Your vehicleHome›BMW›6 Series› 2018

BMW · Compact Sedan

2018 BMW 6 Series

Gas

Compact Cars
10 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

89 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2

Complaints1 crash reported 11

Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 23 mpg

2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2018 BMW 6 Series is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact sedan with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 640i Convertible, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 11 complaints, most often about the forward collision avoidance.

BMW 6 Series — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — BMW 6 Series · Photo: Dinkun Chen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
640i Convertible	Gas	RWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	20	29	23	$3,550
640i Gran Coupe	Gas	RWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	20	29	23	$3,550
640i xDrive Gran Turismo	Gas	AWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	20	28	23	$3,550
640i xDrive Convertible	Gas	AWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	19	28	22	$3,750
640i xDrive Gran Coupe	Gas	AWD	3.0L 6-cyl turbo	19	28	22	$3,750
650i Convertible	Gas	RWD	4.4L 8-cyl turbo	17	25	20	$4,100
650i Gran Coupe	Gas	RWD	4.4L 8-cyl turbo	17	25	20	$4,100
650i xDrive Convertible	Gas	AWD	4.4L 8-cyl turbo	16	25	19	$4,350
650i xDrive Gran Coupe	Gas	AWD	4.4L 8-cyl turbo	16	25	19	$4,350
Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe	Gas	AWD	4.4L 8-cyl turbo	16	25	19	$4,350

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38606, 38624, 39435, 38607, 38625, 38608, 38626, 38609, 38627, 38628.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
640i Convertible, 640i Gran Coupe, 640i xDrive Convertible, 640i xDrive Gran Coupe, 650i Convertible, Alpina B6 xDrive Gran Coupe	3 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 125 / California LEV-III ULEV125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
640i xDrive Gran Turismo	5 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—
650i Gran Coupe, 650i xDrive Convertible, 650i xDrive Gran Coupe	3 / 10	California LEV-III ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Convertible/Cabriolet
Doors	2
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	6
Displacement	3 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

315 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seat rows	2
Seating capacity	4 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	AWD/All-Wheel Drive
Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	8

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Electronic stability control

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Automatic emergency braking, Blind-spot monitoring, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Parking assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: xDrive, xDrive GT). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	192.5–200.4 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	74.4–74.8 in
Height	53.9–60.6 in
Wheelbase	112.6–120.9 in
Track, front	63.0–63.8 in
Track, rear	65.0–65.7 in
Curb weight	4,211–4,650 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	52/48 to 54/46

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 5 configurations: 650I xDrive 2-door Cabriolet, 650I xDrive 2-door Coupe, Gran Coupe 640I xDrive 4-door Sedan, Gran Coupe 650I xDrive 4-door Sedan, Gran Turismo 650I xDrive 4-door Sedan. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

○minor

Back Over Prevention

257,473 vehicles 97% reported repaired built May 8, 2018 – Jul 27, 2019

Problem 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 Risk The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash. Fix 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.

Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 19V684000 reported Sep 27, 2019 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

5,309 vehicles 98% reported repaired built May 17, 2018 – Jun 5, 2018

Problem BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018 BMW 540d xDrive vehicles. The crankshaft sensor may be equipped with incorrect firmware, preventing the sensor from properly processing input from the crankshaft reluctor ring, possibly resulting in a vehicle stall. On September 12, 2018, BMW expanded the recall to a total of 5,309 vehicles including certain 2018-2019 BMW 540d xDrive, 230i M240i, M240i xDrive, X2 sDrive28i, X2 xDrive28i, X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 330i, 330i xDrive, 340i, 340i xDrive, 330i xDrive Gran Turismo, 530i, 530i xDrive, 540i, 540i xDrive, 530e, 530e xDrive, 640i xDrive Gran Turismo, 330e, 2019 430i Gran Coupe, 430i xDrive Gran Coupe, 440i Gran Coupe, 440 Risk A vehicle stall can increase the risk of a crash. Fix BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the crankshaft sensor, free of charge. The recall began September 6, 2018. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 18V465000 reported Jul 11, 2018 BMW of North America, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module — 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 deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf. Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a subst

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · action EA21002 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific 6 Series

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. BMW publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →BMW’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2018 BMW 6 Series, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

11complaints filed

1 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

29 per 10,000 built · BMW reported 3,791 6 Series built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2020: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 2 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Forward Collision Avoidance 2

Unspecified 2

Air Bags 2

Electrical System 1

Engine 1

Structure 1

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

My BMW's passenger side airbag malfunction light randomly came on and will not turn off. When I went to the dealer, BMW quoted apprx. $3000 to replace the seat sensor mat which they said probably got wet? No water was ever on the seat and no passenger sits there - just my purse.

Air Bags Aug 26, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11610978

The contact owns a 2018 BMW 640XI. The contact stated that while pulling up to a red traffic light, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the engine revved unexpectedly, and the vehicle unintendedly accelerated and drove forward approximately 3-feet.

