On January 22, 20222, I was traveling down highway 400 in Sandy Springs, Georgia and my left (driver's side) // rear tire EXPLODED and I almost lost control of the vehicle. The main part of the tread completely separated from the rest of the tire, but I was able to recover it from down in the woods. I have not taken it to a mechanic or tire shop yet, so I still have the rim that has the remnants of the sidewall attached to it as well as the tread portion of the tire for inspection. I didn't hit a pothole and wasn't aware of any object that I ran over. It was a sunny day; the pavement was dry and it was about 45 degrees. The tires were filled with nitrogen. I inspected all tires before I started driving and I didn't see anything unusual or previous damage. There were no warning lamps or messages before my tire EXPLODED. The car did sustain damage to the driver's side rear bumper cover and possibly suspension components. All four tires were purchased from Costco in September 2020 when the vehicle had 113,429 miles. The vehicle currently has 114,668 miles on the odometer and approx. had 114,648 miles on it at the time of the incident. All four tires are Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4. The front has 235/50ZR 18 and the rear has // had 255/45ZR 18.
The worst 2001 BMW 740I problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Engine5
- Airbags3
- Electrical3
- Suspension3
- Steering2
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine5
- Airbags3
- Electrical3
- Suspension3
- Steering2
- Visibility2
- Fuel system1
- Seat belts1
- Transmission1
Recalls 3
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, the engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing the fan to stop operating.
- Risk
- If this were to occur, engine overheating and subsequent engine damage could result. In addition, it is possible for the failure of the electrical circuitry to cause a fire in the fan control unit located in the front of the engine compartment.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the fan. Owner notification began september 28, 2001. This is a supplement to a recall that began during september 2001 (see recall campaign 01v206). 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.
Recall number 02V138000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The engine auxiliary/cooling fan operation, including variable speed, is electronically controlled. Failure of the fan motor can cause the electrical circuitry of the fan control unit to overload and fail, causing the fan to stop operating.
- Risk
- If this were to occur, engine overheating and subsequent engine damage could result. In addition, it is possible for the failure of the electrical circuitry to cause a fire in the fan control unit located in the front of the engine compartment.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the fan. Owner notification began september 28, 2001. 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.
Recall number 01V206000 · Recall details
Tires: sidewall
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with 18-inch tires. (18-inch tires are standard equipment on the m5 and optional equipment on the 7-series models). The machine used to mount and inflate the tires on the wheels at the assembly plant may have damaged the sidewall of one or more tires. The damaged area could weaken to the point where a sudden loss of air from the tire could occur.
- Risk
- Handling and control would be drastically affected increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the tires and if damage from the mounting machine is found, the tire will be replaced. Owner notification began march 10, 2001. 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.
Recall number 01V001000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2001 BMW 740I 8
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
- Engine will crank but not start
- Customers may state that the alarm system (DWA) is not active after locking their unoccupied vehicle
- Vehicle cannot be opened or closed using comfort access, engine start is not possible, and the vehicle may...
- Radio / Navigation / Head Unit Identification Guide
- Program dme
- Bmw: procedure for determining and replacing incandescent and halogen light bulbs under warranty. rm
- Bmw vehicles: fuel level sensor repairs. where it is necessary to replace the right or the left side fuel...
2001 BMW 740I fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4L 8‑cyl | RWD | 14-15 | 19-22 | 16-18 |
What 2001 BMW 740I owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Vehicle had been stationary for several minutes and was parked with emergency break engaged. Key was not inserted. Driver side door open, all doors unlocked. No recent occupants other than the driver seat. Parked at home,in driveway, in gainesville, ga, us. I unloaded some groceries then came back to close driver door. As I approached the vehicle to close drver side door the passenger side airbage suddenly deployed for no apparent reason shattering the windshield. There had been no impact prior to this. It was a hot day.
A chevy pickup pulled into the one way road leading to a hotel and immediately went around an ellipse and hit me as I was exiting my hotel and got hit in the drivers front quarter panel while he was pulling around in the elliptical one way drive. The engine was checked and it needs $5500 worth of mechanical work in order for it "to be safe to drive.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 bmw 740i. While pulling into a fuel station, the vehicle began to overheat. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fan control unit failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired per the federal safety agency campaign number: 01v206000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 bmw 740i. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the engine thermostat wires were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 75,000. Updated 9/9/14*cn updated 1/20/2015
The evaporative canister purge line is blocked and is causing the fuel tank to collapse.
My daughter with myself and my 4 year old,riding on the passenger side driving on mallard creek road, all of a sudden we hear this loud 'kaboom' noise this caused (for some reason) the driver side airbag on the door (the side airbag) to deploy. When it deployed, it tore and the door fell apart in the inside a strip of decorative metal on the interior. The strip was about 2-3 feet long and had between 3 and 5 1" bolts protruding from it. The metal strip hit the driver on the arm and caused an abrasion. We were greatly concerned about this for two reasons: (1) why did that particular bag deploy when there was no hard impact and (2) the metal strip that ripped off could have hit someone in the eye or in another place that would cause a serious injury. Even as it was, my daughter arm was totally bruised on her shoulder. This information was provided to the dealer and the bmw complaint department, bmw checked out the car and said the reason why this happened is when we changed the tires on the car we changed the suspension. The suspension has nothing to do with the airbags deploying while just driving 35mph and no accident occurred. As a result of this my daughter was traumatized, as a permitted driver she may have long lasting effect, at this point she is scared to drive. Finally once bmw checked out the problem they agreed to fix the defect only if we agreed to change the tires on the vehicle. Please if you can assist us in helping get this airbag & the door fixed reason is it's dangerous driving this vehicle with no airbags. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
I own a 2001 bmw that I purchased from my father. It has never been in a major car accident and he was the only own. The back seat belts were almost never used until I took possession of the vehicle a little over a year ago. Within the past three months I have notice that when my twin 4 year olds are buckled in their booster seats the seat belts spontaneously unbuckle. I have contacted bmw directly and a local bmw dealer. Bmw says that it could be wear and tear of the mechanism and the dealer said maybe it is just the age of the mechanism causing this to happen. I understand that things wear out and break but apparently am under the false impression that my seat belts and airbag will protect me and my family in a crash. Bmw will not pay for this repair since it is out of warranty and there is no recall on the part. The two belts will cost approximately $200 each plus labor. I am very concerned my children will be injured should I be involved in a car crash.
Burned harness connector to thermostat. Fortunately the burned wires were only about 3 inches past the connector.
2001 bmw 740i - the transmission without any warning just stopped going in reverse. After research I find out this is an issue rampant among bmw's and owners with this transmission. Please help - it seems as if bmw is aware but refuses to address this issue. They have even developed a ring fix to replace production parts that fail - however will still not stand behind an obvious and unsafe situation.
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Questions about the 2001 BMW 740I
Is the 2001 BMW 740I reliable?
Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2001 BMW 740I, 3.8 times a typical 740I model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 BMW 740I?
Engine and cooling, with 5 complaints. Next is airbags (3).
How many recalls does the 2001 BMW 740I have?
3 recalls, covering engine and engine cooling and tires.
Was there a recall on the 2001 BMW 740I engine?
Yes, 2 recalls: 02V138000, 01V206000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What gas mileage does the 2001 BMW 740I get?
Official estimates for the 2001 BMW 740I range from 16 to 18 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.4L 8-cyl, RWD) gets 14-15 city and 19-22 highway.
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