Used BMW M5 Camshaft

Yes, every BMW M5 generation has used petrol engines with conventional camshafts — typically twin overhead camshafts (DOHC) per cylinder bank, so multiple camshafts per engine. The M5 has spanned naturally aspirated straight-sixes and V8s in earlier generations, through to twin-turbocharged V8s in more recent ones, and all of these use camshafts as a fundamental part of the valvetrain. You are looking for a genuine part that exists on this model.

No — these two generations use completely different engines, so there is no interchangeability. The E39 M5 uses the S62 naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V8, while the E60 M5 uses the S85 naturally aspirated 5.0-litre V10, meaning different bore spacing, different camshaft profiles, and different physical dimensions. Always confirm the engine code from your V5 or a VIN check before sourcing, and the breaker will need that code to match the correct camshaft.

These are different generations with different engines — the F10 M5 uses the S63 twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8, and the G30 M5 also uses an S63 family engine, but there were meaningful internal revisions between the two applications. Because the engine codes differ in their specific suffix and internal specification, you should not assume the camshafts interchange across this boundary — confirm compatibility with the breaker using your exact engine code from the V5 or a VIN check.

Trim level alone does not determine camshaft fitment — what matters is the engine code. The M5 Competition shares the same basic S63 engine family as the standard M5 in both F10 and G30 generations, though there may be differences in tune or internal specification between the two, so the engine code stamped on your block is the detail to supply to the breaker rather than just the trim badge. Colour, body style, and equipment level have no bearing on which camshaft is fitted.

Both fall within the E60 M5 generation (2005–2010), which uses the S85 V10 engine throughout, so a camshaft from the same engine code should be a strong match. However, confirm the exact engine code on both vehicles with the breaker, as mid-production ancillary or specification changes can occasionally affect parts even within a single generation. Never assume fitment without the breaker cross-referencing your registration or engine code.

The single most useful piece of information is your engine code, which you can find on your V5 logbook or by running a VIN check — for the M5 this will be something like S62, S85, or S63 depending on generation. Also tell the breaker the year of your vehicle and which camshaft position you need (intake or exhaust, and which bank on V engines), as a V8 or V10 has multiple camshafts. Note that ECU pairing and any coding requirements are something to discuss directly with the breaker rather than assume.