BMW M5 F90 used buyer’s guide: which year, the S63 checks and real UK prices

Buying a BMW M5 F90 used means landing a 591bhp-plus twin-turbo super-saloon for roughly the price of a mid-spec new SUV, and the cars have aged far better than the fragile F10 that came before. Our verdict: a well-documented 2018 to 2020 Competition between £45,000 and £55,000 is the sweet spot, but the deposit only makes sense once you have seen the recall history, a full BMW service record and proof the consumable bills have been budgeted for.

What the BMW M5 F90 used market actually offers

The F90 reached UK roads in 2018 and ran, through a 2020 LCI facelift, until the plug-in hybrid G90 replaced it. It was the first M5 with M xDrive all-wheel drive, paired to an eight-speed ZF automatic, and it kept a switchable 2WD rear-drive mode for the brave. Standard cars made 592bhp; the Competition lifted that to 617bhp with a firmer set-up, and from the 2020 facelift the Competition effectively became the default M5 in BMW GB’s range. If you want a used super-saloon that doubles as a school-run car, the BMW 5 Series G30 used buyer’s guide covers the calmer six-cylinder end of the same body; the M5 is the same shell with the volume turned to maximum.

The S63 4.4 V8: what to know before you trust it

The F90 uses the S63B44T4, the latest take on BMW M’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, and it is a genuinely strong unit. The catastrophic rod-bearing and cooling failures associated with the earlier F10 M5’s engine were largely engineered out, and the PistonHeads used guide describes the F90’s mechanical record as excellent. That does not mean zero risk. Early cars were subject to a recall covering the high-pressure fuel pump attachment and a separate low-pressure fuel pump fault that could stop the engine restarting, both fixed under warranty by BMW. Owners on the M5POST forum also report an expansion tank that can weep coolant near the injectors, so a clean coolant system and proof of the fuel pump recall work are the two checks that matter most on a private sale.

One thing worth setting straight: the “timing chain” folklore that follows V8 BMWs around belongs to the older N63 and S63 of the early 2010s, not the F90’s later engine. We have seen no pattern of F90 timing-component failures in owner data, so do not let a seller use it to talk a price up or down. Treat the engine as sound and spend your scrutiny on service history instead.

Competition versus standard, and the rare CS

Most UK F90s on the market are Competitions, and that is the one we would chase: the extra 25bhp matters less than the standard-fit upgrades and the fact that values have settled around it. The standard 592bhp car is no slouch and can be slightly cheaper, but choice is thin. At the top sits the 2021 M5 CS, a 635bhp, 70kg-lighter special that BMW priced at £140,780 OTR new (per BMW UK’s launch release). Fewer than 50 came to the UK, so a CS is a collector item with collector pricing, not a value used buy. For most people the question is simply which Competition, not whether to stretch to a CS.

Used prices in 2026: which year and budget

High-mileage early standard cars start around £40,000, with a tidy 50,000-mile example near £47,000 and clean low-mileage Competitions opening under £55,000, broadly tracking the bands in the PistonHeads F90 used guide. That puts the realistic deposit-to-drive-away spend for a good Competition in the £45,000 to £70,000 window the brief flags, depending on year, mileage and history. Our pick on value is a 2018 to 2020 Competition with a full BMW record between £45,000 and £55,000: old enough to have shed the worst depreciation, new enough to still feel current after the 2020 facelift’s interior tech update. If you are weighing the M5 against its natural rival from Munich’s smaller M car, the BMW M3 G80 used buyer’s guide shows where the money goes on the six-cylinder alternative.

Service history is the whole deposit decision

On a car this fast, paperwork is worth more than colour or wheels. BMW sold a Service Inclusive package covering the first four years’ servicing for around £2,000, so a genuine early car should have a complete digital record; gaps are a red flag, not a haggling quirk. Insist on a full main-dealer or recognised M-specialist history, evidence the fuel pump recall was carried out, and proof of regular oil services. Run the registration through the free gov.uk vehicle recall checker and the MOT history before you put money down. A clean, boring folder of receipts is the single strongest signal that a private F90 has been owned properly rather than thrashed and flipped.

The running costs that change the answer

The purchase price is the cheap part. Expect real-world economy in the mid-20s mpg (BMW quoted 26.9mpg combined and 241g/km CO2 for the standard car), so VED sits in the top bracket and fuel is a genuine line item. Tyres and brakes are the big consumables: staggered performance rubber and large M compound brakes wear fast if you use the car as intended, and a set of tyres plus pads can run to four figures. Out of warranty, main-dealer labour on an M car is premium-priced, which is why an approved used or aftermarket warranty is worth costing in. Our BMW, Audi and Mercedes approved used warranty comparison shows what manufacturer cover actually includes, and budgeting for these costs up front is what separates a happy F90 owner from a regretful one.

Insurance and the M-car premium

A 600bhp saloon worth £45,000 to £70,000 is not cheap to cover, and insurers price the F90 as the performance car it is. Price up cover before you commit, because the difference between providers on a high-value M car can be larger than a year of fuel. If the car carries aftermarket exhausts, maps or wheels, every modification must be declared, which our guide to declaring modifications on an M, RS or AMG walks through in detail.

For cars near or above the £50,000 mark, agreed-value cover and approved repairers become worth paying for, as our breakdown of high-value car insurance over £50,000 explains, and the wider BMW M and Audi RS insurance picture shows why repair costs drive the quote.

The pre-purchase checklist before a deposit

Before you hand over a £45,000 to £70,000 deposit, work through a short, specific list. Confirm the fuel pump recall and any other outstanding actions are closed on the gov.uk checker. Inspect for coolant residue around the engine bay and ask whether the expansion tank has been replaced. Cold-start the car and listen for front-end clunks on slow manoeuvres. Check tyre dates and brake wear, because fresh consumables save you four figures. Verify a full BMW or M-specialist service record, an HPI check showing no finance or write-off marker, and a clean V5C in the seller’s name at the right address. On a Competition, confirm the carbon brake option (if fitted) and that the M xDrive modes all engage.

Where to buy or check an F90 next

• BMW Approved Used: the safest route, with manufacturer warranty and a multi-point check; pay the premium for a fragile-history car.
• Auto Trader and PistonHeads classifieds: the widest UK choice; filter for full history and use the PistonHeads forum to sanity-check a specific car.
• gov.uk recall and MOT check: run the reg through gov.uk/check-vehicle-recall and the MOT history before viewing.
• HPI / provenance check: confirm no outstanding finance, no write-off marker, and matching mileage.
• Independent M specialist: a pre-purchase inspection by a recognised BMW M specialist is cheap insurance on a six-figure-when-new car.
• More used picks: compare the wider premium SUV and saloon shortlist in our used buying guides.

Our take

The BMW M5 F90 used is one of the strongest value plays in the premium performance market right now: supercar pace, four proper seats and a boot, for the money of an ordinary new premium SUV. We would buy a 2018 to 2020 Competition with a complete BMW record between £45,000 and £55,000, with the fuel pump recall closed and a clean coolant system, and we would walk away from any car with patchy history no matter how tempting the price. The CS is glorious but it is a collector buy at collector money, not a sensible daily. Who should avoid the F90? Anyone who cannot absorb mid-20s mpg, four-figure tyre and brake bills, and premium insurance. Budget for the running costs honestly and this is a brilliant car. CDE score: 4.5/5.

This article is general editorial guidance, not financial, insurance or legal advice. Used prices, recall status and insurance costs vary by car and change over time; verify the specifics of any individual vehicle and quote before you commit.