2004 BMW 745LI Power Train Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE MANIFOLD. ALSO, THE WHEELS AND AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF STRATHAM (71 PORTSMOUTH AVENUE, STRATHAM, NH 03885, (603) 772-0000), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE AN AFTERMARKET WARRANTY. THE CONTACT DECLINED THE RECOMMENDATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Mileage: 160,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION SAFE MODE ACTIVATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DYNAMIC DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE COULD POSSIBLY BECOME DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *TR

Mileage: 94,000

SENSOR MALFUNCTION CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO ALTERNATE GEARS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. WHILE IN DRIVE CAR WOULD SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL BY ITSELF WITH NO OPERATOR CONTROL. *TR

Mileage: 180,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WITH MUCH HESITATION FROM THE ENGINE. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE POWER ASSIST WARNING SIGNAL ALSO ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED TWO RECALLS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM) AND 04V344000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN EITHER RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.

Mileage: 105,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, BUT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD OUT OF A GARAGE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,071.

Mileage: 80,071

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED REPEATEDLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE REPAIRED TWICE BEFORE LOCATING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:04V344000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE -TCM, PCM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I PURCHASED A 2004 BMW 745 LI FROM LEXUS DEALERSHIP IN MD, I DROVE TO FAYETTEVILLE, NC BECAUSE IM IN THE MILITARY. 1 WEEK AFTER BEING HOME AT FT BRAGG I STARTED THE CAR IN THE MORNING AND THEN THE TRANSFAIL SAFE LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I ARRIVED AT WORK. 4/12/2011 WHILE DRIVING TO WORK IN FULL HEAVY TRAFFIC THE COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON WITH A YELLOW INDICATOR AND TOLD ME TO DRIVE MODERATELY. WHILE TRYING TO DRIVE TO A GAS STATION THE RED INDICATOR CAME ON AND TOLD ME TO STOP SAFELY AND THIS IS WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THIS COMPUTER IS ALWAYS SAYING SOMETHINGS WRONG WHEN ITS NOT AND IM AFRAID THAT WHEN SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG I WONT KNOW IF IT IS LEGITIMATE. I CHECKED THE COOLANT LEVEL AND IT WAS FULL. OIL WAS A LITTLE LOW BUT NO INDICATOR CAME ON FOR THAT. STARTED THE CAR BACK UP AND IT DROVE FINE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE COMPUTERS IN BMW CARS. THESE COMPUTER PROBLEM CAN BE A PLOY TO CONSTANTLY PURGE MONIES FROM CONSUMERS POCKET PLEASE HELP. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 109,115

