BMW M5 F90 Upgrade Guide: Carbon, Exhaust and Intake
Which carbon, exhaust and intake parts suit the BMW M5 F90 and its S63 twin-turbo V8, and the order we would fit them in.
The F90 M5 is two cars in one. On the weekday commute it is as quiet and composed as any 5 Series. Open the throttle and the S63 twin-turbo V8 with M xDrive turns it into one of the fastest sedans on sale. Owners ask us which parts bring out that second character without spoiling the first. This guide runs through carbon, exhaust and intake for the F90, and the order we would fit them in.
What makes the F90 M5 different
The engine is the S63, a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 that responds well to bolt-on work. It moves a big, heavy sedan with a pace that embarrasses far smaller cars. M xDrive sends drive to all four wheels by default and can be switched to pure rear-wheel drive when you want it, so the power finds traction in almost any conditions.
The F90 also leaves the factory with a carbon roof, so carbon fiber is already part of the car rather than something bolted on afterwards. Broad shoulders, muscular fenders and quad tailpipes give you plenty to work with. The F90 M5 carbon parts we stock at BYC are prepreg dry carbon fiber pieces made by specialist manufacturers around the world, and they mount on the factory points without cutting.
Carbon: weight, aero and stance
The M5 is a large car, so carbon has two jobs here. It changes how the car looks, and it trims a little weight from the extremities. A front splitter and canards bring the nose visually closer to the ground and give the front end more purpose. Mirror caps and kidney grille surrounds are the easiest parts to fit and the quickest to notice. Because the weave matches the factory carbon roof, they make the whole car look intentional.
At the rear, a ducktail spoiler raises the bootline and gives the silhouette a more athletic profile. A carbon diffuser frames the bumper from below and reads as one piece with the quad exhaust. Side skirts stretch the profile and visually lower the car. None of these parts is dramatic on its own. Together they change the M5's proportions.
Exhaust: letting the V8 speak
The S63 sounds good from the factory, but it is muffled. The biggest change comes from removing restriction close to the turbos. The downpipe is the section right after the turbo outlet. A freer-flowing one lowers back-pressure there, lets the engine breathe more easily and brings out the deep V8 note. A cat-back system behind it, running from the catalytic converters to the tips, completes the sound and the look at the back of the car.
How loud is your call. A valved system stays quiet for early mornings and opens up at the touch of a button, which matters on a daily driver. Titanium tips are lighter than stainless steel and take on that burnt-blue tint over time. We have a separate titanium versus stainless steel comparison if you want the detail.
Intake: feeding the V8
A twin-turbo V8 wants a clean, low-restriction path for its intake air. A performance intake kit replaces the factory airbox and ducting with a less restricted route, and you feel it in throttle response and in the induction note. On the S63 it is also worth looking at the charge pipe, the plastic pipe that carries pressurised air from the turbos. Swapping it for aluminium makes the pressure side of the system more durable and more consistent.
The downpipe and cat-back open up the outlet, the intake opens up the inlet, and the engine benefits from both. If budget forces you to pick one first, we would go intake, then downpipe. It is the simpler job, and you can add the exhaust later without redoing anything.
What order to build in
You can do everything at once. If you are building in stages, this is the order we suggest:
- Visible parts first: mirror caps, front splitter and grille surrounds. They cost the least for the change they make and show you how carbon suits your M5.
- Then the breathing: downpipe, cat-back and intake. This is where the character of the V8 changes. Do the charge pipe at the same time as the intake so the pressure side is done in one go.
- Then finish the look: ducktail spoiler, diffuser and side skirts, planned together so the front and rear stay in balance.
The thing to keep in mind is cohesion. When every piece has the same weave and the same fit, the car looks like it was designed this way rather than added to later.
The right part, the right fit
A good F90 build strengthens both sides of the M5, quiet luxury and serious pace, without tipping it into either. The F90 M5 carbon, exhaust and intake parts we stock at BYC Performance come from specialist manufacturers around the world, are made to fit the factory mounting points, and carry a 24-month BYC warranty. Orders ship within Türkiye and abroad through our partner couriers.
To choose parts for your car, browse the catalog, message us on WhatsApp with fitment or delivery questions, or see finished builds on Instagram at @bycperformance.