BMW

550i

Midsize Cars · model years 2006 to 2017

Includes 550i, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i xDrive and 2 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 39 550i trims All BMW cars

The verdict

Best year: 2010. complaints: 0, below this model's typical 2; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1.

Worst year: 2011. complaints: 172, about 43x this model's typical 4; recalls: 3, about 3x this model's typical 1.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the BMW 550i
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
2006	3Gas	16	no data	$4,800	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2006
2007	3Gas	18	no data	$4,300	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2007
2008	2Gas	18	no data	$4,300	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2008
2009	2Gas	18	no data	$4,300	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2009
2010	3Gas	18	360	$4,300	0	0	0	212	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 2 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 95 of 100, where higher is better.
2011	5Gas	18	400	$4,300	3	172	0	259	TIRES 17%, ENGINE 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 172, about 43x this model's typical 4 recalls: 3, about 3x this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2012	5Gas	17	400	$4,550	2	45	0	268	ENGINE 24%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 17%, TIRES 17%
complaints: 45, about 11.3x this model's typical 4 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 Score: 10 of 100, where higher is better.
2013	5Gas	19	400	$4,050	1	15	0	276	ENGINE 31%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 15%, POWER TRAIN 12%
complaints: 15, about 3.8x this model's typical 4 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 29 of 100, where higher is better.
2014	4Gas	19	446	$4,050	2	6	1 (1 open)	245	AIR BAGS 33%, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 33%, ENGINE 17%
complaints: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 12 of 100, where higher is better.
2015	4Gas	19	446	$4,050	0	0	1 (1 open)	198	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 3 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	2Gas	19.5	443	$3,950	0	0	1 (1 open)	155	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 2 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	1Gas	18	448	$4,300	0	0	1 (1 open)	142	no data
complaints: 0, below this model's typical 1 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 87 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2006: 16 to 2017: 18

Owner complaints2010: 0 to 2017: 0

How we score each year

We compare each year of the BMW 550i to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.