I am reporting a potential safety concern with my engine. The oil pumps are known to fail due to plastic internal components. BMW has issued a new pump with metal parts, but existing engines are not being helped and if oil pressure drops the car can suddenly stop in traffic, creating a safety hazard.
The worst 2020 BMW 540I problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Engine2
- Electrical1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine2
- Electrical1
Recalls 5
Engine
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- Loss of braking assist can increase the risk of a crash.
- 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 number 21V598000 · Recall details
Back over prevention: software
- What is wrong
- 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."
- Risk
- If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the missing or reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- 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 number 21V096000 · Recall details
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- A broken output shaft can lead to a loss of drive power or a rollaway condition in a parked vehicle (if the parking brake is not engaged), increasing the risk of a crash.
- 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 number 21V046000 · Recall details
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
- What is wrong
- 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."
- Risk
- If the driver relies on only the rearview camera image, the reduced rearview image view can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
- 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 number 20V598000 · Recall details
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
- What is wrong
- 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."
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 19V684000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2020 BMW 540I 235
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- The EVAP systems purge (vent) valve limited warranty for defects in materials or workmanship has been...
- The customer states that one or more of the following situations may occur: 1. The availability of the...
- One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.
- Check Control message (CCM) indicates: (ID 213): Stop, exercising due care
- The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few...
- At low outside temperatures (below 40 degrees F) and slow driving speeds (i.e. when parking,...
- The Central Information Display goes black intermittently due to resets of the Head Unit (HU-H3)....
- Situation
- Engine will crank but not start
2020 BMW 540I fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6‑cyl | RWD | 22 | 30 | 25 |
What 2020 BMW 540I owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Component: Engine Oil Pump (Plastic Internal Variant) Safety Risk: Sudden Loss of Motive Power / Engine Seizure Defect Description: The oil pump in the BMW B58 engine utilizes a plastic tensioning/adjusting ring that is prone to brittle fracture. At only 38,000 miles, my vehicle suffered a catastrophic internal pump failure, resulting in an immediate "Low Oil Pressure" warning and forced engine shutdown. Safety Hazard: Stalling at Speed: This defect causes an immediate loss of propulsion. If this occurs during highway merging or high-speed maneuvers, the driver faces an abrupt loss of power steering and braking assist, significantly increasing the risk of a high-speed rear-end collision. Imminent Seizure: Total oil pressure loss can lead to crankshaft seizure, potentially locking the drive wheels and causing a loss of vehicle control. Technical Evidence: BMW has released an updated part (P/N 11419895359) that replaces the plastic internals with a metal housing, acknowledging the original design is insufficient for the thermal loads of the engine. Post-repair inspection of my vehicle showed significant carbonized "soot" in the filter, indicating that the pump's underperformance caused localized overheating of the lubricant prior to the final failure. Request: the federal safety agency should open an investigation into the B58 oil pump (2019–2021 models) to determine the failure rate of the plastic-ring units. A safety recall is necessary to replace these units with the updated all-metal version before a high-speed seizure results in a fatality.
BMW G30 chassis vehicles equipped with the optional Bowers & Wilkins stereo have multiple owners reporting on Bimmerpost owners forum that water incursion damages the front door midrange speakers on both sides of the vehicle due to poor water drainage design. Water is causing the speakers to short out and stop functioning. This is also happening to owners of the BMW F90 chassis with the Bowers & Wilkins optioned stereo speakers. Stock stereo and Harmon Kardon systems seem not to be impacted by this issue.
Compare the 2020 BMW 540I
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Questions about the 2020 BMW 540I
Is the 2020 BMW 540I reliable?
Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 2020 BMW 540I, fewer than a typical 540I model year.
What is the 2020 BMW 540I year score?
The 2020 BMW 540I scores 89 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the BMW 540I: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 BMW 540I?
Engine and cooling, with 2 complaints. Next is electrical (1).
How many recalls does the 2020 BMW 540I have?
5 recalls, covering engine, back over prevention and power train.
Was there a recall on the 2020 BMW 540I engine?
Yes, 1 recall: 21V598000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the BMW 540I have bad engine?
The BMW 540I model years with the most engine complaints are 1998 (16 complaints), 1997 (13 complaints) and 2000 (10 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2020 BMW 540I get?
Official estimates for the 2020 BMW 540I range from 25 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.0L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 22 city and 30 highway.
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