BMW 528i Window Sticker

The BMW 528i window sticker — build, options & years

The BMW 528i ran from 1981–2016 across 2 generations (1979–1981, 1996–2000). Its Monroney label captures exactly how each one left the factory — the build, the options it was optioned with and the price, built around the 3.0L, 6-cyl, Premium fuel, Rear-Wheel Drive powertrain.

Which year's sticker do I need? Any BMW 528i VIN works — ForCar reads the exact model year automatically. On owner data the cleanest years are 1981, 2008, 2009; the most-complained-about are 2011, 2012, 2013. For year-by-year recalls, MPG and safety, see the full BMW 528i VIN decoder.

What the BMW 528i sticker says about fuel

Fuel economy is a legally required block on every Monroney label — city, highway and combined figures plus the estimated annual fuel bill. These are the EPA numbers on file for the 528i, latest tested year 2016:

The label also prints an estimated $2,850 a year in fuel at 15,000 miles.

How the 528i's sticker figure changed

Combined MPG printed on the label, model year by model year — 1997 to 2016. Worth checking before you compare a 528i sticker from one year with another:

Over that span the combined figure rose by 6 mpg, so an early sticker and a recent one describe noticeably different cars. EPA revised its testing method in 2008, which shifts figures printed before and after that year.

Safety ratings printed on the label

The second required block: NHTSA's five-star crash results. This is what the 528i sticker carries as of its 2015 rating:

Stars are awarded per test, so a car can hold five overall and fewer for rollover — tall vehicles usually give ground there. Compare against every rated model in the safest cars ranking.

What a used 528i sells for now

The label froze the 528i price on the day it left the factory; the market has moved since, and this is where it landed: median asking price of the 528i by model year, from 220 live US listings:

A 2016 528i asks a median $9,500 today, a 1998 about $3,500. Full breakdown on the BMW 528i value page.

What's on the BMW 528i sticker

Every Monroney label carries the same required blocks: MSRP with itemised options, EPA fuel economy — for this car 27 mpg combined, NHTSA safety ratings — 5 stars overall here, standard and optional equipment, and parts-content origin. Every 528i VIN returns its own build rather than a generic spec.

For how to read each block, what to do if the sticker is lost, and how it differs from a build sheet, see the window sticker guide.

528i window sticker — every model year

This covers the BMW 528i for 1981–2016. Enter any 528i VIN above and ForCar pulls the exact build and Monroney label for that specific year automatically. No need to pick a year. Driving something else? Browse window stickers for every BMW model.

Want 528i recalls, MPG, safety and reliability too? See the full BMW 528i VIN decoder →

Where to find the VIN on a BMW 528i

1. WindshieldLower-left corner, driver's side, readable from outside without opening anything.
2. Door jambOn the driver's door frame of every 528i, next to the tyre-pressure and build-date plate.
3. DocumentsRegistration, title and insurance card — on a BMW 528i all three must show the same number.

All four must match. A BMW 528i whose windshield plate disagrees with the door jamb has either had a panel replaced or a tampered identity — check the paperwork before any money changes hands.