BestCarRank
Bmw

2011 Bmw 550I GRAN TURISMO

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Bmw 550I GRAN TURISMO has 14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.0x the segment average of 14. The most common issue is electrical problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: the car was parked and caught on fire in the engine department. it was and is a complete loss. it had been drivine 30 miles about an hour before.. There are 2 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports

14

Total Complaints

2

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.0x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ELECTRICAL

3 complaints
21%
  • • THE CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS AND IS A COMPLETE LOSS. IT HAD BEEN DRIVINE 30 MILES ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE.
  • • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V248000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). BMW OF SOUTH ATLANTA (4171 JONESBORO RD, UNION CITY, GA 30291, (678) 228
  • • I FEEL THAT IS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON MY CAR. FROM THE START WAS TOLD THE CAR CHECKED OUT HOWEVER HAD TO GET ANOTHER STARTER, TRANSMISSION CASE, BLOCKS ETC. I SPENT OVER 14K AND STILL HAVE PROBLEM WITH REPAIRS THAT I THOUGHT WAS COVERED. NOW AC BLOWER GONE AFTER PICKING UP FROM THE DEALER LESS
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“THE CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS AND IS A COMPLETE LOSS. IT HAD BEEN DRIVINE 30 MILES ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Recalls (2)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER18/04/2018

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2012 BMW 550i, 550i xDrive, 550i Gran Turismo, 550i Gran Turismo xDrive, 750i, 750Li, 750i xDrive, 750Li xDrive, 760Li, X5 xDrive50i, X5 M, X6 xDrive50i, X6 M, ActiveHybrid7, MINI Cooper S Convertible, John Cooper Works (JCW) Convertible, Cooper S Countryman, Cooper S Countryman ALL4, Cooper S, JCW, Cooper S Clubman, JCW Clubman, Cooper S Roadster, JCW Roadster, Cooper S Coupe, JCW Coupe and Rolls-Royce Ghost, 2011 BMW X6 Hybrid and 2012 BMW 650i Coupe, 650i xDrive Coupe, 650i Convertible and 650i xDrive Convertible vehicles. The electric auxiliary water pump may fail and cause the circuit board to overheat.

Risk: If the circuit board were to overheat, it can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric auxiliary water pump, free of charge. Depending on the model, there are currently limited parts available, however not all parts are available at this time. Owners will be notified of the recall beginning June 11, 2018, and will receive a second notification when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at BMW 1-800-525-7417, MINI at 1-866-825-1525, or Rolls-Royce at 1-877-877-3735. Note: BMW recommends that owners park their vehicle outdoors until the recall remedy has been performed.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2011 Bmw 550I GRAN TURISMO

Live EIA prices
Per year
$2,667
Per month
$222
Per mile
22.2¢
MPG
18
City driving (worst-case MPG)
$3,201/yr
Highway driving (best-case MPG)
$2,182/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today
Current
$4.00
5-year low
$2.78
5-year high
$5.01
Since 2021
+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2011 Bmw 550I GRAN TURISMO

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$1,821
Full coverage / month
$152
Liability only / year
$710
vs US avg
+9%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (sedan-luxury)1.28x
× theft risk1.00x
× safety rating1.00x
× vehicle age0.85x
= Full coverage estimate$1821

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Bmw 550I GRAN TURISMO Service Intervals

Oil change
10K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
10K mi
Brake fluid
24 months
Transmission fluid
60K mi
Engine coolant
100K mi
Spark plugs
60K mi
Cabin air filter
15K mi
Engine air filter
30K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
60K mi

Condition-Based Service (CBS) tells you exactly when service is due. Transmission fluid was labeled 'lifetime' but many owners service at 60K-100K.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Bmw New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
4 yr / 50K mi
Powertrain
4 yr / 50K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
8 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
12 yr / unlimited mi
Roadside assistance
4 yr / unlimited mi

Corrosion is unlimited miles for 12 years

These are the terms for a new Bmw. If you're buying a used 2011 550I GRAN TURISMO, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Bmw dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)
$500
BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 14 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ☐
    ELECTRICAL: THE CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS AND IS A COMPLETE LOSS. IT HAD BEEN DRIVINE 30 MILES ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE.

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    ENGINE: THE CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS AND IS A COMPLETE LOSS. IT HAD BEEN DRIVINE 30 MILES ABOUT AN HOUR BEFORE.

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    TRANSMISSION: N 63 ENGINE FAILURE: THIS ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS PART OF THE BANG SETTLEMENT. I GOT A REPLACEMENT ENGINE FOR WHICH I SPENT ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE VALUE OF THE CAR. SO CALLED NEW ENGINE CONTINUES TO CONSUME OIL. BASICALLY BMW REPLACED THE ENGINE THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE KN OWN IS DEFECTIVE. A RECALL SHOUL

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW 550I GRAN TURISMO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V746000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE INTERIM RECALL NOTICE DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    RECALLS: Verify all 2 recalls have been completed — free at any Bmw dealer
  • ☐
    General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Bmw 550I GRAN TURISMO — Year Comparison

How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

2011
14Below Average
2010
13Above Average
Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
14
Recalls
2
Fire reports
3
Crash reports
0
Injury reports
0
Segment avg
14

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2011 Bmw 550I GRAN TURISMO

Compare With

2011 Ford CROWN VICTORIA32 complaints2011 Ford E-15030 complaints2011 Ford E-2509 complaints2011 Ford E-35019 complaints