2002 BMW 7 Series Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND NOTICED THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS. THE MECHANICS STATED THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM). THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 08/14/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO, HE TOOK HIS VEHICLE TOT HE DEALER, AFTER HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE. TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED, HE NOTICED HE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKE A LITTLE HARDER, IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. A LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE BRAKING PROBLEMS. UPDATED 08/16/12

2002 BMW 745I. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM LINE REPAIR. CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIR IN JULY 2010 PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL RECALL. *KB THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT.

AFTER HAVING MY CAR SERVICED APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND THEN COMPLAINING TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER I PICKED IT UP FROM BEING SERVICED THAT MY CAR WAS IDLING ROUGH, I WAS ADVISED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TO CHANGE TO TEXACO GAS. I WAS GOING ON VACATION TO VIRGINIA AND WAS ON I95 DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN MY CAR STARTED SHUTTING DOWN IN THE FAST LANE AS CARS WERE TRAVELING BEHIND ME AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER MYSELF OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE BELTWAY BEFORE MY CAR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY AND WENT INTO DRIVER FAILSAFE MODE, WHICH I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANT. I WAS LATER TOLD BY A BMW DEALERSHIP THAT THE MECHATRONIC UNIT WENT BAD AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF $9,000 WITH A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION, WHICH I FELT WAS OBSCURED. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND THEY HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THAT YEARS MODEL AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS THAT WERE BUILT BY GM. GM RECALLED OTHER 2002 VEHICLES WITH THOSE TRANSMISSIONS IN THEM, BUT BMW WILL NOT OWN UP TO THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINES TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I FEEL THAT AS A CONSUMER WHO HAS INVESTED A GREAT DEAL OF MONEY FOR THIS LUXURY VEHICLE AND WHO HAS ALSO HAVE MAINTAINED THE SERVICE AND UPKEEP, THAT MY LIFE AND POTENTIALLY THE LIVES OF OTHERS SHOULD NOT BE JEOPARDIZED BY THE ARROGANCE OF A COMPANY TO NOT OWN UP TO THIS MAJOR PROBLEM. THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE ENDED IN TRAGEDY AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO TAKE THAT TO HOLD A COMPANY ACCOUNTABLE FOR POOR QUALITY AND WORKMANSHIP. IF YOU LOOK INTO IT, YOU WILL FIND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHANGED IN 2003 DUE TO THE ISSUES THAT FOUND WITH THE 2002 MODEL. I WANT THEM TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE FAULTY TRANSMISSION IN MY CAR AND OTHERS. SO MY ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE SITS COVERED. I TRIED REACHING OUT TO BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, BUT TO NO AVAIL. *TR

SUBJECT: TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE ISSUE ON BMW 745 I'VE BEEN HAVING ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE ERRORS ON MY VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. BMW OF MANHATTAN COULDN'T REPLICATE THE PROBLEM TWICE WITHIN A 2 YEAR PERIOD. NO ONE WANTS TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT BUT MY VEHICLE STALLS, LOSES GEARS AND DOESN'T START. THESE FAULTS OCCUR EVERY WEEK RIGHT NOW. THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE ON THESE CARS AND BMW DOESN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! WHEN I HAD THE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING AND NOW THAT THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THEY DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING EITHER. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND HAZARDOUS FOR DRIVING AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT BEFORE SOMEONE WILL GET SERIOUSLY HURT. PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR MORE DETAILS IF NEEDED AT [XXX]. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY BMW 745I 2002 WITH "DRIVE BY WIRE" SIX GEAR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED A ROUGH SHIFT, "CLUNK" IN THE LOWER GEAR RANGES. IN THE LOWER GEARS, THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES DOWN SHIFTS UNEXPECTEDLY RESULTING IN A SUDDEN DROP IN SPEED. THIS COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF SOMEONE WAS FOLLOWING TO CLOSE BEHIND.*JB

2002 BMW 745LI. AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH BOARD CAME ON, WHICH MEANS SOMETHING IS NOW WRONG WITH THE AIR BAG OR THE AIR BAG SENSORS. BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE MY AIR BAGS WILL NOT ACTIVATE IF A CRASH OCCURS. THIS SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNS ME AND REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE OIL PRESSURE VALVE IS LEAKING OIL WHICH HAS CAUSED SLIPPERY CONDITIONS AND UNWANTED POLLUTANTS (DIRTY MOTOR OIL) TO SEEP INTO THE GROUND BECAUSE OF THE CONTINUOUS LEAKING. *TR

