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BMW M5 F10: the M5's first turbo V8 deserves to be heard, the complete guide

11 min read

BMW M5 F10: the M5's first turbo V8 deserves to be heard, the complete guide

When the F10 replaced the E60, purists remembered only one thing: the M5 had lost its naturally aspirated V10 and its F1 sound. BMW knew it so well that the F10 piped an artificial engine sound through its speakers. Fifteen years later, the verdict is different: the F10's S63 is a formidable V8, unfairly robbed of its voice by the factory exhaust. This guide explains how to make it heard, and how to choose the catalytic converter, material and valves, with straight answers on the French CT inspection and the engine warning light. Here you will find everything that matters before configuring the exhaust for your BMW M5 F10: catalytic converter, material, valves, tips and French MOT.

Written by ROG Motorsport · Updated

ROG valved exhaust system for BMW M5 F10

Your ROG exhaust for the BMW M5 F10

From €2,490 in stainless steel, €2,990 in titanium

Configure my exhaust
Vehicles
BMW M5 F10 4.4TT (2012-2016)
Engine
560 hp · 680 Nm
Exhaust
Valved cat-back, built for your VIN
Material
304 stainless steel or titanium
Front section
Optional: catted downpipe with 200 or 100 cells, or decat
Valves
ROG remote, or factory control if your vehicle has it
Lead time
20 working days from order confirmation to delivery
Warranty
3 years, parts and workmanship

Closely related versions have their own guide: BMW 520i / 528i N20 F10 2.0T, BMW 535i N55 F10 3.0T, BMW 550i N63 F10, BMW M5 E60 5.0L.

The F10's S63: the power of a supercar, the discretion of a limousine

560 hp and 680 Nm available very early: the F10's S63TU redefined what a saloon could do in 2011. Its hot-vee layout, with the turbos nestled in the V, naturally muffles the exhaust, and the factory system finishes the job with limousine silencers. The result is a V8 you sense more than you hear, to the point that BMW made up for it with synthetic sound in the cabin.

The ROG exhaust gives the S63 back its true mechanical pulse. A deep rumble at idle, a commanding climb through the revs, crackles on lift-off: the F10 finally shows what it really is. And with the valves closed, it goes back to being the grand tourer it also knows how to be.

What makes up the exhaust on your BMW M5 F10

An exhaust system is best understood in two parts. Here is what each one does, and what ROG replaces.

How the exhaust system is laid out From left to right: the engine, the front section, then the ROG cat-back with its valved silencer and tips.Front sectionROG cat-back: the complete exhaustEngine
Valves closed: the silencer does its work and the sound stays discreet.Valves open: the direct path opens up and the engine finds its full voice.Schematic only; the actual routing depends on the vehicle.

The cat-back is the complete exhaust system

It is everything you can see under your BMW M5 F10, from the outlet of the front section to the tips: pipes, silencer, valves. This is the part where most of our research and development goes: it is what shapes the sound, and it is enough on its own to transform the car.

The front section, where the catalytic converter sits

On your BMW M5 F10, it is the downpipe, the pipe leading from the turbo. It contains the factory catalytic converter: the second restriction in the exhaust, after the silencer. Replacing it is optional: it frees up the flow, and it is the ECU remap that turns that into horsepower.

Your BMW M5 F10 in figures

An exhaust system is judged first by ear and on the scales. The extra horsepower comes from an ECU remap.

Power

Factory560 hp
Stage 2683 hp

Torque

Factory680 Nm
Stage 2893 Nm

Published factory and Stage 2 figures.

The ROG exhaust works with or without an ECU remap. To get the full potential out of your BMW M5 F10, we advise taking it to an approved tuning centre afterwards.

The F10's S63 is now one of the best power-for-money deals on the used market, and it responds remarkably well to tuning. With the ROG exhaust and an ECU remap at an approved tuning centre, the F10 reaches the figures of a modern M5, for a fraction of the price. The engine is robust and thoroughly proven, and there is a real reliability margin.

