1998 BMW 740IL Problems & Recalls

THE ALARM SYSTEM RUNS DOWN THE BATTERY AND THE HEAD LIGHTS BLANKS CONSTANTLY WHILE CAR IS RUNNING ALSO BACK TAILLIGHT GOES OFF ON ON ON PASSAGE SIDE . *TR

Mileage: 97,386

THE ALARM SYSTEM RUNS DOWN THE BATTERY AND THE HEAD LIGHTS BLANKS CONSTANTLY WHILE CAR IS RUNNING ALSO BACK TAILLIGHT GOES OFF ON ON ON PASSAGE SIDE . *TR

Mileage: 97,386

THE ALARM SYSTEM RUNS DOWN THE BATTERY AND THE HEAD LIGHTS BLANKS CONSTANTLY WHILE CAR IS RUNNING ALSO BACK TAILLIGHT GOES OFF ON ON ON PASSAGE SIDE . *TR

Mileage: 97,386

THE ALARM SYSTEM RUNS DOWN THE BATTERY AND THE HEAD LIGHTS BLANKS CONSTANTLY WHILE CAR IS RUNNING ALSO BACK TAILLIGHT BLANK OFF ON PASSAGE SIDE. *TR

Mileage: 97,268

THE ALARM SYSTEM RUNS DOWN THE BATTERY AND THE HEAD LIGHTS BLANKS CONSTANTLY WHILE CAR IS RUNNING ALSO BACK TAILLIGHT BLANK OFF ON PASSAGE SIDE. *TR

Mileage: 97,268

I WAS DRIVING MY BMW 740IL ON 2-17-2015 WHEN AFTER GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATING, THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM NOISE AND BLACK PIECES SHOT OUT ONTO THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE FIRST EXIT ONLY TO FIND THAT 1.) THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP AFTER I APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND 2....

Mileage: 79,000

I WAS DRIVING MY BMW 740IL ON 2-17-2015 WHEN AFTER GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATING, THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM NOISE AND BLACK PIECES SHOT OUT ONTO THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE FIRST EXIT ONLY TO FIND THAT 1.) THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP AFTER I APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND 2....

Mileage: 79,000

I WAS DRIVING MY BMW 740IL ON 2-17-2015 WHEN AFTER GETTING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATING, THERE WAS A LOUD BOOM NOISE AND BLACK PIECES SHOT OUT ONTO THE ROAD IN FRONT OF ME. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE FIRST EXIT ONLY TO FIND THAT 1.) THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP AFTER I APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND 2....

Mileage: 79,000

I HAD REFULED AND STARTED ON THE HIGHWAY ,I HEARD A THUMPING SOUND .PULLED OVER COULD NOT FIQURE OUT WHERE THE SOUND WAS COMING FROM. WHEN I REACHED MY DESTANATION I SMELLED GAS. I LOOK UNDER THE CAR AND THE GAS TANK WAS SUNKED INWARD AND GAS WAS EVERYWHERE.I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING.I K...

Mileage: 170,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE RING GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT ...

Mileage: 100,000

FUEL TANK "TIN CANS" WHEN LOWER ON FUEL. FEAR DEGRADATION OF FUEL TANK. FROM OTHER SOURCES, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH BMWS. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 740IL. WHILE REFUELING HE NOTICED GAS WAS LEAKING FORM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ONCE HE STOPPED PUMPING GAS IT STOPPED LEAKING. THIS FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER HE WOULD REFUEL THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. OVER TIME HE...

Mileage: 178,000

THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK. ALL DOORS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. IF YOU PULL ON ANY OF THE DOORS DOOR HANDLE TWICE FROM THE INSIDE IT SHOULD OPEN. ALL OF THIS HAPPEN WHEN THE ALARM ACTIVATED WITHOUT ANY REASON. ALARM STOPPED WORKING AND DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK. ALL DOORS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK. IF YOU PULL ON ANY OF THE DOORS DOOR HANDLE TWICE FROM THE INSIDE IT SHOULD OPEN. ALL OF THIS HAPPEN WHEN THE ALARM ACTIVATED WITHOUT ANY REASON. ALARM STOPPED WORKING AND DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK. *TR

Mileage: 200,000

ON CRUISE CONTROL AT 60 MPH PROCEEDING NORTH ON STATE ROUTE 3 IN VIRGINIA WHEN THE AUTO STARTED TO ACCELERATE. TAPPED THE BRAKE NO EFFECT. TURNED OF THE CRUISE CONTROL NO EFFECT. BY THIS TIME I AM DOING 90 MPH SO I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. THAT HAD AN EFFECT. COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD GOT...

