2012 BMW 650i problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 2012 BMW 650i have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 BMW 650i. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

Q: What gas mileage does the 2012 BMW 650i get?

The 2012 BMW 650i has U.S. EPA estimates of 17–18 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (6 versions).

2012 BMW 650i at a glance

Safety recalls2

Owner complaints22

Combined17–18 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2012 BMW 650i recalls 2

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger NHTSA Campaign #18V248000 · 18/04/2018

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 Roadst…

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 …

Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump NHTSA Campaign #16V746000 · 17/10/2016

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 …

Fix: 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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2012 BMW 650i common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine

Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.

Seats

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Seat Belts

Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

Air Bags

Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Electrical System

Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Service Brakes

Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

2012 BMW 650i MPG & running costs

Combined17–18 mpg

City15 mpg

Highway22 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$4,750

EPA size classCompact Cars

TransmissionAutomatic (S8) or Manual 6-spd

Forced inductionTurbocharged

Passenger volume89 cu ft

Cargo volume16 cu ft

5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$11,750 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 6 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2012 BMW 650i costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$23,750

Fuel only$23,750

Per mile$0.32

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture Open

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deploymen…

NHTSA #EA21002 · Air Bags · opened Sep 2021

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 399

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 399.

Third Stop Lamp Return

Bulletin B064525 · Exterior Lighting · Aug 2025

This bulletin outlines the Customer Care Package program that has been designed exclusively for BMWvehicles with the N63 engine. Vehicles with the N63 high performance engine are engineered with EfficientDynamics that provides fueleconomy without compromising…

Bulletin B110614 · Engine · Mar 2025

Roller Sunblind Return

Bulletin B065424 · Visibility/wiper · Jul 2024

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

Bulletin B510819 · Electrical System, Visibility · Jan 2024

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle Ã¢ÂÂdi…

Bulletin B611305 · Electrical System · Jan 2024

The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) warning light comes on while driving. The following DSC fault codes for the wheel speed sensors are stored: 480712 and/or 480715 and/or 480718 and/or 48071B They cannot be cleared, even though the wheel speed sensors work co…

Bulletin B340914 · Wheels · Jun 2023

After programming the head unit (HU-H2), activating the FSC (German word Freischaltcode) Enabling Codes repeatedly fails.

Bulletin B651523 · Electrical System · May 2023

With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered into a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Isley, et al. v. Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft and BMW of North America, LLC. The Sett…

Bulletin B010122 · Equipment · May 2023

With the court's FINAL approval, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW NA) has entered into a nationwide settlement with the plaintiffs in the following class action: Isley, et al. v. Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft and BMW of North America, LLC.

Bulletin B010122 · Equipment · Dec 2022

According to the customer, the airbag warning light was on, but it may not be illuminated when the vehicle arrives in the workshop. 1. ACSM fault code "930A60 - Seat occupancy detection, front passenger; malfunction" is stored. The fault may or may not current…

Bulletin B650414 · Back Over Prevention, Seats, Air Bags · Oct 2022

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the 650I RWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the BMW 650i

The second generation of the BMW 6 Series consists of the BMW E63 and BMW E64 grand tourers. The E63/E64 generation was produced by BMW from 2003 to 2010 and is often collectively referred to as the E63.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2012 BMW 650i trims & engines on record

Trims

650i

Engines

4.4L 8-cyl 400 hp

2012 BMW 650i vehicles on record

2012 BMW 650i 650iWBALX3C54CDV77416

2012 BMW 650iWBALX3C54CDV77772

2012 BMW 650iWBALZ3C50CC397883

2012 BMW 650iWBAYP1C52DDX00688

2012 BMW 650iWBA6B2C52DDG66735

2012 BMW 650iWBA6B41020DG67431

2012 BMW 650iWBA6B410X0DG67290

2012 BMW 650iWBALX31070DW87153

2012 BMW 650iWBAYM9C59DDW20215

2012 BMW 650iWBALX51030DX64239

2012 BMW 650iWBALX51010DX64174

2012 BMW 650iWBALZ51070C619057

Other BMW 650i model years

2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005

2012 BMW 650i — frequently asked questions

Does the 2012 BMW 650i have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2012 BMW 650i. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW 650i?

Across all 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, seats, seat belts.

What gas mileage does the 2012 BMW 650i get?

The 2012 BMW 650i has U.S. EPA estimates of 17–18 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (6 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.