BMW540i xDrive2017Overview/bmw/540i-xdrive/2017/base/

2017 BMW 540i xDrive

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2017 540i xDrive.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2017 BMW 540i xDrive features an Automatic (S8) transmission and carries an EPA fuel‑economy rating of 20/29/23 mpg. Owner feedback for this model year records a total of 20 complaints, with the tire system identified as the top complaint area, and the vehicle is subject to one recall. Compared with earlier iterations, this complaint count places the 2017 540i xDrive toward the more reliable end of the model’s history.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192017

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque103 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy20/29/23 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 · 850 CCA battery, OE oil filter 11428583896. 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 · 850 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLIGHTOEM · verified
Tire sizeP245/45R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter11428583896 alt 11427826799
Engine air filter13718577170
Spark plug12120040551
Battery61216806755
Front wiper blades61612447932
Thermostat11538658571 alt 11537642854
Cabin air filter64115A1BDB6 alt 64115A1BDB7

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length194.5 in
Overall width73.6 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase117.3 in
Curb weight3825 lb
Track (front / rear)63.4 / 64.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined20 / 29 / 23 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume99 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 DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 103 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 20.0 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

Brake FluidDOT 4
Clutch FluidDOT 4

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)9.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)35.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)16.0 ft-lbs
Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) Sensor Bolt(s)33.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts9.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug20.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts103 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4
Spark Plug GapNot adjustable in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance850 cca
Optional BCI Group Number48, 49, 95R
Optional BCI Cranking Performance760, 900, 950 cca

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
130.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: + 120 degrees. Step 3: Replace Screws30 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 10 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.

113mm size head bolts22 ft. lbs
213mm size head bolts37 ft. lbs
313mm size head bolts90 degrees
413mm size head bolts90 degrees
513mm size head bolts90 degrees
613mm size head bolts90 degrees
711mm size head bolts22 ft. lbs
811mm size head bolts90 degrees
911mm size head bolts90 degrees
1011mm size head bolts90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Gasoline engines

115.0 ft. lbs.15 ft. lbs
270 degrees; Diesel engines; NS70 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.

Owner complaints about the 2017 BMW 540i xDrive top in one area — the tires, 2 of 20 reports (10%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the tires, 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 tires 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
443
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
20
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 20 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Tires2
Air Bags,Seats2
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Service Brakes,Back Over Prevention,Forward Collision Avoidance1
Seats1
Engine1
Unknown Or Other1
Exterior Lighting1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V243000Air BagsReported 29/04/2020

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i and 540i xDrive and 2017-2018 530e xDrive vehicles. Prior exposure to excessive levels of humidity within the driver and passenger head… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left or right head air bag, free of charge. The recall began June 24, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 443 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
B7201252025-10-29Electrical SystemA situation may occur where the front passenger seat is not occupied; however, a “fasten…
B7201252025-04-18Electrical SystemThe Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS) Front Passenger’s Seat Occupancy Capacitive…
B0103242024-05-01EngineEVAP SYSTEM PURGE (VENT) VALVE EXT LTD WTY (ELW) 15/150
B6304182024-03-14Exterior LightingOne or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.
B1207212024-03-04Engine And Engine CoolingCheck Control message (CCM) indicates: (ID 213): Stop, exercising due care. Voltage…

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 540i xDrive. 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

Does the 2017 540i xDrive have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the 540i xDrive get?

EPA figures are 20 city / 29 highway / 23 combined mpg.