Reliable Auto DB

2020 BMW 540i reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2020 BMW 540i has 0 complaints with NHTSA after 7 years, or 0 per year. That is about even with the other 540i years here. Their median is 0 complaints per year. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Engine, Camera, and Driveshaft.

2017 BMW 540i
Photo by Calreyn88, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

0

Per year

0

Recalls

5

Years on the road

7

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 540i has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2021 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2020 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2019. The 2020 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2021.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2020 BMW 540i. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (5)

Recall Engine 2021-08-02 · NHTSA campaign 21V598000
Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 M340i, M340i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, X3 M40i, 2020-2021 X4 M40i, 745Le xDrive, 2019-2021 Z4 M40i, and 2020-2021 Toyota Supra vehicles. During engine start, the engine management software may cause loss of braking assist. Full mechanical braking (without assist) remains available.
Remedy Dealers will update the engine management software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2021-02-19 · NHTSA campaign 21V096000
Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2021 X3 sDrive30i, X3 xDrive30i, X3 M40i, X3M, X4 xDrive30i, X4 M40i, M550i, X4M, X5 sDrive40i, X5 xDrive40i, X5 xDrive50i, X5M, X5 M50i, X7 xDrive40i, X7 xDrive50i, X7 M50i, Alpina XB7, 330i, 330i xDrive, M340i, M340i xDrive, and 8 Series Coupe, Convertible and Grand Coupe, 840i, 840i xDrive, M850i xDrive, M8, 2020-2021 530e, 530e xDrive, 330e, 330e xDrive, 745Le, 745Le xDrive, X5 xDrive45e, X3 xDrive30e, X6 sDrive40i, X6 xDrive40i, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M50i, X6M, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 740i, 740Li, 740Li xDrive, M760i Drive, M760Li xDrive, 750Li xDrive Alpina, Alpina B7 xDrive, and 2021 4 Series Coupe 430i, 430i xDrive, M440i xDrive vehicles. When shifting into Reverse, a small portion of the rearview image may be obscured, or the screen may not illuminate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rearview camera software and update it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Recall Driveshaft 2021-02-03 · NHTSA campaign 21V046000
Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 530i xDrive, 540i xDrive and 2021 740Li xDrive vehicles. The output shafts (left/right) which transfer power from the driveshaft to the rear wheels may break due to a heat treatment error during supplier production.
Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the output shaft(s), free of charge. The recall began March 24, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2020-09-30 · NHTSA campaign 20V598000
Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2021 X3 sDrive 30i, X3 xDrive 30i, X3M 40i, X3 xDrive 30e, X4 xDrive 30i, X4M 40i, 530i, 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, M5, 550e, 550e xDrive, and 550e iPerformance vehicles. A small portion of the rearview image may be slightly obscured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, program the rearview camera with updated software. The recall began November 18, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2019-09-27 · NHTSA campaign 19V684000
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."
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.

Complaints by component (0 total)

No complaints on file with NHTSA for this model year.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
540i 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Rear-wheel drive 22 30 25 MPG $3200
540i xDrive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (8-speed) All-wheel drive 22 29 25 MPG $3200

Specs and fitment

Tracked generation(s), 2017–present
Body styles Sedan
Oil 0W-20 , 6.9 qt capacity
Tire size 245/35R20, 245/40R19, 245/45R18, 275/30R20, 275/35R19 (trim-dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA complaints and recalls for BMW 540i vehicles in the tracked years include air-bag, braking (vacuum pump lubrication campaigns such as 13V-454 on related N20 engines), lighting, and electrical themes shared across BMW 3/4/5/7/M lines. Confirm each campaign by VIN; many unit totals span multiple BMW models.

Compare

Next year 2021 BMW 540i See every BMW 540i model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 BMW 540i reliable?

The 2020 BMW 540i has 0 complaints with NHTSA after 7 years, or 0 per year. That is about even with the other 540i years here. Their median is 0 complaints per year. NHTSA has 5 recalls on file, including Engine, Camera, and Driveshaft.

Is the 2020 BMW 540i more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 540i has 0 complaints, 0 per year, and the 2021 has 0 complaints, 0 per year. The 2020 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2019. The 2020 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2021.

Has the 2020 BMW 540i been recalled?

The 2020 BMW 540i has 5 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 BMW 540i?

Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 2020 BMW 540i with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 BMW 540i get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 BMW 540i is 25 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a US BMW 540i use?

0W-20 With filter, about 6.9 qt is commonly listed for this generation—confirm in the owner manual.

What tire sizes fit a US BMW 540i?

Published US specs commonly list front 245/35R20, 245/40R19, 245/45R18, 275/30R20, 275/35R19 (trim-dependent) and rear 245/35R20, 245/40R19, 245/45R18, 275/30R20, 275/35R19 (trim-dependent); confirm on the door jamb placard for your trim.

What NHTSA recalls affect the US BMW 540i?

NHTSA complaints and recalls for BMW 540i vehicles in the tracked years include air-bag, braking (vacuum pump lubrication campaigns such as 13V-454 on related N20 engines), lighting, and electrical themes shared across BMW 3/4/5/7/M lines. Confirm each campaign by VIN; many unit totals span multiple BMW models.