Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 128I Coupe.
The 2008 BMW 128I Coupe, built on the E82 platform, is a passenger car powered by a naturally aspirated inline‑four engine that requires 6.9 qt of 15W‑40 / 10W‑40 / 10W‑30 API SJ oil and is paired with an S6 automatic transmission; it averages EPA fuel economy of 19 / 28 / 22 mpg city/highway/combined. This model year delivers a refined driving experience, yet it falls within a broader reliability context marked by 87 total owner complaints, nine recalls, and a top complaint area of air bags. Consequently, while the 128I offers the expected BMW refinement, researchers should note its moderate reliability record when assessing long‑term ownership costs.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 570 CCA battery, OE oil filter 11428683168. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Engine oil filter | 11428683168 alt 11428637821 |
| Engine air filter | 13717542294 |
| Spark plug | 12122158253 |
| Front wiper blades | 61615A87C97 |
| Thermostat | 11537549476 |
| Cabin air filter | 64319142114 alt 64319313519 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S6) |
| Overall length | 171.7 in |
| Overall width | 68.9 in |
| Overall height | 55.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 104.7 in |
| Curb weight | 3258 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 57.5 / 58.3 in |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 19 / 28 / 22 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 86 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 10 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 6.9 qt of 15W-40 / 10W-40 / 10W-30 API SJ engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 88 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.4 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-3-6-2-4. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.
| Automatic Transmission Fluid | BMW part number 83220142516 |
| Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity | 10.5-11.5 |
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 2.2 Pints |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 6.9 qt |
| Manual Transmission Fluid | BMW MTF part number 83229408942 |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | 11 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 15 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 18.4 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 88 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-5-3-6-2-4 |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | BMW |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 48 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 570 cca |
| Optional BCI Group Number | 94R |
| Optional BCI Cranking Performance | 640 cca |
| Engine Compression | 130-261 PSI. 29 maximum variation. psi |
| Brake Application | WITH 11.81 inch ROTOR |
| Torque to Knuckle | 81 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 48 ft-lbs / 81 ft-lbs |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads |
| Brake Application | WITH 11.81 inch ROTOR |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness From | 0.945 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness To | 0.945 in |
| Rotor Discard at or Under | 0.881 in |
Prep Do not reuse old bolts
| 1 | 22.0 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | Bolts 1-10 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 4 | 45 degrees | 45 degrees |
Prep Do not reuse old bolts
| 1 | 22.0 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | Bolts 1-10 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 4 | 45 degrees | 45 degrees |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi.
| Every 100,000 mi | Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 2008 BMW 128I Coupe lead in one area — the air bags, 19 of 87 reports (22%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 4 of the reports describe a crash and 4 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the air bags pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 87 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 154 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B611305 | 2024-01-11 | Electrical System | The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process… |
| SB23-01 | 2023-08-02 | Steering | Spl Parts, Inc. communications index accompanying MCP uploads 23mc40464 & 23mc40471 |
| sb23-01TMS | 2023-07-17 | Steering | This is the companion to SPL Parts, Inc.'s SB 23-01 mailed by private label independent… |
| SB 23-01 | 2023-07-14 | Suspension | SPL Parts, Inc. manufacturers and distributes aftermarket lower control arms for… |
| B011321 | 2021-05-01 | Engine And Engine Cooling | CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT: N54/N54T/N55 ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLANT PUMP . With the court's… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
6.9 qt of HIGH PERFORMANCE MINERAL OILS: ABOVE 5 degrees F: 15W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, -5 degreesF TO 68 degrees F: 10W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, 5 degreesF TO 50 degrees F: 10W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 32 degrees F:, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined mpg.