BMW135I Coupe2012Overview/bmw/135i-coupe/2012/base/
E82 platform

2012 BMW 135I Coupe

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 135I Coupe.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S7)

The 2012 BMW 135i Coupe is a passenger car riding on the E82 platform, pairing an automatic (S7) transmission with an engine that takes a substantial 6.9 quarts of oil in 0W-30, 0W-40, or 5W-30 viscosity, and returns EPA ratings of 18 city, 25 highway, and 20 combined mpg. Its reliability record includes 19 owner complaints, concentrated in the powertrain and engine, alongside seven recalls, which positions this model year as one that merits a thorough pre-purchase review.

Model year201320122011

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque88 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/25/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 570 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size215-40 R18; REAR: 245-35 R18; M SPORT PKG FRONT: 215-40 R18; M SPORT PKG REAR: 245-35 R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.0; FRONT: 7.5; REAR: 8.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter11428683168 alt 11428637820
Engine air filter13717599285
Fuel filter16117313791 alt 16117163295
Spark plug12120037582
Front wiper blades61615A87C97
Thermostat11537601158
Cabin air filter64319313519 alt 64319142114

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172 in
Overall width68.9 in
Overall height55.5 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight3373 lb
Track (front / rear)57.5 / 58.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)52/48

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 25 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.9 qt of 0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil. 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.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.5 Pints
Engine Oil0W-30 · 0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity6.9 qt
Power Steering FluidUse Pentosin CHF 11S
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts88 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4
Spark Plug ManufacturerBMW

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance570 cca
Optional BCI Group Number94R
Optional BCI Cranking Performance640 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test21.7 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief19-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature190 °F
Engine Compression145-232 PSI. 29 maximum variation. psi

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle48 ft-lbs / 81 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.787 in / 0.866 in / 0.945 in / 1.024 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.787 in / 0.866 in / 0.945 in / 1.024 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.724 in / 0.803 in / 0.881 in / 0.961 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 14015 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
3Bolts 1-10 90 degrees90 degrees
445 degrees45 degrees
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9.66 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7015 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 60,000 mi.

Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miOxygen Sensor (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2012 BMW 135I Coupe top in one area — the power train,engine, 3 of 19 reports (16%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 6 recall campaigns target the power train,engine, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train,engine 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.

7
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
271
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
19
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 19 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train,Engine3
Air Bags3
Engine2
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System2
Suspension,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Electrical System1
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other,Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V579000Electrical System:WiringReported 06/08/2019

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2012 BMW 128i, 135i, 135is Coupes and 128i, 135i Convertible vehicles. The wiring and electrical connectors in the blower-regulator wiring harness may overheat. Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the blower-regulator wiring harness, and replace it with a new part, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2019. Owners may…

20V017000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 15/01/2020

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 271 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
B0120162025-03-13Electrical SystemThe Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship…
B0120162025-02-20Electrical SystemThe Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship…
B0603252025-01-09Unknown Or OtherPLASTIC WASHER RETURN
B0639242024-05-09EngineHot-Film Air Mass Meter Return
B0638242024-05-03Unknown Or OtherRadio R/C with FEM Return

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 135I Coupe. 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 2012 135I Coupe take?

6.9 qt of 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, 5W-40 OIL MEETING BMW SPECIFICATION LL01, per the factory manual.

Does the 2012 135I Coupe have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 135I Coupe get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 25 highway / 20 combined mpg.