BMW M5 E60/E61 (2005–2010) Price Guide

The E60 M5, produced from 2005 to 2010, used a 5.0-litre V10 derived from BMW’s Formula 1 programme. More than just marketing guff, this F1 expertise produced 507bhp at 7,750rpm from an engine that revved to 8,250rpm and sounded unlike any saloon car before or since. It was extraordinary and complex, but stingingly expensive to maintain.

The Car

The S85B50 V10 used ten individual throttle bodies and produced 507bhp with 520Nm of torque. The SMG III seven-speed robotised manual was the only original transmission. It is notoriously jerky in traffic but devastatingly fast when used properly. An after-market manual conversion is available and transforms the driving experience. The E61 touring estate used the same engine. Rod bearing failure is the S85’s defining concern; arguably worse even than the S65 V8 in the E90 M3.

What Goes Wrong

Rod bearing failure is urgent and expensive on the S85. Oil changes at no more than 5,000 miles are essential. The SMG pump can fail and be ruinous to put right. Throttle actuators on the ten individual bodies fail progressively. The S85 truly requires specialist maintenance.

Buying

Only buy an E60 M5 with a recent rod bearing inspection by a specialist and documented short oil change intervals. A car with SMG-to-manual conversion by a reputable firm is, in a world where originality is king, actually worth a significant premium. The V10 sound at full throttle justifies every complexity, when it is maintained correctly. The BMW E61 M5 touring is rarer and more practical.