M5 Oil Consumption

I have recently bought a E39 M5 (T reg) which has done 40,000 miles.  The engine uses a lot of oil (about 1 litre per 1000 miles). Assuming I get 15,000 miles between services then I am going to have to put in 15 litres of top up oil !!!!!!!!

The BMW dealer has said that 1 litre per 1000 miles in within the tolerances and OK for the M5 engine and my engine is fine and there is nothing they can do.

I think 1 litre per 1000 miles is way too much and the engine may not be fine.

Can anyone advise on this subject ?

 

 

I bought an E34 M5 through Munich Legends and they told me the same thing; 1 litre every 1,000 miles........ more if your particularly heavy on the loud pedal. I'd done just under the 1,000 when the light came on and when I checked the oil was just about half way between the markers on the dipstick.

What oil are people generally using, I was recommended Magnatech???

Unfortunately it does seem to be the norm with M5's. Luckily mine uses very little in the way of oil. I check every 500 miles and so far I've not had to top it up. I've only done just over 1000 miles in the car, so yet to see what long term consumption will be like.

BMW recommends Castrol RS 10W60 fully synthetic for M5's of our age. I've got a 2000 W-plate. Even says so in the handbook and on the windscreen! It's good oil, as I've used it in my Skyline and Imprezas in the past, and if it can cope with turbochargers, it'll cope with the M5!
I understand that the reason behind oil consumption is that the pistons are forged and therefore take a little while to expand in the liners when cold. This is perfectly normal and once up to temp they will not allow oil to be burned off etc. Seems reasonable to me.

However, I can understand your concern. Still, at least the car is having a regular "oil refresh" as it were. Can't be too bad for it.

Cheers
Matt

PS - There is loads of info on BMWM5. com. Worth a read. In fact, I think you've posted on there already!

Have just completed a two week 2,000 mile return run from Dublin to and around Bordeaux in my E34 M5 and had to top up 2 & 1/2 litres over the duration of the trip. There was some fairly enthusiastic driving though which may account for the extra 1/2 litre! I've now done 4,500 miles in mine and have put 4 & 1/2 litres in so the book and the dealer  seem to be spot on.

Just done 1000miles since I had my oil service done by local main dealer and gong has just gone off. Strange as this is much better than before and I have done some "comfortable" speeds courtesy of a run from London to Paris and back. Some of which was in the company of a French X5 nut acting as my nightime pathfinder. Will see how long before the Gong goes.

Frank

1993 E34 //M5 3.8 "nurburgring"

 

Matt

My Owners Handbook says "oils must be of viscosity class SAE15 W-40/15 W-50" 

Any comment?

Frank

`93 ///M5 3.8 

Matt

Rang up BMW and they told me they had used standard semi-synthetic in the oil service (forgot which spec of oil). Must be expensive stuff it came to over £50 for the oil alone,

Cheers

Frank