What oil does a 2012–2015 BMW 3 Series (N55) take?

5W-30 (BMW LL-01), 6.9 qt (6.5 L) with a filter change.

DRIVEDEX / BMW / 3 Series

2012–2015

BMW 3 Series

3.0L turbo I6 (N55) N55 Sedan (F30)

N54 pace with half the drama — the 335i that lets you sleep at night.

Engine Oil

Viscosity‼

✓ verified

src: N55 oil guides (multiple)

Capacity (with filter)

6.5 L✓ verified

Same sump spec as the N54

src: Diligent Driver + N55 guides

Oil filter

✓ verified

src: Turner + ECS listings

Drain plug torque‼

— in verification queue

Being confirmed against the TIS

Fluids

Coolant‼

✓ verified

HT-12 green back-serves G48 cars

src: FCP Euro coolant guide

ATF (automatic)‼

✓ verified

8HP45 — ZF itself suggests fresh fluid by ~93k

src: ZF Lifeguard 8 data sheet + Blauparts

Brake fluid‼

✓ verified

Flush every 2 years

src: BimmerWorld brake fluid guide

Fuel

◐ pending

Manual minimum AKI 89

src: BMW owner's manual (quoted)

Filters & Ignition

Engine air filter

— in verification queue

Being confirmed

Cabin filter

— in verification queue

Being confirmed

Spark plugs

✓ verified

Pre-gapped ~0.030 in; tuned cars often run ~0.022 in

src: eEuroparts + UroTuning listings

Electrical

Battery

◐ pending

src: FCP Euro fitment + BimmerTech

Key fob battery

◐ pending

Diamond-shaped fob — valet key releases the cover

src: Battery Equivalents fob guide

Wheels & Wipers

Wheel bolt torque‼

140 Nm✓ verified

M14 bolts on F-chassis

src: BimmerWorld + Bimmer Guides

Tire pressure

— in verification queue

Varies by size/load — run the driver-door placard values

Wipers

— in verification queue

Being confirmed — sizes vary by trim

Service

Oil change interval

✓ verified

5–7.5k is the smart play on a turbo DI engine

src: BMW dealer service pages

Oil service reset

◐ pending

src: F30 reset guide

🔧 Mechanic's Notes

The plastic charge pipe cracks under boost — cheap aluminum replacement, worth doing preemptively.
Oil filter housing gasket weeps onto the belt; valve cover gasket follows at higher miles.
The electric water pump is still a ~90k service item, same as the E9x sixes.
VANOS solenoids gum up and throw rough idle or codes — clean or swap them before chasing bigger ghosts.

Field patterns from a working mechanic — diagnose your own car before buying parts.

Open Recalls

Checking NHTSA…

Other 3 Series generations

2001–2005 BMW 3 Series 2.5L/3.0L I6 (M54) · M54 5W-30 LL-016.9 qt oil88.5 lb-ft lugs 2007–2011 BMW 3 Series 3.0L I6 (N52) · N52 5W-30 LL-016.9 qt oil88.5 lb-ft lugs 2007–2010 BMW 3 Series 3.0L twin-turbo I6 (N54) · N54 6.9 qt LL-01 oilZF Lifeguard 6 ATF88.5 lb-ft lugs 2012–2016 BMW 3 Series 2.0L turbo I4 (N20) · N20 5.3 qt LL-01 oil103 lb-ft lugsChain guides: pre-2015 alert 2019–2025 BMW 3 Series 2.0L turbo I4 (B46/B48) · B46/B48 0W-20 LL-17 FE+HT-12 coolant103 lb-ft lugs 2020–2025 BMW 3 Series 3.0L turbo I6 (B58) · B58 0W-20 LL-17 FE+6.9 qt oil103 lb-ft lugs

Sources shown per value. Specs can vary by build date, market and trim — for anything critical (torque, fluids), confirm against YOUR owner's manual or door sticker before wrenching. Spotted an error? — corrections jump the queue.