Engine will crank but not start. There is no communication with the integrated fuel module (TFE) whendiagnosing with ISTA. The following two fault codes will be stored in the DME: 032B43 - Low fuel pressure system, electric fuel pump: pressure value too low CDA594 - Message (- 0x33E) missing, receiver DME, transmitter TFE
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 BMW 550i engine problems
severe Owners of the 2011 BMW 550i have filed 17 NHTSA complaints about the engine, typically surfacing around 70,000 miles at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 550i (this page) | 17 |
| 2012 550i | 8 |
| 2013 550i | 4 |
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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Component specific limited warranty extension. For the eligible vehicles, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) is extending the limited warranty for the vehicle Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Sensor(s) to: 10 years/120,000 miles as determined by the vehicle original in-service date.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin outlines the procedure for checking the engine timing chains for wear, and should be completed in conjunction with SI B11 06 14, "N63 Customer Care Package." The N63CCP and N63 Engine Check the Timing Chain are NOT mandatory Technical Campaigns or Recalls. They should be completed only based on parts availability, workshop capacity, and the customer's schedule.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗N63 CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT - BATTERY SERVICE BENEFIT - RETROFITS/ REPLACEMENTS: This Service Information bulletin applies to: Class vehicles in operation on the road (Applicable N63 engine model vehicles); by Class members (Class Vehicle owners on the date this settlement became effective), And it provides diagnostic/repairs instructions, as well as, Warranty Information for performed remedies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗LIMITED WARRANTY EXTENSIONTO 10 YEARS/120000 MILES: This Service Information Bulletin replaces SI B01 05 18 dated July 2019. Engine starts poorly (hard starting) rough idle and misfires. The Service Engine Soon (MIL) lamp is on.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2011 BMW 550i N63 engines present a pattern of systemic failures across multiple critical systems. Owners report excessive oil consumption starting as early as 5,000 miles, with Add Oil warnings appearing every 4,000–5,000 miles despite timely oil changes. This leads to cascading failures: turbo failures at 30,000 miles, vacuum pump failure at 32,000 miles with spongy brakes and burning oil smell, water pump failure causing overheating and head gasket damage, and in extreme cases, engine seizure just beyond the warranty period.
Fuel injector defects trigger limp mode, violent shaking above 25 mph, and Reduced Power alerts—a problem affecting "over 50% of 2011 BMW 550i's" according to one owner, yet BMW handled repairs on a case-by-case basis rather than issuing a mandatory recall. Out-of-warranty owners cite repair costs near $6,000 for fuel injector work alone.
Coolant system problems surface repeatedly: cracked turbo coolant hoses ejecting coolant and causing alternators to burn up, timing chain failures at 60,000 miles, and recurring coolant leaks. One vehicle caught fire in an attached garage 10 minutes after parking, 5 months following a third fuel injector recall attempt, destroying the car and partially burning down the home. Owners consistently report that their VINs don't appear on recall lists despite having the exact recalled engine type.
Failure modes owners describe
Engine fire in parked vehicle
Vehicle caught fire in engine compartment on passenger side 10 minutes after parking and turning off the engine, spreading rapidly to consume the entire car and damage the adjacent home. N63 engine with history of three fuel injector recall attempts.
When: At rest, 5 months after third recall repair (Campaign 0013480200)
Symptoms owners cite: Fire in engine compartment on passenger side; rapid spread throughout vehicle; vehicle parked in garage
Repairs/costs cited: Fire destroyed vehicle; home partially burned. Over $250,000 in total damage reported.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Campaign 0013480200, SIB 11 16 14, SIB 11 06 14, SIB 61 30 14; oil change interval reduced from 15,000 to 10,000 miles as part of recall
Fuel injector malfunction causing limp mode and shaking
Engine enters limp mode with severe vibration and loss of power acceleration. Fault traced to fuel injectors. Multiple engine malfunction lights and 'Reduced Power' alert illuminate. Owner notes thousands of 2011-2012 BMW 5-Series affected but not universally recalled; repairs done on case-by-case basis.
When: Mileage not specified; occurs after warranty expiration in late 2014/early 2015 for 2011 models
Symptoms owners cite: violent shaking at speeds above 25 mph; limp mode (max 40-45 mph); multiple engine malfunction lights; Reduced Power alert; vibration at red lights; entire car shaking
Codes mentioned: Fuel injector fault
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel injector replacement; owner reports cost near $6,000 out-of-warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Case-by-case fixes rather than mandatory recall; no universal recall issued despite widespread issue
Excessive oil consumption and Add Oil warning light
Add Oil light illuminates every 4,000–5,000 miles starting at 5,000 miles. Oil leaks onto garage floor. Dealership claims oil sensor fault and resets sensor while adding more oil. Later identified as oil fill capacity increase per manufacturer data sheet.