I JUST CAME ACROSS NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE11025 AND WANTED TO MAKE YOU AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING: I PARKED MY CAR IN FRONT OF MY DAUGHTER'S DAY CARE CENTER (THE GODDARD SCHOOL, SUWANEE) ON THE MONDAY BEFORE EASTER IN 2010 (MARCH 29, 2010). WHEN I CAME OUT, I DISCOVERED THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 40 YARDS AWAY CRASHED INTO THE EMBANKMENT OF THE NEIGHBORING PARKING LOT, AT AN INCLINE OF APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES. MY CAR WAS DAMAGED, AS WAS THE LANDSCAPING AT THE CRASH SITE, HOWEVER, NO ONE WAS INJURED. IN RESPONSE TO MY INQUIRY, BMW INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO ISSUES SUCH AS THE ONE I EXPERIENCED. THE REPAIR SHOP WAS BAFFLED BY THE ISSUE AS WELL AND SAID IT MIGHT BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO A FAULTY PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE STILL GIVES OCCASIONAL TRANSMISSION FAULT ERROR MESSAGES AND INDICATORS. I HAD TO FILE AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND CAN CONTACT THE COMPANY FOR DETAILS. I ALSO STILL HAVE PICTURES SOMEWHERE IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO VIEW THEM. THE REPAIRS (MECHANICAL AND BODY WORK) WERE COMPLETED AT GODWIN AUTOMOTIVE IN DULUTH/JOHNS CREEK, GEORGIA. THE MILEAGE STATED ABOVE IS BASED ON MEMORY AND MY NOT BE ACCURATE. *KB

VEHICLE: 2002 BMW 745I 7 SERIES 2002 BMW 745I WAS THE FIRST RELEASE OF THIS NEW MODEL AND THE MANUFACTURER (BMW) IS AWARE OF THE SERIOUS PROBLEMS AND HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED AND FIXED THEM IN THE LATER MODELS ON 2/2/10, I TOOK MY CAR IN TO WEATHERFORD BMW FOR SERVICE DUE TO A TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE FAILURE CHECK ENGINE PROBLEM AND INFORMED THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE KNOWN 2002/2003 7 SERIES BMW PROBLEMS. ON 2/4/10, I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS FIXED AND TEST DRIVEN. I DROVE THE CAR FOR A TOTAL OF 10-15 MILES WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE FAILSAFE FAILURE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RECURRED. I CALLED BMW OF NORTHERN AMERICA AND A REPRESENTATIVE ON 2/9/2010. SHE TOOK MY COMPLAINT AND INFORMED ME THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE 2002 AND 2003 7 SERIES MODEL AND DID EXTEND WARRANTY FOR ALL OWNERS FOR 6 MONTHS TO HELP FIX SUCH PROBLEM. I INFORMED HER THAT I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE KNOWN PROBLEMS AND OF THE WARRANTY EXTENSION. SHE CHECKED THE CAR HISTORY AND INFORMED ME THAT THE OWNERSHIP RECORD WAS NEVER CHANGED TO MY NAME, AND SHE THEN CHANGED IT. A REPRESENTATIVE FURTHER INFORMED ME THAT A COMMITTEE IS SETUP BY BMW THAT DECIDES WHEN AND WHO TO GRANT A ONETIME ASSISTANCE AT NO COST. SHE THEN ASKED IF I HAVE BENEFITED FROM BMW ASSISTANCE IN THE PAST, TO WHICH I ANSWERED NO. A REPRESENTATIVE THEN SAID IN A CASE SUCH AS MINE, THE DECISION MAKING COMMITTEE CAN ONLY EXTEND THIS OFFER ONCE. I FURTHER THAT BMW WARRANTY PRECLUDES OWNERS OF THE 7 SERIES FROM TAMPERING WITH THE TRANSMISSION AS IT IS SEALED. SINCE BMW WARRANTY COVER UP TO 100,000 MILES AND MY CAR IS ONLY 90,000 MILES. A REPRESENTATIVE CALLED ME ON 2/18/2010 THAT BMW HAS DECLINED ANY ASSISTANCE TO ME WITHOUT REASON. BMW ACKNOWLEDGES KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEMS WITH THE 2002 AND 2003 745I MODELS THAT REQUIRED EXTENSION OF WARRANTY TO SOME OWNERS. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THE CAR AND NEED ASSISTANCE OR AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY OFFERED TO OTHER OWNERS. *TR

