BMW Oz intercepts M5, M6 over oil pump

BMW Group Australia is intercepting 20 examples of the latest twin-turbo V8-powered M5 and M6 between ship and showroom to fix a potential engine oil pump problem that could cause a sudden loss of oil pressure, damaging the engine.

Owners of affected M cars overseas have been advised by BMW not to drive the vehicles until they have been inspected by a dealer, and BMW dealers have been told to halt deliveries until replacement oil pumps have been fitted.

BMW Group Australia product communications manager Scott Croaker told GoAuto customer deliveries and the official M6 coupe and convertible launch date in early November are unaffected as the issue “can be dealt with in a day”.

“No vehicle on the road is affected,” he said. “It is vehicles that have been built and are either in transit or just arriving now ... it is a delivery stop so the cars cannot go anywhere until it is rectified.”

He added that the oil pump issue was linked to a production batch of engines rather than the car’s build date.

A BMW dealer bulletin from the United States – where around 696 vehicles are affected – was posted on some internet enthusiast forums with a list of vehicle identification numbers for the affected cars.

Left: BMW M6.



“A delivery stop has been issued by BMW AG to correct a problem with the engine oil pump on certain S63TU-equipped vehicles,” the bulletin said.

“Affected vehicles are the 2013 model year M5, M6 Coupe and M6 Convertible. Vehicles equipped with an affected pump could experience a sudden loss of oil pressure which will result in severe engine damage.

“BMW customer relations is contacting customers that have already taken delivery and recommending customers not drive the vehicle.”

A questions and answers sheet provided to US dealers has also been published on internet forums saying BMW became aware of the problem “through its quality control procedures” and is not aware of any accidents or injuries associated with the issue.

“It has been determined that only certain vehicles produced between July 2012 and September 2012 were equipped with an incorrectly manufactured oil pump,” it said.