Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 100,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 330I.
The 2001 BMW 330i sits on the E46 chassis and is equipped with an automatic S5 transmission, drawing on a 7‑quart oil capacity that accepts 15W‑40, 10W‑40 or 10W‑30 grades meeting API SJ specifications, while delivering EPA‑rated fuel economy of 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined. Its reliability record, spanning the 1999‑2011 model run, registers a total of 121 owner complaints for this year—the same figure that marks both the peak and the trough of complaint volume across the range—highlighting air‑bag issues as the most frequent problem and prompting seven recalls. Consequently, the 2001 iteration represents a statistical outlier within the series, signalling to researchers that its service history warrants particular scrutiny despite otherwise typical BMW engineering attributes.
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 · 765 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 11421719855 |
| Engine air filter | 13721744869 |
| Fuel filter | 13327512019 |
| Spark plug | 12120037607 alt 12129071003 |
| Battery | 61216806755 alt 61218381738 |
| Front wiper blades | 61617004901 alt 61612458347 |
| Thermostat | 11537509357 alt 11537509227 |
| Cabin air filter | 64319216590 alt 64318370409 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S5) |
| Overall length | 176 in |
| Overall width | 68.5 in |
| Overall height | 55.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 107.5 in |
| Curb weight | 3318 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 58.3 / 58.7 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 50/50 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 17 / 25 / 20 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 91 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 11 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the 330I of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 330 330i Sedan 3.0L I-6 | 6.10 sec | 14.80 sec | 225 hp | RWD |
| 2001 | 330 330i Sedan 3.0L I-6 | 6.10 sec | 14.60 sec | 225 hp | RWD |
| 2001 | 330 330xi Sedan 3.0L I-6 | 6.20 sec | 14.70 sec | 225 hp | AWD |
| 2001 | 330 330i Sedan 3.0L I-6 | 6.80 sec | 15.10 sec | 225 hp | RWD |
| 2002 | 330 330xi Sedan 3.0L I-6 | 5.70 sec | 14.40 sec | 225 hp | AWD |
| 2002 | 330 330Ci Coupe 3.0L I-6 | 5.80 sec | 14.40 sec | 225 hp | RWD |
| 2002 | 330 330i Sedan 3.0L I-6 | 6.10 sec | 14.70 sec | 225 hp | RWD |
| 2002 | 330 330i Sedan 3.0L I-6 | 6.40 sec | 14.90 sec | 225 hp | RWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 7.0 qt of 15W-40 / 10W-40 / 10W-30 API SJ engine oil, 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.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 2.6 Pints |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 7.0 qt |
| Power Steering Fluid | ATF |
| Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts | 302 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 |
| Ignition Coil Primary Resistance | 0.8 ohms |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | BMW |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.58-1.69 lbs |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | 46 |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 94R |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 765 cca |
| Injector Primary Resistance | 15-17 ohms |
| Engine Compression | 142-156 psi |
| Engine Oil Pressure | 10.5 |
| Intake Valve Lash | Hydraulic in |
| Exhaust Valve Lash | Hydraulic in |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: .921; Rear: .803 |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish | 0.5-3.5 Ra (microns). |
| 1 | 15 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90 | 15 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 29.5 ft. lbs. | 29.5 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90.0 ft. lbs. | 90 ft. lbs |
| 3 | 90.0 ft. lbs. | 90 ft. lbs |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 100,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2001 BMW 330I stands out with a dramatic surge in reported issues: 121 complaints, 7 recalls, and 23 TSBs, whereas the preceding years (1999 and 2000) had zero complaints and only 2–3 recalls. The top complaint areas for 2001 are air bags (31), power train (20), and engine & engine cooling (6), with 1 crash and 3 fire complaints recorded. This spike contrasts sharply with the 2011 model year, which returned to zero complaints and fewer recalls, though it belongs to a later generation. The data does not specify root causes for these issues, but the 2001 model year clearly represents a peak in reported problems within the provided record. Given this trend, a used 2001 BMW 330I appears to carry a higher risk of defects compared to the years immediately before and after.
All 121 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2000-2001 BMW 3 Series (323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci and 330Ci), 1999-2001 323i, 328i, 330i, 330xi, and 2000 323i, 328i stationwagon vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver… Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with a newly designed inflator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 12, 2021. Owners may contact…
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 1999-2001 323i, 325i, 328i and 330i and 2000-2001 323Ci, 325Ci, 328Ci, 330Ci, 323iT, and 325iT vehicles equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI)… Remedy: BMW notified owners, and Dealers will replace the driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began November 10, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at…
Showing 5 of 23 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B510819 | 2024-01-16 | Electrical System | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. |
| B610120 | 2022-09-01 | Electrical System | Customer is unable to power up or charge accessories through a plug adapter inserted in… |
| B662419 | 2022-09-01 | Equipment | Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible… |
| SIB510822 | 2022-06-01 | Structure | Whistling noise is heard coming from the front bumper while driving at highway speeds. |
| SIB360222 | 2022-06-01 | Tires | Starting mid-May 2022, the QR code on the tite sidewalls of Pirelli tires has been… |
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.
7.0 qt of HIGH PERFORMANCE MINERAL OILS: ABOVE 5 degrees F: 15W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, -5 degreesF TO 68 degrees F: 10W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, 5 degreesF TO 50 degrees F: 10W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 32 degrees F:, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 17 city / 25 highway / 20 combined mpg.