Let’s face it, nobody buys a BMW M5 for its economy. After all, the all-new F90 model is a 600-hp super sedan with a thirsty twin-turbo V8. Why are we even talking about the BMW M5’s fuel economy, you may ask? Because a fault has been discovered that may deceive you into thinking BMW’s super sedan is more economical than it really is.
Specifically, the issue relates to the fuel level sensor in certain 2018 BMW M5s. According to a recall notice issued by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the fuel level sensor in the fuel tank may become stuck against an in-tank fuel line, causing the fuel gauge to display an inaccurate amount of fuel. This could lead to the car stalling and increase the risk of a crash, though BMW isn’t aware of any related accidents or injuries. This is the second time the new BMW M5 has been recalled in just a few months.
To fix the issue, dealers will secure the in-tank fuel line to prevent the fuel line from contacting the sensor free of charge. In total, 1,645 examples of the 2018 BMW M5 are being recalled in the US, with the campaign starting on September 10. While the fault is clearly a potential safety hazard that obviously needs to be fixed as soon as possible, most BMW M5 buyers are more concerned about the performance than the fuel economy.
Under the hood is a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 that produces 591 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Power is sent to all four wheels as standard, but the new M5 can also be switched to rear-wheel drive at the push of a button. 0-62 mph takes 3.4 seconds before the German super sedan tops out at 155 mph, but the optional M Driver’s increases that figure to 190 mph.
