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2005 BMW 745I problems

The most common problem on the 2005 BMW 745I is electrical system. It has fewer complaints than a typical 745I model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Year score
81/100
Owner complaints
16
Recalls
3
Service bulletins
29
Worst area
Electrical
Fuel economy
19mpg

The worst 2005 BMW 745I problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

  • Electrical
    4
  • Airbags
    3
  • Locks
    3
  • Brakes
    2
  • Engine
    2

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Electrical
    4
  • Airbags
    3
  • Locks
    3
  • Brakes
    2
  • Engine
    2
  • Body
    1
  • Driver assistance
    1
  • Seats
    1
  • Suspension
    1
  • Transmission
    1

Recalls 3

Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latchReported May 18, 2017 · 45,484 vehicles affected
What is wrong
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2005-2008 745i, 745Li, 750i, 750Li, 760i, 760Li, and B7 Alpina vehicles equipped with both the Comfort Access and Soft Close Automatic options. In these vehicles, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently open.
Risk
The door may unexpectedly open due to road or driving conditions or occupant contact with the door. The sudden opening may result in occupant ejection or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the door latch system, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW at 1‑800‑525‑7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

Recall number 17V328000 · Recall details

Electrical system: ignition: switchReported October 17, 2012 · 45,500 vehicles affected
What is wrong
BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 7-Series vehicles, equipped with the Comfort Access option, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through July 24, 2008. The affected vehicles have an electronic key and an electronic connection between the gear shifter and the transmission (shift-by-wire) that automatically shifts the transmission to Park when the driver presses the Start/Stop button to shutdown the engine. If the driver presses the engine Start/Stop button 2 or 3 times within a short time interval, the system may shift the transmission to Neutral rather than Park. If using the electronic key (Comfort Access mode), there would be no protection from the ignition interlock that prevents key removal if the vehicle is not in Park.
Risk
If the driver exits the vehicle with the transmission in Neutral and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may rollaway. Unattended rollaway incidents often result in a crash or cause injury to pedestrians attempting to stop or enter the vehicle or to other bystanders in the path of the vehicle.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners beginning in November 2012. The remedy became available in March 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1‑800‑525‑7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

Recall number 12V502000 · Recall details

Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latchReported October 17, 2012 · 7,485 vehicles affected
What is wrong
BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 7-Series vehicles, equipped with both Comfort Access and Soft Close Automatic options, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through September 3, 2007. Due to a software problem, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently open.
Risk
The door may unexpectedly open due to road or driving conditions or occupant contact with the door. The sudden opening may result in occupant ejection or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy
BMW will notify owners and dealers will update software. The recall began on December 12, 2012. Owners may contact BMW at 1‑800‑525‑7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

Recall number 12V504000 · Recall details

See all 3 recalls for the 2005 BMW 745I

Defect investigations

Vehicle RollawayOpened April 10, 2012, closed January 24, 2013

In a letter dated October 16, 2012, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), the federal safety agency Recall No. 12V‑502 to the federal safety agency identifying a safety defect involving the possibility of unattended vehicle rollaway in MY 2005 through 2008 BMW 7-Series (approximately 45,000) vehicles equipped with the Comfort Access Option.The Comfort Access option allows the driver to start and stop the engine (by pressing the engine start / stop button) without inserting the key fob into the vehicles key slot in the instrument panel.Subject vehicles not equipped with the Comfort Access option require the key fob be inserted the key slot to start the engine.Upon removal of the key from the key slot the vehicle will automatically shift to Park if the driver has not done so using the gearshift lever.Sunject vehicles equipped with the Comfort Access option are designed such that when the vehicle is stopped with the service brakes applied and the transmission in Drive or Reverse, the driver can push the engine start/stop button one time, stopping the engine and automatically shifting the transmission to Park.In its DIR, BMW identified a condition such that if the driver depressed the start-stop button multiple times in rapid succession, the transmission could shift to Neutral instead of Park.With the transmission in neutral, depending on the slope of the road, the vehicle could rollaway if unattended.In review of data submitted to the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) and of reports submitted to BMW, ODI identified 20 reports alleging vehicle rollaway involving vehicles equipped with Comfort Access.The vehicles identified in these reports are all subject to recall 12V‑502.Ten of these reports were identified as likely related to the defect described in recall 12V‑502.Two of the reports are likely related to other mechanical failures.The remaining 8 allegations of vehicle rollaway could not be associated with a specific cause.There are 32 reports alleging vehicle rollaway in the subject vehicles not equipped with the Comfort Access option.A vehicle based safety defect trend was not identified in these reports.Subject vehicles not equipped the Comfort Access option will automatically shift to Park once the key fob is removed from the key slot.In this regard these vehicles behave similarly to those with traditional mechanical keys where the key cannot be removed from the ignition unless the vehicle is shifted to Park.The difference between these vehicles and the subject vehicles with the Comfort Access option is that in the Comfort Access equipped vehicles, the engine can be started and stopped without the key fob in the key slot.ODI reports 10429922 and 10419177 noted in the EA opening resume were determined to be vehicles not equipped with the Comfort Access option and ODI did not identify a vehicle based safety defect associated with these incidents.This investigation is closed.The ODI report cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/owners/Searchreference under the following identification (ODI) numbers:10185770

