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2011 BMW 550i Xdrive
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
165 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 28, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Tires problems dominate (25% of complaints, typically reported near 8k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#203 of 534Among the 2011 models with a matured record, the 2011 BMW 550i Xdrive ranks #203, scoring higher than 61% of them. See the 2011 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2011 BMW 550 I Xdrive 4 DR 4WD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 9%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2011 BMW 550i Xdrive, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Transmission & drivetrain (24) · Steering (22) · Fuel system (19)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Tires
25%42 complaints · typically near 8k mi
“DRIVING MY 69 YEAR OLD WIFE'S 2011 BMW 550IX WITH M SPORT PKG. WITH GOODYEAR RUN FLAT'S O.E.M. GERMAN TIRE'S WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SIDE WALL RUPTURED FOR NO REASON.…”
Engine
21%35 complaints · typically near 22k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2011 BMW 550I. The contact stated that after having an oil change performed, he noticed white smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was ta…”
Electrical system
16%26 complaints · typically near 36k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“My 2011 BMW 550i experienced an unexpected fire in my driveway while my wife and I were sleeping. The fire nearly caused our house to catch fire and also resulted in d…”
Transmission & drivetrain
15%24 complaints
“DRIVETRAIN MALFUNCTION COMES ON DASH, DUE TO TIMING CHAIN BEING OUT OF "TIME" MEANING THAT THE CRANSHAFT AND CHAIN HAS MOVE OUT OF PLACE, THIS REPAIR IS ESTIMATED TO C…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 3 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 165 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 16 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this BMW before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report tires problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 8k miles). Has this car shown any tires symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 22k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2011 BMW 550I XDRIVE beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2011? See how every 550i Xdrive model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2011 BMW 550i Xdrive against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.
See a wrong vehicle match or a stale/inaccurate detail on this page? Report a correction →