THE VEHICLE JAMS INTO 1ST GEAR WHEN COMING TO A STOP. OCCURS JUST ABOUT EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STOPPED AFTER HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE'S MECHETRONIC MODULE, TRANSMISSION COMPUTER, WAS REPLACED AT OVER 3,000 DOLLARS. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLAMS HARD WHEN ACCELERATING FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR. *TR

I TOOK MY CAR TO BMW SERVICE DEPT. IN MARCH AND APRIL TO GET MY CAR SERVICED FOR SCHEDULED SERVICE AND FOR THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT DISPLAYED. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE SERVICE I EXPERIENCED MY CAR HESITATING TO START AND ALSO SOUNDED ROUGH AND IDLED. I CALLED THE NEXT MORNING AND SPOKE WITH A SERVICE ADVISOR ABOUT MY CAR AND HE SAID TO BRING IT IN. I STOPPED THERE ON MY WAY TO WORK THE NEXT MORNING AND THEY STARTED MY CAR AND ASKED ME WHAT TYPE OF GAS I WAS USING AND I SAID EXXON. I WAS TOLD THAT I PROBABLY GOT A HOLD OF SOME BAD GAS AND WHEN I ASKED WHAT SHOULD I DO, I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD WAIT UNTIL ABOUT 7-8 FILL UPS TO ALLOW THE GAS TO BURN OUT AND IF I STILL EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM TO BRING IT BACK. THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT BMW RECOMMENDS USING TEXACO GAS WITH TECHRON. RECENTLY, I WAS TRAVELING OUT OF TOWN WITH MY TWO NEPHEWS IN MY CAR IN THE FAST LANE ON ROUTE 95 SOUTH WHEN I HEARD A SOUND THAT RESEMBLED A CAR BACK FIRING AND THEN FELT MY CAR LOSE POWER WHICH WAS ONE OF THE MOST FRIGHTENING SITUATIONS THAT I'VE EVER EXPERIENCED. I DRIFTED TO THE SIDE AND NOTICED ON MY DISPLAY MY CAR READ "TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE MODE" AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN DRIVE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL RUNNING AND THE "CHECK ENGINE SOON" LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED. I HAD MY CAR TOWED HOME BECAUSE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT OPEN. THE FOLLOWING WEEK I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE BMW TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TOLD THEM TO NOTIFY MY HUSBAND OF THE RESULTS. MY HUSBAND WAS TOLD THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC CODES WERE DUE TO A BAD MECHATRONIC UNIT, BUT THERE WERE RECOMMENDING REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF $12,000 (REMANUFACTURED) DUE TO BEING CHANGED IN 2004. I WAS INFURIATED BY THE FACT THAT THE SERVICE MANUAL SAYS THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE SERVICED AT 1000,000 MILES, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION NOR WAS I NOTIFIED BY BMW THAT NEEDED TO TAKE PLACE. TO BE PLACED IN A DANGEROUS AND POTENTIAL FATAL SITUATION AT MY COST IS UNACCEPTABLE. *TR

TRANSMISSION JERKS AND GOES TO NEUTRAL. SOMETIMES IT GOES INTO A FAILSAFE MODE AND ONCE THE CAR IS RESTARTED RETURNS TO NORMAL.*TR

MY 2002 BMW 745LI IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS REPORTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V240000. WHEN I CALLED BMW TO ASK ABOUT THE RECALL THEY TOLD ME THAT MY BMW 745LI DID NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS UNDER MY VIN. BUT THE PROBLEMS ARE THE SAME AS REPORTED ON NHTSA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD PERIODICALLY SEE A "FAIL SAFE DRIVE MODERATELY" MESSAGE ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD. WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED FOR A FLAT TIRE, THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WOULD LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING ON AN ANGLE, INDUCING THE FAIL SAFE MODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED FOR THE FAILURE AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 BMW 745LI WHEN MY 2 REAR SEVAS S10 WHEELS COLLAPSED, DAMAGE WAS ON BOTH WHEEL WELLS, BECAUSE OF THAT MY REAR 295/25/22 TIRES WERE ALSO DESTROYED. LUCKILY NOBODY WAS HURT AND NO ACCIDENT. *TR

