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 1993 850CI.
The 1993 BMW 850CI rides on BMW's E31 platform with a 4-speed automatic transmission and an engine requiring 7.9 quarts of oil (15W-40, 10W-40, or 10W-30 API SJ), returning EPA ratings of 11 city, 17 highway, and 13 combined mpg. This model year carries just one owner complaint—focused on seat belts—and one recall, placing it within a remarkably thin complaint history across the 1991–1997 production run where even the peak year (1992) saw only a single complaint. For researchers, that sparse record means the 850CI line has minimal documented owner-reported issues, with the seat-belt complaint and its associated recall being the primary reliability points worth examining.
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 | 61618192874 alt 61610134601 |
| Serpentine belt | 11281733708 alt 11281736744 |
| Thermostat | 11531729720 alt 11511705408 |
| Cabin air filter | 64312339891 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
| Overall length | 188.2 in |
| Overall width | 73.2 in |
| Overall height | 52.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 105.5 in |
| Curb weight | 4123 lb |
| 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.
The federal record for the BMW 850CI generation shows a consistently low volume of complaints but a steady cadence of recalls, with at least one recall issued every year from 1991 through 1995. The 1993 model year sits squarely in the middle of this arc, mirroring the 1992 figures exactly with one complaint, one recall, and one TSB. The single 1993 complaint pertains to Seat Belts, with zero crash or fire incidents recorded, though the data does not specify the root cause for this issue or the recall. Compared to the 1994 model year, which saw a peak of two recalls, the 1993 model maintains the lower-volume recall baseline established in the generation's earlier years. Provided the single historical recall has been properly addressed, the 1993 model year represents a stable and recommended purchase within this generation.
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.