Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1980 528i.
The 1980 BMW 528i is a vehicle characterized by a clean service record, featuring zero recalls and only two total owner complaints. These reports are focused on the structure, placing this model year in a strong position relative to the model's complaint history from 1997 to 2015. With only two complaints, this year records fewer issues than the 2001 low of three and the 2011 peak of 198.
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the 528i 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 528 528i Sedan 2.8L I-6 | 8.20 sec | 16.30 sec | 169 hp | RWD |
| 1979 | 528 528i Sedan 2.8L I-6 | 9.30 sec | 16.60 sec | 169 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The federal record for the 1980 BMW 528i shows a distinct trend over the tracked calendar years. Complaints were moderate from 1997 to 2000, ranging between 33 and 49 annually with no recalls, then dropped to just 3 in 2001. A dramatic spike occurred in 2011, with 198 complaints, 8 recalls, and 402 TSBs, followed by a gradual decline through 2015. The target year 1980 itself has only two specific complaint areas logged—one for structure and one for the fuel system—but the data does not specify root causes for the later surge. This pattern suggests that while early reported issues were limited, significant problems emerged as the vehicle aged, culminating in a high volume of recalls and service bulletins. Given this late-life reliability spike, a 1980 528i may carry hidden long-term risks, making a pre-purchase inspection essential.
All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 1 of 1 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. |
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.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.