MY VEHICLE IS A 2002 BMW 745I THAT HAS AN DRIVE SYSTEM AND THE LATEST WARNING NOTE CAME UP ON THE IDRIVE SCREEN THAT SAYS, "FAULT IN PASS.-RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. FASTEN AND CONTINUE TO WEAR BELTS. PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST BMW CENTER". MY RESEARCH INDICATES THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN THAT BMW INITIATED THAT COVERS THIS ISSUE FOR A 10 YEAR PERIOD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW 745I. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION, THE FRONTAL AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE AIR BAG SENSOR. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 69,800. UPDATED 10/16/08 *BF THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE AC WAS NOT WORKKING ON HIGH. UPDATED 10/21/08.*JB

TRANSMISSION GIVES A LOT OF PROBLEMS THE SHIFTING OF THE TRANSMISSION IS HORRIBLE WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP IT FEELS AS IF YOU HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED WHICH MAKES THE CAR LAUNCH FORWARD WHICH COULD RESULT IN A ACCIDENT IF FOOT IS OFF THE BREAK. *TT

DASADDAAAAAAAAA. *TR

VEHICLE KEEPS SHUTTING DOWN; I WAS DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY GOING 60 MPH AND VEHICLE SHUT DOWN ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT, THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM BMW SERVICE CAN NOT DETECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN OR WHERE IT WILL SHUT OFF. *JB

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OCCASIONS WHEN THE DOORS ON MY 2002 BMW 745 HAVE FROZEN CLOSED AFTER DRIVING TO A DESTINATION. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS PROBLEM HAD WE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND NOT BEEN ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR. MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN THE CAR. I HAVE ALSO HAD OCCASION WHEN THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH AFTER DRIVING TO A DESTINATION. I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NO SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM OTHER THAN SPRAYING THE DOOR LATCH WITH SILICONE. THIS ONLY WORKS FOR A SHORT WHILE AND IS INEFFECTIVE IF VERY COLD TEMPERATURES FOLLOW WITHIN A DAY OR TWO OF RAIN OR HAVING THE CAR WASHED. *NM

DEFECTIVE BRAKES, TRUCK LID, STEERING AND SUSPENSION. WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE TO L WHEN TURNING R AND VICE VERSA. *BF UPON MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM STOP OR SLOW SPEED WHEN STRAIGHTENING THE VEHICLE TO TRACEL IN A STRAIGHT LINE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS CRANKED TO THE LEFT AND OFF CENTER BY 45 DEGREES. THERE WAS A DELAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL TO RETURN TO A NORMAL POSITION. WHEN DRIVING 55 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL NOTICEABLY FIGHTS THE DRIVER AND ATTEMPTS TO TURN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE WAY THE CONSUMER IS TURNING. THE VEHICLE OVER STEERS WHEN CHANGING LANES. THE STEERING OFTEN SPINS IN ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER WHEN VEHICLE BRAKES ARE ACTIVATED. THE BRAKES GRIND AND SQUEAK. *TC

CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE AND ABOUT THREE HOURS LATER SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE GARAGE. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, AND DAMAGED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE GARAGE. FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE ,AND DETERMINED THAT FIRE CAME FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE. *AK CONSUMER EXPERIENCED OTHER FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE INCLUDING: FAILURE TO START, 3 RECALLS PERTAINING TO FUEL SYSTEM AND COMPUTER, COMPUTER CRASHED AND ACCESSORIES DIDN'T OPERATE, AND HEAD REST MOVED ON IT'S OWN. *PH

I LEASED THIS VEHICLE JUNE/2002 AND HAVE HAD CONSTANT AGGRAVATION AND FRUSTRATION BY THE NUMEROUS FAILURES OF THIS CAR, THIS CAR HAS BEEN AT THE BMW SERVICE CENTER 6 TIMES IN THE YEAR I HAVE HAD IT -- 3 TIMES FOR THE ENGINE FAILING TO START,LEAVING ME STRANDED AT NIGHT IN UNFAMILLAR AND DANGEROUS AREAS-- 2 TIMES THIS VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER AT NIGHT, EACH TIME WAITING MORE THAN 3 HOURS FOR BMW ASSIST TO HAVE A TOW TRUCK COME AND GET CAR -MOST RECENTLY I WAITED MORE THEN 4 HOURS -- I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR AS I DON'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL BRAKE DOWN AND NOT START. PLEASE HELP ME !!

