Bmw 740il 1997
Model 740il made in 1997 by Bmw got 15 consumer complains there are 2 recalls as well as 12 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to air bags, electrical system and engine and engine cooling. Technical service bulletines regarding engine and engine cooling, equipment and exterior lighting. There were some recalls concerningsteering, suspension. The car has one 4.4l engine.
Model 1997
| Engine [L] | Cylinders | Transmission | Drive | Estimate MPG (city/highway/combined) | Unadjusted MPG (city/highway/combined) | Fuel | Fuel cost | Class | Release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ( 4.4L) | 8 | Lockup/automatic, 5 gears | RWD | 17/24/19 | 19/30/23 | Premium | $ 1105 | 6 | 960825 |
Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING - LINKAGES - LINK - DRAG - CONNECTION | ||||||||||||||||
| 10E021000 | FCP GROTON, LLC | E (Equipment) | 150 | 05/28/2010 | MFR | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE | 05/27/2010 | 05/27/2010 | ||||||||
| Defect Summary | Fcp groton is recalling certain steering center drag links, p/n 32 21 1 096 057, sold from december 1, 2009 through april 9, 2010 as replacement equipment for model year 1995 through 2001 bmw 740i, 740il, and 750il passenger vehicles. the shaft of the steering center tie rod may shear off. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | This condition would result, without warning, in immediate and complete loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in serious injury or death. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Fcp groton will notify owners and the tie rod will be replaced free of charge. the safety recall is expected to begin on or about june 1, 2010. owners may contact fcp groton toll-free at 1-877-634-0063. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | This recall only pertains to aftermarket fcp groton steering center drag links bearing p/n 32 21 1 096 057 sold from december 1, 2009 through april 9, 2010 and has no relation to any original equipment installed on any vehicles manufactured by bmw.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov . | |||||||||||||||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS | ||||||||||||||||
| 97V140000 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE | from 09/01/1994 to 08/30/1996 | V (Vehicle) | 29000 | 10/30/1997 | MFR | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE | 08/22/1997 | 08/29/1997 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. road grit and gravel associated with winter road conditions can penetrate the rubber of the lower front spring mounts and accumulate in the mounts causing notches or pits to develop. these notches can develop cracks resulting in breakage of a bottom coil of the spring. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | The vehicle's ride height could be affected causing noise while the vehicle is driven. the vehicle's dynamic stability can be affected reducing the driver's ability to maintain control of the vehicle. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will replace both front springs and lower spring mounts. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notification is expected to begin by the end of october 1997.owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| 16 04 97 | 02/01/1998 | 600433 | New evaporative (charcoal) canister purge line. all e38 and e39 modele introduced into production approximately 3/97 *db*yc | 05/14/1998 | |
| EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | |||||
| 84 01 97 | 12/01/1997 | 84 01 97 | 53945 | Bmw navigation system cd v 05 operating software for mark i system. | 02/29/2000 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - TURN SIGNAL - SWITCH | |||||
| MSG0350 | 10/10/1996 | 50900 | Customers may complain that the illumination for the buttons on the multi function steering wheel flickers. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| MSG0149 | 10/04/1996 | 50899 | Vehicles may have a problem with the dimmer circuit - vehicles released from the vpcs starting 10-04-96 have disabled dimmer switches. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | |||||
| 16 01 98 | 03/01/1998 | 600874 | Information on evaporative emission control and fuel filler cap / filler door labels. *yc | 06/10/1998 | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - DISC - PADS | |||||
| 62 01 98 | 02/01/1998 | 600431 | Condition with brake pad warning stays illuminated after brake pad replacement. *yc | 05/14/1998 | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||||
| 34 01 98 | 02/01/1998 | 34 03 97 | 600434 | Experiencing an intermittent momentary event where the brake pedal does not immediatlely return. models built prior to 3/97 *db*yc | 05/14/1998 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | |||||
| 04 01 98 | 02/01/1998 | 600226 | Subject on tank ventilation leak couplers. *yc | 04/30/1998 | |
| 84 10 97 | 11/01/1997 | 54140 | Installation on mounting brackets for cmt 5000/cpt 6000 phones. *ak | 03/30/1998 | |
| 51 10 97 | 11/01/1997 | 54144 | Service information regarding missing damper pads for break resistant glass. *yc | 03/30/1998 | |
| 00/11/96R | 10/01/1996 | 00/11/96 | 50630 | New vehicle preparation and maintenance requirements. *tw | 05/27/1997 |
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM | |||||
| 64 01 98 | 03/01/1998 | 600705 | Replacement heater cores for e38 vehicles. *yc | 06/02/1998 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | |||
| 1 | |||
| While driving between 40-50 mph hit a concrete post direct center of vehicle. theere was deployment of driver's or passenger's side airbags. also this vehicle is equipped with side airbags which did not deploy. cause unknown. | |||
| AIR BAGS - FRONTAL - SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | |||
| 2 | 08/01/1996 | ||
| Air bag indicator light failed twice. *yc | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 02/15/2007 | 134043 | 1 | 12/12/2006 |
| Car was running fine, was at a stop light and the car shut off had a really strong electrical smell coming from the engine compartment. opened up the hood and had a flame down at the thermostat area. quickly put it out and pushed the car off to the side of the road. had to have a tow truck come tow the car and bring my family out of the freezing cold as well. the thermostat and wiring from the ecu down to the thermostat had to be replaced as well as a fuse that had blown in the main engine harness. old part was disposed of as well as the wiring. *tr | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM | |||
| 02/15/2007 | 134043 | 1 | 12/12/2006 |
