Most common 2006 BMW M5 problems
Share of the 39 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW M5 complaints by model year
Best M5 years: 2010, 2016. Years to avoid: 2006. Compare all years →
2006 BMW M5 recalls (1)
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery › Cables
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. The insulated bulkhead connector for the positive battery cable May have been incorrectly attached to the trunk floor panel, which can lead to a loosening of the bolt connection.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the battery bolt cable connection as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 30, 2012.
What 2006 BMW M5 owners say
Air bags all 25 →
The car has an issue with passenger airbag occupancy sensor, when someone sits on the passanger seat the airbag turns on, these bmws has many recalls for this issue, for some reason mine does not fall into the recall. I have scanned the computer and confirmed that the sensor is the issue, I would like this issue to be recalled on my car because this a common issue for these, I have read many other people with this issue, on forums, but a recall has not been issued, I think its important to do this recall because it is not safe for my passanger, in case some sort of accident happens and the airbag does not deploy.
Malfunction in passenger restraint system. Warning message stating "fault in passenger - restraint system affecting airbag, belt tensioner or belt force limiter" is activated every few minutes that car is in drive. Was informed that the passenger airbags will not deploy in the event of a crash. Dealership informed me that this was not covered by warranty and my extended warranty provider (hendricks autoguard) has refused to honor its obligations by claiming the part is a non-covered electrical component.
Seat belts
Front passenger seat air bag seat occupancy sensor mat, the passenger restraint system malfunction warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included on any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 62,000. Passenger air bag light on, showing air bag off. "important safety recall" note: for current recall January 2014, BMW states: "the recall involves the front passenger air bag seat occupancy sensor mat, over time, due to the frequency of front passenger seat usage, the sensor can become damaged. If this were to occur, deactivation of the front passenger air bag could result, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash. …
Well documented (on the internet) problem with the passenger side active restraint system failing, typically due to the passenger side occupancy mat. This problem has been documented in almost every model manufactured since 2000, but has only been addressed in a few, select, vehicles. This is the most common complaint for this model on carsafety.gov and has not been acknowledged by BMW of north America. This problem, in itself, can lead to a variety of malfunctions in the event of an accident causing serious injury or death. The problem has also LED to a large market of "dummy sensors" being sold on ebay and similar sites, which trick the computer into thinking the airbag sensor is correctly functioning. These dummy sensors do not remedy the problem and can lead to an increased risk of injury or death. …
Transmission & drivetrain
The early M5 with the smg (sequential manual gearbox) 7 speed have numerous TSB's and warranty campaigns. The shifting of the gearbox is up executed by pressure from the hydrualic pump that stores aaprx 80psi in the accumulater. This accumulator or pump has a hi chance of failing and when it does the car shuts down without warning. My car shut down in the middle of the intersection just recently. And I have had this pump replace twice out of warranty and once within warranty. A major flaw of the getrag smg 7spd. BMW discontinued this transmission but continues to raise prices on the replacement pumps as they know there is a high turnover of repairs. Please visit the BMW m forums as this topic is heavily discussed
On June 24, 2006, a-united leased the M5 through BMW of monrovia, formerly assael BMW. During the duration of the lease, a-united incurred less than 1800 miles on the M5 primarily because the M5's safety and reliability had caused serious concerns. From as early as November 2006, a-united began experiencing problems with the M5 when the unusual noise from the engine became louder and louder. Shortly, the M5 began hesitating to accelerate. On October 22, 2007, the M5 was taken to BMW of monrovia for routine service as well as the cautioned service engine light soon alert on the M5. The technician explained that the M5 had a defective brake booster pressure sensor and he discovered a fault memory in the vacuum sensor. He assured that he would take care of the problem and the service light as well as the unusual noise from the engine would no longer occur. …
2006 BMW M5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 10-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 11 / 17 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 BMW M5 a good car?
Based on 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 M5 rates avoid: 8.5× as many complaints as a typical year of the M5 at the same age. It is one of the M5 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2006 BMW M5?
The air bags — 25 complaints, 64% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the seat belts (7) and transmission & drivetrain (5).
How many recalls does the 2006 BMW M5 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2006 BMW M5, the most recent from March 26, 2012 (cables). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW M5?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010 and 2016. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2006. See the full BMW M5 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2006 BMW M5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 56,000 miles; 34% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.