BMW M5 (E60) S85B50 V10 exhaust clip with E85 mention

BMW M5: mechanical breakdown

Eleven seconds of E60 M5 exhaust

An 11-second clip of an E60 M5, filed under exhaust sounds. The caption names E85 / ethanol and no other parts or events. The source of the noise is the S85B50, a naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V10 with an 8,250 rpm limit.

Rod bearing wear on the S85B50

Rod bearing wear is the most discussed engine risk on the S85B50. The 5.0-litre V10 makes 500 hp and 520 Nm and is allowed to 8,250 rpm, so the rod bearings sit in the load path of an engine built to rev. Once they wear, the failure is in the bottom end, and that is a full engine job rather than a bolt-on repair. The remedy is to replace the bearings before they fail: the effect is a lower risk of engine failure, the cost is an expensive, labour-intensive job. The other listed weak points, throttle actuators, the SMG hydraulic pump and VANOS, are separate systems with separate fixes.

Exhaust and headers on the V10

Owners who want more from the S85B50 start at the exhaust. Aftermarket headers and a cat-back system give a louder, sharper V10 sound, which suits an engine whose character is its top-end shriek near 8,250 rpm. The price is money, and some systems bring drone or legality problems. Bearing replacement is the other common job, but it is done for the engine's survival and not for sound. Labour drives its cost, so many owners schedule it together with other major work. E85 is the only part of the caption that falls outside the usual list.