BMW F90 M5 — The Ultimate Twin Turbo V8 Monster – Bimmers.com

The BMW M5 needs no introduction. This current generation of the car, the F90 M5, is a culmination of all that the German carmaker has perfected over those 40-odd years. 

Based on the regular BMW G30 5-Series, today’s M5 — like its predecessors — continues to reign supreme as the car that can deliver supercar-like performance while still being practical and usable as a daily driver. 

Brand new, off the dealership floor, this car packs a hefty price tag costing upwards of $100,000. Still, it’s probably the perfect do-it-all car out there; take it to the track, get stuck in traffic on your commute, or try and better its own record of the “longest continuous vehicle drift” — the M5 will accompany you through it all, willingly. 

If you can afford it, there’s little reason you shouldn’t get one. Here’s everything you need to know about the F90 M5, from what it offers to potential issues you might have to deal with. 

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What Engine Is in F90 M5?

The F90 M5 offers several creature comforts and modern tech, but you can also experience most of that with a regular 5-Series. Expectedly, what makes this such an excellent car is the engine that powers it — the BMW S63. Based on the BMW N63 — the manufacturer’s first twin-turbo V8 engine — the S63 is the epitome of BMW performance engines and, perhaps, one of the most capable units in its segment. 

BMW has used the S63 on multiple cars for over a decade, and the iteration under the hood of the F90 M5 is the most advanced one yet. It features a “hot-vee” layout (where the turbochargers are placed in the valley created by the cylinders) that puts the intake manifolds outside the cylinder banks and the exhaust manifolds in between them. 

This results in a more tightly packed engine bay layout. It also reduces the distance that exhaust gasses travel to the turbos, improving cooling and spool time.

Drivetrain

The BMW F90 M5 features the manufacturer’s xDrive (all-wheel drive) system, making it the first time the car has not been solely rear-wheel driven. That said, the system is programmed with a bias to the rear with the option of sending all power to the rear wheels. It’s worth noting that this can only be done if electronic stability control (ESC) is disabled. 

Power is sent to the wheels via an 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox with a three-stage Drivelogic shifting system.

Is the F90 M5 Fast?

The M5 is an astoundingly fast car, largely thanks to the added traction offered by the xDrive system. With 600 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, the S63 engine can propel the F90 M5 from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.4 seconds. Keep your foot on the pedal, and you’ll reach 124 mph (200 kph) in 11.1 seconds.

The M5 is available in two other variants — Competition and a limited-production Competition Sport (CS). In Competition spec, peak power is raised to 617 hp, and in CS guise, this number is a jaw-dropping 635 hp, making it the most powerful BMW car to date. Peak torque on all iterations remains unchanged. 

Like many modern-day performance cars, the top speed is limited to 155 mph (250 kph), but you can push it to 190 mph (305 kph) if you equip your car with the optional M Driver Package. 

2022 BMW F90 M5 Interiors, Design, and Features

The BMW F90 M5 is a car that just keeps on giving, with no compromises. Sure, it gets a powerful engine that could lap a racetrack nearly as quickly as some supercars, but what makes it such an exceptional package is that it can do it while still seating four comfortably. The interiors of the M5 are near-identical to that of the standard BMW 5-Series, with the most notable differences being the seats, steering wheel, and center console. 

The German manufacturer hasn’t used all-touchscreen controls on the inside, so you can still use tactile buttons and knobs to adjust air-con, radio, and toggle through electronics. This also makes them easier to operate while driving. Standard features on the M5 include customizable ambient lighting, a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable steering column. 

Like most modern-day luxury cars, the crowning jewel is the infotainment system. On the F90 M5, this is a 12.3-inch touchscreen with the latest iDrive software. The system comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and is controlled via a knob on the center console. While a 16-speaker, 464-watt Harman Kardon audio system comes standard, you can option the car with a 16-speaker, 1400-watt Bowers & Wilkins sound system.

There’s also a host of safety features on offer, like the Active Driving Assistant that includes Frontal Collision Warning, Active Blind Spot Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Info, and Automatic High Beams.

You’ll be hard-pressed to tell the visual differences between the regular 5-Series and the M5 if you don’t know what to look for. Thus, it can be relatively inconspicuous, and if that’s what you’re looking for from a performance car, the M5 does it like no other. The F90 M5 features the Shadowline exterior trim, 19-inch M Sport wheels, a rear spoiler, M mirrors, and a carbon-fiber roof. 

What’s the BMW F90 M5 Like to Drive?

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In 2021, the BMW F90 M5 received its first facelift. The updates it brought included the addition of the 12.5-inch (previously 10.25-inch) infotainment display and, more importantly, tweaks to the suspension. New shocks with recalibrated damping resulted in a softer, more compliant ride. This doesn’t take away from the car’s handling abilities, as you can swap between Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ modes to stiffen up the suspension as required. 

You can also choose from three modes for the M xDrive system — 4WD, 4WD Sport, and 2WD. The number of available modes can be overwhelming, but the steering wheel features two switches — M1 and M2 — that lets you immediately toggle between two pre-programmable modes. 

