BMW528I2000Overview/bmw/528i/2000/base/
E39 platform

2000 BMW 528I

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2000 528I.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 2000 BMW 528I is built on the E39 chassis and came equipped with a four-speed automatic transmission, EPA ratings of 16/24/19 mpg, and a 7.0-quart oil fill specified in 15W-40, 10W-40, or 10W-30 API SJ viscosities. It carries just one recall and 45 total owner complaints, with air bags cited as the top complaint area, placing it early in the model’s 1997–2015 complaint record. That total sits well below the 198 complaints logged for 2011 and above the series low of three complaints recorded for 2001, making the 2000 model one of the more moderately reported years in that documented span.

Model year201620152014200920082006200019991998

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity7.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 10W-40 / 10W-30 API SJOEM · verified
Lug nut torque88 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/24/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 49 · 850 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.

Battery groupBCI 49 · 850 CCAOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter11421741000 alt 11427512300
Engine air filter13721730449
Fuel filter13321740985
Spark plug12129071003
Battery61218381762
Front wiper blades61619070579
Thermostat11537509357 alt 11537509227
Cabin air filter64312207985

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length188.2 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height56.7 in
Wheelbase111.4 in
Curb weight3494 lb
Track (front / rear)59.4 / 60.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)51/49

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 24 / 19 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume93 cu ft
Cargo volume11 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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.

6.8–8.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.80 sec — 1997 528 528i Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1999528 528i Wagon 2.8L I-68.10 sec16.30 sec193 hpRWD
1997528 528i Sedan 2.8L I-66.80 sec15.30 sec190 hpRWD
1997528 528i Sedan 2.8L I-67.10 sec15.70 sec190 hpRWD
1997528 528i Sedan 2.8L I-67.50 sec15.80 sec190 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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 22.0 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

Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.6 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity7.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 89 ft-lbs, MT: 78 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs16 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts88 ft-lbs

Ignition

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

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.60-3.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Standard BCI Group Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance850 cca

Service checks

Injector Primary Resistance15-17 ohms
Engine Compression142-156 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket81 ft-lbs / 18-22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle81-96 ft-lbs / 49 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.031 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.803 in / 0.724 in
Rotor Finish0.5 - 3.5 μin

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
14 ft. lbs., Step 2: 14 ft. lbs., Step 3: 704 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
129.5 ft. lbs.29.5 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
390

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Every 100,000 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.

Within the early years of the provided record, the 2000 model year sits near the peak of reported issues, recording 45 complaints and 13 technical service bulletins, a complaint volume that exceeds those seen in 1997, 1998, and 2001. Notably, 2000 is the only year between 1997 and 2001 to log a federal recall, whereas surrounding years show zero recalls despite similar complaint volumes. The federal record specifies 10 air bag complaints and 9 engine and engine cooling complaints for this year, alongside 4 fire-related complaints, though the data does not specify the root cause for these incidents. While later years in the record show vastly higher technical service bulletin counts, the immediate trend from 1999 to 2001 shows the 2000 model maintaining elevated complaints before a sharp drop to 3 complaints in 2001. Given the unique recall status and elevated complaint numbers relative to the subsequent year, this specific model year presents a higher risk profile and is less favorable than the 2001 model.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
13
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
45
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 4 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 45 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags10
Engine & Engine Cooling9
Tires4
Seats2
Exterior Lighting2
Latches/Locks/Linkages2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Steering2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

00V048000Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:SwitchReported 17/02/2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LAMP SWITCH WITH AN IMPROVED SWITCH.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 13 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
B5108192024-01-16Electrical SystemThe basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
B1606232023-12-20Engine And Engine CoolingEngine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel…
B6534232023-11-22Electrical SystemCustomers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their…
B0131182019-04-01Air BagsTAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL…
B0131182019-04-01Air BagsTAKATA AIR BAG RECALL-RELATED SHORT-TERM ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION AND CONSEQUENTIAL…

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 528I. 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 2000 528I take?

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.

Does the 2000 528I have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 528I get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 24 highway / 19 combined mpg.