Even BMW’s Greatest Engine Can’t Outrun Neglect

The Superb BMW V10 That is Constructed to Sing

The BMW S85B50 5.0-liter V10, discovered within the E60 M5 and E63 M6, stays one of many boldest engines ever fitted to a manufacturing sedan. A naturally aspirated marvel, void of any connection to different manufacturing energy vegetation, it revs as much as 8,250 rpm and produces over 500 horsepower in stock form. It was the German marque’s love letter to its BMW Sauber Method One endeavors. The sound alone, an orchestral scream of ten cylinders, cemented its standing as top-of-the-line engines ever made by BMW.

However with that efficiency and aural renown got here at a value. The S85 is notoriously high-maintenance. Regular oil changes, rod bearing inspections, premium fluids, and an proprietor who is aware of what they’re doing are all non-negotiable. These engines have been by no means meant for informal possession or neglect.

And but, as a current teardown video reveals – courtesy of our favourite engine coroner, I Do Automobiles – not even BMW’s greatest engineering can overcome years of corner-cutting upkeep.

A Ticking Time Bomb, Delayed by Sheer Luck

The engine beneath the highlight got here from a 2006 M6 with 121,000 miles on the clock, a stunning mileage for an S85 given its situation. Purchased at public sale, the automobile wasn’t working, and the engine was locked up.

The story inside was shortly revealed firstly of the teardown: oil varnish coated the internals, indicating lengthy oil change intervals with low cost fluids. The valve covers and cylinder heads confirmed indicators of extreme sludge buildup, and the oil management rings have been so plugged that the engine was visibly burning oil.

Surprisingly, the consumption ports and a few top-end parts have been comparatively clear, suggesting this M6 wasn’t pushed onerous, however slightly babied like an everyday 6er. That will have saved it from a extra dramatic failure, however handled like an everyday commuter, it died a gradual demise.

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The Deadly Blow That Lastly Took It Down

The deadly failure got here within the type of a rolled rod bearing. Two bearing shells had fused and stacked contained in the rod, pushing the piston barely greater within the bore. That minor enhance in journey was sufficient for the piston to strike the cylinder head. The harm wasn’t dramatic – no holes within the block, no thrown rods – nevertheless it was sufficient to kill the engine.

For all its brilliance, the S85 is just not bulletproof. It calls for devotion from an fanatic who is aware of the ins and outs of proudly owning a superbly engineered, efficiency mill. And, evidently, when it would not get it, the outcomes are as inevitable as they’re heartbreaking.