BMW740Li Sedan2011Overview/bmw/740li-sedan/2011/base/
F02 platform

2011 BMW 740Li Sedan

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 740Li Sedan.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2011 BMW 740Li Sedan is a passenger car built on the F02 platform. Its power‑train holds 6.9 qt of oil and is serviced with viscosities of 15W‑40, 10W‑40 or 10W‑30 API SJ. The car is EPA‑rated at 17/25/20 mpg and pairs an Automatic (S6) transmission. In reliability terms, it generated 14 owner complaints, primarily in the power‑train area, and was subject to a single recall, indicating modest but notable concerns for the 2011 model year.

Model year201320122011

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 10W-40 / 10W-30 API SJOEM · verified
Lug nut torque103 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/25/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 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 filter13717571355
Spark plug12120037244
Battery61217639053
Front wiper blades61612147361
Thermostat11538671517
Cabin air filter64119272642 alt 64319175484

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 25 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume115 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 15W-40 / 10W-40 / 10W-30 API SJ engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 103 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 Capacity1.8 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity6.9 qt
Power Steering FluidUse Pentosin CHF 11S

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts18 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 92 ft-lbs, MT: 89 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugM12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts103 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub310 ft-lbs

Ignition

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

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance900 cca
Optional BCI Group Number49
Optional BCI Cranking Performance850 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test21.7 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief28-32 psi
Engine Compression203-232 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 From1.181 in / 0.787 in / 0.945 in / 1.417 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.181 in / 0.787 in / 0.945 in / 1.417 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.031 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.087 in / 0.692 in / 0.882 in / 1.354 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 13715 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
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 45,000 mi.

Every 45,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
Every 100,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)
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 2011 BMW 740Li Sedan lead in one area — the power train, 3 of 14 reports (21%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 1 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train 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
299
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
14
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 14 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train3
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Engine2
Electrical System,Structure1
Electrical System,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Electrical System1
Unknown Or Other1
Air Bags1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 299 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
B1106142025-03-27EngineThis bulletin outlines the Customer Care Package program that has been designed…
B6504252025-02-20Air BagsVehicle has the air bag warning lamp on after a body shop has made repairs. There is a…
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…

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 740Li Sedan. 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 2011 740Li Sedan take?

6.9 qt of HIGH PERFORMANCE MINERAL OILS: ABOVE 5 degrees F: 15W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, -5 degreesF TO 68 degrees F: 10W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, 5 degreesF TO 50 degrees F: 10W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 32 degrees F:, per the factory manual.

Does the 2011 740Li Sedan have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the 740Li Sedan get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined mpg.