The BMW 650i spans 2006–2019 with 17 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.0/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2012, 2013, 2014 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2006, 2007, 2008. It delivers up to 21 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The BMW 650i is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2006 to 2019 across multiple generations.
How to read a BMW 650i VIN — every digit explained
Every BMW 650i carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a BMW and the country it was built in (real BMW codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this 650i.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- Germany3MF · 3MW · 5UM · WAP · WB1 · WB3
- USA4US · 5UX · 5YM
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your 650i, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the BMW 650i have?
The BMW 650i has 17 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2006–2019. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2017 BMW 650i recalls 1
Air Bags
What's wrong. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2017 BMW 640i, 640i xDrive, 650i, 650i xDrive, M6, 535i, 535i xDrive, 430i, 430i xDrive, 440i, 440i xDrive, M4, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, i3, i8, Rolls-Royce Dawn, Mini Clubman Cooper, Clubman Cooper S, Cooper All4, Cooper S All4, Mini 4-Door Cooper, Cooper S, Mini 2-Door Cooper, Cooper S, John Cooper Works and 2016 BMW 528i, 528i xDrive, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i, 550i xDrive, M5 and 535d vehicles. The affected vehicles have seat- mounted side air bag inflator initiators that may fail to ignite during a crash.
Risk. If the air bag inflator initiator fails to ignite, the seat-mounted air bag will not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
2015 BMW 650i recalls 1
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
What's wrong. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2015 6 Series Gran Coupe, 2014 5 Series Gran Turismo, 2014 5 Series Sedan, 2015 6 Series Convertible, 2015 6 Series Coupe, 2014 X5, 2013-2014 X3, 2014-2015 3 Series Sedan, 2014 4 Series Coupe, 2014 4 Series Convertible, 2014 3 Series Gran Turismo, and 2015 4 Series Gran Coupe vehicles. Please see the recall report for the complete list of models. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, increasing the risk of injury or death.
Fix. The driver's front air bag will be replaced, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
2012 BMW 650i recalls 2
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
What's wrong. 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, 2011-2012 528i, 535i, 535i xDrive, 550i and 550i xDrive and 2012 535i ActiveHybrid, 640i Convertible, 650i Convertible, 650i xDrive Convertible, 650i Coupe and 650i Coupe xDrive vehicles. The affected vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps that may have insufficiently crimped wire contacts.
Risk. The loose wires may cause the connector to melt, resulting in a fuel leak. Additionally, the fuel pump may stop working, possibly causing an engine stall and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix. 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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
What's wrong. 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 Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.
Risk. If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix. 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. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.
2007 BMW 650i recalls 1
Engine And Engine Cooling
What's wrong. ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES, IN CONDITIONS OF BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE TO OCCUR AT THE FUEL RAILS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ENGINE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) COULD BE AFFECTED SO THAT ENGINE STALLING COULD RESULT.
Risk. IF STALLING WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE SPEED OR ACCELERATE AND THE POWER STEERING COULD FAIL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix. DEALERS WILL ATTACH TWO GROUND CABLES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
2006 BMW 650i recalls 1
Engine And Engine Cooling
What's wrong. ON CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V8 ENGINES, IN CONDITIONS OF BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH LOW HUMIDITY, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE TO OCCUR AT THE FUEL RAILS. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE ENGINE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) COULD BE AFFECTED SO THAT ENGINE STALLING COULD RESULT.
Risk. IF STALLING WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN VEHICLE SPEED OR ACCELERATE AND THE POWER STEERING COULD FAIL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix. DEALERS WILL ATTACH TWO GROUND CABLES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Best and worst years for the BMW 650i
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 13 tracked years, the worst years are 2012, 2013, 2014 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2006, 2007, 2008.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 650i | — | Best | |
| 2007 650i | — | Best | |
| 2008 650i | — | Best | |
| 2009 650i | — | Average | |
| 2010 650i | — | Average | |
| 2012 650i | Engine | Avoid | |
| 2013 650i | Engine | Avoid | |
| 2014 650i | Latches/locks/linkages | Avoid | |
| 2015 650i | Engine | Average | |
| 2016 650i | — | Average | |
| 2017 650i | — | Average | |
| 2018 650i | — | Average | |
| 2019 650i | — | Average |
What are the most common BMW 650i problems?
