BMW535i 5-door Hatchback2013Overview/bmw/535i-5-door-hatchback/2013/base/
F07 platform

2013 BMW 535i 5-door Hatchback

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2013 535i 5-door Hatchback.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S8)

The 2013 BMW 535i 5-door Hatchback is a passenger car built on BMW's F07 platform, with its engine sending drive through an eight-speed automatic to deliver EPA-rated fuel economy of 20 mpg city, 30 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. Service-side specifications are anchored by a 6.9-quart oil capacity that accepts 0W-30, 0W-40, or 5W-30 viscosity grades. Against the model's reliability record, this year carries 38 owner complaints—concentrated in exterior lighting—alongside a single recall, placing it among the more contained entries in the lineage and giving a researcher a defensible baseline for weighing long-term ownership considerations.

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 economy20/30/24 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 49 · 900 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 49 · 900 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter11428683168 alt 11428637820
Engine air filter13717605913
Spark plug12120037582
Battery61217648317
Front wiper blades61612458015
Thermostat11538671516
Cabin air filter64119272642

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length192.9 in
Overall width73.2 in
Overall height57.5 in
Wheelbase116.9 in
Curb weight4233 lb
Track (front / rear)63 / 64.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)51/49

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 30 / 24 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume102 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
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, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 88 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to M12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 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

Automatic Transmission FluidBMW part number 83222152426
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity10.5-11.5
Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.8 Pints
Engine Oil0W-30 · 0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity6.9 qt
Manual Transmission FluidBMW MTF part number 83222167666

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugM12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts88 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug43.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug43.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

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

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.85-1.90 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity6.00 oz
Optional BCI Group Number94R
Optional BCI Cranking Performance800 cca
Standard BCI Group Number49

Service checks

Pressure Test21.7 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief28-32 psi
Engine Compression145-232 PSI. 29 maximum variation. psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH FN3
Torque to Knuckle81 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.945 in / 0.787 in / 1.181 in / 1.417 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.945 in / 0.787 in / 1.181 in / 1.417 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.031 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.882 in / 0.724 in / 1.118 in / 1.354 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.

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 2013 BMW 535i 5-door Hatchback top in one area — the exterior lighting, 5 of 38 reports (13%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the exterior lighting are also the target of recall 15V-188 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming it was actually performed. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 2 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the exterior lighting 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.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
399
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
38
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 38 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Exterior Lighting5
Engine5
Suspension3
Electrical System2
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting2
Air Bags2
Tires2
Power Train,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

15V188000Exterior LightingReported 31/03/2015

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, and ActiveHybrid 5 vehicles. The rear reflex reflectors may not reflect enough light. As… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began July 28, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 399 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
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…
B1606232023-12-20Engine And Engine CoolingEngine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel…
B6534232023-11-22Electrical SystemCustomers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their…
B3409142023-06-01WheelsThe Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) warning light comes on while driving. The following…

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 535i 5-door Hatchback. 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 2013 535i 5-door Hatchback take?

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

Does the 2013 535i 5-door Hatchback have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 535i 5-door Hatchback get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 30 highway / 24 combined mpg.