (fueleconomy.gov). Sources: BMW S85.
Quick answers
What cars have the BMW S85 5.0 V10 engine?
In the US: the BMW M5 (E60), BMW M6 (E63/E64), model years 2006–2010. See the version table for each one.
Is the BMW S85 5.0 V10 reliable?
Not one of the safer bets on our data. YouTube owner tone 44/100, #117 of 165 engines with a YouTube study (in the bottom third); 1 engine-related recall on record, 2 known issues listed below. Owners filed 63 complaints we can tie to it, about any part of the car. Its cars had 2 recalls (1 about the engine, fuel or powertrain). Have any used car inspected.
How much horsepower does the BMW S85 5.0 V10 make?
500–507 hp in factory figures, depending on the car.