Most common 2011 BMW 535i problems
Share of the 112 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 535i complaints by model year
Best 535i years: 2016, 2015, 2014. Years to avoid: 2011, 2008, 2009. Compare all years →
2011 BMW 535i recalls (4)
Power train › Driveline › Constant velocity joint
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 1 Series M Coupe and 135i Convertible vehicles, 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i, 335i, 335d, 335i Coupe, 335is Coupe, 335i Convertible, 335is Convertible, 535i, 535i xDrive, 535i Gran Turismo and 550i xDrive Gran Turismo vehicles and 2012 740i and 740Li vehicles.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear driveshaft CV joint and, based on its production date, will replace it, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2017.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2011 BMW 528i, 528xi, 535i, 535xi, 550i and 550xi vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, through August 31, 2011. The affected vehicles may have received a replacement Sensor Cluster Unit (SCU) during a service visit.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the SCU, free of charge. The recall began on December 16, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 BMW X5 3.0si, X5 4.8i, X5 M, X5 xDrive30i, X5 xDrive35i, X5 xDrive48i and X5 xDrive50i, 2008-2011 X6 x Drive35i, X6 xDrive50i and X6 M, 2010-2011 X6 ActiveHybrid, 535i xDrive Gran Turismo, 535i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive Gran Turismo and 550i Gran Turismo,…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. The recall began February 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge.
What 2011 BMW 535i owners say
Engine & cooling all 41 →
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 535I. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle was losing motive power and was running rough. The contact stated that the instrument cluster went black. The contact turned into a parking lot as the vehicle stalled. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle but after several attempts failed to restart. The contact had the vehicle towed to the residence. The contact had an independent mechanic diagnose the vehicle at the residence. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the VANOS bolts had fractured and the timing camshaft had detached. The mechanic advised the contact to take the vehicle to a dealer. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V707000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 335I. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered that the bolts used to secure the housing for the camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit had loosened over time, causing the vehicle to stall. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V176000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) which he linked to the failure. The contact called two dealers and the manufacturer and was informed that the vehicle was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.
Fuel & propulsion system all 35 →
My car suddenly shut off when I came to a stop at a red light while on a busy state route. The information cluster then began to read "Fuel supply" and "Battery Discharge" My car would not turn back on and still has not turned back on since and it's been over a month now. According to the OBD results, the fuel pump and injectors were somehow seized and therefore have caused the car to become inoperable. I was forced to spend over $1000 just to get my car out of the police tow yard and towed to my home because I could not afford the cost of the repairs needed. The NHSTA website states that there is a recall on both the fuel system and the electrical system for my exact vehicle, but according to my Vin search results, there are 0 recalls. That doesn't make sense. I had just got my new inspection done maybe a month prior to my car breaking down.
Been fixing an unknown issue due to fuel presure, loss of engine power and car gets extra hot but doesn't over heat, I have fixed the issue more on 2 different occasions. I didn't pass the smog text so that's when I was told to check for any recalls, now the issues returned with same problems and probably won't pass smog again. I have all recorded from all the years of maintenance and I'm very diligent on on time maintenance or if theirs is any kind of malfunction. I'm now addressing the situation to you as I believe that there's something wrong that's beyond my control. I've also encountered other people with same vehicle with similar issues.
Electrical system
The contact owned a 2011 BMW 535i. The contact stated that while the vehicle was unoccupied and parked in a parking lot, it was brought to the attention of the contact that the vehicle caught on fire. The local fire department arrived on the scene to extinguish the fire. The contact stated that it was unknown if a fire report was filed. A police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The origin of the fire was unknown. The contact stated that the fire damaged one other parked and unoccupied vehicle that was nearby. The vehicle was towed by the insurance and was deemed a total loss. The vehicle remained in the possession of the insurance provider for further investigation. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
My car suddenly shut off when I came to a stop at a red light while on a busy state route. The information cluster then began to read "Fuel supply" and "Battery Discharge" My car would not turn back on and still has not turned back on since and it's been over a month now. According to the OBD results, the fuel pump and injectors were somehow seized and therefore have caused the car to become inoperable. I was forced to spend over $1000 just to get my car out of the police tow yard and towed to my home because I could not afford the cost of the repairs needed. The NHSTA website states that there is a recall on both the fuel system and the electrical system for my exact vehicle, but according to my Vin search results, there are 0 recalls. That doesn't make sense. I had just got my new inspection done maybe a month prior to my car breaking down.
2011 BMW 535i engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 20 / 30 / 24 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | RWD | 19 / 28 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 BMW 535i a good car?
Based on 112 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 535i rates avoid: 2.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the 535i at the same age. It is one of the 535i years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 BMW 535i?
The engine & cooling — 41 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (35) and electrical system (17).
How many recalls does the 2011 BMW 535i have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2011 BMW 535i, the most recent from February 2, 2017 (constant velocity joint). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 535i?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2015 and 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011, 2008 and 2009. See the full BMW 535i years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 BMW 535i problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 miles; 15% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.