Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2015 Z4.
The 2015 BMW Z4 is a passenger car equipped with an automatic (S8) transmission, requiring 5.3 quarts of 0W-30, 0W-40, or 5W-30 oil and delivering an EPA-estimated 22/32/26 mpg (city/highway/combined). With just five owner complaints—focused on the engine and cooling, and electrical system—and a single recall, this model year represents a notably trouble-free point in the Z4’s history, especially when measured against the 414 complaints logged for the 2003 model year.
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 94R · 800 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 11427611390 |
| Engine air filter | 13717556961 alt 13717582908 |
| Fuel filter | 16117313794 |
| Spark plug | 12120037244 alt 12120039664 |
| Battery | 61217598775 |
| Front wiper blades | 61612151749 |
| Thermostat | 11537549476 alt 11538635689 |
| Cabin air filter | 64319195194 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
| Overall length | 166.9 in |
| Overall width | 70.5 in |
| Overall height | 50.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 98.4 in |
| Curb weight | 3263 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 59.4 / 61.4 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 50/50 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 22 / 32 / 26 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Z4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | sDrive28i Roadster 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 5.60 sec | 14.30 sec | 240 hp | RWD |
| 2010 | sDrive35i Roadster 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 4.80 sec | 13.30 sec | 300 hp | RWD |
| 2009 | sDrive35i Roadster 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 4.30 sec | 12.90 sec | 300 hp | RWD |
| 2009 | sDrive35i Roadster 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 4.70 sec | 13.30 sec | 300 hp | RWD |
| 2009 | sDrive35i Roadster 3.0L Twin-Turbo I-6 | 4.80 sec | 13.50 sec | 300 hp | RWD |
| 2009 | sDrive30i Roadster 3.0L I-6 | 6.10 sec | 14.50 sec | 255 hp | RWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 5.3 qt of 0W-30 / 0W-40 / 5W-30 engine oil, Castrol SAF-XJ 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.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Clutch Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil | Castrol SAF-XJ |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 1.7-2.5 |
| Engine Oil | 0W-30 · 0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 5.3 qt |
| Engine Oil | 0W-30 · 0W-40 · 5W-30 · 5W-40 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 6.9 qt |
| Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts | 30 ft-lbs |
| Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts | 30 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | M12 Bolts: 18.0, M22 Bolts: 44.0 ft-lbs |
| Driveshaft Flange to Transmission | M8 Bolts: 33.0, M10: 58.0 ft-lbs |
| Rear Wheel Hub | 184 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-5-3-6-2-4 |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | BMW |
| Spark Plug Type | M14X1.25 |
| Spark Plug Gap | non-adjustable in |
| Spark Plug Torque | 20.0 - 24.3 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 94R |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 800 cca |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 48 |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 760 cca |
| Pressure Test | 21.7 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 17-23 psi |
| Pressure Test | 29 psi |
| Radiator Cap Pressure Relief | 26-30 psi |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.145; Rear: 0.145 pads |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Stamped on rotor |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish | Stamped on rotor |
| Vented Rotor Maximum Scoring Depth | Stamped on rotor |
| Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation | Stamped on rotor |
| Maximum Rotor Runout | Stamped on rotor |
Prep Do not reuse old bolts
| 1 | 22.0 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | Bolts 1-10 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 4 | 45 degrees | 45 degrees |
Prep Do not reuse old bolts
| 1 | 22.0 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 3 | Bolts 1-10 90 degrees | 90 degrees |
| 4 | 45 degrees | 45 degrees |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The federal record shows a dramatic spike in complaints during the 2003–2004 launch window (414 and 411 complaints, respectively), followed by a sustained decline through 2010 (down to 10 complaints), indicating that early-production quality issues were progressively resolved across the generation's lifespan. However, no year-by-year complaint or recall data exists for 2015 specifically in this dataset—the record jumps from 2010 directly to 2016. The adjacent-year context suggests the trend of low complaint volumes continued, as 2016 recorded only 4 complaints with 1 recall, and the target year itself generated only 6 total complaints across four categories with zero crash or fire complaints reported. Recalls remained a recurring but modest presence throughout the generation, ranging from 1 to 5 per year with no clear escalation pattern in later years. The 2015 Z4 appears to fall within the stabilization phase of this generation's reliability arc. **Verdict:** The data does not provide a direct complaint count for 2015, but the surrounding years show the generation had largely settled into a low-complaint, moderate-recall pattern by this point, suggesting 2015 represents a comparatively mature and reliable example of the model—though prospective buyers should still review the specific 2015 technical service bulletins for any outstanding maintenance items.
All 5 complaints on record, top 4 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 5 of 80 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. |
| B611305 | 2024-01-11 | Electrical System | The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process… |
| B662419 | 2022-09-01 | Equipment | Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible… |
| B662719 | 2022-09-01 | Lane Departure | The Lane Change Warning (LCW) yellow triangle symbol on either one, or both the exterior… |
| B110317 | 2021-10-01 | Engine And Engine Cooling | For the above-referenced vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the… |
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.
5.3 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.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 22 city / 32 highway / 26 combined mpg.