Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 550i.
The 2015 BMW 550i is a passenger car pairing an eight-speed automatic transmission with a thirsty engine—10.0 quarts of 0W-30, 0W-40, or 5W-30 oil at service intervals—that returns EPA fuel economy of 17 city, 25 highway, and 20 combined mpg. In the context of the model's complaint history from 2011 through 2015, this year represents the favorable end of the curve with just six total owner complaints and zero recalls, matching 2014's low and a dramatic drop from the 172 complaints recorded in 2011, with the fuel/propulsion system emerging as the most frequently cited concern area. For researchers, that positions the 2015 as one of the more settled years in the generation, where complaint volume had stabilized to its lowest sustained level after the elevated figures that characterized the model's earlier production years.
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 49 · 850 CCA battery, OE oil filter 11427583220. 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 | 11427583220 |
| Engine air filter | 13717577457 alt 13717577458 |
| Spark plug | 12120040581 alt 12120039664 |
| Battery | 61216924021 alt 61219394648 |
| Front wiper blades | 61612458015 |
| Thermostat | 11538632664 alt 11537586885 |
| Cabin air filter | 64119272642 alt 64116809933 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
| Overall length | 192.9 in |
| Overall width | 73.2 in |
| Overall height | 57.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 116.9 in |
| Curb weight | 4365 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 63 / 64.2 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 51/49 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 17 / 25 / 20 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 102 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 14 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the 550i of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Sedan 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 | 4.80 sec | 13.10 sec | 400 hp | RWD |
| 2011 | Sedan 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 | 4.80 sec | 13.30 sec | 400 hp | RWD |
| 2011 | Sedan 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 | 5.10 sec | 13.10 sec | 400 hp | RWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 10.0 qt 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 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2. 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.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Clutch Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil | Castrol SAF-X0 |
| Engine Coolant | Ethylene Glycol |
| Engine Coolant Capacity | 9.5-11.5 |
| Engine Oil | 0W-30 · 0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 10.0 qt |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 18.5 gallons |
| Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts | 11 |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | M12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs |
| Driveshaft Flange to Transmission | M8 Bolts: 33.0, M10: 58.0 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2 |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | BMW |
| Spark Plug Type | M14X1.25 |
| Spark Plug Gap | non-adjustable in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 20.0 - 24.3 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 49 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 850 cca |
| Pressure Test | 21.7 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 28-32 psi |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Stamped on rotor |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish | Stamped on rotor |
| Vented Rotor Maximum Scoring Depth | Stamped on rotor |
| Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation | Stamped on rotor |
| Maximum Rotor Runout | Stamped on rotor |
Prep Do not reuse old bolts
| 1 | 22.0 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Across the generation, federal records show a strong downward trend in reported issues from the 2011 launch year, which saw 172 complaints and 8 recalls, down to the 2015 target year, which recorded just 6 complaints and 0 recalls. Technical service bulletins also steadily declined from 468 in 2011 to 286 in 2015, indicating that the manufacturer progressively resolved early production bugs over the vehicle's lifecycle. For the 2015 model specifically, the limited complaints are primarily concentrated in the fuel/propulsion system, which accounts for 3 of the 6 total complaints, though the data does not specify the root cause of these failures. With zero crash or fire complaints, and the lowest recall and complaint volumes of the generation, the 2015 model represents the most mature and stable point in this vehicle's production arc. Therefore, based strictly on the federal data, the 2015 BMW 550i is an excellent year to buy within this generation.
All 6 complaints on record, top 4 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 286 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B010122 | 2026-01-21 | Engine | N63TU1 CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT SVC CAMPAIGN: OIL CONSUMPTION DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR |
| B510819 | 2024-01-16 | Electrical System | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. |
| B611305 | 2024-01-11 | Electrical System | The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process… |
| B160623 | 2023-12-20 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel… |
| B653423 | 2023-11-22 | Electrical System | Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their… |
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.
10.0 qt 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.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined mpg.