EA12002

Vehicle RollawayOpened August 5, 2011, closed April 23, 2012

In response to the Office of Defects Investigation's (ODI) Information Request (IR) for PE11-025, BMW provided ODI with 1 complaint and 46 field reports relating to either incidents of unattended vehicle rollaway or vehicle movement after the driver expected the vehicle gearshift to automatically shift to park. ODI's analysis of the data provided by BMW identified 14 crashes and 5 alleged injuries. ODI has also identified 3 additional reports in its database alleging vehicle rollaway incidents of which 2 resulted in crashes.The subject vehicles are all equipped with push-buttons (Start/Stop button) to control starting/stopping the engine and Shift-by-Wire gearshift systems controlled by a column mounted selector lever behind the steering wheel. The Start/Stop button also controls switching the ignition and the radio ready state On and Off. Shift-by-wire systems replace the traditional mechanical connection (e.g., cable or linkage) between the gearshift and automatic transmission with an electronic connection controlled by a computer module. When parking the vehicle, the driver has the capability to manually shift the vehicle to park by pressing the Park button on the end of the electronic gearshift lever. However, the instructions for engine shutoff provided in the owner's manual state that pressing the Start/Stop button serves the dual function of switching off the engine and automatically shifting the transmission to Park.In response to ODI's information request for PE11-025, BMW described several circumstances where the subject vehicles may shift to neutral when the driver may expect it to automatically shift to park. First, for Comfort Access System (CAS) vehicles, if the transmission is in neutral when the key fob is in the ignition slot and the Start/Stop button is pressed to shut-off the engine, the transmission will remain in neutral. This is referred to as the Carwash mode and is a normal operating feature of the vehicles that is described in the owner's manual. BMW also described two circumstances that are not normal operating features and are not described in the owners' manual: (1) with the transmission in drive or reverse and the engine running, if the Start/Stop button is pushed 2 or 3 times within a 0.3 second to 0.5 second interval, the engine will stop and the transmission will shift to Neutral; and 2) if the Park button on the gearshift lever is pressed at the same time that the gearshift lever is actuated (i.e., toggled up or down) to select drive, reverse or neutral; the transmission will shift to neutral or remain in neutral.Beginning in model year (MY) 2005, BMW introduced CAS as an optional feature package for the subject vehicles.The key for CAS equipped vehicles is an electronic code that is sent to the engine control module by a remote transmitter (key fob). An optional docking port (key slot) is provided for driver convenience or to put the vehicle into Car Wash mode, which allows for engine shutoff in neutral. BMW sold approximately 45,000 subject vehicles with CAS and approximately 94 percent of the CAS equipped vehicles were produced from MY 2006 through 2008. Non-CAS subject vehicles were produced from MY 2002 through 2008 and require the remote control to be in the ignition slot located next to the Start/Stop button to start the engine.The 50 incidents identified by ODI's analysis of complaints and field reports include 18 involving CAS vehicles (39.6 incidents per 100,000 vehicles) and 32 involving non-CAS vehicles (42.0 incidents per 100,000 vehicles). Because the incidents are considered random events, the failure rates were also adjusted for vehicle exposure, resulting in rat

PE11025

Bmw airbag light illuminationOpened January 4, 2008, closed December 31, 2008

Bmw is conducting a safety recall campaign on approximately 200,000 my04 through my06 subject vehicles built through 11/30/05 to correct the front passenger seat air bag occupant detection mat. The specific vehicles included in the recall aremy04- 06/ 5-series with standard and sport seats, my04-06/ x3-series and my06/ 3-series with sport seats. In addition, bmw will extend the warranty coverage of the passenger seat air bag occupant detection mat to 10-year/unlimited mileage on approximately 120,000 remaining my04-06 subject vehicles built through 11/30/05. The specific vehicles included in the extended warranty are my 06/ 6 series, my 06/ 3-series with standard seats, my04-05/ z4, my04-06/ 7 series, my 06/ x5, and my04-06/ 5-series with comfort seats.the average frequency of failures among the extended warranty groups was less than 1/7th of the recall vehicle groups.please see bmw's 08v‑384 recall notification for further detailsdepending on seat configuration and vehicle geometry, the occupant detection mat can fatigue during use depending on the manner and frequency of the front passenger's entry and exit.specifically, over time, micro-cracks could develop in the side flanks of the mat causing a broken circuit.a brokencircuit can lead to the deactivation of the passenger air bag and the illumination of both the air bag warning light and the passenger air bag light.