Mileage: 142,000

THIS IS ABOUT MY 1998 740IL BMW. TWO TIMES SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE THE ENGINE REVEVED UP WHEN I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL. I FOUND THE PROBLEM. COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS MERCEDES BENZ, THE ACCELARATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE CLOSER TOGETHER. ALSO, THE BRAKE PED...

Mileage: 10,000

THIS IS ABOUT MY 1998 740IL BMW. TWO TIMES SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE THE ENGINE REVEVED UP WHEN I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL. I FOUND THE PROBLEM. COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS MERCEDES BENZ, THE ACCELARATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE CLOSER TOGETHER. ALSO, THE BRAKE PED...

Mileage: 10,000

THIS IS ABOUT MY 1998 740IL BMW. TWO TIMES SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE THE ENGINE REVEVED UP WHEN I WAS PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL, NEARLY CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL. I FOUND THE PROBLEM. COMPARED TO MY PREVIOUS MERCEDES BENZ, THE ACCELARATOR AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE CLOSER TOGETHER. ALSO, THE BRAKE PED...

Mileage: 10,000

I HAVE A 98 BMW 740IL THAT SUCKS ITSELF AND IT HAS LEAD TO THE GAS TO DENT AND CRACK AND LEAK GAS. *TR

Mileage: 175,000

HI, I BROUGHT THIS CAR FROM ANOTHER PERSON (ORIGINAL OWNER),HE TOLD ME THAT THE CAR MAKES A WEIRD NOISE WHEN SITTING OR DRIVING HE COULDN'T TELL ME WHY IT WAS HAPPENING UPON FURTHER INSPECTION FOUND FUEL TANK TO BE SUCKING IN AND OUT I DIDN'T PAY TO MUCH ATTENTION THINKING WASN'T MUCH TO IT UNTIL ON...

Mileage: 210,106

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE FORWARD AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE WORDS "FAILSAFE MODE" ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO...

Mileage: 91,690

NOTICE A BUMPING SOUND FOR REAR OF CAR WHEN STOPPED AND RUNNING. FUEL TANK IS IMPLODING!! ALSO, NOTICED THAT GAS TANK MAKES A WHOOSING/SUCKING SOUND WHINE THE GAS CAP IS REMOVED. HEAVY GAS FUMES WHEN THE CAR IS SITTING. NOTICED VERY STRONG GAS FUMES.....GAS TANK IS NOW LEAKING! I HAVE TAK...

Mileage: 199,562

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL LEVEL OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. THE MECHANIC MAD...

Mileage: 135,800

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES APPROXIMATELY 4 DAYS AGO THE CLUSTER ON THE DASH WENT OUT THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY WERE WORKING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CALLED DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED CONTACT TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE. MONDAY, MAY 9, THE VEHICLE STARTED ...

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES APPROXIMATELY 4 DAYS AGO THE CLUSTER ON THE DASH WENT OUT THE TURN SIGNAL STOPPED WORKING ON THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY WERE WORKING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. CALLED DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED CONTACT TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE. MONDAY, MAY 9, THE VEHICLE STARTED ...

NO WARNING OTHER THAN A SLIGHT ANIT-FREEZE SMELL. UPON CHECKING OUT THE ODOR, UPPER RADIATOR NECK BETWEEN HOSE CLAMP AND RADIATOR JUST BROKE OFF SPEWING SCALDING HOT FLUID EVERYWHERE. LUCKILY HOOD WAS NOT COMPLETELY OPEN AT THE TIME. RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, NOT REPAIRABLE. OLD PART TOSS...

Mileage: 97,000

LOW COOLANT MESSAGE CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. WITHIN A FEW MILES, RADIATOR CAP OVERPRESURED AND STEAM BURST OUT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. PULLED OVER AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. REPLACED COOLANT HOSES. 4 MONTHS LATER, LOW COOLANT MESSAGE CAME ON AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING; STOPPED AT A SERVICE STATION TO CHEC...

Mileage: 80,000

LOW COOLANT MESSAGE CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. WITHIN A FEW MILES, RADIATOR CAP OVERPRESURED AND STEAM BURST OUT WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. PULLED OVER AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. REPLACED COOLANT HOSES. 4 MONTHS LATER, LOW COOLANT MESSAGE CAME ON AGAIN WHILE TRAVELING; STOPPED AT A SERVICE STATION TO CHEC...

