BMW 5 Series (incl. M5) Fault Codes

About the 5 Series (incl. M5)

Pitched as an executive car designed and built by the German car manufacturer BMW, the 5 Series has been sold under this badge since 1972.

At present, it is in its 7th generation and can be purchased in a number of variations depending on the needs of the customer, for example, as a sedan, station wagon or a fastback.

A first generation lasted nearly a decade and was powered by four-cylinder engines.

Its second-generation looked fairly similar and did not last quite so long. For these models, anti-lock brakes were added along with a center console tilted near the driver to allow for easier accessibility.

Fast forward to the latest models that have been on sale since 2017 they have been available as either a four door or a five-door with BMW proposing the release of a plug-in hybrid estate version.

Over the years, sales have remained consistent with the latest recorded global units sitting at 331,410.

There have been several cars sold by numerous manufacturers that sit in the same category as the M5, so customers looking for an alternative could choose from a Jaguar XF, Genesis G80, Audi A6, Mercedes-Benz E Class, Lexus GS, Volvo S90 or the Infiniti Q70.

• P0012 – This shows that the camshaft timing for bank 1 is not performing to the correct level.
• P0410 – Fundamentally a generic code, the engine oxygen sensor isn’t detecting an increase in the oxygen level in the exhaust.
• P0155 – A code showing that the heater element in the oxygen sensor is not heating up as quickly as it should.
• P0500 – The official wording for this error code is a ‘vehicle speed sensor malfunction.’ This happens when the engine control module finds wrong speed ratings.
• P0521 – When this code shows, it will mean that there is an unexpected reading coming from the engine oil pressure readings.