Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 60,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1992 850CI.
The 1992 BMW 850CI, built on the E31 platform, pairs a gasoline engine that holds 7.9 qt of oil and is specified with viscosities of 15W‑40, 10W‑40 or 10W‑30 API SJ. It is coupled to an automatic 4‑speed transmission and achieves 11 mpg city, 17 mpg highway and 13 mpg combined. In its reliability record, the 1992 model registers a single owner complaint — centered on exterior lighting — and shares the same low complaint count with the lowest‑complaint year of the 1991‑1997 span, indicating that 1992 is among the years with the fewest reported issues.
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 OE oil filter 11427510717. 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 | 11427510717 |
| Engine air filter | 13721720861 |
| Fuel filter | 13321720101 |
| Spark plug | 12129061870 |
| Front wiper blades | 61610134601 alt 61618192874 |
| Serpentine belt | 11281733708 alt 11281736744 |
| Thermostat | 11531729720 alt 11511705408 |
| Cabin air filter | 64312339891 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 11 / 17 / 13 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Regular Gasoline |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 7.9 qt of 15W-40 / 10W-40 / 10W-30 API SJ engine oil, GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil | GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 4.9 Pints |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 7.9 qt |
| Power Steering Fluid | ATF |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 60,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
In 1992 the 850CI saw one complaint—an exterior lighting issue—alongside a single recall, mirroring the single recall and single complaint recorded in 1991 and 1993. Compared to the preceding year, complaints rose from zero to one, while recalls stayed constant; the following year (1994) saw no complaints but an increase to two recalls. Over the span, recalls fluctuated between one and two per year, with complaints appearing only in 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1997, indicating a relatively low complaint frequency. The absence of crash or fire complaints in 1992 further suggests a clean safety record for that model year. Overall, 1992 sits comfortably within the modest recall and complaint arc of the generation, making it a reasonable year to consider for purchase.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT, SUCH AS A THERMOSTAT, WATER PUMP, OR FAN BELT, CAN RESULT IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND SYSTEM… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.
Showing 1 of 1 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B510819 | 2024-01-16 | Electrical System | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. |
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.
7.9 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.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 11 city / 17 highway / 13 combined mpg.