BMW328i xDrive2015Overview/bmw/328i-xdrive/2015/base/

2015 BMW 328i xDrive

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 328i xDrive.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S8)

The 2015 BMW 328i xDrive is a passenger car that employs BMW’s xDrive all‑wheel‑drive system and an engine requiring 5.0‑5.5 quarts of oil meeting the 0W‑30, 0W‑40 or 5W‑30 specifications. It is paired with an automatic S8 transmission and achieves EPA fuel‑economy ratings of 22 city, 32 highway and 26 combined miles per gallon. Owner‑complaint records show 123 total complaints for the 2015 model year—the lowest in the 2011‑2015 period—with the fewest issues reported in the engine and electrical systems and only four recall actions issued. This data positions the 2015 version as among the most reliable of its generation.

Model year20162015201420112010

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity5.0-5.5OEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy22/32/26 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 · 800 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 94R · 800 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter11428683168 alt 11428637821
Engine air filter13718511668 alt 13718507320
Spark plug12120039664
Battery61217635788 alt 61217598775
Front wiper blades61615A43585
Cabin air filter64119237555 alt 64116821995

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length182.3 in
Overall width71.3 in
Overall height56.3 in
Wheelbase110.6 in
Curb weight3594 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 62.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)50/50

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined22 / 32 / 26 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume96 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 4
Clutch FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear OilCastrol SAF-X0
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity8.0-9.0
Engine Oil0W-30 · 0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity5.0-5.5
Fuel Tank Capacity15.8 gallons

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts30 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugM12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts29.5 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug24.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
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 Performance800 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test21.6 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief17-23 psi

Brakes

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront w/11.81"

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

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

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 model year represents the culmination of a steady reliability improvement arc for this generation, posting the lowest federal complaint volume (123) and fewest recalls (4) in the five-year dataset, down from peaks of 678 complaints and 11 recalls in 2011. While 2013 saw a secondary spike of 313 complaints, the subsequent downward trend continued through 2014 (150 complaints) to 2015, with technical service bulletins also declining to 459 from a high of 667 in 2013. The data places 2015 at the favorable end of the lifecycle curve, with reported concerns concentrated in Engine & Engine Cooling/Electrical System categories (34 incidents) and minimal crash (6) and fire (7) complaints relative to earlier years. Given its position as the least problematic year in the federal record with diminishing recall activity and investigation exposure (1), the 2015 model presents the strongest risk profile of this generation for used vehicle acquisition.

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
459
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
123
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 7 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 123 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling,Electrical System34
Unknown Or Other11
Electrical System9
Engine8
Engine & Engine Cooling5
Fuel/Propulsion System5
Service Brakes4
Exterior Lighting4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 459 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
B0626262026-05-01EngineInlet Hose Return
B0621262026-02-24StructureMuffler Bracket Return
B0616262026-02-06EngineDouble Pipe Return
B0103222024-10-25Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel tank limited warranty for leakage, due to defects in materials or workmanship, has…
B5108192024-01-16Electrical SystemThe basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

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 328i xDrive. 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 328i xDrive take?

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.

Does the 2015 328i xDrive have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 328i xDrive get?

EPA figures are 22 city / 32 highway / 26 combined mpg.