Vehicle Speed Control at 60,448 miles Jun 22, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11745694

Moonroof shade failure. Droops, blocking rear window visibility while driving. Happened with no warning. Will bring to service center for inspection

Visibility/Wiper Sep 21, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11545767

I took the car in for a service and mentioned that there is a slight vibration at highway speeds. The dealer performed wheel balancing and found that the issue was still there. Following this, a software update was performed and the issue was still prevalent. The final cause was identified to be the control arm bushings.

Suspension Feb 9, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11506494

I took my vehicle for a regular oil change and vehicle check at 22000 miles. The service advisor performed a routine check and found that the driveshaft flex disc had multiple cracks.

Power Train Jul 25, 2022 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11475624

The car on my right changed lanes and and hit the front of my car. Photo's of damage attached. The damage was to the right side of the bumper and panel on the front side. Police report attached. The carfax report printed 5/5/2021 shows damaged areas as front, right and rear.

Structure at 19,000 miles May 12, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11416300

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by BMW itself: 1 death-or-injury claim on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 26 per 100,000 built. Every 6 Series model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 5 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · BMW warranty extension 6577900600A situation may occur where the front passenger seat is not occupied.
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · BMW warranty extension B011624The Telematics Control Units (TCU) Internal Emergency (Backup) Battery for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 6 years without mileage limitation, as determined from the…
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · BMW warranty extension B010324Evap system purge (vent) valve EXT LTD WTY (ELW) 15/150
15 years or 150,000 miles · BMW bulletin B011423Pressure control valve (PCV) extended LTD WTY 15 YEARS/150,000 miles
15 years or 150,000 miles · BMW bulletin B011219FRONT GRILLE UPPER/LOWER ACTIVE AIR FLAPS: LTD WTY EXT TO 15 YEARS/150,000 MILES: Component-Specific Limited Warranty Extension This component-specific limited warranty extension applies to defects…

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every BMW warranty extension (46) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 333

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-02-11

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 327 service bulletins, 6 warranty extensions

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Engine, Visibility/Wiper, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility.

B720125 Warranty extension
2026-02-11 · Electrical System
A situation may occur where the front passenger seat is not occupied; however, a “fasten seat belt” warning and a front passenger seat air bag deactivation message appears. If the situation is currently present, sit in the seat and move the seat to a slightly different position. The POL (Passenger Occupancy Light) light should now function correctly. In some cases, the Air bag Warning Light was il
B010122 Service bulletin
2026-01-21 · Engine
N63TU1 CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT SVC CAMPAIGN: OIL CONSUMPTION DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR
B011624 Warranty extension
2025-01-16 · Electrical System
The Telematics Control Units (TCU) Internal Emergency (Backup) Battery for defects in materials and/or workmanship has been extended to 6 years without mileage limitation, as determined from the vehicles original first in-service / delivery date. This coverage is subject to the same vehicle eligibility requirements, limitations, and exclusions that apply to the BMW New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
B010324 Warranty extension
2024-05-02 · Engine
EVAP SYSTEM PURGE (VENT) VALVE EXT LTD WTY (ELW) 15/150
B630418 Service bulletin
2024-03-14 · Exterior Lighting
One or more of the LED daytime running lights are dim or discolored.
B120721 Service bulletin
2024-03-04 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Check Control message (CCM) indicates: (ID 213): Stop, exercising due care. Voltage supply The Service Engine Soon light is on with the following DME Fault Code: 21B209 - Starter alternator / belt for 48V system (OSA_RIEMEN_RISS): Belt betweenCombustion engine and starter generator torn And/or one or more of the following other issues are also occurring: Noise in the area of the belt drive.
B510819 Service bulletin
2024-01-16 · Electrical System
The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
B611305 Service bulletin
2024-01-11 · Electrical System
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 “discharged battery” complaints.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

6 Series by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2019 A 1 4 23 mpg 2018 this page B 2 11 23 mpg 2017 A 1 1 24 mpg 2016 A 0 1 24 mpg

Common questions about the 2018 6 Series

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 BMW 6 Series have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 BMW 6 Series. The most serious on file is 18V465000, covering Engine And Engine Cooling. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 BMW 6 Series?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2018 BMW 6 Series yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it B (89/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 BMW 6 Series?

Across the 10 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 BMW 6 Series, the best EPA combined figure is 23 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 BMW 6 Series?

Transport Canada measured it at 192.5–200.4 in long, 74.4–74.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 53.9–60.6 in tall, on a 112.6–120.9 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,211–4,650 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2018 BMW 6 Series?

Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 BMW 6 Series, most often about forward collision avoidance, unspecified, air bags. Of those, 1 involved a crash. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2018 BMW 6 Series?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 BMW 6 Series runs 3 to 5 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV125, California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 BMW 6 Series?

The manufacturer has filed 333 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 BMW 6 Series, most often covering electrical system, equipment, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-02-11. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	10 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	10 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	2	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	11	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	none	NHTSA NCAP	NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins	333	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	1	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	12 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API