The most-reported BMW 650i problems are Seats (3 reports), Tires (2 reports) and Engine (24 reports) — out of 47 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
BMW 650i specifications & dimensions
The 2013–2016 BMW 650i measures 193″ long on a 113″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 4,387 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the BMW 650i window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013–2016 | 193″ | 74″ | 54″ | 113″ | 4,387 lb |
| 2010 | 190″ | 75″ | 58″ | 109″ | 3,814 lb |
| 2006–2007 | 190″ | 73″ | 54″ | 109″ | 4,277 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
BMW 650i cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the 650i holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 97 cu ft of passenger volume and 16 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
BMW 650i tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the BMW 650i get?
The BMW 650i returns up to 21 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $3,650/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2019 BMW 650i (4.4L 8-cyl) gets 21 mpg combined and costs about $3,650/yr to fuel, emitting 432 g/mi CO₂ (GHG 4/10, smog 3/10) — about $7,250 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 650i | 18 | 26 | $3,650 | 432 | 3/10 | 4.4L 8-cyl | |
| 2018 650i | 17 | 25 | $3,850 | 449 | 3/10 | 4.4L 8-cyl | |
| 2017 650i | 17 | 24 | $4,050 | 459 | 6/10 | 4.4L 8-cyl | |
| 2016 650i | 17 | 25 | $3,850 | 453 | 6/10 | 4.4L 8-cyl | |
| 2015 650i | 17 | 24 | $3,850 | 441 | 6/10 | 4.4L 8-cyl | |
| 2014 650i | 17 | 25 | $3,850 | 456 | 6/10 | 4.4L 8-cyl | |
| 2013 650i | 17 | 24 | $4,050 | 459 | 6/10 | 4.4L 8-cyl | |
| 2012 650i | 15 | 23 | $4,300 | 494 | 6/10 | 4.4L 8-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the 650i stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this 650i's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the BMW 650i have? Power & range
The BMW 650i is offered with 1 powertrain — 4.4L 8-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V8 | 4.4L · 8-cyl | Automatic (S8) | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a BMW 650i cost to own?
A used BMW 650i sells for a median of about $35,995 for a 2019 — most listed between $35,995 and $36,777, from 97 real US listings we track. That real market price is what depreciation eats into, so it's the true anchor of the cost to own:
| Year | Typical price | Market range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 650i | $35,995–$36,777 | 6 | |
| 2017 650i | $23,978–$28,950 | 8 | |
| 2016 650i | $16,800–$25,995 | 6 | |
| 2015 650i | $15,990–$18,995 | 6 | |
| 2014 650i | $8,700–$15,500 | 5 | |
| 2013 650i | $10,000–$18,900 | 7 |
For every model year mileage-adjusted, trade-in vs private-party vs dealer pricing and a good-deal check, see what a 650i is worth today, or browse used-market prices for sedans.
A BMW 650i tends to depreciate faster than average. A typical example keeps roughly 37% of its value after five years — losing about 63% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 75% | $22,500 | −$7,500 |
| Year 2 | 63% | $18,900 | −$11,100 |
| Year 3 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 4 | 44% | $13,200 | −$16,800 |
| Year 5 | 37% | $11,100 | −$18,900 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this 650i loses about 63% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $18,250 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the 650i ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
How much is a BMW 650i to insure?
A BMW 650i costs about $4,189 a year to insure for a typical driver on full coverage — roughly 191% above the average car. That's from its real HLDI insurance-loss index (291, where 100 = average car); your own rate moves with state, age, record and coverage.
Estimate = US-average premium × the 650i's HLDI loss index. See BMW insurance cost by model, cost by state, or compare any car.
Is the BMW 650i safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the 650i yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a BMW 650i last?
A well-maintained BMW 650i typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.0/5.
Check your BMW 650i’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this 650i’s VIN free →All BMW 650i model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the BMW 650i — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 650i | 0 | — | |
| 2018 650i | 0 | — | |
| 2017 650i | 1 recall | — | |
| 2016 650i | 0 | — | |
| 2015 650i | 4 recalls | — | |
| 2014 650i | 4 recalls | — | |
| 2013 650i | 4 recalls | — | |
| 2012 650i | 2 recalls | — | |
| 2010 650i | 0 | — | |
| 2009 650i | 0 | — | |
| 2008 650i | 0 | — | |
| 2007 650i | 1 recall | — | |
| 2006 650i | 1 recall | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the 650i?
By owner-complaint volume, 2012, 2013, 2014 drew the most reports. 2006, 2007, 2008 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the 650i have?
17 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2006–2019. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all BMW recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the 650i get?
Up to 21 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a 650i last?
A well-maintained 650i typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the 650i reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the 650i is 4.0/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the BMW 650i warranty?
New BMW models carry a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 4 years / 50,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a BMW dealer.
Where is the BMW 650i made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your 650i's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; BMW may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the 650i have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.