Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2008 M Roadster.
The 2008 BMW M Roadster is built on the E85 platform and features a 6.9‑quart engine oil capacity, underscoring its robust yet accessible design. In that model year, owner complaints fell to a single instance—primarily concerning the engine—while the vehicle enjoyed no recalls, marking a notable clean run. As the last year of a decade‑long survey that began in 1998, the 2008 Roadster represents the lowest complaint volume of the era, signaling a peak in the model’s reliability trajectory.
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 47 · 480 CCA battery, OE oil filter 11421741000. 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 | 11421741000 alt 11428683168 |
| Engine air filter | 13717521033 alt 13717542545 |
| Fuel filter | 16117168284 |
| Spark plug | 12122158253 alt 12120022902 |
| Battery | 61217586960 alt 61217586961 |
| Front wiper blades | 61617198671 alt 61617198670 |
| Thermostat | 11531318402 alt 11531318274 |
| Cabin air filter | 64319195194 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 161.8 in |
| Overall width | 70.1 in |
| Overall height | 50.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 98.4 in |
| Curb weight | 3230 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 58.3 / 59.1 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 52/48 |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 88 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.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 2.1 Pints |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 2.5 Pints |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | SYNTHETIC |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 6.9 qt |
| Engine Oil | SYNTHETIC |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 5.8 qt |
| Engine Flywheel Bolts | AT: 92 ft-lbs, MT: 89 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 11 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | M12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 88 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-5-3-6-2-4 |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | BMW |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.26-1.90 lbs |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | 46 |
| Oil Capacity | 4.70-6.00 oz |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 47 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 480 cca |
| Optional BCI Group Number | 94R |
| Pressure Test | 29.0 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 26-30 psi |
| Thermostat Opening Temperature | 207 °F |
| Engine Compression | 130-261 PSI. 29 maximum variation. psi |
| Engine Compression | 159-174 PSI. |
| Torque Caliper to Bracket | 18-22 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 81 ft-lbs / 49 ft-lbs |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness From | 0.866 in / 0.75 in |
| Rotor Nominal Thickness To | 0.866 in / 0.75 in |
| Rotor Minimum Machining | 0.031 in |
| Rotor Discard at or Under | 0.803 in / 0.685 in |
| Rotor Finish | 0.5 - 3.5 μin |
| 1 | 15 ft. lbs., Step 2: 120 | 15 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 44 ft. lbs., step 2: 50 degrees, step 3: 50 | 44 ft. lbs |
Prep Do not reuse old bolts
| 1 | 22.0 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | Bolts 1-10 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 4 | 45 degrees | 45 degrees |
| 1 | 15 ft. lbs., Step 2: 70 | 15 ft. lbs |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi.
| Every 25,000 mi | Brake Linings (inspect) |
| Every 28,000 mi | Cabin Air Filter (inspect) |
| Every 30,000 mi | Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) |
| Every 31,000 mi | Brake System (inspect) |
| Every 100,000 mi | Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Federal records trace a steep decline in consumer complaints from nineteen in 1998-2000 to just one in 2008, with the target year marking the lowest complaint volume in the dataset despite a concurrent spike to twenty-two technical service bulletins. While earlier years logged zero recalls and zero investigations, the 2008 model maintains that clean record with no crash or fire complaints and only a single engine-related complaint whose root cause the data does not specify. This divergence—minimal owner-reported issues against elevated manufacturer technical notices—suggests concentrated service guidance rather than systemic defects. With zero federal safety actions and the fewest complaints of any year recorded, 2008 stands out as a statistically advantageous purchase year.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 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 22 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B611305 | 2024-01-11 | Electrical System | The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process… |
| B340714 | 2023-10-13 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Functional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a… |
| B340414 | 2021-04-01 | Service Brakes, Air | Diagnosis of Compound Brake System Complaints in M Vehicles: 1. Visible cracks are caused… |
| B611305 | 2020-10-01 | Electrical System | Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW… |
| B110208 | 2020-04-01 | Power Train | Power Reduction FC2A82 Intake VANOS and/or FC2 A87 Exhaust VANOS Camshaft Fault: The… |
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.
6.9 qt of USE ONLY BMW HIGH PERFORMANCE SYNTHETIC MOTOR OIL BMW PART NO. 07510009420 OR EQUIVALENT, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.