Is the S63 reliable?
We rate the S63 68 of 100 for reliability: moderate. The rating is one of the inputs to every Guide Score below, and it is argued for on the method page with the others.
Why that rating
The lit mark is the S63; each grey mark is another engine on the engines page.
The M-tuned hot-vee V8. Shares the family's thermal load and oil appetite, with more cooling capacity than the civilian N63, and V8 running costs.
The S63TU in the 2013 to 2016 M5 drew BMW warranty extensions to 10 years or 120,000 miles for its fuel injectors and high-pressure fuel pumps, a service action for leaking turbo coolant lines and a valve stem seal procedure; the F90 M5's version has a BMW campaign to replace a leak-prone coolant expansion tank and 15-year, 150,000-mile cover for injectors the coolant damaged.
The first version, in the 2010 to 2014 X5 M and X6 M, has a much worse record and is rated separately at 50: BMW issued bulletins, service actions and a warranty extension for its valve stem seals, injectors and crankcase vent line; hot-vee coolant leaks are well known, and failed turbos are a known risk.
Cars in this guide with the S63
| Car | Years with this engine | Reliability | Guide Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5 F90 | 2018 to 2023 | 63 to 66 | 73 (2023) |
| M8 F92 / F91 / F93 | 2020 to 2025 | 72 to 75 | 70 (2025) |
| M5 F10 | 2013 to 2016 | 60 to 62 | 68 (2016) |
| M6 F13 | 2012 to 2019 | 60 to 64 | 68 (2019) |
| X6 M F96 | 2020 to 2023 | 68 to 70 | 60 (2026) |
| X5 M F95 | 2020 to 2023 | 68 to 70 | 59 (2026) |
| X5 M F85 | 2015 to 2018 | 62 to 64 | 55 (2018) |
| X6 M F86 | 2015 to 2019 | 62 to 64 | 55 (2019) |
| X6 M E71 first version, rated 50 | 2010 to 2014 | 55 to 58 | 49 (2014) |
| X5 M E70 first version, rated 50 | 2010 to 2013 | 55 to 57 | 47 (2013) |
Reliability is each car's score out of 100 for the years it had this engine: the engine rating plus that car's own known problems, service costs and age. The Guide Score is for the car's best year to buy.
Known problems on the S63
| Problem | Named in the guides for | Typical bill |
|---|---|---|
| Turbocharger failure | X5 M E70, X6 M E71 | $8,000 |
| Valve stem seals | X5 M E70, X6 M E71 | $6,000 |
| Rod bearing wear | M5 F90, M5 F10, X6 M F86, X5 M F85, M6 F13 | $4,000 to $5,000 |
| Fuel injector failure | X5 M E70, X6 M E71 | $4,500 |
| Hot-vee coolant leaks and pump failures | X5 M E70, X6 M E71 | $3,000 |
| Oil and coolant leaks around the hot vee | X6 M F86, X5 M F85, M8 F92 / F91 / F93 | $2,000 to $3,000 |
| Fuel injectors and high-pressure fuel pumps | M5 F10, M6 F13 | $2,500 |
| Fuel injectors damaged by coolant | M5 F90 | $2,000 |
| Coolant tank leak onto the fuel injectors | M8 F92 / F91 / F93 | $2,000 |
| Turbo coolant line leaks | M6 F13 | $2,000 |
| Oil leaks and oil consumption | X5 M E70, X6 M E71 | $1,500 |
| Leaking coolant expansion tank | X5 M F95, X6 M F96 | $600 |
Bills are the guides' estimates, not quotes; each car's guide says which model years a problem hits and how to check for it. The bars share one scale, up to the costliest bill here.
Other engines
Every engine we rate, from the most reliable down, is on the engines page.