Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 128I Coupe.
The 2009 BMW 128i Coupe is a passenger car built on the E82 platform, taking 6.9 qt of engine oil with approved viscosities of 15W‑40, 10W‑40 or 10W‑30 API SJ and mated to an automatic S6 transmission that returns EPA‑rated fuel economy of 18 mpg city, 28 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined. Owner feedback for the model year shows 79 total complaints, with air‑bag system issues leading the list, and the vehicle was subject to eight recalls. Consequently, the 2009 128i Coupe sits in a reliability history where air‑bag concerns are the most frequently reported problem, indicating an area that researchers should examine closely when assessing long‑term dependability.
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 |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 52/48 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 18 / 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 |
| Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts | 18 ft-lbs |
| 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 |
| Pressure Test | 21.7 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 19-23 psi |
| Thermostat Opening Temperature | 190 °F |
| 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 2009 BMW 128I Coupe lead in one area — the air bags, 18 of 79 reports (23%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 2 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 79 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 155 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 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 18 city / 28 highway / 22 combined mpg.