2018 Bmw M550i problems
The seventh generation of the BMW 5 Series consists of the BMW G30 (sedan version) and BMW G31 (wagon version, marketed as 'Touring') executive cars. The G30/G31 has been produced since 2016 by the German automaker BMW and is often collectively referred to as the G30. It was officially announced on 12 October 2016 and sales began in February 2017.
The fastback 5 Series Gran Turismo model from the previous generation is no longer part of the 5 Series model range, and has been moved to the 6 Series Gran Turismo nameplate. A long-wheelbase sedan version (model code G38) is sold in China.
On 27 May 2020, a facelifted 5 Series was unveiled. Although the 2021 BMW 5 Series is 1.2 inches longer than the 2020 model, many of the vehicle's other dimensions remain unchanged despite the styling redesign.
In 2023, the G30 5 Series was phased out in favor of the G60 5 Series. In 2024, the G31 was also phased out in favor of the new Touring model named G61.
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Common 2018 Bmw M550i problems
The BMW M550i 2018 has been reported to have several common problems by owners, including transfer case issues, electrical system problems, and power train issues.
One of the most common problems with the BMW M550i 2018 is a transfer case issue, which can cause a weird clicking issue at low speeds when turning the wheel. This issue can be caused by a differential problem, and it can be difficult to diagnose and repair. In some cases, BMW has covered the cost of replacing the differential and axles, but this can take a long time to resolve, and it may not completely fix the problem. Additionally, mismatched tires can also contribute to transfer case issues, and it is important to ensure that the tires on the car are properly matched and in good condition.
Another common problem with the BMW M550i 2018 is related to the electrical system. In some cases, the connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator may not have been assembled properly, which can cause increased electrical resistance at the connections. This can lead to a safety risk and can cause the vehicle to malfunction. BMW has issued a recall for this issue, and dealers will inspect and replace the connection between the 48-Volt battery and the starter-generator assembly if necessary, free of charge.
The BMW M550i 2018 has also been reported to have power train issues, specifically related to the driveshaft. In some cases, the output shafts that transfer power from the driveshaft to the rear wheels may break due to a heat treatment issue. This can cause the vehicle to malfunction and can be dangerous. BMW has issued a recall for this issue, and dealers will replace the output shaft(s) if necessary, free of charge.
In addition to these common problems, the BMW M550i 2018 has also been reported to have issues with the back over prevention sensing system, specifically related to the camera. In some cases, the rearview camera may not be programmed with updated software, which can cause the camera to malfunction. BMW has issued a recall for this issue, and dealers will program the rearview camera with updated software if necessary, free of charge.
Overall, the BMW M550i 2018 has several common problems that can be difficult and expensive to repair. It is important for owners of this vehicle to stay up-to-date on recalls and to address any issues as soon as they arise to ensure the safety and reliability of the vehicle.
Is the BMW 550i engine reliable?
Overall, the pre-LCI BMW F10 550i can be a reliable and enjoyable vehicle to own, but like any car, it requires regular maintenance and attention to potential issues to ensure its longevity and reliability.
What is the reliability score of BMW M550i?
The BMW 550i Reliability Rating is 1.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 29th out of 30 for luxury fullsize cars.
Is the BMW M550i a sleeper?
My family's nickname for the car was the “limo.” The M550 is a total sleeper and under the radar for most people on the road. It's good for passengers and the back seats are big enough to comfortably seat full sized adults. And when driving reasonably on the highway it got 30mpg which is remarkable.
Why the M550i is better than the M5?
With 456 horsepower and a 0-60 time under four seconds, the M550i was faster to 60 than the previous M5, featured more luxuries, and even came with all-wheel drive.
Is the BMW 550i engine reliable?
Overall, the pre-LCI BMW F10 550i can be a reliable and enjoyable vehicle to own, but like any car, it requires regular maintenance and attention to potential issues to ensure its longevity and reliability.
What is the reliability score of BMW M550i?
The BMW 550i Reliability Rating is 1.5 out of 5.0, which ranks it 29th out of 30 for luxury fullsize cars.
Is the BMW M550i a sleeper?
My family's nickname for the car was the “limo.” The M550 is a total sleeper and under the radar for most people on the road. It's good for passengers and the back seats are big enough to comfortably seat full sized adults. And when driving reasonably on the highway it got 30mpg which is remarkable.
Why the M550i is better than the M5?
With 456 horsepower and a 0-60 time under four seconds, the M550i was faster to 60 than the previous M5, featured more luxuries, and even came with all-wheel drive.