THE SAFETY RESTRAINT DEVICE CONTINUOUSLY MALFUNCTIONED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENTIRE RESTRAINT SYSTEM, INCLUDING THE AIR BAGS BECOMING INOPERATIVE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE THIS MALFUNCTION WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN THE I/DRIVE COMPUTER SYSTEM. DEALERSHIP REPROGRAMED THE COMPUTER DRIVE WHICH ONLY PROVIDED A TEMPORARY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE TELEMATICS AND OTHER ELECTRONICS SYSTEMS OF THE VEHICLE HAVE FAILED OR REPORTED APPARENTLY ERRONEOUS INFORMATION ON MANY OCCASIONS. IN MOST CASES, THESE FAILURES OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN THE MIDST OF TRAVEL, WHICH THEREBY CAUSES THE DRIVER TO BECOME DISTRACTED FROM DRIVING WHILE FOCUSING ON THE SYSTEM FAILURE. THIS POSES A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AS IT PREVENTS THE DRIVER FROM DEVOTING THE NEEDED ATTENTION TO OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. PROBLEMS INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:*AK AIRBAG AND SRS WARNING MESSAGES; SERVICE ENGINE MESSAGES INDICATING POTENTIAL EMISSIONS PROBLEMS; FAILURE OF DYNAMIC DRIVE SYSTEM; INOPERABILITY OF TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING; ERRONEOUS FLAT TIRE MESSAGES FROM TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR; GAS TANK GAUGE READING EMPTY ALTHOUGH FULE IS IN VEHICLE'S TANK; TELEPHONE SYSTEM FAILURES; FAILURES AND FREEZES OF NAVIGATION SYSTEM; FAILURE OF AUDIO SYSTEM WHICH RESULTS IN HAVING TO HOLD TELEPHONE OR VIEW NAVIGATION SCREEN AS AUDIO COMMANDS ARE MUTED; INOPERATIVE VOICE COMMANDS.

WHILE DECELERATING AT A RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATES, THROWING PASSENGERS AGAINST THE SEATS AND DASHBOARD, BACK AND FORTH. THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS !. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND LOST COMPLETE POWER. *TT *SCC *JB

VEHICLE HAS HAD MULTIPLE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION, FUEL DELIVERY RELATED MALFUNCTIONS INCLUDING FAILED AND RUPTURE FUEL LINES, MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VARIOUS CONTROLS IN DASH, IT HAS BEEN AT DEALER OVER TEN TIMES DURING THE FIRST YEAR AND IT STILL MALFUNCTIONS. *NLM

SYSTEMS FAILURE IN RAIN STORM WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 95 IN BROWARD COUNTY, FL. FAILURE INVOLVED WINDSHIELD WIPERS, LIGHTS, DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS ETC. WHICH CREATED AN UNSAFE CONDITION AS WELL AS QUITE A SURPRISE FOR ME (THE DRIVER). THIS CAR HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN NUMEROUS TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO FIX COMPUTER RELATED PROBLEMS AND THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT SEEMS TO BE BUT ONE OF MANY SIMILAR ISSUES EXPERIENCED BY OWNERS OF THIS MODEL. BMW WILL FIX THE CAR AND RETURN IT TO ME IN A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY 1 WEEK AFTER EACH INCIDENT. *JB

ON TWO OCCASIONS THE VEHICLES ENGINE SPUTTERED AND SHUT DOWN WHEN STARTED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE ON BOARD COMPUTER WAS THE PROBLEM. *MR *SCC *NLM

WHEN DECELERATING VEHICLE MAKES A SUDDEN ACCELERATION INTO TRAFFIC THROWING PASSENGERS AGAINST THE SEATS. MR *TS

NAR 04/10/2003 THE CONSUMERS HAS EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THERE VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SKID TO A STOP WHEN ACCELERATING ON THE BRAKE, THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON, AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND ALLOWS IT TO FUNCTION HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND REPROGRAMMED 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING THIS SITUATION. *CB

I PURCHASE A NEW 745I AND AFTER 10MONTHS OF CONSTANT AGGRAVATION AND FUSTRATION BY THE NUMEROUS FAILURES OF THIS CAR, I WOULD LIKE FOR BMW TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. MY CAR CONSTANTLY KEEP HAVING ENGINE FAILURE, RECENTLY BMW HAD TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEADS (FOR A NEW CAR THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE). I WOULD TO RETURN THIS CAR TO BMW FOR A FAIR EXCHANGE.