When: Starting at 5,000 miles; oil leak visible on garage floor early in ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Add Oil warning light every 4,000–5,000 miles; oil leaking onto garage floor; excessive oil consumption
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership reset oil sensor and increased oil fill per manufacturer data sheet; no permanent fix documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer issued data sheet changing maximum oil fill capacity; no extended warranty provided despite ongoing issues
Turbo failure
Both turbos failed and required replacement under warranty at approximately 30,000 miles. Failure occurred concurrent with oil consumption issues noted from 5,000 miles onward.
When: Approximately 30,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: turbo failure
Repairs/costs cited: Both turbos replaced by dealership under warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage for turbo replacement
Vacuum pump failure with burning oil smell and brake issues
Vacuum pump failed at 32,000 miles. Failure accompanied by horrendous burning oil smell and very spongy brakes. Vehicle unsafe to drive; required towing.
When: 32,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: burning oil smell; spongy brakes; vacuum pump failure
Repairs/costs cited: Vacuum pump replaced by dealership under warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage for vacuum pump replacement; BMW refused extended engine warranty despite two serious failures starting at 5,000 miles
Water pump failure causing overheating and head gasket damage
Water pump failed, causing engine to overheat and resulting in bad head gaskets. Owner has documented service records of water pump and alternator repair. Turbo coolant hoses also cracked like glass, ejecting coolant across engine and alternator, causing alternator to burn up.
When: Documented August 24, 2019 for water pump/head gasket; turbo coolant hose failure on April 12 on Highway 435, Kansas City
Symptoms owners cite: water pump failure; engine overheating; bad head gaskets; small evaporations leak; cylinder misfires; cracked turbo coolant hoses ejecting coolant; burning alternator; white smoke on highway; engine power loss
Codes mentioned: Cylinder misfires, bad head gasket
Repairs/costs cited: Water pump and alternator repaired; coolant hose failure caused alternator to burn up during highway driving
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall NHTSA 18V248000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) exists, but owner's VIN not on recall list despite having N63/F10 engine that is recalled
Timing chain failure
Timing chain faulty and requires replacement. Vehicle experienced sudden loss of power and stalled without warning at approximately 60,000 miles.
When: Approximately 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: sudden loss of power; vehicle stalled without warning
Codes mentioned: Faulty timing chain
Repairs/costs cited: Timing chain replacement needed; vehicle towed to dealer
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer and dealer indicated no recall available
Ignition coil and inlet/return hose failures
Oil and drivetrain warning indicators illuminated. Diagnostics revealed need for ignition coil replacement and both inlet and return hose replacement.
When: Approximately 80,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: oil warning indicator; drivetrain warning indicator illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Ignition coil, inlet hose, and return hose replaced
Valve stem cover failure
After oil change, white smoke noted coming from exhaust. Diagnosed as stem valve cover failure requiring replacement.
When: Approximately 77,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: white smoke from exhaust pipe
Codes mentioned: Stem valve cover failure
Repairs/costs cited: Valve cover replacement needed
Coolant leak with Add Coolant warning light
Add Coolant warning indicator illuminated when vehicle started. After adding coolant, indicator illuminated again approximately 30 days later, indicating ongoing leak.
When: Approximately 99,247 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Add Coolant warning light recurs
Repairs/costs cited: Coolant added; no permanent repair documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; specific response not detailed
Excessive oil burning after fuel injector replacement
N63 engine customer care package. Vehicle burns oil excessively at rate of every 200 miles. Fuel injectors replaced twice but burning persists and car runs poorly.
When: 84,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: burning oil every 200 miles; poor engine running after fuel injector replacements
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel injectors replaced twice; oil consumption continues unresolved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: N63 Customer Care Package (BMW recalls this as B001314 but refuses to call it a recall)
Engine seized from excessive oil consumption
Engine Information Center repeatedly indicates need to add oil between changes. Vehicle shut down on road when engine seized. Engine declared non-functional by dealer.
When: Just over 50,000 miles (purchased with 40,000 miles from non-BMW dealer)
Symptoms owners cite: Add Oil warning every two weeks; engine seized; engine shutdown while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Engine seized; owner responsible for repairs as vehicle just over warranty by 500 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty expires just before failure
Chronic engine power loss and inability to reach highway speeds
Vehicle unable to reach highway speeds safely. Repeated attempts to repair fail to resolve the issue. Owner spent significant money on repairs but problem recurs.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: vehicle will not reach target speeds; unsafe on highway; recurring power loss
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple repair attempts; issue continues to recur
Engine failure with no apparent cause
Engine stopped working with no apparent reason. Oil level and maintenance up to date. Dealer diagnosed engine as no good and requiring complete replacement with no explanation provided.
When: Mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: engine stopped working
Codes mentioned: Engine failure
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement needed
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
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…
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.