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M5 E39 M5
E39 • 1998–2003 • Sedan
1
Engine Options
7
Known Issues
2
Critical Issues
60%
Reliability Score
60% – Average
Engines
S62B50 – 5.0L V8 M Petrol
M5 • 400 hp • 500 Nm
Displacement 5.0L
Layout V8
Fuel Petrol
Transmission 6-Speed Manual (Getrag)
Known Issues3 issues
high
VANOS Hub Wear Common (~35%)
VANOS hubs wear internally, causing loss of low-end torque. Aftermarket upgraded VANOS kits available from specialists.
Typical Mileage
100,000–180,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€600–€1,500
DIY Friendly
✗ Specialist
Loss of low-end powerRough idleRattle on cold start
critical
Rod Bearing Wear Moderate (~25%)
Rod bearings can wear prematurely, particularly with extended oil change intervals. Proactive replacement recommended at 120k km or with any abnormal oil analysis results.
Typical Mileage
100,000–180,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€2,000–€4,000
DIY Friendly
✗ Specialist
Knocking under loadMetal in oil analysisLow oil pressure
medium
Throttle Body Potentiometer Failure Moderate (~20%)
Individual throttle body position sensors fail, causing rough idle and throttle issues.
Typical Mileage
120,000–200,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€300–€800
DIY Friendly
✓ Yes
Irregular idleFlat spotsCheck engine light
Common Issues (E39-specific)
Engine 2
high
VANOS Hub Wear Common (~35%)
S62 VANOS hubs wear, causing loss of low-end torque and rough idle.
Typical Mileage
100,000–180,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€600–€1,500
Category
Engine
Loss of power below 3000 RPMRattle on cold startRough idle
critical
Rod Bearing Wear Moderate (~25%)
Rod bearings can wear prematurely. Oil analysis and proactive replacement recommended.
Typical Mileage
100,000–180,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€2,000–€4,000
Category
Engine
KnockingMetal in oil
Suspension 1
high
Thrust Arm Bushing Failure Very Common (>55%)
Same E39 platform issue – thrust arm bushings wear causing highway shimmy.
Typical Mileage
60,000–120,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€150–€300
Category
Suspension
Steering shimmyVibration at speed
Drivetrain 1
medium
Clutch Wear Common (~30%)
The clutch handles 500 Nm of torque and wears faster than standard E39 models.
Typical Mileage
80,000–150,000 km
Est. Repair Cost
€1,000–€2,000
Category
Drivetrain
Slipping under loadHigh bite pointShudder
Wear Items
S62B50 – Wear Items
M5
Rod Bearing Inspection
120,000 km
Replacement Cost€2,000–€4,000
Wear Factor65%
Spark Plugs (8)
Every 40,000 km
Replacement Cost€120–€250
Wear Factor55%
Cooling System Refresh
100,000 km
Replacement Cost€600–€1,200
Wear Factor70%
All Variants
All Variants
Complete list of model variants for E39 M5
| Model | Engine | Displacement | Layout | Power | Torque | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M5 | S62B50 | 5.0L | V8 | 400 hp | 500 Nm | Manual |