Home › Guides › BMW F80 M3 and F82 M4 Buying Guide: Costs to Check
BMW F80 M3 and F82 M4 Buying Guide: Costs to Check
On an F80 M3 or F82 M4, the repair our data covers in most detail is the S55 crank hub, a 16 to 20 hour job at shops, so ask for proof it was addressed, then check for rear main seal oil leaks and when the rear differential fluid was last changed.
Last updated · By BimmerQuote (how we build guides) · Costs on this page come from the linked repair pages, each citing its sources.
What this guide covers
This guide covers the F80 M3 and F82 and F83 M4 with the S55 engine, plus the F87 M2 Competition and CS, which share the S55 per our crank hub page. It is built from priced repairs BimmerQuote has cited, so it does not claim to list every issue. The chassis pages are BMW F80 repair costs and BMW F82 repair costs, and the engine page is BMW S55 engine.
The S55 crank hub
Timing chain and VANOS correlation codes after hard pulls, or a crank hub where the harmonic balancer can walk, are the signs. Some owners do it as a preventive upgrade when the front cover is open for other work. Shop labor times in the F80 thread commonly run 16 to 20 hours for a full keyed hub with new bolts, gaskets, oil and coolant, and prices vary with the hub design and whether fluids and plugs are bundled. Pick a shop that has done many of these. See S55 Crank Hub (F80/F82/F87 M).
Oil dripping where the engine meets the transmission, or oil on the bellhousing, is the rear main seal. Our data includes one M4 with the S55. Oil from other leaks often collects at the same spot, so confirm the diagnosis. DIY times in the sources run from about 5 hours with a lift and transmission jack to about 9 hours without a lift on a different car. See Rear Main Seal.
The rear differential fluid is a preventive service; confirm the fluid by VIN for M and limited-slip differentials. Owners describe a drain and fill as roughly a 20 to 30 minute job on a lift (Rear Differential Fluid Change). Brake fluid is a scheduled service on every modern BMW (Brake Fluid Flush / Service).
We do not have priced repair reports yet for most other S55 items, such as rod bearings, and we do not state failure rates, so a clean record on the three items above is not a guarantee. Ask for the service history and compare any quote with the linked repair pages.
Common questions
What is the crank hub problem on the F80 M3 and F82 M4?
Owners describe timing chain and VANOS correlation codes after hard pulls and a crank hub where the harmonic balancer can walk. Some do the upgrade preventively.
How much does the S55 crank hub repair cost?
S55 Crank Hub (F80/F82/F87 M) on a BMW with the S55 engine typically costs $1,200–$5,000 at an independent shop or about $1,500 in parts DIY, based on 13 real owner-reported prices.
How much does a rear differential fluid change cost?
Rear Differential Fluid Change on most rear-drive and xDrive BMWs typically costs $120–$280 at an independent shop, $95–$475 at a BMW dealer, or $150–$162 in parts DIY, based on 10 real owner-reported prices.
Does the F87 M2 have the same S55 issue?
Our crank hub page covers the F80 M3, F82 and F83 M4 and the F87 M2 Competition and CS, all with the S55.
Where this comes from
Every cost on this page is pulled from these repair pages, which list the price, the forum or shop source and the details for each report. This guide adds no prices of its own.