Configuring your exhaust, step by step

4 choices, in the same order as the product page configurator.

  1. Step 1 of 4: Material: stainless steel or titanium

    For your BMW M5 F10, the exhaust costs €2,490 in stainless steel and €2,990 in titanium.

    304 stainless steel

    2 490 €

    Weight
    Baseline
    Sound
    Full and rounded

    The safe bet: strong, corrosion-proof, with a full, rounded sound. The best value for money.

    Titanium

    2 990 €

    Weight
    Around 40% lighter
    Sound
    Metallic, crystal-clear

    It makes the exhaust around 40% lighter for the same design. Its note is more metallic and clearer higher up the rev range, and its finish ranges from brushed to blued.

    No worries on durability: 304 stainless steel shrugs off winter road salt and titanium does not rust. Stainless steel or titanium: what really changes.

  2. Step 2 of 4: Front section: downpipe and catalytic converter

    Optional: the downpipe on your BMW M5 F10, with its catalytic converter. Each option is placed on our sound scale of 0 to 10, valves open, with the factory exhaust at 3.

    Cat-back only

    Included

    7/10

    Factory emissions control

    The factory front section stays in place. It is already a complete transformation, and the choice of many of our customers.

    200-cell sports catalytic converter

    +1 280 €

    8/10

    Road use and French MOT

    More flow, emissions control retained: the right option for road use.

    100-cell sports catalytic converter

    +1 280 €

    9/10

    French MOT pass not guaranteed

    More open than the 200-cell: the sound hardens at high revs and emissions control is reduced.

    Decat

    +860 €

    10/10

    Track use only

    Flow with no filter at all: the rawest sound and the sharpest response.

    Sound intensity, on a scale of 0 to 10

    1. 10/10Decat downpipe + ROG cat-back
    2. 9/10100-cell sports catalytic converter + ROG cat-back
    3. 8/10200-cell sports catalytic converter + ROG cat-back
    4. 7/10ROG cat-back only, factory catalytic converter retained
    5. 3/10Factory exhaust, for comparison

    Valves open. With the valves closed, every configuration becomes discreet again.

    What about the engine warning light? With a sports catalytic converter it can come on, because the rear oxygen sensor reads less cleaning. Nothing mechanical is wrong: an ECU remap or a session with a diagnostic tool sorts it out. Without a catalytic converter, you will need an ECU remap. If it happens to you, call us and we will point you in the right direction. Passing the French MOT with a sports exhaust.

  3. Step 3 of 4: Valves: ROG remote or factory control

    Two ways to control the valves on your BMW M5 F10.

    ROG remote

    ROG remote for opening and closing the valves

    A discreet control unit in the boot and a two-button remote: you open and close whenever you like, independently of the drive modes. For fitting, we support you by phone or by email.

    Factory control

    • Only for vehicles fitted with factory valves
    • Controlled by the drive modes

    For vehicles fitted with factory valves: the exhaust connects to their control and the drive modes stay in charge, with no extra control unit.

    At 130 km/h, many sports exhausts drone. Here, with the valves closed, the exhaust flows through the silencer and stays composed when cruising; open, it makes itself heard when you choose. More about exhaust drone.

  4. Step 4 of 4: Tips: the visual signature

    Match the tips to the style of your BMW M5 F10, understated or bold. A particular finish in mind? Send us a photo and we will look at it together.

    • Stainless steel
    • Black
    • Carbon
    • Blued titanium
    • M Performance style carbon
    Exhaust tips for BMW M5 F10

The ROG sound signature on the S63

On a V8, the acoustic work is not about adding noise but about removing what masks the engine. Our exhaust removes the factory restrictions and oversized silencers to free the S63's natural pulse: a deep, low rumble at idle, a full and authoritative climb under load, and crisp crackles on the overrun when the valves are open. With the valves closed, the V8 turns hushed again, perfectly suited to long journeys and early-morning starts.