EA08001

Bmw airbag light illuminationOpened September 4, 2007, closed January 4, 2008

In certain my 2005 through my 2006 bmw vehicles, the occupant classification system (ocs) for the passenger frontal airbag may malfunction and render the passenger airbag inoperative.in june 2006, bmw issued a technical service bulletin (si b 72 02 06) regarding the illumination of the airbag warning light and the passenger airbag status lamp.illumination of these lights warn that an open electrical circuit may be present within the passenger seat mat sensor.when both of the lights are illuminated, the passenger frontal air bag will not deploy in a frontal crash.certain bmw vehicles in addition to the subject vehicles contain the same seat mat sensor.these are the my 2004 5-series, 7-series and x3, the my 2004 through 2006z-4 series and my 2006 3-series, 6-series and x5 vehicles.an improved seat mat sensor was introduced in december 2005 for the mid-my 2006 production.in response to odi's information request letter, bmw provided 1,172 owner reports and 28,238 warranty claims.initial review of the data indicate that 280 non-duplicating owner reports and 13,051 non-duplicating warranty claims may be related the subject defect issue on the subject vehiclesthis preliminary evaluation is being upgraded to an engineering analysis (ea08-001).

PE07045

Technical service bulletins for the 2005 BMW 745I 29

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 29 bulletins for the 2005 BMW 745I

2005 BMW 745I fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
4.4L 8‑cylRWD162419

What 2005 BMW 745I owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed May 22, 2019 · Electrical · 160,336 miles · SC

Driving from work an my car just started losing power I replaced the alternator an battery an the car did the same thing.

Filed Nov 22, 2017 · Locks · 98,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 745i. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v328000 (latches/locks/linkages); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the front driver's door suddenly unlocked without warning. The contact was able to lock the door a second time. The contact took the vehicle to bmw of mountain view (150 e el camino real, mountain view, ca 94040; 650‑200‑0149). The vehicle remained at the dealer for approximately four months and was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The matter had not been settled. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

Filed Jul 17, 2017 · Locks · 172,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 745i. The contact stated that the front driver and passenger side doors opened independently. The failures occurred without warning. The contact stated that the failure also occurred in the rear doors while his daughter was in the rear seat. There were no injuries. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v328000(latches/locks/linkages); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The sterling bmw dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts would be available. The failure mileage was approximately 172,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Jun 14, 2017 · Engine · 140,000 miles · CA

The coolant systems failed .and with research I was able to discover a steady problem for these models.

Filed Apr 30, 2015 · Electrical · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 745i. The contact stated that all the door locks failed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and it was determined that the software needed to be updated. The contact found the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v504000 (latches, locks and linkages); however, the manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not included and would not be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. Updated 7/10/15*cn updated 10/11/2017

Filed Apr 19, 2015 · Body · 111,245 miles · VA

While driving my vehicle the driver door ejected open causing me to stop instantly to where the door needed to be held in order for me to make it to a safe destination so unreal I was scared to death it doesnt close at all in order to drive now.

Filed Jul 30, 2013 · Brakes, Electrical · 110,000 miles · CA

I have been having several electrical issues on my 2005 745i the issues I am having are all electrical and brakes, drivers side window not initiated, license plate lamp not initiated, trunk button not working on dash panel or key fob or button on trunk lid, parking brake malfunctioning and caused the rotors and brake pads to warp when the parking brake come on suddenly while I was moving from a spot I was parked at,

Filed Jun 25, 2013 · Airbags · VA

My car was due for state inspection and I took it into richmond bmw in midlothian va. The technician called and said the airbag light was on and the sensor is bad. There is an airbag recall for the other bmw series but it didn't include the seven series. There are other 7 series owners experiencing the same thing. I read this on the bmw forums and it is a lot of bmw owners spending money for something that should be recalled as well. Can you please consider our cars as well.

Filed Jun 11, 2013 · Electrical · 111,000 miles · VA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 bmw 745i. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the engine stalled with the illumination of the entire instrument panel. The engine was restarted and resumed with the warning indicators illuminating intermittently. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 111,000.

Filed Sep 20, 2011 · Suspension · TX

There is a recall on the rear suspension causing the bushings to go out. My VIN number was not included. I am having the same problem with my care is there a way that you can email me a letter including my VIN number. I think it should be all of them. It is campaign number 06v27000.

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Questions about the 2005 BMW 745I

Is the 2005 BMW 745I reliable?

Owners have filed 16 complaints about the 2005 BMW 745I, fewer than a typical 745I model year.

What is the 2005 BMW 745I year score?

The 2005 BMW 745I scores 81 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the BMW 745I: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.

What is the most common problem with the 2005 BMW 745I?

Electrical system, with 4 complaints. Next is airbags (3).

How many recalls does the 2005 BMW 745I have?

3 recalls, covering latches/locks/linkages and electrical system.

Was there a recall on the 2005 BMW 745I electrical?

Yes, 1 recall: 12V502000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What gas mileage does the 2005 BMW 745I get?

Official estimates for the 2005 BMW 745I range from 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (4.4L 8-cyl, RWD) gets 16 city and 24 highway.

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