Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 328d.
The 2015 BMW 328d is a passenger‑car built on BMW’s rear‑wheel‑drive platform and powered by a diesel engine that calls for 5.0‑5.5 L of oil with viscosity options ranging from 0W‑30 to 5W‑30. It pairs that efficient powertrain with an S8 automatic transmission, delivering an EPA rating of 31 mpg city, 43 mpg highway and 36 mpg combined. In the three‑year span from 2013 to 2015 the model’s complaint record fell to its lowest point in 2015, registering only 27 owner reports—chiefly centered on the fuel‑system diesel components—and it was subject to six recalls. This modest complaint tally places the 2015 iteration as the most reliable year of its early‑generation cycle, indicating a comparatively steady reliability foundation for researchers examining the model’s evolution.
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 94R · 800 CCA battery, OE oil filter 11428580682. 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 | 11428580682 alt 11428580680 |
| Engine air filter | 13718511668 |
| Fuel filter | 13327822497 |
| Battery | 61217598775 alt 61217635788 |
| Front wiper blades | 61615A43585 |
| Thermostat | 11518512234 alt 11518516207 |
| Cabin air filter | 64116821995 alt 64119237555 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
| Overall length | 182.3 in |
| Overall width | 71.3 in |
| Overall height | 56.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 110.6 in |
| Curb weight | 3620 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 60.6 / 62.2 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 50/50 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 31 / 43 / 36 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 96 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 13 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Diesel |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 5.0-5.5 of 0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil, Castrol SAF-X0 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 1-3-4-2. 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.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Clutch Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil | Castrol SAF-X0 |
| Engine Coolant | Ethylene Glycol |
| Engine Coolant Capacity | 8.0-9.0 |
| Engine Oil | 0W-30 · 0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 5.0-5.5 |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 15.8 gallons |
| Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts | 30 ft-lbs |
| Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts | 9.5 |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | M12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs |
| Driveshaft Flange to Transmission | M8 Bolts: 33.0, M10: 58.0 ft-lbs |
| Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts | 29.5 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | BMW |
| Spark Plug Type | M14X1.25 |
| Spark Plug Gap | non-adjustable in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 20.0 - 24.3 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 94R |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 800 cca |
| Pressure Test | 21.6 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 17-23 psi |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front w/11.81" |
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 |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2015 BMW 328d represents a significant improvement over its immediate predecessor: complaints dropped sharply from 151 in 2014 to just 27 in 2015, suggesting the earlier model's widespread issues were substantially addressed. However, recall counts remained elevated at 6 (versus 7 in 2014), and open investigations stayed at 2, indicating that NHTSA continued to monitor unresolved safety matters across the generation. The top complaint areas for 2015 centered on fuel system components—diesel fuel system issues (6 complaints), powertrain (5), and fuel/propulsion system (5)—pointing to persistent diesel-specific concerns rather than broad defects. The 501 TSBs logged in 2014 dropped to 442 in 2015, still indicating a high volume of manufacturer service bulletins, which can reflect ongoing technical refinement of the platform. With zero crash-related complaints and only one fire complaint, the 2015 model does not show evidence of catastrophic safety failures. Compared to the 2014 model, which appears to have been the troubled launch year of this generation, the 2015 328d offers a notably lower complaint rate while retaining elevated but comparable recall activity—making it a comparatively safer purchase within this generation, though the sustained recall presence warrants verification that any outstanding campaigns have been completed on a specific vehicle.
All 27 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2018 BMW 328d and 328d xDrive, 2014-2018 328d Sports Wagon and 328d xDrive Sports Wagon, 2014-2016 535d and 535d xDrive, 2015 740Ld xDrive, 2015-2017 X3… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the EGR cooler as necessary. If a leak has already occurred, the engine intake manifold will also be replaced. These…
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2016 328d xDrive sedans and 2013-2015 328d xDrive station wagon vehicles. The constant-velocity joint which transfers power between the transfer case and the… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the constant-velocity joint and inspect the transfer case, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 22…
Showing 5 of 442 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B010520 | 2025-08-15 | Engine | N47/N57 DIESEL ENGINE EGR COOLER REVISED EXT LTD WTY(ELW) COVERAGE/PROCEDURE |
| B010125 | 2025-08-11 | Engine | The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Cooler limited warranty for defects in materials and… |
| B010125 | 2025-08-08 | Engine | The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Cooler limited warranty for defects in materials and… |
| B010520 | 2024-01-23 | Engine And Engine Cooling | The vehicle demonstrates a power loss and the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) on. The… |
| 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.
5.0-5.5 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.
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 31 city / 43 highway / 36 combined mpg.