1998 BMW 740IL Problems

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.) THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN WHEN MY FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I WENT THROUGH TWO INTERSECTIONS, UNABLE TO STOP, BEFORE TURNING INTO A BIG DRIVEWAY WHERE I SET THE SHIFTER INTO REVERSE, WHICH SLOWED THE CAR DOWN, AND THEN I PUT IT INTO PARK. STEAM WAS SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WHEN I CHECKED UNDERNEATH IT, I SAW THE BLADES OF THE FAN BEHIND THE RADIATOR HAD ALL BEEN STRIPPED OFF THE ROTOR WITH PIECES VIOLENTLY SCATTERED AROUND THE ENGINE AREA. ALSO, THE HOSE TO THE COOLANT RESERVOIR BECAME DETACHED AND THE HOOD RECEIVED TWO DENTS FROM THE INSIDE WHEN THE FAN EXPLODED. THE CAR HAS SINCE BEEN TOWED, AND REPAIRS HAVE NOT YET BEEN STARTED. THE WHOLE SITUATION WAS UNBELIEVABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN TIP-TOP SHAPE AND THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS SIGNS THAT ANYTHING WAS INHERENTLY WRONG. LUCKILY NOTHING HAPPENED BUT PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE BY WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME SHOULD YOU WISH TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO REPAIRS. I ALSO TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE. *JS

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 TOSSED.

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 KNOW THIS IS RECALL SITUATION. BMW WOULD NEVER KNOWLY NOT RECALL SUCH A DANGOUS PROBLEM.THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT ARE MINOR,BUT SUCKED IN GAS TANKS ISNT ONE OF THEM. I CANT AFFORD TO HAVE THE REPAIR. THE ONLY CAR I HAVE. IM OUT OF OPTIONS.PLEASE RECALL THE SUNK IN GAS TANK PROBLEM ON MY 1998 740IL , ITS MY FIRST BMW .I DONT WANT IT TO BE MY LAST. I LOVE THE CAR AND THINK BMW MAKES ONE OF THE FINEST AND SAFE CARS OUT THERE.SO MONEY SHOULD NOT BE A REPLACEMENT FOR SAFETY. THANKS, SORRY FOR SPELLING. *TR

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

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

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

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.) THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN WHEN MY FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I WENT THROUGH TWO INTERSECTIONS, UNABLE TO STOP, BEFORE TURNING INTO A BIG DRIVEWAY WHERE I SET THE SHIFTER INTO REVERSE, WHICH SLOWED THE CAR DOWN, AND THEN I PUT IT INTO PARK. STEAM WAS SHOOTING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND WHEN I CHECKED UNDERNEATH IT, I SAW THE BLADES OF THE FAN BEHIND THE RADIATOR HAD ALL BEEN STRIPPED OFF THE ROTOR WITH PIECES VIOLENTLY SCATTERED AROUND THE ENGINE AREA. ALSO, THE HOSE TO THE COOLANT RESERVOIR BECAME DETACHED AND THE HOOD RECEIVED TWO DENTS FROM THE INSIDE WHEN THE FAN EXPLODED. THE CAR HAS SINCE BEEN TOWED, AND REPAIRS HAVE NOT YET BEEN STARTED. THE WHOLE SITUATION WAS UNBELIEVABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN TIP-TOP SHAPE AND THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS SIGNS THAT ANYTHING WAS INHERENTLY WRONG. LUCKILY NOTHING HAPPENED BUT PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR WORSE BY WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT DAY. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME SHOULD YOU WISH TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO REPAIRS. I ALSO TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES OF THE DAMAGE. *JS

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 PEDAL OF THE BMW COMPRESSES FURTHER DOWN THAT WITH ANY OTHER CAR. AS A RESULT, IF MY FOOT WAS ONLY ON THE EDGE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BOTTOM OF MY FOOT EXTENDED OVER ONTO THE GAS PEDAL. THE HARDER I PRESSED THE BRAKE, THE MORE GAS I WAS GIVING THE ENGINE. TO A NEW PERSON IN THAT CAR, AS I WAS, THIS WAS A DEADLY CONBINATION. NOW THAT I KNOW, I AM MUCH MORE CAREFUL AND THE SITUATION HAS NOT REOCCURRED. *TR

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

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

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

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 PEDAL OF THE BMW COMPRESSES FURTHER DOWN THAT WITH ANY OTHER CAR. AS A RESULT, IF MY FOOT WAS ONLY ON THE EDGE OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BOTTOM OF MY FOOT EXTENDED OVER ONTO THE GAS PEDAL. THE HARDER I PRESSED THE BRAKE, THE MORE GAS I WAS GIVING THE ENGINE. TO A NEW PERSON IN THAT CAR, AS I WAS, THIS WAS A DEADLY CONBINATION. NOW THAT I KNOW, I AM MUCH MORE CAREFUL AND THE SITUATION HAS NOT REOCCURRED. *TR

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

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

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

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

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

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 ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 99V005000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

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 MADE THE CONTACT AWARE OF RECALL # 98V142000 SIMILAR TO THIS DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SERVICE DEALER.

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

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

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 THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE NEEDED AT THE COST OF $6,000. BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V005000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) DID NOT APPLY TO HIS VIN. THE CONTACT PAID FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE REPAIRED ON NOVEMBER 26, 2008. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,695 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,690.

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

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

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

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 DEALERSHI, AND THE PROBLEM WAS DETECTED AND FIXED. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WATER PUMP HAD FAILED WHICH RESULTED IN THE BELTS TO BREAK, CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER IN THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES. THIS WAS QUITE A DISTURBING EXPERIENCE WHIEL DRIVING THIS CAR ON A HIGWAY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE BMW 740 IL IS QUITE A HEAVY CAR AND WITHOUT POWER IN THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE POWER SYSTEM FAILING DUE TO WATER PUMP FAILURE APPEARS TO BE OF SERIOUS CONCERN IN A VEHICLE THAT IS ADVERTISED AS ONE OF THE MARVELS OF ENGINEERING. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *AK