2004 BMW 745LI Problems

The contact owns a 2004 BMW 745LI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V379000 (Seats) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.

THE VEHICLE AIR BAG SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. IT IS A DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH BMW AND THEY ARE DENYING COVERAGE FOR MY PARTICULAR VIN

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.

ENGINE VALVE GUIDE SEALS MADE OF IMPROPER MATERIAL THAT FAILS CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE INTO EXHAUST, FOULING OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER, FAILURE TO PASS INSPECTION AND POLLUTION. THE VALVE GUIDE SEALS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURES WHICH CAUSES THE SEALS TO FAIL AT 80,000 TO 120,000 MILES. MY SEALS FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 95,000 MILES CAUSING OIL CONSUMPTION IN EXCESS OF 1 QUART PER THOUSAND MILES. REPLACEMENT OF THE VALVE SEALS REQUIRES EXTENSIVE ENGINE READ DOWN AND COSTS APPROXIMATELY $9,000 TO REPAIR.

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.

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

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

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

THE VEHICLE AIR BAG SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. IT IS A DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH BMW AND THEY ARE DENYING COVERAGE FOR MY PARTICULAR VIN

ON THE DASH BOARD THE LOUD WARNING LIGHT COMES ON: DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT AND PASSENGER RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT. I KNOW THAT SEVERAL 2002-2008 BMW 7-SERIES GOT RECALLED REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE AND MANUFACTURE OFFERED 10 YEAR WARRANTY FROM IN SERVICE DATE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. MINE IS A 2004 745LI AND SHOULD BE ONE OF THE RECALLED ONE. CALLED THE MANUFACTURE AND THEY SAD THE VIN NUMBER THAT MY CAR HAS NEVER HAVE BEEN RECALLED WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS ON AND I THINK THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. IS A SHAME TO SPEND SO MUCH MONEY FOR THIS VEHICLES AND THEY CAN'T OFFER A SAFE DRIVE. THANKS *TR

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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS SOFT AND EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED ACCORDING TO RECALL 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000.

THE VEHICLE AIR BAG SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR. IT IS A DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH BMW AND THEY ARE DENYING COVERAGE FOR MY PARTICULAR VIN

THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE SEAT BELT AND AIRBAG CAME ON AND THE TENSION IN THE SEAT BELT IS NON-EXISTENT. *TR

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.

CAR WAS STATIONARY ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET. I SIMPLY GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW, IT STARTED ROLLING DOWN THE HILLON ITS OWN. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN HIT A NEARBY WALL. TOTAL LOSS.

CAR WAS STATIONARY ON THE SIDE OF THE STREET. I SIMPLY GOT OUT OF MY VEHICLE AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW, IT STARTED ROLLING DOWN THE HILLON ITS OWN. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN HIT A NEARBY WALL. TOTAL LOSS.

VEHICLE:2004 BMW 745LI DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT: SEVAS S-10 WHEELS AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT TWO HOURS GOING 65MPH ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEAR A LOUD POP AS MY VEHICLE STARTS TO SWERVE. I SAW SPARKS AND HEARD MORE GRINDING NOISES. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. AS I PULLED TO SHOULDER, IT WAS APPARENT WHAT HAD HAPPENED, MY WHEELS JUST FELL APART. AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTES A POLICE OFFICER STOPPED BY AND CALLED A WRECKER. THE FOLLOWING DAY I REPLACED THE DAMAGED SEVAS S-10 WHEELS WITH MY FACTORY WHEELS AND REALIZED JUST HOW BAD IT COULD'VE BEEN. THE WHEELS WERE COMPLETELY SEVERED THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WHEELS TOGETHER WERE THE TIRES, WHICH THEMSELVES WERE BADLY DAMAGED. THE INCIDENT CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TPMS, LEFT REAR STRUT AND GASHES IN THE WHEELS WELLS AND UNDERBODY CARRIAGE. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745 LI. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DECREASED SPEED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 129,860.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE HAD BEEN AN EXTENSIVE OIL LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DUPLICATED OR DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO DESCRIBED A BURNING METAL AND OIL ODOR IN ADDITION TO A WHILE CLOUD OF SMOKE. THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE REPAIRED TWICE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE ALTERNATOR, ALTERNATOR SEAL GASKET, VALVE AND SEALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. ..UPDATED 05/20/14 *BF UPDATED 06/02/2014 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI . THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE ABS LAMP ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING VIOLENTLY AND THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. IN ADDITION, AFTER THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE BACK ON THE TRANSMISSION SAFE MODE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THREE YEARS AGO, THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 86,000. UPDATED 9/13/11 *CN UPDATED 09/28/11

VEHICLE:2004 BMW 745LI DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT: SEVAS S-10 WHEELS AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT TWO HOURS GOING 65MPH ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEAR A LOUD POP AS MY VEHICLE STARTS TO SWERVE. I SAW SPARKS AND HEARD MORE GRINDING NOISES. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. AS I PULLED TO SHOULDER, IT WAS APPARENT WHAT HAD HAPPENED, MY WHEELS JUST FELL APART. AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTES A POLICE OFFICER STOPPED BY AND CALLED A WRECKER. THE FOLLOWING DAY I REPLACED THE DAMAGED SEVAS S-10 WHEELS WITH MY FACTORY WHEELS AND REALIZED JUST HOW BAD IT COULD'VE BEEN. THE WHEELS WERE COMPLETELY SEVERED THE ONLY THING HOLDING THE WHEELS TOGETHER WERE THE TIRES, WHICH THEMSELVES WERE BADLY DAMAGED. THE INCIDENT CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TPMS, LEFT REAR STRUT AND GASHES IN THE WHEELS WELLS AND UNDERBODY CARRIAGE. *TR

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.