VEHICLE TYPE IS A 2004 745LI BMW V-8 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE CAR IS IN 5TH GEAR THE CAR HICCUPS LIKE IT WANTS TO UP SHIFT BUT THEN DOES NOT. IT CAUSE THE CAR IT JERK EVERY 3 TO 5 SECONDS WHEN IN 5TH GEAR. WHEN THE CAR IS IN ANY OTHER GEAR IN DOES NOT DO THIS. I HAVE HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUID COMPLETELY CHANGED OUT. IN WHICH THE FLUID SMELLED BURNT AND LOOKED BROWN IN COLOR. BMW SAYS THAT IT IS A LIFE TIME FLUID (IT IS NOT). WHEN THE CAR IS ACCELERATING THROUGH 5TH GEAR IT DOES NOT DO THE PROBLEM EITHER. THERE IS SOMETHING CLEARLY WRONG WHICH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TAKING THE CAR TO TWO INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE CAR WILL STAY IN 6TH GEAR AT 45 MPH AND NORMALLY CRUISE IN THE CITY IN 4TH GEAR AT LOWER SPEEDS AND AVOID 5TH GEAR WITH THE USE OF THE MANUAL SHIFTS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, THE DYNAMIC DRIVE SYSTEM FAILS ABOUT ONCE A MONTH IN WHICH YOU CAN TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN AND THE CAR DYNAMIC DRIVE SYSTEM WORKS FINE FOR A MONTH OR SO. THIS CAUSES THE CAR CHASSIS TO ROLL WHEN CORNERING. DURING THIS TIME OF FAILURE THE STEREO MAKES ODD NOISES IN WHICH I THINK IT IS BECAUSE THE STEREO VOLUME IS SET TO GET LOUDER AS THE CAR SPEED INCREASES. THESE ISSUES ALL TEND TO HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS INCLUDING "POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE" AND "LOSS OF STABILITY CONTROL" LIT UP ON MY 2004 BMW 745LI. THE VEHICLE LOST ITS ABILITY TO ACCELERATE, WHICH EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THE HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATION I WAS EXPERIENCING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS FAILURE IS IN ADDITION TO NUMEROUS WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS THAT APPEAR INTERMITTENTLY IN THE VEHICLE AND THEN RESET THEMSELVES ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE DIAGNOSIS BY BMW WAS THAT THE MECHATRONIC UNIT ON THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED (AFTER ONLY 70,000 MILES, THIS IS BARELY THE BREAK IN PERIOD FOR THESE VEHICLES). THE TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS QUOTED AT $5,000. THE MACHATRONICS UNIT WAS REPLACED AND SEEMS TO BE WORKING FOR NOW. UPON READING UP ON ISSUES RELATED TO THE BMW 745LI IT IS AMAZING THAT NO MAJOR RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED ON ITS ELECTRICALS, TRANSMISSION, AND COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS. ALL OF THESE SEEM LIKE HUGE SAFETY CONCERNS AS THE VEHICLE TENDS TO FAIL WHILE IN TRAFFIC. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FAILING ON MY 2004 754LI THE FIRST YEAR I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE SENT TO THE VIST BMW IN CYPRESS CREEK FLORIDA OVER 20 TIMES IT STAYED IN THE THEIR HANDS FOR WEEKS ON END AND ALWAYS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. FOR YEARS IT WAS A CONSTANT CHORE TO DRIVE 30 MILES TO THEIR FACILITY AND FOR THEM TO INSPECT MY COMPLAINT TO SIMPLY TO TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. LOW AND BEHOLD MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WHEN I WENT THERE AGAIN, THEY SAID " WELL IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND WOULD NEED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS". IMMEDIATELY, I COMPLAINED AND BEGAN TO REQUEST SUPERVISORS. THEY ONCE AGAIN CONTACTED THE BMW NORTH AMERICA SUPERVISOR WHO SAID THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS COMPLAINT REGARDLESS OF THE DOCUMENTED HISTORY. I HAVE WASTED OVER 100 DAYS OF MY CAR BEING IN THE SHOP AND AT THIS POINT I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY FAILING AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. I PAID CLOSE TO 90K FOR THIS VEHICLE AND PLENTY OF ADDITIONAL MONIES FOR RENTALS AND ADDITIONAL REPAIRS DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE CARS TRANSMISSION TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO...PLEASE HELP IN THIS ECONOMY THE CAR'S VALUE HAS DEPLETED AND WITHOUT A PROPER TRANSMISSION IT IS ALMOST WORTHLESS. *TR

Mileage: 28,000

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FAILING ON MY 2004 754LI THE FIRST YEAR I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE SENT TO THE VIST BMW IN CYPRESS CREEK FLORIDA OVER 20 TIMES IT STAYED IN THE THEIR HANDS FOR WEEKS ON END AND ALWAYS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. FOR YEARS IT WAS A CONSTANT CHORE TO DRIVE 30 MILES TO THEIR FACILITY AND FOR THEM TO INSPECT MY COMPLAINT TO SIMPLY TO TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. LOW AND BEHOLD MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WHEN I WENT THERE AGAIN, THEY SAID " WELL IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND WOULD NEED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS". IMMEDIATELY, I COMPLAINED AND BEGAN TO REQUEST SUPERVISORS. THEY ONCE AGAIN CONTACTED THE BMW NORTH AMERICA SUPERVISOR WHO SAID THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS COMPLAINT REGARDLESS OF THE DOCUMENTED HISTORY. I HAVE WASTED OVER 100 DAYS OF MY CAR BEING IN THE SHOP AND AT THIS POINT I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY FAILING AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. I PAID CLOSE TO 90K FOR THIS VEHICLE AND PLENTY OF ADDITIONAL MONIES FOR RENTALS AND ADDITIONAL REPAIRS DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE CARS TRANSMISSION TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO...PLEASE HELP IN THIS ECONOMY THE CAR'S VALUE HAS DEPLETED AND WITHOUT A PROPER TRANSMISSION IT IS ALMOST WORTHLESS. *TR

Mileage: 28,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG, ENGINE, AND TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SAFETY MODULE FAILED. THE REPAIR COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $1,200. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V344000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 136,000.

Mileage: 136,000