As we mentioned above, this is the first M5 to feature an all-wheel-drive system, but the Germans have managed to set it up in a way that makes it feel like it’s still a rear-wheel-drive car. We advise switching to the 2WD option with caution as it turns ESC off, and with all 600+hp being sent to just the rear two wheels, you either have to be very skilled or very brave to step on the throttle hard. 

One of the main criticisms many owners have against the M5 is that the exhaust can sound slightly sedate. Even under acceleration, you will not enjoy the aural symphony that you’d typically associate with a car that offers this level of performance. But, as you take the foot off the gas, the exhaust pops and bangs as you’d expect. 

Optional Equipment and Packages

Some of the equipment and features you could choose for your BMW F90 M5 are solely cosmetic and offered as complimentary additions. For instance, you could choose between black and red calipers for the M Compound brakes. You can also add a moonroof to your car for no added cost. 

However, you have to spend serious money for more functional updates. For instance, the M Carbon Ceramic Brakes will cost you $8,500, but they’re a worthy addition if you plan on frequenting the racetrack. They drastically improve braking performance while shaving 42 lbs off the car’s weight. The brake pads have also been designed to last 2-3 times longer, while the rotors should give you 3-4 times more life. 

For $2,500, you can get the M Driver’s Package. Apart from increasing the top speed limit, as we mentioned above, it also gets you into a 1-day high-performance driving class at a BMW Performance Center. The course has been tailored to driving M vehicles through various high-speed exercises, letting you fully experience your car’s potential in a controlled environment.

You can also choose from some optional packages — a bundle of features and equipment. If you’re buying a brand-new BMW M5, you can select from the following:

Competition Package

The Competition Package is priced at a hefty $7,600 but returns unmatched value. For starters, it adds 17 hp (taking peak output to 617 hp), allowing for quicker acceleration. On the hardware front, it replaces the stock 19-inch wheels with 20-inch ones (you can choose from three wheel styles.)

Apart from the added performance, the Competition Package brings firmer engine mounts, a stiffer suspension setup, an M Sport exhaust, and an additional Track mode. The Track mode turns off the infotainment display and audio system, so you can focus solely on the task at hand — setting the fastest lap time possible. It also shows you only track-related information on the head-up display and instrument cluster.

The exterior gets high-gloss black elements around the kidney grille and black-chrome tailpipes for the M Sport exhaust. On the inside, the front seat belts feature M Stripes, and the Merino Leather seats are available in a unique Midrand Beige tone.

Driving Assistance Professional Package

Priced at $1,700, the Driving Assistance Professional Package includes the Active Driving Assistant Pro and Extended Traffic Jam Assistant. The former adds radar and camera-based driver assistance systems like a Lane Change Assistant, Lane Keeping Assistant, Evasion Aid assist, and Emergency Stop Assistant. 

Meanwhile, the Extended Traffic Jam Assistant brings partially automated steering input on select roadways up to 40mph. 

Multiple owners who have equipped their car with this package have found that the driver assistance systems can sometimes be a little too loud and intrusive, forcing drivers to turn them off. However, they improve safety and protection and are worth adding to your car. 

Executive Package

The Executive Package includes features that raise the comfort and luxury on offer with the BMW F90 M5. For $3,350, this package contains Parking Assistant Plus, Active Park Distance Control, Surround View, Drive Recorder, front and rear heated seats, soft-close automatic doors, powered rear and side window shades, and ventilated seats with massage function at the front. 

The Parking Assistant Plus is a semi-autonomous function that will help steer your car into a parallel parking spot with the help of the Surround View system that offers a 360° view of your car. 

2022 BMW M5 CS

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In 2021, BMW began to produce the BMW M5 CS, the first-ever ‘Competition Sport’ iteration of the car. If you think the Competition package is potent, you’ll have a hard time wrapping your head around what the M5 CS can do. 

As we mentioned earlier in this article, the S63 on the M5 CS is tuned to produce 635 hp, making it the quickest and most powerful production BMW ever. The M Division has also gone above and beyond to make this a lighter machine — generous amounts of carbon fiber components have shaved off 256 lbs from the standard M5. 

The brakes themselves are nearly 50 lbs lighter than the ones on the M5 Competition. The bonnet, front splitter, mirror caps, rear spoiler, rear diffuser, and boot lid are some areas where Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) parts have been used. 

Other notable changes include the addition of heavily bolstered M carbon-fiber front seats. Likewise, the bench-style rear seat from the standard M5 and M5 Competition have been replaced by two rear bucket seats. Thus, it also became the first M5 to have just four seats. 

Is the BMW M5 F90 Reliable?

The BMW F90 M5 is still relatively new, having been around for under 5 years. So far, it’s proved to be highly dependable, which is impressive for a car of its stature. Cars that offer similar levels of performance are typically saved for the occasional weekend sprint or racetrack outing, but the M5 is different. You can use it (nearly) like you would any other car, and you won’t run into any significant issues. 

In fact, automotive analytics firm iSeeCars carried out a study to rank the sportscars that were most likely to reach 150,000 miles, and the M5 placed a respectable fifth.

