The car was purchased new in July 2023. On or about [XXX], while the car was parked the front license plate holder separated suddenly and unexpectedly from the front bumper of the car and fell to the ground. Incidental to the failure of the front license plate holder, the separation of the holder caused damage to the front bumper. There was no external force applied to the front license plate holder, and the vehicle was not involved in a collision. Because the car was stationary at the time of the incident, there was no additional damage; the safety of the passengers, other drivers, or pedestrians was not compromised. However, had the car been moving, a sudden and unexpected event of the separation of the front license plate holder would have posed serious safety risks. I contacted the selling dealer, BMW of Sudbury, located in Sudbury, MA to discuss the issue related to the damages resulting from the failure of the front license plate holder. I spoke with Michael K. Walsh, General Sales Manager at BMW of Sudbury, 508‑903‑5300, [email protected], about the issue of sudden and unexpected failure of the front license plate holder. According to Mr. Walsh, the front license plate holders have been failing on a regular basis, with several instances of failure occurring every year at the BMW of Sudbury dealership. Mr. Walsh mentioned that the failures typically occur within several days to several weeks after the installation of the front license plate holder. In addition, Mr. Walsh indicated that license plate holders and the hardware for their installation are manufactured by BMW. The dealer has never notified the manufacturer about the potential safety risks associated with the sudden and unexpected separation of the front license plate holder from the car. This inaction on the dealer part has persisted even though it has been fully aware of the recurrent failures of the front license plate holders. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The worst 2023 BMW M550I problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Body1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Body1
Recalls 1
Power train: driveline: driveshaft
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020-2026 840i, 840i xDrive, 2021-2023 540i, 540i xDrive, M550i xDrive, and 2024-2026 750e xDrive vehicles. The connection between the driveshaft and the rear differential may become damaged, possibly resulting in a loss of power to the rear wheels or a vehicle rollaway.
- Risk
- An unexpected loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash. In addition, a damaged driveshaft can result in a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the connection between the driveshaft and rear axle differential, and apply adhesive or replace the driveshaft and rear axle differential, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 8, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on beginning October 2, 2026.
Recall number 26V525000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2023 BMW M550I 28
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.
- 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...
- Functional noises (squealing/honking) when braking shortly before the vehicle comes to a stop
- BMW AG has requested the inspection of all dealer stock of the following part number(s) listed below to...
- With the introduction of the BMW Remote Software Upgrade, all Service Pack 18 vehicles and partial Service...
- BMW AG has issued a Delivery Stop effective June 6, 2023 on certain Model Year 2023
- A vehicle arrives at your center to be diagnosed for a micro-leak in the fuel evaporative (EVAP) system...
- BMW AG has issued an Emissions Recall (effective March 17, 2023) on a certain Model Year 2021
- Headlight check control (CC) message 128 "High beam headlight failure" is displayed
What 2023 BMW M550I owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Compare the 2023 BMW M550I
Other model years
Questions about the 2023 BMW M550I
Is the 2023 BMW M550I reliable?
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2023 BMW M550I, fewer than a typical M550I model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2023 BMW M550I?
Body and structure, with 1 complaint.
How many recalls does the 2023 BMW M550I have?
1 recall, covering power train.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2023 BMW M550I?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history