Most common 2013 BMW M5 problems
Share of the 10 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 →
2013 BMW M5 recalls (2)
Exterior lighting
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
BMW is recalling certain model year 2013 M5, M6 Coupe, and M6 Convertible vehicles, manufactured from July 19, 2012, through September 11, 2012. Due to a manufacturing process error, the tolerance between the engine oil pump's drive shaft and the pump's rotor was not within specification.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the oil pump, free of charge. The safety recall began on November 30, 2012. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.
What 2013 BMW M5 owners say
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 BMW M5. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the contact heard an abnormal sound before the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. Don jacobs BMW located at 2689 nicholasville rd #1, lexington, ky 40503, was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 12V475000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 59,817. The consumer stated a rod was seized to the crankshaft causing the bearing to be destroyed and sending metal shrapnel into the engine. …
Car reads low on oil while driving. I have taken it back to dealer and was told that the car only needed one quart of oil. Dealer has never looked to see if there is a problem with the tolerance between the engine oil pump drive shaft and the pump's rotor. Dealership only showed my husband how to replenish oil when light comes on. This has problem began when the car only had 29,000 miles. The light will come on when car is stationery and in motion on a city street or highway. Currently must drive around with a quart of oil in car at all times for safety reasons. Car now has 40,000 miles.
Steering
Fuel filler tube gaskets are improperly installed allowing water to enter the left rear quarter panel causing the steering electronics to be flooded and short out causing a loss of power steering without warning. This is a recurrent problem that dealerships are refusing to acknowledge or fix without charging $1,000.00.
While making a slow right turn the vehicle's engine suddenly shut down and immediately restarted a few moment later. However, when the vehicle stalled all power steering was lost which was followed by multiple system failure warnings that were displayed, such as: rear differential is locked, power steering has failed, seat belt tensioner system failed and to stop driving the vehicle immediately and contact a service center immediately. I drove the vehicle into my driveway which was 100 yards away and shut the vehicle down and called orange county BMW in harriman, ny. I was told to shut the vehicle off and let it sit for ten minutes and the system should reset itself, which I did. I was told this is a common problem in the 5 series and it happens all the time from the sales manager, [redacted], to whom I spoke to about the problem. …
2013 BMW M5 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4L 8-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 22 / 17 |
| 4.4L 8-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 BMW M5 a good car?
Based on 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 M5 rates average: 3.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the M5 at the same age. 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 2013 BMW M5?
The engine & cooling — 6 complaints, 60% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the steering (3) and seat belts (1).
How many recalls does the 2013 BMW M5 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2013 BMW M5, the most recent from March 31, 2015 (exterior lighting). 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 2013 BMW M5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 45,000 miles; 60% 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.