2011 BMW 550I engine problems
32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2011 BMW 550I — 38% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“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…”
filed Oct 25, 2025
“The contact owns a 2011 BMW 550I. The contact stated that after having an oil change performed, he noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a stem valve cover failure. The contact was informed that the valve…”
filed Sep 5, 2023
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheatCampaign 18V248000 · Apr 18, 2018
Engine problems in other 550I years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 550I | 13 | 37% |
| 2008 550I | 5 | 16% |
| 2007 550I | 5 | 14% |
| 2006 550I | 2 | 9% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2011 BMW 550I
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.