BMW335I xDrive2011Overview/bmw/335i-xdrive/2011/base/
E92 platform

2011 BMW 335I xDrive

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 335I xDrive.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S6)

Built on the E92 platform, the 2011 BMW 335I xDrive is a passenger car equipped with an Automatic (S6) transmission and an engine requiring 6.9 quarts of oil in viscosities including 15W-40, 10W-40, or 10W-30 API SJ. While this configuration delivers EPA fuel economy ratings of 18/26/21 mpg, the model year occupies a critical position within the 2011-2015 complaint history by recording the highest volume of issues with 168 total owner complaints and 11 recalls where air bags serve as the top complaint area. For researchers evaluating long-term dependability, this data establishes the 2011 version as the peak for reported problems within this range, contrasting sharply with the lowest count of 10 complaints recorded in 2015.

Model year201520142011201020092008

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 10W-40 / 10W-30 API SJOEM · verified
Lug nut torque88 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/26/21 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

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter11428683168 alt 11428637821
Engine air filter13717599285
Spark plug12120037582
Battery61217586960 alt 61217586961
Front wiper blades61612455435 alt 61612455437
Thermostat11537601158
Cabin air filter64319313519 alt 64319142114

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length178.3 in
Overall width71.7 in
Overall height55.9 in
Wheelbase108.7 in
Curb weight3814 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 59.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)50/50

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 26 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainAll-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume93 cu ft
Cargo volume12 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 6.9 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. 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

Automatic Transmission FluidBMW part number 83222152426
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity10.5-11.5
Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.2 Pints
Differential Gear Oil Capacity1.8 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity6.9 qt

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts18 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugM12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts88 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug24.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug15.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub310 ft-lbs

Ignition

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

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.19-1.40 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.70-6.50 oz
Optional BCI Group Number94R
Optional BCI Cranking Performance640 cca
Standard BCI Group Number48

Service checks

Engine Compression145-232 PSI. 29 maximum variation. psi

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH FN3
Torque to Knuckle81 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.866 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.866 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.803 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.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 60,000 mi.

Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
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.

The 2011 BMW 335I xDrive records 168 complaints, 11 recalls, and 153 technical service bulletins — figures that dwarf every subsequent model year in the federal record, with 2012 falling to 35 complaints, 2013 to 64, and 2015 bottoming out at just 10. This places 2011 as a clear outlier on the high end of the complaint arc rather than the middle of a steady trend, suggesting early-production or model-year-specific issues that were largely resolved in later years, though the data does not specify the root cause. Complaint concentration is notable: air bags alone account for 43 of the 168 filings, with the engine (29), fuel/propulsion system (12), and electrical system (11) following, indicating a broad but air-bag-weighted issue profile. The 11 recalls tied to 2011 are the highest in the five-year window (subsequent years drop to between 3 and 7), and the 3 crash and 3 fire-related complaints, while modest, are worth flagging on a used-vehicle inspection. Given the steep drop in both complaints and recalls across 2012–2015, the 2011 model year is demonstrably the riskiest in this generation on paper — a prospective buyer should treat verification of all 11 recalls and a targeted air bag system inspection as non-negotiable before purchase.

11
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
153
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
168
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 3 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 168 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags43
Engine29
Fuel/Propulsion System12
Electrical System11
Power Train8
Unknown Or Other6
Engine & Engine Cooling5
Wheels5

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 153 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
B0120162025-03-13Electrical SystemThe Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship…
B0120162025-02-20Electrical SystemThe Footwell Module (FRM) limited warranty for defects in materials and / or workmanship…
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…
SB23-012023-08-02SteeringSpl Parts, Inc. communications index accompanying MCP uploads 23mc40464 & 23mc40471

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 335I 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 2011 335I xDrive take?

6.9 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.

Does the 2011 335I xDrive have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 11 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 335I xDrive get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined mpg.