Mileage: 80,000

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED A LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH WARNING ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAIL SAFE PROGRAM. WHEN THIS LIGHT COMES ON VEHICLE CANNOT BE DRIVEN. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO DEALER FOUR TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 80,210

FAULTY RADIATORS THAT HAVE A DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS FOR THE RADIATOR NECK TO BREAK OFF WITHOUT NOTICE AND SPRAY HOT COOLANT EVERYWHERE. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL KNOWN JUST VISIT ROADFLY.ORG E38 MESSAGE BOARD AND SEARCH FOR "RADIATOR NECK." THIS TYPICALLY OCCURS BETWEEN 50,000-70,000 MILES. *LA

Mileage: 65,656

ADVISED TO REPLACE REAR CONTROL ARMS (SUSPENION) DUE TO EXCESSIVE SQUEAKING NOISE. THREE DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS ATTEMPTED TO LUBRICATE TO REDUCE NOISE BUT WAS TOLD TO ELIMINATE THE NOISE, THE CONTROL ARMS MUST BE REPLACED.*JB

Mileage: 113,869

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGWAY AND TAKING A TURN OVER A CURVED PORTION OF THE HIGHWAY I FOUND THE POWER IN THE STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HARD. WHE I TRIED TO BRAKE AND PULL TO THE SIDE THE BRAKE WAS ALSO QUITE HARD. THE CAR HAD THEN TO BE TOWED TO A BMW DEALERS...

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGWAY AND TAKING A TURN OVER A CURVED PORTION OF THE HIGHWAY I FOUND THE POWER IN THE STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HARD. WHE I TRIED TO BRAKE AND PULL TO THE SIDE THE BRAKE WAS ALSO QUITE HARD. THE CAR HAD THEN TO BE TOWED TO A BMW DEALERS...

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGWAY AND TAKING A TURN OVER A CURVED PORTION OF THE HIGHWAY I FOUND THE POWER IN THE STEERING WAS NOT FUNCTIONING AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY HARD. WHE I TRIED TO BRAKE AND PULL TO THE SIDE THE BRAKE WAS ALSO QUITE HARD. THE CAR HAD THEN TO BE TOWED TO A BMW DEALERS...

RADIATOR BLEW AT 70MPH ON THE FREEWAY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND BMW NOTH AMERICA REFUSES TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. LUCKILY NO INJURIES WERE CAUSED, BUT EASILY COULD HAVE AS THE ENTIRE ENGINE BAY WAS SPRAYED WITH HOT COOLANT. ANTIFREEZE ALSO SPRAYED DOWN SIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS LOCKED BY REMOTE KEY FROM OUTSIDE, ANYONE LEFT INSIDE THE VEHICLE CANNOT OPEN THE DOOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS POTENTIALLY FATAL AND IS A VERY SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW. THE CONSUMER INJURED HER SELF TO GET OUT. *YH

MOTOR FOR SHOULDER STRAP WAS REPLACED, IT WOULD NOT RETRACT, LATER THE STRAP FAILED AGAIN AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. *SLC

PASSENGER SIDE REAR DOOR LOCK KNOB POPPED OFF, DEALER INSTALLED MISSING CAP FOR RIGHT REAR DOOR LOCK. *SLC

SRS LIGHT ILLUMINTATED. *SLC

TRUNK LID OPENS AND THEN CLOSES ON ITS OWN, DEALER STATED THE TRUNK LID IS TOO CLOSE TO THE ACTUATOR. *SLC

RATTLE IN DASH, DEALER REPLACED STEPPER MOTORS, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AN ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE TO THE CABLE, ELECTRONIC CONTROLS ON DRIVER SEAT AND STEERING WHEEL DO NOT WORK AT ALL TIMES, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *SLC

SUSPENSION SQUEAKS, THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BALL JOINTS. *SLC

PADS AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED DUE TO THEM BEING WORN. *SLC

LIGHTS DIMMED AND VEHICLE ALMOST STALLED AT IDLE, DEALER REPLACED CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *SLC

ALL 3 REAR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO BRAKE LIGHT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, PASSENGER SIDE FRONT LIGHT BULB, DRIVER SIDE FRONT LIGHT BULB, AND PASSGENGER SIDE FOG LIGHT FAILED. *SLC

RADIO FAILED. *SLC

WINDSHIELD CRACKED, THE WEATHER STRIPPING SEPARATED FROM THE WINDOW, JETS FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID WERE NOT ALIGNED CORRECTLY, WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED, SUNROOF RATTLED, DEALER LUBED RAILS AND TRACKS AND REMOVED AND REPLACED SUNROOF SEAL, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE, DEALER REPLACED...

THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. *SLC

VEHICLE STALLED FOR NO REASON WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH. HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE. TOOK TO DEALER, HAD ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM REPLACED. *AK