BMWM52015Overview/bmw/m5/2015/base/

2015 BMW M5

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 M5.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AM-S7)

The 2015 BMW M5 is a passenger car equipped with a 7-speed automatic transmission (AM-S7), requiring 9.0 quarts of engine oil within viscosity specifications of 0W-30, 0W-40, or 5W-30, and achieves EPA-rated fuel economy of 14/20/16 mpg across city, highway, and combined driving cycles; this model year also represents a notably mature product within the M5 lineage, with owner complaint data spanning 1990–2022 showing the 2015 sitting well below the peak of 123 complaints recorded in 2006 and comfortably above the low of just 1 complaint in 2010, suggesting this generation benefits from accumulated refinements in the face of only 3 documented owner complaints and a single recall across its production run.

Model year202620252023202220212020201920182015

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity9.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy14/20/16 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 950 CCA battery, OE oil filter 11427848321. 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 94R · 950 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size265/40R19 FRONT; 295/35R19 REAROEM · verified
Wheel / rim9.0 FRONT; 10.0 REAR inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter11427848321
Engine air filter13727843284 alt 13727843283
Spark plug12120039634
Battery61217648317 alt 61217639053
Front wiper blades61612458015
Thermostat11538632664 alt 11537586885
Cabin air filter64116809933 alt 64119272642

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length193.3 in
Overall width73.2 in
Overall height57.5 in
Wheelbase116.5 in
Curb weight4387 lb
Track (front / rear)63 / 64.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)51/49

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined14 / 20 / 16 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume102 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the M5 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

3.6–4.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 3.60 sec — 2013 Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2014Sedan 4.4L Twin-Turbo V83.70 sec11.90 sec560 hpRWD
2014Sedan 4.4L Twin-Turbo V83.80 sec12.00 sec560 hpRWD
2013Sedan 4.4L Twin-Turbo V83.60 sec11.90 sec560 hpRWD
2013Sedan 4.4L Twin-Turbo V83.70 sec11.90 sec560 hpRWD
2013Sedan 4.4L Twin-Turbo V83.70 sec12.00 sec560 hpRWD
2013Sedan 4.4L Twin-Turbo V83.70 sec11.90 sec560 hpRWD
2013Sedan 4.4L Twin-Turbo V84.00 sec12.10 sec560 hpRWD
2013Sedan 4.4L Twin-Turbo V84.00 sec12.40 sec560 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 9.0 qt of 0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil, synthetic 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.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 4
Clutch FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear Oilsynthetic
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.3-3.0
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Oil0W-30 · 0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity9.0 qt
Fuel Tank Capacity21.1 gallons

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11 ft/lbs.
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts1st step: Screw in guide tool 01 19 11
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugM12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to TransmissionM8 Bolts: 33.0, M10: 58.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerBMW
Spark Plug TypeM14X1.25
Spark Plug Gapnon-adjustable in
Spark Plug Torque20.0 - 24.3 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Standard BCI Group Number94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance950 cca

Brakes

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementStamped on rotor
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishStamped on rotor
Vented Rotor Maximum Scoring DepthStamped on rotor
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationStamped on rotor
Maximum Rotor RunoutStamped on rotor

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts

122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees90 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 1,200 mi.

At 1,200 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (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.

The 2015 M5 sits mid-generation with three complaints — one each in Electrical System, Engine/Fuel/Propulsion System, and Service Brakes — one recall, no investigations, and 273 TSBs, marking a continued decline from the 2013 peak of 383 TSBs and ten complaints. The preceding 2014 model showed only two complaints and 350 TSBs, while the following 2016 model dropped further to one complaint and 213 TSBs, indicating a steady improvement trajectory through the F10 generation's final years. Complaint volumes remain low across 2013–2022 (ranging 1–10 annually), and recall counts stay modest (0–3), with no crash or fire complaints recorded for 2015; the data does not specify root causes for the three complaint categories. TSB volume, while still substantial at 273, reflects the typical post-launch service bulletin curve rather than a spike, and the single recall aligns with the generation's low recall frequency. This positions the 2015 as a stable, late-generation example with below-average complaint activity and declining manufacturer service actions. It is a good year to buy, provided the sole recall has been addressed and a pre-purchase inspection covers the three complaint areas.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
273
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
3
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 3 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Electrical System1
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Service Brakes1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V540000Power Train:Driveline:DriveshaftReported 19/07/2016

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2015 BMW M5 sedans manufactured September 4, 2014, through December 4, 2014, 2015 M6 coupes manufactured September 3, 2014, through December 3, 2014, 2015… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the driveshaft, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during September 2016. Owners may…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 273 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
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…
B3407142023-10-13Service Brakes, HydraulicFunctional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a…
B3409142023-06-01WheelsThe Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) warning light comes on while driving. The following…
B6515232023-05-01Electrical SystemAfter programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode)…

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 M5. 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 2015 M5 take?

9.0 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.

Does the 2015 M5 have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the M5 get?

EPA figures are 14 city / 20 highway / 16 combined mpg.