BMW135I Convertible2013Overview/bmw/135i-convertible/2013/base/
E88 platform

2013 BMW 135I Convertible

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2013 135I Convertible.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AM-S7)

The 2013 BMW 135I Convertible serves as an E88 platform passenger car equipped with an Automatic (AM-S7) transmission and an engine requiring 7.0 qt of oil in 0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30 viscosity. While EPA fuel economy ratings stand at 18/25/20 mpg, the vehicle's reliability history is defined by 2 recalls and 15 total owner complaints with Air Bags as the top complaint area. This profile suggests a focused area of concern for researchers, indicating that verification of the Air Bags is warranted given the concentration of issues within the 15 total owner complaints.

Model year201320122011201020092008

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity7.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque88 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/25/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 570 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 48 · 570 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size215-40 R18; REAR: 245-35 R18; M SPORT PKG FRONT: 215-40 R18; M SPORT PKG REAR: 245-35 R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.0; FRONT: 7.5; REAR: 8.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter11428683168 alt 11428637820
Engine air filter13717599285
Fuel filter16117313791
Spark plug12120037582
Front wiper blades61615A87C97
Thermostat11537601158
Cabin air filter64319313519 alt 64319142114

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AM-S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172 in
Overall width68.9 in
Overall height55.5 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight3373 lb
Track (front / rear)57.5 / 58.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)52/48

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 25 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 7.0 qt of 0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil, USE CASTROL BOT448 OR EQUIVALENT in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 88 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.4 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

Differential Gear OilUSE CASTROL BOT448 OR EQUIVALENT
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.7 qt
Engine Oil0W-30 · 0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity7.0 qt
Power Steering FluidUse Pentosin CHF 11S

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts88 ft-lbs

Ignition

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

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Oil GroupPAG
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance570 cca
Optional BCI Group Number94R
Optional BCI Cranking Performance640 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test21.7 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief19-23 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature190 °F
Engine Compression145-232 PSI. 29 maximum variation. psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH 11.81 inch ROTOR / WITH FN3
Torque to Knuckle48 ft-lbs / 81 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads
Brake ApplicationWITH 11.81 inch ROTOR / WITH FN3
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.787 in / 0.945 in / 0.866 in / 1.024 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.787 in / 0.945 in / 0.866 in / 1.024 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.724 in / 0.881 in / 0.803 in / 0.961 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs., Step 2: 14015 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
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
16 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9.66 ft. lbs
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.

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 2013 BMW 135I Convertible dominate in one area — the air bags, 10 of 15 reports (67%), well ahead of the next concern. That matters, because the air bags are also the target of recalls 20V-017 and 16V-071 on this vehicle — so the single most useful check before buying or servicing one is confirming they were actually performed. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the air bags 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.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
268
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
15
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 15 complaints on record, top 5 components.

Air Bags10
Power Train,Engine2
Steering,Vehicle Speed Control,Unknown Or Other1
Unknown Or Other1
Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V017000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 15/01/2020

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2008-2013 128i and 135i Convertibles, 128i, 135i, and M Coupes, 2007-2010 X3 30si and X3 xDrive30i, 2013-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i and X1 xDrive35i, 2007-2013… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver air bag. On X5 and X6 vehicles, only the inflator will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. The…

16V071000Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator ModuleReported 05/02/2016

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 128i and 135i coupes and convertibles and 1 Series M coupes, 2006-2011 325i, 325xi, 328i, 328xi, 328i xDrive, 330i, 330xi, 335i, 335xi, 335i… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module or inflator depending on the vehicle model, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 268 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
B6113052024-01-11Electrical SystemThe electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process…
SB23-012023-08-02SteeringSpl Parts, Inc. communications index accompanying MCP uploads 23mc40464 & 23mc40471
SB 23-012023-07-14SuspensionSPL Parts, Inc. manufacturers and distributes aftermarket lower control arms for…
B0101222023-05-01EquipmentWith the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered into a…
B0109192022-12-01Fuel System, GasolineFor the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited…

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 135I Convertible. 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 2013 135I Convertible take?

7.0 qt of 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-30, 5W-40 OIL MEETING BMW SPECIFICATION LL01, per the factory manual.

Does the 2013 135I Convertible have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 135I Convertible get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 25 highway / 20 combined mpg.