Most common 2011 BMW 550i problems
Share of the 84 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 550i complaints by model year
Best 550i years: 2016, 2014, 2015. Years to avoid: 2011, 2012, 2007, 2008. Compare all years →
2011 BMW 550i recalls (3)
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time.
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.
What 2011 BMW 550i owners say
Engine & cooling all 34 →
My 2011 BMW 550i experienced an unexpected fire in my driveway while my wife and I were sleeping. The fire nearly caused our house to catch fire and also resulted in damage to my BMW Z4. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with someone regarding this matter. For your reference, the last seven digits of my VIN are [redacted] . You can reach me at [redacted] or via email at [redacted] .
The contact owns a 2011 BMW 550I. The contact stated that oil was leaking from the vehicle. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who declined to service the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle. No additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
Electrical system all 20 →
Vehicle was parked while running errands, returned to leave and it would not start. Went to trunk to check battery connection and found that the positive battery cable had burnt in two where it connects to cable that runs to the engine compartment. Carpet cover and sound deadening coating had burnt and cable fell through trunk floor on top of gas tank. Car was towed and insurance refused to replace what caused fire, only what burnt from source ie. carpet cover and floor but not wiring. BMW dealer reports they don't know what caused cable to overheat.
My 2011 BMW 550i experienced an unexpected fire in my driveway while my wife and I were sleeping. The fire nearly caused our house to catch fire and also resulted in damage to my BMW Z4. I would appreciate the opportunity to speak with someone regarding this matter. For your reference, the last seven digits of my VIN are [redacted] . You can reach me at [redacted] or via email at [redacted] .
Wheels & tires
I have had to replace 3 right front tires and 3 left front tires because they are constantly getting bubbles on the tires. The last tire was replaced on 8/20/15 and had only 204 miles. The first tire was replaced on 6/10/13 and it has not stopped. Average miles for the tires are 6,000 to 8,000. They are good year excellence 245/40 r 19. Two times I have had blow-outs. I have had 5 BMW's and never experienced this before. They just told me this car is to go to the store, etc., not for long trips. I have not used this car for a long trip yet. But I feel something is wrong and should be corrected. The tires are unsafe. The tires are $ 500 each, which I spent $ 3,000. So far. Are this tires in a recall? Please get back to me with a suitable answer.
Tires - as with all other complaints regarding the Goodyear "run flat" tires, I have had no less than 7 bulges requiring 7 new tires. I did purchase an extended tire warranty so BMW covered the tires. The alarming thing is that BMW of north houston refuses to admit there are any issue with these tires. From reading all of the complaints, I have a hard time believing it is the driver or potholes as I have been told. Replaced the rear tires with comparable Firestone tires and I have not had one issue. I still have the Goodyear tires on the front and just two months ago had to have it replaced. My tire warranty expires November 2015, will replace them with Firestone then. Please do something before someone is killed.
2011 BMW 550i engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4L 8-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 4.4L 8-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | RWD | 15 / 22 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 BMW 550i a good car?
Based on 84 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 550i rates avoid: 5.3× as many complaints as a typical year of the 550i at the same age. It is one of the 550i 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 550i?
The engine & cooling — 34 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline › turbo/supercharger. Next are the electrical system (20) and wheels & tires (16).
How many recalls does the 2011 BMW 550i have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2011 BMW 550i, the most recent from April 18, 2018 (engine). 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 550i?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2014 and 2015. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2011, 2012, 2007 and 2008. See the full BMW 550i years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 BMW 550i problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 55,000 miles; 45% 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.