Is the 2012 Bmw 650I reliable?

The 2012 Bmw 650I has 29 complaints filed with NHTSA (3.6x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2012 Bmw 650I?

Top problems: ENGINE (12 complaints, avg repair $500); SEATS/RESTRAINTS (5 complaints, avg repair $500); AIR BAGS (3 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2012 Bmw 650I?

Yes, there are 2 recall(s): ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP. Contact any Bmw dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2012 Bmw 650I?

The 2012 Bmw 650I gets 18 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2667. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2012 Bmw 650I?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2012 Bmw 650I is approximately $1,971/year (sedan-luxury class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2012 Bmw 650I

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Bmw 650I has 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.6x the segment average of 8. The most common issue is engine problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: tl-the contact owns a 2012 bmw 650i. the contact stated that the front driver's and passenger's side safety seat belts failed to retract. the vehicle was taken to a dealer, who replaced the seat belts but the failure recurred. the contact also stated that the convertible top failed to operate and th. There are 2 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 1 injury

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

12 complaints

41%

• TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 650I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SAFETY SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILED TO OPERATE AND TH
• VEHICLE ENGINE (N63) LOSES POWER WHILE IN OPERATION AND GOES INTO A DRIVETRAIN FAILURE MODE REDUCING ENGING POWER SUBSTANTIALLY. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN THE CAR. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS TAKEN THE CAR IN TO REPAIR IT 3 TIMES. THEY RECENLY PERFORMED A CUSTOMER CARE PROGRAM TO REMEDIAT
• BMW 650 N63 ENGINE ISSUES AKA DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION (DTM) ERROR HAS BEEN A VERY COMMON ISSUE IN THESE CARS. IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE WITH BRAND NEW CARS WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES HAVE THESE ISSUES AS WELL. LONG STORY SHORT BMW, NA OFFERED TO BUY BACK MY CAR AFTER SPENDING MORE THAN 5 WEEKS I

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 650I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SAFETY SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILED TO OPERATE AND TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2012 Bmw 650I

Based on 25 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 38K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 67K mi · 11 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

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 2012 Bmw 650I

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,667

Per month

$222

Per mile

22.2¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$3,201/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$2,087/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

Show:

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 2012 Bmw 650I

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.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,971

Full coverage / month

$164

Liability only / year

$710

vs US avg

+18%

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 age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1971

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

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Bmw 650I 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 2012 650I, 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

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 29 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 650I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SAFETY SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILED TO OPERATE AND TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW 650I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SAFETY SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE SEAT BELTS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP FAILED TO OPERATE AND TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: RECEIVE A "PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM" FAILURE. BMW EL CAJON DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SEAT MAT SENSOR. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION MAT DETERMINES IF AND HOW THE PASSENGER FRONTAL AIR BAG SHOULD DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THIS KNOW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: BMW 650 N63 ENGINE ISSUES AKA DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION (DTM) ERROR HAS BEEN A VERY COMMON ISSUE IN THESE CARS. IF YOU DO YOUR RESEARCH PEOPLE WITH BRAND NEW CARS WITH LESS THAN 100 MILES HAVE THESE ISSUES AS WELL. LONG STORY SHORT BMW, NA OFFERED TO BUY BACK MY CAR AFTER SPENDING MORE THAN 5 WEEKS I
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)