The S63 engine that powers the F90 M5 had a rough origin story, but BMW has ironed out most of its more serious mechanical issues over the past decade. Still, we’ve listed some of the more common issues it faced, so you know what you may have to deal with as an owner. 

Rod Bearing Problems

When the S63 was first introduced, many prospective buyers were apprehensive about buying a car with one. The reason? BMW’s ‘S’ range of engines, like the S54, S65, and S85, have had reports of faulty rod bearings, which can be a costly issue to fix. Understandably, you’ll find several posts on Bimmer forums asking if the problem exists with the S63. Thankfully, it doesn’t. 

If you maintain the engine well and get it serviced regularly, it’s improbable that the rod bearings will fail prematurely. On the flip side, if the machine is starved of oil at some point, it can cause them to wear out. So, while a rod-bearing failure is possible, it’s nowhere near as common as you might think. 

When a rod bearing failure takes place, it can result in catastrophic damage. As they start to wear out, the movement of the pistons is affected. This damages the crankshaft and results in a deep tapping sound from the engine. This phenomenon is commonly referred to as the dreaded ‘rod knock.’ 

If you’re lucky, you might be able to catch a falling rod bearing before it causes severe damage to the engine. You will also notice copper shavings in the engine oil as it starts to deteriorate. Rectifying a rod-bearing issue can easily cost you a few thousand dollars. Checking your oil levels and taking care of your engine is always a cheaper and less stressful option. 

Excess Oil Consumption

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The BMW S63 engine inherited this flaw from its standard N63 sibling. Typically, a turbocharged engine will consume more oil than a similar naturally-aspirated counterpart since the turbos also need engine oil for cooling and lubrication. However, the oil consumed by earlier iterations of the N63 and S63 was far from normal. 

While several factors contribute to excess oil consumption, the most common culprits include failure of the turbocharger oil seals and piston rings or cracks in the crankcase vent hose and valve stem seals. BMW acknowledged this was a problem on the standard N63, introduced redesigned valve guides with tighter clearances, and replaced the affected part for free. 

It’s unlikely that you’ll face the problem with a modern-day S63, but if the oil consumption seems unnatural, you should get the engine checked. 

VANOS Solenoids Problem

The BMW S63 features the manufacturer’s double VANOS technology or variable valve timing on both the intake and exhaust valves. VANOS has been around for a while, but as the technology has developed, BMW has introduced some complex components. Some of them, like the VANOS solenoids, have developed a history of premature failure.

The VANOS solenoids are responsible for adjusting the position of the cams. They’re constantly working while the engine is running and are subject to extreme stress levels. Understandably, they tend to show signs of wear with time. While they’re designed to last over 100,000 miles, there have been several reports of them failing sooner. However, you can delay the inevitable with proper maintenance and care. 

Replacing the solenoids can result in a hefty service bill, largely thanks to the labor costs involved — the solenoid itself isn’t very expensive. If they’re starting to wear out, you should experience a rough idle, engine stuttering, and a noticeable drop in performance. In severe cases, it may also send your car into limp mode.

Ignition Coil Failure 

The ignition coils are another component that is more likely to fail over poor maintenance rather than substandard manufacturing quality. Since this is a high-performance engine, it can be pretty tough on the ignition system, and you’ll have to check that the coils are working well more often than you usually would. 

The thing with ignition coils is that if one fails, the rest will likely follow suit. So if you have to replace one, we recommend swapping the others out, so you can save on labor costs. 

The symptoms that an ignition coil failure causes are similar to what you’d face with a faulty VANOS system — misfiring and stuttering, rough idling, and sudden dips in performance.

Vehicle Maintenance Programs

BMW offers multiple maintenance packages on its newer cars. These programs are transferable, so if you’re buying a pre-owned F90 M5, you should ask the previous owner if they’ve opted for one of them. The car comes with the BMW Ultimate Care package, which includes scheduled maintenance for 3 years/36,000 miles, whichever comes first. You’ll also have unlimited Roadside Assistance for 4 years/unlimited miles. 

If you spend extra money, you can get the BMW Ultimate Care+ packages that cover the brakes, wipers, and clutch, up to a specific mileage (depending on which package you opt for).

Prices start from $700 and go up to $6,449 for the BMW Ultimate Care+ 4 Bundle, which includes replacing the wear-and-tear components mentioned above for 7 years or 125,000 miles.

Should You Buy the BMW F90 M5?

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If you’re buying a brand-new 2022 BMW F90 M5, you’re looking at a car with a base price tag of $103,700. Factor in some optional equipment and performance updates, and you’ll see that number rise quickly. Instead, we recommend looking for a pre-owned 2021 BMW M5 since it’s effectively the same car and won’t cost you as much.

The only exception would be the limited-run BMW M5 CS. The added performance and exclusivity require a budget of just over $150,000, but it’s a price worth paying if you want to outrun most two-seater sportscars with multiple passengers. 

The BMW M5 has always been one of the German automotive giant’s best cars. After doing it for nearly four decades, the geniuses at the M Division have produced its best iteration yet. If you can get one, you should.