BMW428i2015Overview/bmw/428i/2015/base/

2015 BMW 428i

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 428i.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S8)

The 2015 BMW 428i is a passenger car powered by an engine requiring 5.1–5.3 quarts of 0W-30, 0W-40, or 5W-30 oil and paired with an automatic (S8) transmission, achieving EPA ratings of 23 city, 33 highway, and 26 combined mpg. With 76 total owner complaints concentrated in the engine, engine cooling, and electrical system, and five recalls, this model year sits in a period of moderate reliability concern, meaning researchers should prioritize those areas when assessing long-term durability.

Model year201620152014

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.1-5.3OEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy23/33/26 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 800 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 94R · 800 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnREVERSEOEM · verified
Tire size225/50R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rimSTANDARD 7.5; OPTIONAL 8.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter11428683168 alt 11428637821
Engine air filter13718507320 alt 13718511668
Spark plug12120039664
Battery61216806755
Front wiper blades61615A43587
Thermostat11538636594 alt 11538635689
Cabin air filter64116821995 alt 64119237555

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length182.7 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height54.3 in
Wheelbase110.6 in
Curb weight3995 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)50/50

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined23 / 33 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the 428i of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.50 sec — 2015 Gran Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2015Gran Coupe 2.0L Turbo I-45.50 sec14.20 sec240 hpRWD
2015xDrive Coupe 2.0L Turbo I-45.50 sec14.20 sec240 hpAWD
2014Coupe 2.0L Turbo I-45.30 sec14.10 sec240 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 5.1-5.3 of 0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil, Castrol SAF-X0 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to M12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. 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

Brake FluidDOT 4
Clutch FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear OilCastrol SAF-X0
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity7.0-10.0
Engine Oil0W-30 · 0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity5.1-5.3
Fuel Tank Capacity15.8 gallons

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts30 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugM12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to TransmissionM8 Bolts: 33.0, M10: 58.0 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts33.5 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerBMW
Spark Plug TypeM14X1.25
Spark Plug Gapnon-adjustable in
Spark Plug Torque20.0 - 24.3 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Standard BCI Group Number94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance800 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test21.7 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief28-32 psi

Brakes

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementStamped on rotor
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishStamped on rotor
Vented Rotor Maximum Scoring DepthStamped on rotor
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationStamped on rotor
Maximum Rotor RunoutStamped on rotor

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

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

Reliability & federal safety record

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

The 2015 BMW 428i marks a notable uptick in federal complaints—76 versus 36 in 2014—while recalls increased from three to five, and the first investigation of the generation was opened. This suggests growing pains as the model matured, with the bulk of 2015 complaints concentrated in engine, cooling, and electrical systems (23 reports), a trend not as pronounced in the prior year. The presence of 10 crash-related complaints and four fire reports further distinguishes 2015 from 2014, where such data is absent, indicating emerging reliability concerns. Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) remained high but slightly declined from 421 to 417, reflecting ongoing but not worsening diagnostic efforts. Positioned at the peak of early-generation issues, the 2015 model year appears riskier than its predecessor, warranting thorough pre-purchase inspection—particularly of engine and electrical components—before committing to this year. **Takeaway: Proceed with caution; the 2015 428i is a higher-risk buy compared to 2014.**

5
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
417
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
76
Owner complaints
10 involved a crash · 4 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 76 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling,Electrical System23
Unknown Or Other8
Engine5
Air Bags4
Engine & Engine Cooling3
Electrical System3
Service Brakes3
Tires2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 5 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V148000Air BagsReported 13/03/2015

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 428i Convertible, 428i xDrive Convertible, 435i Convertible, and 435i xDrive Convertible vehicles manufactured October 22, 2014, to February 27, 2015… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the air bag control module with corrected software version, free of charge. The recall began May 11, 2015. Owners may contact…

15V189000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpReported 31/03/2015

BMW of North America LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2014 228i Coupe, M235i Coupe, 320i, 320xi, 328i, 328xi, 335i, 335xi, ActiveHybrid 3, 328xi Sports Wagon, 428i Coupe, 428xi Coupe, 435i Coupe, 435xi Coupe… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owners were mailed interim notices on May 28, 2015. The recall began on July 6, 2015. Owners may…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 417 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
B0626262026-05-01EngineInlet Hose Return
B0107222024-10-25Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel tank limited warranty for leakage, due to defects in materials or workmanship, has…
B0103222024-10-25Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel tank limited warranty for leakage, due to defects in materials or workmanship, has…
B5108192024-01-16Electrical SystemThe basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
B6113052024-01-11Electrical SystemThe electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process…

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 428i. 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 2015 428i take?

5.1-5.3 of Gasoline engines: 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, 5W-40 oil meeting BMW specification LL01.Diesel engines: 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, 5W-40 oil meeting BMW specification LL04, per the factory manual.

Does the 2015 428i have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 428i get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 33 highway / 26 combined mpg.