2012 BMW 640i reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2012 BMW 640i holds 3 complaints after 15 years, a rate of 0 per year. 640i years here cluster close together — the other years’ median is 0 complaints per year. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Fuel pump and Engine.

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (2 of 3) and Engine (1). Those filings include 1 that reports a fire.

Next to 2013

The 2013 640i has 6 complaints, 0 per year. The 2012 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013.

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 2012 BMW 640i. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (2)

Recall Fuel pump 2016-10-17 · NHTSA campaign 16V746000

Summary 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.

Remedy 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.

Recall Engine 2014-04-10 · NHTSA campaign 14V176000

Summary BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 128i Coupe, 128i Convertible, 328i Sedan, 328i xDrive Sedan, 328i Coupe, 328i Convertible, 328i Sports Wagon and Z4 sDrive 30i, 2011-2012 135i Coupe, 135i Convertible, 335i Sedan, X5 xDrive 35i, and X6 xDrive 35i, 2011 335i xDrive Sedan, 335i Coupe, 335i Convertible, 528i Sedan, 535i Sedan, 535i xDrive Sedan, X3 xDrive 28i, and X3 xDrive 35i, 2010 X3 xDrive 30i, and X5 xDrive 30i, 2012 640i Coupe, and 640i Convertible and 2010-2012 535i Gran Turismo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the bolts that secure the housing for the variable camshaft timing adjustment (VANOS) unit can loosen over time and may possibly break.

Remedy BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the four VANOS housing bolts for both VANOS units (intake and exhaust), free of charge. In addition, owners of approximately 170,172 model year 2010-2012 BMW vehicles equipped with inline 6 cylinder engines not covered by this recall, will receive an extended warranty to address this condition. The recall began on September 24, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417.

Complaints by component (3 total)

Electrical system

Engine

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally report a vehicle fire that occurred on [XXX] at approximately [XXX] in Alabama State University. The vehicle involved is a 2012 BMW 640i Coupe (black) with the license…"
Electrical system · filed 2024-10-16
"BMW GROUP ISSUED VOLUNTARY RECALL NO. 18V-248: ELECTRONIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILURE. PRIOR TO RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE BY MAIL, MY CAR'S INSTRUMENT PANEL REGISTERED THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE WHILE DRIVING AND ON COLD…"
Unknown or other, Engine · filed 2018-06-11
"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 650I. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 70 MPH, IN A THUNDERSTORM IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE INTERSTATE, WHEN HE NOTICED A BOLT OF LIGHTING LAND JUST TO THE RIGHT OF THE INTERSTATE IN THE GRASS. 31 OF…"
Electrical system · filed 2011-10-11

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2012 BMW 640 I 2 DR RWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2012 BMW 640 I C RWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drive	City	Hwy	Combined	Annual fuel cost
640i convertible	3L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	Rear-wheel drive	20	30	23 MPG	$3450
640i Coupe	3L, 6-cyl	Automatic (8-speed)	Rear-wheel drive	23	32	26 MPG	$3050

Specs and fitment

F06/F12/F13 6 Series, 2012–2019

Body styles Coupe, Convertible, Gran Coupe

Oil 0W-30 , 6.9 qt capacity

Tire size 245/45R18, 245/40R19, 245/35R20, 275/35R19, 275/30R20

Known issues for this generation

Recall 24V-527 covers certain 2015 BMW 6 Series Coupe, Convertible, and Gran Coupe vehicles (among other BMW models): dealers replace the driver's front air bag free of charge. Confirm whether a given 640i VIN is included; the campaign spans multiple BMW model lines.

Compare

Next year 2013 BMW 640i See every BMW 640i model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 BMW 640i reliable?

What are common problems with a 2012 BMW 640i?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (2 of 3) and Engine (1). Those filings include 1 that reports a fire.

Is the 2012 BMW 640i more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 640i has 6 complaints, 0 per year. The 2012 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2013.

Has the 2012 BMW 640i been recalled?

The 2012 BMW 640i has 2 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 2012 BMW 640i?

Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 2012 BMW 640i with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2012 BMW 640i get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2012 BMW 640i is 24.5 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 640i use?

0W-30 With filter, about 6.9 qt is commonly listed for this generation—confirm in the owner manual.

What tire sizes fit a US BMW 640i?

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

What NHTSA recalls affect the US BMW 640i?