Valves open and valves closed: the gas path through the ROG silencer
Valves open, valves closed: the path the gases take through the silencer.

From order to fitting

  1. Configuration

    You configure the exhaust and enter the VIN from box E of your registration certificate.

  2. Check

    Your VIN is checked before any manufacturing begins.

  3. Manufacturing

    The exhaust is produced to order, for your vehicle.

  4. Delivery

    Free in Europe, insured parcel, tracking number from dispatch.

  5. Fitting

    Around two hours in the workshop, with no welding or cutting.

20 working days from order confirmation to delivery

Warranty
3 years, parts and workmanship, from the date of delivery
Payment
In instalments with Klarna
Installation
At the garage of your choice

Is your BMW M5 F10 still under the manufacturer's warranty? In Europe, the manufacturer cannot refuse cover simply because a part from another brand has been fitted: it is up to the manufacturer to prove that the fault comes from that part. Our article on the manufacturer's warranty.

Our recommendations for your BMW M5 F10

  • Daily driving

    2 490 €

    • Stainless
    • Cat-back only
    • ROG remote

    Your BMW M5 F10 stays easy to live with, the factory emissions control is retained, and you open the valves whenever you decide.

    View this configuration
  • Fast road

    4 270 €

    • Titanium
    • 200-cell downpipe
    • ECU remap

    The best of both worlds: character and breathing, with emissions control retained.

    View this configuration
  • Track

    3 850 €

    • Titanium
    • Decat downpipe
    • Stage 2

    The most extreme configuration, for track use only.

    View this configuration

Every BMW M5 F10 has its own story and its own use: if none of these profiles sounds like you, let's talk.

BMW M5 F10: your questions

How much power does an exhaust add on the BMW M5 F10?

As standard, the BMW M5 F10 produces 560 hp and 680 Nm. The exhaust alone acts first on sound, breathing and weight; the extra horsepower comes from an ECU remap. With a Stage 2 build, the published figures reach 683 hp and 893 Nm.

Stainless steel or titanium: which material for the BMW M5 F10?

For the BMW M5 F10, the ROG exhaust costs €2,490 in stainless steel and €2,990 in titanium. Stainless steel is the safe bet, with a full sound; titanium makes the exhaust around 40% lighter and gives a more metallic note higher up the rev range.

Do you need to replace the catalytic converter on the BMW M5 F10?

It is not compulsory. The cat-back alone is enough to change the character of the BMW M5 F10. Replacing the downpipe is how you go further, together with an ECU remap: 200 cells for the road, 100 cells or decat for more radical use.

Can the BMW M5 F10 pass the French MOT with a ROG exhaust?

The cat-back only and the 200-cell converter both retain emissions control: present the BMW M5 F10 with the valves closed. With the 100-cell converter, a pass is no longer guaranteed; the decat fails the emissions test.

How is the ROG exhaust fitted on the BMW M5 F10?

With clamps and gaskets, no welding or cutting: around two hours in the workshop for a well-equipped mechanic. The exhaust is built to the VIN of your BMW M5 F10.

What price and lead time for a ROG exhaust on the BMW M5 F10?

From €2,490 to €4,270 depending on the configuration. Allow 20 working days from order confirmation to delivery. Delivery is free and the exhaust comes with a 3-year warranty.

Unsure about your configuration? Give us a call.

Stainless steel or titanium, cat-back only or the complete system: the right choice depends on how you drive and on your BMW M5 F10. We take the time to talk it through before you order, with a reply within 24 hours. We are not here to sell to you over the phone: we help you choose, even if that means a cheaper option because it suits the way you drive.

ROG is a French brand, and the way we work comes down to one idea: an exhaust system should be sold with advice, not just a product page. More than 500 exhaust systems fitted and a rating of 4.9 out of 5.

Further reading