The contact owns a 2012 BMW 550i. The contact stated after parking and exiting the vehicle, he noticed coolant leaking on the front driver’s side and saw white smoke exiting near the water pump. The contact stated the low coolant fluid and the drivetrain malfunction warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated the smoke disappeared on its own. The contact stated that he continued driving th…
2012 bmw 550i engine problems
severe 8 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100
Complaints
8
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$3,100
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
SON WAS DRIVING CAR AND CAR JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CAR WAS TOWED TO BMW DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE $3000 TO TEAR DOWN ENGINE TO SEE WHY ENGINE LOCKED UP. CAR WAS BOUGHT 31 MAY 2019 AND SHUT DOWN AFTER DRIVING A LITTLE OVER 3,000 MILES 12 OCTOBER 2019. JUST A COMPLETE RUNAROUND WITH BMW OFFICES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 5501. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE "SERVICE REQUIRED SOON" MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE MESSAGE CENTER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GLOBAL IMPORTS (550 INTERSTATE NORTH PKWY SE, ATLANTA, GA 30339) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE SEIZED AND A NEW ONE WAS NEEDED. THE CONTACT ALSO STA…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 550I. THE VEHICLE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AS ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HYDRO-LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,5…
TAKATA RECALL CAR USES EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL, A QUART EVERY WEEK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 550I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK AGAIN. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER A SECOND TIME AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, IT FAILED TO RESTART THE SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO NAL…
Engine is available for inspection upon request. Earlier this month, my 550i completely shut off at a traffic light. When attempting to restart the engine, the Starter strained very hard and smoke came out of the engine. Engine was immediately shut off and the car was towed to a local shop. In turn the shop replaced the Starter the following day and heard knocking from the engine once it turned …
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2012 bmw 550i?
It's a meaningful issue. 8 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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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