Engine information center says to add oil, in between oil changes, numerous times. Car shut down on road and was taken to a dealer. Dealer says the engine has seized. Since the vehicle is just over the warranty by miles, pax 500 miles, I was told that I would be responsible for the repairs. The car only has just over 50k miles. It was purchased with 40k miles on it but was purchased from a…
2011 BMW 550i engine problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
2fires
When does it fail?
Of the 17 engine complaints filed for the 2011 BMW 550i, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Engine accounts for 19% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 8 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
BMW n63 customer care package: a recall b001314 that BMW refuses to call a recall. Im having problum with the car burning oil every 200 miles had fuel injectors replace twice. Car stills runs bad. My car only has 84k on it and I have had so many problums out of it oil chance has always been on time.
I was driving my car and all of a sudden the entire car started shaking. I get multiple engine malfunction lights and then get a "reduced power" alert on my dashboard. The car goes into "limp-mode", which means it's incapable of going past 40-45 MPH and going anything above 25 results in violent shaking of the car. Also at red lights, the entire car vibrates. The fault was determined to be the…
Had engine trouble with your 2011 BMW 550i?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2011 BMW 550i?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 50,000 and 86,212 miles, with the median around 70,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 86,212. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/BMW/550i.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.