2018 Bmw M550i car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Bmw M550i problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Air bags problems
- Seat belts problems
- Electrical system problems
- Seats problems
- Structure problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2018 Bmw M550i vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2018 Bmw M550i complaints
The NHTSA has received 19 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2018 Bmw M550i.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-01
- VIN: WBAJB9C5XJB
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: Passenger restrained seatbelt signal. There is bulletin in google: SIB 72 04 17. There are recalls for this vehicle but dealer want accept it.
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-03
- VIN: WBAJB9C54JG
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: In the last 8 months, I have experienced 3 blowouts on the same side of the car. The tires were Continental Procontact SSR 245/40R19. In each instance, the sidewall failed and blew out. This has occurred on the highway as well as at low city speeds.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-08-16
- VIN: WBAJB9C52JG
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE
- Summary: Excessive amounts of water accumulated at interior floors from the A/C drain unit. Water damage to all sensors and bad odor. Worried car may catch fire while driving. A/C will sometimes work.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-18
- VIN: WBAJB9C56JB
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: The rear driver door will not open. It seems the door handle does not open the door from the exterior of the vehicle. The door will also not open from the interior of the vehicle. It feels like the handle has come lose from the door latch mechanism to open the door of the vehicle. This is a big safety concern if there is a passenger sitting behind the driver and they cannot exit the vehicle.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-18
- VIN: WBAJB9C56JB
- Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
- Summary: The rear driver door does not open from the outside or inside of the vehicle. I had someone sitting behind the driver and they could not exit the vehicle, we had to assist so they can exit out the other side (passenger rear door). The handle on the outside of the car seems like if it is not connected to the door mechanism. This is a huge safety issue. I also took the car to the dealer to have the door covered under my extended warranty and they did not cover it under warranty.
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-29
- VIN: WBAJB9C53JB
- Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS
- Summary: Vehicle reported a Passenger Restraint Failure intermittently and upon getting diagnosed is related to a faulty seat occupancy sensor. If this sensor can fail ~4yrs of ownership with < 30k miles driven and it is critical to passenger restraint, it would seem that this should be fixed by BMW. With quick search, the problem doesn't seem isolated: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-05-29
- VIN: WBAJB9C58JB
- Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS
- Summary: Passenger restraint system malfunction. I took it to the dealership and was told it will cost $3785.91 to replace the passenger seat mat. Looking online, this problem appears to be widespread with many individual car owners complaining of the issue. Given that this is a life safety system and its apparent prevalence, it seems appropriate to consider this for a mandatory recall.
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-29
- VIN: WBAJB9C59JG
- Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS,SEATS
- Summary: The passenger seat occupancy mat is faulty - same as in many other BMW models for which BMW has issued a 15 year warranty. The car chimes and states "fasten safety belt" for the passenger seat when the passenger seat is entirely empty. This error comes and goes, and stops when the belt is buckled.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-10-12
- VIN: WBAJB9C55JB
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: The passenger restraint malfunction continues to alarm and the dealership states that it is a seat-pad sensor and want over $2000.00 to replace. From a number of BMW forums, it appears that this was a common problem with earlier models and a subsequent 15-year warranty extension was granted because of the safety concerns. My car is well cared for and has very few miles on it, so I truly believe that BMW needs to either recall this faulty SAFETY component or replace it free of charge. Please protect me and my family by holding BMW accountable.
AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-05
- VIN: WBAJB9C5XJB
- Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
- Summary: Passenger Restraint Warning Light has been coming on off and on and now stays on all the time. Dealer has confirmed car needs to have the OC3 mat replaced at a very high price. Car is a 2018 BMW M550ix. Apparently this has been a common problem with the BMWs.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-08-20
- VIN: WBAJB9C57JG
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
- Summary: Passenger side sensor is faulty. BMW has issued Technical Service Bulletin to repair when found in warranty. The sensor will errantly warn airbag disable when person is not in seat.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-01-26
- VIN: WBAJB9C58JB
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: My old 5 series 2017 had this same problem, now my 2018 m550i has the airbag problem. A warning light for no reason pops up saying “passenger restraint system malfunction” and turns off the passengers airbag, BMW will not fix it out of warranty and charges 3,000$. Many people are driving around without airbags in a new car because of this.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-11-26
- VIN: Wbajb9c57jb
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: On vacation road trip driving for about 3 hours. Instrument cluster completely shuts off and goes to black. Screen, vehit speed and rpm and all adas systems stop working. Sometimes turning the car off and on will address the issue other times it will constantly restart the instrument cluster when driving.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2022-03-28
- VIN: wbajb9c55jg
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Sunroof on 2018 BMW M550i "exploded" while driving home from work. Weather was cloudy, light rain in the 50's, late March in northern California, USA. Sunroof was in closed position and cars HVAC was not being used to create temperature or pressure difference. Heated seat was being used. Had been parked outdoors under an awning during the day and had been on the road for less than 15 minutes. The automobile will be taken to the nearest dealership in the morning. Pictures were taken. Significant safety risk to occupants if glass shatters when the "slider" is in the open position.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-08-21
- VIN: WBAJB9C50JG
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED OUT OF NO WHERE, BMW SAID A ROCK HIT IT OR SOMETHING BUT I AM 90% SURE A ROCK DIDN'T HIT IT. DID NOT SEE ANYTHING FLY UP TOWARDS THE CAR. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT WENT OFF IN THE CAR AND GLASS SHOWERING ALL OVER YOU BECAUSE I HAD THE SHADE OPEN. LUCKILY IT DID NOT GET INTO MY EYES TO CAUSE ANOTHER ACCIDENT. GLASS SHATTERED UPWARDS AND FROM DOING RESEARCH IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM
VISIBILITY/WIPER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-07-03
- VIN: WBAJB9C55JB
- Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
- Summary: DUE TO WEATHER CHANGE THE SUNROOF CAN SHATTER. THIS COULD HAD INJURED TO PASSENGER AND INFANTS IN CAR. BMW TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY ON FIXING IT
WHEELS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-10-13
- VIN: WBAJB9C55JG
- Components: WHEELS
- Summary: ? THIS IS MY FOURTH CAR(BMW) BECAUSE I BIG FUN OF IT. HOPING FOR YOUR KIND CONSIDERATION. THANKS,
WHEELS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2019-05-31
- VIN: WBAJB9C59JB
- Components: WHEELS
- Summary: VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT MODERATE SPEED AND HIT A SMALL POT HOLE CREATING A 3 INCH CUT WHERE TIRE AND RIM LIP MEETS. DAMAGE TO TIRE WAS NOT NOTICEABLE UNTIL ONE DAY LATER WHEN TIRE WAS DEFLATED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED POTENTIAL DANGER TO DRIVER,PASSANGER AND TO OTHER ONCOMING VEHICLES.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ENGINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2018-04-10
- Fire: 1
- VIN: WBAJB9C5XJB
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ENGINE
- Summary: ON 4/10/2018 VEHICLE WAS PARKED CAUGHT FIRE TOTTAL LOSE
2018 Bmw M550i recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 2018 Bmw M550i.
- Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC
- Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
- Summary: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 540d, 2018-2020 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 530e, 530e xDrive, X3 sDrive, X3 xDrive, X3 M40i, X3 M, and 2019-2020 X4 xDrive, X4 M40i, X4 M, X7 xDrive, X7 M50i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, 750Li, 750Li xDrive, 8 Series Convertible and Coupe 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, X5 sDrive, X5 xDrive, X5 M50i, X6 xDrive, X6 M50i, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, Z4 sDrive, Z4 M40i, 740Le xDrive and 745Le xDrive, 2018-2019 640i xDrive Gran Turismo and Rolls-Royce Phantom, 2019 M850i xDrive Gran Coupe and Rolls-Royce Cullinan and 2020 Toyota Supra vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."
- Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the back-up camera software, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2018 Bmw M550i problems:
Should I chance a used m550i? - BMW 5-Series Forum (G30)
... known to burn and leak oil as well as have more problems in general. ... I have a 2018 M550i that I purchased (ordered) ... The original (1st iteration) N63 engine ...
2020 M550i XDrive common issues and faults | BimmerFest BMW ...
Mar 19, 2023 ... Year, Model, Miles and Issues. g30.bimmerpost.com. 2018 M550ix|Carbon Black Dinan S1|2003 540i|Jet Black|M-Sport|2021 X5 Mineral White Prior ...
common problems or issues with 2020 M550i XDrive - BMW 5 ...
Mar 19, 2023 ... Two issues that have come up on the 540 and 550 are coolant leaks and the active grill shutter getting stuck. I think the active grill shutter ...
2018 M550i XDrive a reliable car? | BimmerFest BMW Forum
Apr 25, 2021 ... I had a front control arm bushing let go (oil leaked out of it) and the flex disk was cracking. Steering column is also a known issue as when I ...
How reliable are motors in 2018 M550? - BMW 5-Series Forum (G30)
Did BMW change to the newer motor in 2020 models because of any issues with 2018 like or was it just to make more power? ... 35k miles on my '18 M550i no ...
Other years of Bmw M550i
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