BMW IS AWARE OF THE 745 PROBLEMS. DT

I HAVE HAD MY 2002 BMW 745LI TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THE SAME COMPLAINT & IT'S DOING IT AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE CAR WILL FREQUENTLY NOT RESPOND WHEN ACCELLERATING. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS IF YOU'RE TURNING A CORNER WITH SOMEONE BEHIND YOU OR ACCELLERATING TO PULL AROUND SOMEONE ON THE FREEWAY.

ON 8/9/02, MY CAR'S SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER TOOK THE CAR ON 8/12/02, AND RETURNED IT 8/21/02. MR. MOODY OF LEITH REPORTED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED BUT AWAITED DELIVERY OF REVISED SOFTWARE IN "A COUPLE OF WEEKS". WHILE THE WARNING MESSAGE WAS NO LONGER POSTED (THEY SAID THEY HAD MERELY EMPTIED THE MEMORY), THEY COULD NOT ASSURE ME THAT THE SAFETY MECHANISMS WERE OPERATING PROPERLY. I HAD THEM PICK UP THE CAR AGAIN, AND THEY STILL COULD NOT ASSURE ME THAT THE EQUIPMENT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. I SPOKE WITH AN FIELD ENGINEER AT BMW (DAN) WHO ASSURRED ME THAT THE PROBLEM (ERROR CODE 9388) WAS A FALSE READING AND THAT THE SAFETY DEVICES WERE OPERATING CORRECTLY. I ASKED THAT THIS BE PUT IN WRITING, GIVEN THAT I HAD ALREADY REC'D SEVERAL DIFFERING INTERPRETATIONS. I HAVE NOW REQUESTED WRITTEN ASURANCE 3 TIMES (ONCE IN WRITING) AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED SUCH CONFIRMATION. HENCE, I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS SAFETY EQUIPMENT IS OPERATING. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN OTHER 2002 7.45I'S.

2002 BMW 745LI HIGH PITCH WHINE FROM TRANSMISSION, SIMILAR TO AIRCRAFT TURBINE ENGINE NOISE, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. BMW, IT'S DEALER AND HEADQUARTERS HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND ARE UNABLE TO RESOLVE OR FIX IT. ADDITIONAL PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE IS A SHIMMY FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE.

BRAKES FAILED FOR 2ND TIME IN 2 WEEKS, RESULTING IN FENDER DAMAGE TO 3 VEHICLES; ACCIDENT OCCURED AT 5 MPH. THE SAME FAILURE HAD OCCURED 2 WEEKS EARLIER (WITHOUT ANY DAMAGES), AND THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP "REPAIRED" THE BRAKE WHEEL SENSORS, STATING THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE FAILURE. THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE THAT COULD BE USED IN SUCH AN EMERGENCY (ONLY A BUTTON ON THE DASH).

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE, THEN ENGINE STALLED. VEHICLE IS STILL AT DEALERSHIP.*AK

(MODEL 754I) DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE HEAD RESTS OBSTRUCT VISION INSIDE OF VEHICLE WHEN BACKING UP. *AK *JG

THE VEHICLES MAIN COMPUTER FAILED WHILE DRIVING. THIS RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF AND ALMOST CAUSED A REAR END COLLISION. *NLM

GNITION COIL FAILURE RESULTED IN VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY.*AK

PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S BUMPER PROTECTION MOLDINGS, STEP PLATES, NUMEROUS BLIND SPOTS WHILE DRIVING. *MR THE STEP PLATE IN EACH DOOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE, THE BUMPER PROTECTION MOLDING WAS DEFECTIVE , AND THE DESIGN CAUSED NUMEROUS BLIND SPOTS BEHIND THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AND THE REAR VIEW. *SCC *JB