BMW740Li2015Overview/bmw/740li/2015/base/

2015 BMW 740Li

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 740Li.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S8)

The 2015 BMW 740Li, a passenger car, uses 6.9 qt of oil and offers three viscosity options — 0W‑30, 0W‑40 or 5W‑30 — paired with an Automatic (S8) transmission, and it achieves EPA fuel‑economy ratings of 19 city, 28 highway and 22 combined mpg. Over its full ownership history the model logged only one complaint, with the sole reported problem occurring in the engine category and no recalls issued. Its 2015 complaint count of one marks the low point of the 2011‑2016 complaint history, highlighting a marked improvement in reliability for that model year.

Model year20152014

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.9 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/28/22 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 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 49 · 850 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP245/50R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8.5, 8.5, 9.5, 8.5, 10 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter11428683168 alt 11428637820
Engine air filter13717571355
Spark plug12120037582
Battery61217639053
Front wiper blades61612147361
Thermostat11538671514
Cabin air filter64319175484 alt 64116809933

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length205.1 in
Overall width74.8 in
Overall height58.3 in
Wheelbase126.4 in
Curb weight4526 lb
Track (front / rear)63.4 / 64.2 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)50/50

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 28 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume115 cu ft
Cargo volume14 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 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 1-5-3-6-2-4. 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
Clutch FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear OilCastrol SAF-X0
Engine CoolantEthylene Glycol
Engine Coolant Capacity13.3-15.3
Engine Oil0W-30 · 0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40
Engine Oil Capacity6.9 qt
Fuel Tank Capacity21.1 gallons

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts30 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11
Engine Oil Pan Drain PlugM12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to TransmissionM8 Bolts: 33.0, M10: 58.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-5-3-6-2-4
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 Number49
Standard BCI Cranking Performance850 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test21.7 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief28-32 psi

Brakes

Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementStamped on rotor
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishStamped on rotor
Vented Rotor Maximum Scoring DepthStamped on rotor
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationStamped on rotor
Maximum Rotor RunoutStamped on rotor

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.

In the 2015 BMW 740Li, the federal record shows only one complaint and a single recall, a sharp decline from the 14 complaints and one recall in 2011 and the 7 complaints of 2012‑2013. The trend from 2011 through 2014 indicates a steady reduction in complaints, while recalls plateau at one per year, suggesting no emergent safety trend. The 2015 data reveal a single engine‑related complaint and no investigations, crashes, or fire incidents, consistent with the broader decline. With 208 TSBs that year—down from 299 in 2011 and 315 in 2012—the vehicle appears to have benefited from design fixes implemented in earlier years. Overall, the 2015 model sits at the low end of the complaint arc, implying a more reliable option within the generation. Therefore, 2015 is a solid year to purchase, provided a thorough pre‑purchase inspection confirms the absence of the solitary engine complaint.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
208
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
1
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Engine1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

17V379000Exterior LightingReported 14/06/2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2015 740i, 740Li, 740Lxi, 750i, 750xi, 750Li and 750Lxi and 2014 ActiveHybrid 7 vehicles. The affected vehicles may have received incorrect replacement left rear… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and replace any incorrect left rear taillight assemblies, free of charge. The recall began August 11, 2017. Owners…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 208 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
B6304182024-03-14Exterior LightingOne or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.
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…
B6105242024-01-05Electrical SystemThe Central Information Display goes black intermittently due to resets of the Head Unit…
B1606232023-12-20Engine And Engine CoolingEngine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel…

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 740Li. 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 740Li take?

6.9 qt 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 740Li have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the 740Li get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 28 highway / 22 combined mpg.