| Car was running fine, was at a stop light and the car shut off had a really strong electrical smell coming from the engine compartment. opened up the hood and had a flame down at the thermostat area. quickly put it out and pushed the car off to the side of the road. had to have a tow truck come tow the car and bring my family out of the freezing cold as well. the thermostat and wiring from the ecu down to the thermostat had to be replaced as well as a fuse that had blown in the main engine harness. old part was disposed of as well as the wiring. *tr | |||
| 01/31/2002 | 1 | 06/18/2001 | |
| While driving 60mph water pump failed, causing steam to come up from hood, resulting in loss of control.*ak consumer stated the radiator hose blew off and the serpentine belt failed when the water pump went out.*jb | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM - RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | |||
| 08/25/2003 | 75000 | 1 | 08/01/2003 |
| There's a major flaw design in the bmw 740i and 740il fgrom years 1995-200. i was just driving and it failed without hesitation. i spoke with a lot of other owners of this model and they had the same peoblem. to some people it happend as they were driving on the highway spilling coolant all over their windshield and losing control of their vehicle. *ak | |||
| 05/14/2003 | 71000 | 0 | 12/31/1996 |
| I have had three separate failures of plastic radiator components in my 1997 bmw 740il in the space of 5 months. at first inspection, these appear to me to be thermal fatigue failures indicating some manufacturing defect in the plastic. bmw denies any such issue and refused to replace the failed components under warranty. the first instance was a minor leak that developed from a small pipe that exits the top of the radiator. before i had that repaired, the neck of the top inlet to the radiator broke off while i was driving. the radiator had to be replaced. a little over a month later, i saw steam emerging from the radiator and noted a 1/4 split in the center of the intergral fluid reservoir where water was spraying out. this component had not been replaced when the radiator was replaced. as this was not in a typical stress area like a corner, seam or bottom, i believe this was caused by fatigue. the fact that all of these failures occurred on plastic components so close together in their life implies a common failure mechanism to me. the dealer commented that they see a lot of these kinds of failures. as the vehicle has only 70,000 miles on it, this would seem unusual unless there were some underlying flaw in bmw's design or manufacturing of the cooling system. *nlm | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE) | |||
| There was a recall for a gas leak. had vehicle serviced a year later and gas leak continues.*ak | |||
| EQUIPMENT - MECHANICAL - JACKS | |||
| 12/14/2003 | 89000 | 1 | 11/25/2000 |
| While using the factory jack to change a tire, the jack became unstable due to the small base that is provided and the car fell off of the jack. the jack was being operated on an asphalt surface. this was a near miss accident that could have easily trapped me under my car. the car is a 1997 740il bmw.*ak | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY | |||
| 01/08/2002 | 71000 | 1 | 11/09/1997 |
| Purchased a certified bmw 1997 740il in 11/02 with 69,000 miles. in january i noticed a tin can popping sound from the rear of the vehicle and a vacuum like sound when opening the gas cap to fuel. i noticed that the driver side gas tank had a dent in it although i had not hit anything. i took the vehicle to john roberts bmw in dallas. the service advisor told me that they had never had any complaints resembling mine and that i must have struck something to damage the tank. about one month later the tank began to leak and basically imploded from vacuum pressure. i posted my experience on several web sites and received over 20 responses from owners who had the same problem. one of these people sent me a technical bulletin from bmw to its dealers describing the problem as a fuel tank vent which would become stopped up and cause the fuel tank to implode. i went back to the dealer but by this time my vehicle was one month out of warranty. i believe this defect is a potentially deadly hazard and could have easily resulted in an explosion or fire.*ak | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||
| 08/12/2006 | 72000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 bmw 740il. while driving 40 mph, the brake warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. the brake lights continued to illuminate, but the brakes were not effective. also, the coil spring made a loud clunking noise. the manufacturer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 97v140000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs), which was issued in the spring of 1997. the failure and current mileages were 115,000. update 09/10/08 *cw updated 09/19/08. *jb | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR | |||
| 07/02/1998 | 1 | 01/07/1997 | |
| Passenger unable to unlock power locks manually, leaving passenger trapped in vehicle w/windows up in 95 degree heat. qcaw | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - SPRINGS - COIL SPRINGS | |||
| 08/12/2006 | 72000 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 bmw 740il. while driving 40 mph, the brake warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. the brake lights continued to illuminate, but the brakes were not effective. also, the coil spring made a loud clunking noise. the manufacturer stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 97v140000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs), which was issued in the spring of 1997. the failure and current mileages were 115,000. update 09/10/08 *cw updated 09/19/08. *jb | |||
| 08/19/2004 | 1 | ||
| The consumer had the same problem as stated in nhtsa recall# 97v140000 : vehicle description: passenger vehicles. road grit and gravel associated with winter road conditions can penetrate the rubber of the lower front spring mounts and accumulate in the mounts causing notches or pits to develop. these notches can develop cracks resulting in breakage of a bottom coil of the spring. the dealership and the manufacturer informed the consumer her vehicle identifications number was not included in the recall. *jb | |||
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | |||
| 12/04/2002 | 5 | 09/01/2002 | |
| Engine rpm will suddenly surge from 8oo to 2500 rpm with no warning. idle will vary from 800 rpm to 400 rpm and then possibly shoot up to 12-2500 rpm. after 5 attempts dealer unable to correct. consider this a major safety hazard. dt | |||
Car dealers selling
| State | City | Zip | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA | ROSEVILLE | ROSEVILLE BMW |