BMWM51988Overview/bmw/m5/1988/base/

1988 BMW M5

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 M5.

The 1988 BMW M5 takes 5.3 qt of 20W-50 engine oil.

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.3 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type20W-50 / 15W-50 / 10W-50 API SLOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height55.9 in
Wheelbase103.5 in
Curb weight3419 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the M5 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.6–6.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.60 sec — 1992 Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1991Sedan 3.5L I-65.60 sec14.20 sec311 hpRWD
1991Sedan 3.5L I-66.40 sec14.90 sec311 hpRWD
1991Sedan 3.5L I-66.40 sec15.00 sec311 hpRWD
1992Sedan 3.5L I-65.60 sec14.30 sec311 hpRWD
1993Sedan 3.5L I-66.20 sec14.60 sec310 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.3 qt of 20W-50 / 15W-50 / 10W-50 API SL engine oil.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil Capacity4 Pints
Engine Oil20W-50 · API · 15W-50 · 10W-50 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity5.3 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Every 30,000 miOxygen Sensor (replace)

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific M5. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1988 M5 take?

5.3 qt of 14 degrees F TO 122 degrees F: 20W-50 API SL OR GREATER, -4 degrees F TO 104 degrees F: 15W-50 API SL, -22 degrees F TO 68 degrees F: 10W-50 API SL OR GREATER, -40 degrees F TO 23 degrees F: 5W-30 API SL OR GREATER, per the factory manual.