High oil consumption
Attaches to S65 at engine level · Engine · carried by 3 variants across 3 chassis
Overview
High oil consumption is a universal fault recorded against S65 at engine level, at any age. It shows up as the car uses oil between services. Up to around a litre per 1,500 km is within BMW's own tolerance. Where it's documented, the repair runs no direct repair cost (cost of oil only, costs dated 2026-07), and it can be difficult to check before you buy. 3 variants across 3 chassis in this database inherit it.
What happens
Symptom. The car uses oil between services. Up to around a litre per 1,500 km is within BMW's own tolerance.
Cause. Design characteristic of a high-revving V8, not a fault.
Sources. BMW consumption tolerance figures
How to check it
Paperwork
Budget for it and check the level often. Consumption that's suddenly much worse than the car's own history is the warning sign, not consumption itself.
On these cars the folder is most of the value.
Every variant that carries this
| Variant | Chassis | Body | Years | Risk | Good buy | Cost as % of good buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3 S65 | E90 | sedan | 2007–2011 | R4 | €35,700 | 0% |
| M3 S65 | E92 | coupe | 2007–2013 | R4 | €35,000 | 0% |
| M3 S65 | E93 | convertible | 2007–2013 | R4 | €30,800 | 0% |
The last column is the point. The same repair is an inconvenience on one variant and a reason to scrap the car on another. A failure costing a quarter of the vehicle's value changes the purchase decision regardless of how rare it is.