1999 BMW 740i Problems & Complaints

Average22% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 740i at the same age

Owners have filed 8 complaints about the 1999 BMW 740i with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. That is about average for the 740i at the same age. The most reported problem area is the air bags (3 complaints, typically around 130,000 miles).

8complaints
0recalls
1crashes
0fires
0injuries
0deaths

Most common 1999 BMW 740i problems

  • Air bags~130,000 miles
    338%
  • Brakes~79,000 miles
    225%
  • Electrical system~36,000 miles
    113%
  • Transmission & drivetrain
    113%
  • Wheels & tires
    113%
  • Engine & cooling
    113%

Share of the 8 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.

BMW 740i complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’16’17’18’20’21’23’24’25913881215127511123
Owner complaints per model year, BMW 740i. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).

Best 740i years: 2020, 2021. Years to avoid: 2016. Compare all years →

What 1999 BMW 740i owners say

Air bags

I was driving home from work approximately 3 am in the morning and I was getting close to my turn and I was slowing down and I hit a pot hole.. And all of a sudden my driver side airbags deploy almost cause me to wreck my car...

130,000 miles · Jan 2012

1999 BMW 740i engines & fuel economy

EngineTransmissionDriveMPG city / hwy / combined
4.4L 8-cyl5-speed automaticRWD15 / 22 / 18

EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.

Frequently asked questions

Is the 1999 BMW 740i a good car?

Based on 8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 740i rates average: 22% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 740i at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.

What is the most common problem with the 1999 BMW 740i?

The air bags — 3 complaints, 38% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the brakes (2) and electrical system (1).

How many recalls does the 1999 BMW 740i have?

NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1999 BMW 740i. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.

What are the best and worst years of the BMW 740i?

The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016. See the full BMW 740i years comparison.

At what mileage do 1999 BMW 740i problems happen?

The median mileage reported in complaints is about 79,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.