The BMW M850 is one of the most luxurious BMW sedans on the market. It also comes with a powerful engine with lots of advanced features. However, it also comes with several problems that interested buyers should know about. But what are the common problems with the BMW M850?
The common BMW M850 problems are faulty brakes, oil leaks, faulty seatbelt lock recognition, V8 engine issues, steering problems, cooling system leaks, exhaust rattling, door handle failure, and automatic gearbox problems. Not that most of these problems can be fixed by visiting a BMW service center.
What are the common problems with the BMW M850?
Faulty brakes
This issue is common in the 2019 BMW M850. The brakes become faulty or don’t work as intended because of a defective hydraulic unit of the braking system. This problem leads to limited braking support and increased braking range. As a result, it leads to an increased danger of having an accident.
Oil leaks
Like most BMWs, the BMW M850 also suffers oil leaks. After covering several miles, the BMW M850 may have a cracked or worn-out valve cover gasket, oil pan gasket, or timing cover gasket. As a result, the oil will start to leak until the faulty or worn-out parts are replaced with good or new parts.
V8 engine problem
The BMW 850 comes with a V8 engine. The older model featured both the V6 and V12 engine. But in this case, the V8 engine is the one that develops problems. Users have reported this engine misfiring and running poorly. The main culprit behind this problem is bore wear in the engine block.
To fix this issue, you may have to replace the engine block and acquire new pistons. Note that replacing these parts is somewhat costly.
Faulty seatbelt lock recognition
The main reason behind this issue is the short cable connecting the hall sensor with the seat buckle. When the cable is short, it will cause a faulty seatbelt lock recognition, which will also affect the functioning of the restraint system and the deployment of the airbag. This also increases the risk of an injury in case of an accident.
The good news is that the affected models, including the 2019 and 2020 BMW M850 cars were recalled and the issue fixed.
Cooling system leaks
Like oil leaks, a cooling system leaks can happen because of a bad head gasket, damaged radiator, or a weak radiator cap. If one of these parts is compromised, then your cooling system will start to leak. Have the bad part replaced as soon as possible to prevent further coolant leaks.
An excessive coolant leak will cause the engine to overheat and affect the car’s performance.
Steering issues
Another common problem that BMW M850 owners face is the steering wheel wandering to one side, instead of remaining in a straight line. This problem is normally caused by a power steering box issue. To fix the problem, you will be forced to replace the bad or faulty power steering box.
Automatic gearbox problems
At times, you may notice that your car’s gear changes on the automatic gearbox are poor. On top of that, you may have delays when it comes to acceleration. With such signs, this is an indication that the clutch is slipping and the gearbox requires rebuilding.
Exhaust rattling
This is another problem that owners of the BMW M850 should anticipate having. This issue normally takes place when the engine is cold. Besides, it is also an alert that the exhaust and catalytic converter are almost going bad. You can fix the issue by replacing the bad catalytic converter and exhaust.
Door handle failure
This issue is common in the older BMW M850 models or the first-generation BMW M850 model. The door handle fails after the user covers several miles. It starts with the door having to be lifted more than normal to open the door. After some time, the door won’t open completely. This is caused by a cheap metal used in the door’s construction.
Replace the bad door handle metal with more reliable and durable parts.
FAQ
Is the BMW M850 reliable?
The BMW M850 falls around average reliability. This is at par with most of its competitors. However, the cost of repair and maintenance makes this car to be unreliable, which is a setback to interested buyers. But if you take good care of this ride, it will last for many years.
After how many miles does the BMW M850 start having problems?
It depends on how well you take care of the car. If you take proper care and drive carefully, you may start having minor issues after 100,000 miles. But if you drive carelessly and don’t take care of your car, you may start having problems as early as 60,000 miles.
What is the high mileage for BMW M850?
The high mileage for the BMW M850 is 150,000 miles. So, if you’re planning to buy a used BMW M850 model, it is important that you get one with less than 150,000 miles. Note that this only applies to the first-generation model as the second-generation model has been in existence from 2019 to date.
Is BMW M850 expensive to maintain?
Yes, the BMW M850 is very costly to maintain. This is because it is less fuel-efficient than most of its competitors. Additionally, it has several issues that users have to deal with, meaning that the user will spend more time in the garage than an average car. Finally, the cost of spare parts and service are quite high.
Does BMW M850 hold its value?
No, the BMW M850 does not hold its value well. This is because it comes with a high initial cost, which only a few can afford. Besides, the car is costly to maintain, making it even costlier to own as it gets older. As a result, this car comes with one of the worst resale values on the market.
Conclusion
If you intend to invest in the luxurious and advanced BMW M850, you should start by looking at some of the problems that you may face in the future. After highlighting the common problems that this car faces, you should properly maintain your car to avoid experiencing most of them.
All in all, the BMW M850 is a beautiful, high-performance, advanced, safe, and stylish coupe. However, it is also expensive to acquire and maintain.