Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 X6.
The 2018 BMW X6 arrives as an SUV that pairs a 14/19/16 mpg EPA rating with an automatic (S8) transmission, and it carries only four total owner complaints for the model year, all focused on power‑train issues and accompanied by four recalls. Its complaint history spans the 2006‑2026 model range, with the 2018 figure sitting below the peak of 19 complaints recorded in 2009 yet above the single‑complaint low of 2006, reflecting a modest improvement but still a monitored reliability profile. For researchers, this indicates that the 2018 X6 shows a relative upturn in reliability while warranting continued attention to power‑train performance.
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 49 · 900; Auxiliary: 50 O.E. AmpHrs 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.
| Engine oil filter | 11428683168 alt 11428637821 |
| Engine air filter | 13717850056 alt 13717571355 |
| Spark plug | 12120037582 alt 12120039634 |
| Battery | 61217604808 alt 61216806755 |
| Front wiper blades | 61610039697 |
| Thermostat | 11538632664 alt 11537586885 |
| Cabin air filter | 64319194098 alt 64316804939 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
| Overall length | 193.3 in |
| Overall width | 78.3 in |
| Overall height | 66.9 in |
| Wheelbase | 115.4 in |
| Curb weight | 4751 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 64.6 / 66.9 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 49/51 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 14 / 19 / 16 mpg |
| Drivetrain | All-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the X6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | xDrive35i (xLine) 3.0L Turbo I-6 | 5.80 sec | 14.40 sec | 300 hp | AWD |
| 2017 | M 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 | 3.80 sec | 12.30 sec | 567 hp | AWD |
| 2015 | M 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 | 3.70 sec | 12.10 sec | 567 hp | AWD |
| 2015 | M 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 | 3.70 sec | 12.10 sec | 567 hp | AWD |
| 2015 | xDrive35i 3.0L Turbo I-6 | 5.70 sec | 14.30 sec | 300 hp | AWD |
| 2015 | xDrive35i 3.0L Turbo I-6 | 5.80 sec | 14.50 sec | 300 hp | AWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 103 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2. 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.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Clutch Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 9.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 7.4 ft-lbs |
| Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 7.4 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s) | 3.0 ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs | 72.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs |
| Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs | 84.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs |
| Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s) | 35.0 ft-lbs |
| Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s) | 16.0 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 103 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-5-3-6-2-4 |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2 |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.47-1.51 lbs. |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | 46 |
| Optional BCI Group Number | 95R |
| Optional BCI Cranking Performance | 950 cca |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 49 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 900; Auxiliary: 50 O.E. AmpHrs cca |
| RPM | 725.0 |
| RPM | 725.0 |
| RPM | 725.0 |
| 1 | 15.0 ft. lbs. | 15 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 70 degrees | 70 degrees |
| 2 | 70 | |
| 1 | 48.0 inch lbs. | 48 in |
| 2 | 15.0 ft. lbs. | 15 ft. lbs |
| 3 | 70 | |
| 1 | 48.0 inch lbs. | 48 in |
| 2 | 15.0 ft. lbs. | 15 ft. lbs |
| 3 | 22.0 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 4 | 75 | |
| 1 | 73.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 60 degrees, Step 3: 60 degrees, Step 4: 60 | 73 ft. lbs |
Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.
| 1 | Bolts 1-14 | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | Bolts 1-14 | 90 degrees |
| 3 | Bolts 1-14 | 180 degrees |
| 4 | M9 Bolts | 16.2 ft. lbs |
| 5 | M9 Bolts | 16.2 ft. lbs |
Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.
| 1 | 22.0 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 1 | Bolts 1-14 | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | Bolts 1-14 | 90 degrees |
| 3 | Bolts 1-14 | 180 degrees |
| 4 | M9 Bolt | 16.2 ft. lbs |
| 5 | 70mm: 16.2 | |
| 1 | 44.0 ft. lbs. | 44 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 45 | |
| 1 | 15.0 ft. lbs. | 15 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 70 | |
Prep M8 bolts
| 1 | 84.0 inch lbs. | 84 in |
| 2 | 55.0 degrees; M11 bolts | 55 degrees |
| 1 | 15.0 ft. lbs. | 15 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 115 | |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 1,200 mi.
| At 1,200 mi | Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2018 BMW X6 sits near the bottom of a decade‑long trend that saw complaints rise sharply from 2008 to 2010, peak with 19 complaints in both 2009 and 2010, then fall to single digits in the mid‑2010s before climbing again in 2020–2021. 2018’s 4 complaints and 4 recalls are lower than the 10 recalls seen in 2020 but higher than the 1 recall in 2017, indicating a moderate but not exceptional issue rate for that generation. Investigations were steady at one per year from 2015 to 2018, and the 94 total safety bulletins (TSBs) for 2018 are the lowest since 2017’s 203, suggesting fewer manufacturer‑issued fixes. The top complaint areas in 2018—Power Train, Tires, Unknown Or Other, and Steering/Suspension/Service Brakes—mirror the mixed nature of the recall and complaint profile. With a single fire complaint and no crash complaints, the 2018 model shows a relatively clean safety record compared to its peers. **Conclusion:** 2018 is a reasonable year to buy, offering a lower recall burden than later years while maintaining a solid safety profile.
All 4 complaints on record, top 4 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2019 BMW X6 sDrive35i, X6 xDrive35i, X6 xDrive50i, and X6M vehicles. The wheel bolts on these vehicles may not have been properly tightened. Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace and tighten all of the wheel bolts, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at…
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive50i, X5 xDrive35d, and X6 sDrive35i vehicles. The pivot bolt on the front lower-left control arm may not have been properly hardened… Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower-left control arms and replace if necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 11, 2018. Owners may contact BMW…
Showing 5 of 94 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B010122 | 2026-01-21 | Engine | N63TU1 CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT SVC CAMPAIGN: OIL CONSUMPTION DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR |
| B010121 | 2024-11-14 | Engine | For this vehicle, the engine coolant thermostat limited warranty for defects in materials… |
| B510819 | 2024-01-16 | Electrical System | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. |
| B611305 | 2024-01-11 | Electrical System | The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process… |
| B541119 | 2024-01-08 | Structure | This bulletin outlines known areas of possible water entry, operational noise, or wind… |
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.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 14 city / 19 highway / 16 combined mpg.