Most common 1996 BMW 740il problems
Share of the 11 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 740il complaints by model year
Best 740il years: 1999, 1996, 1995. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001. Compare all years →
1996 BMW 740il recalls (1)
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Road grit and gravel associated with winter road conditions can penetrate the rubber of the lower front spring mounts and accumulate in the mounts causing notches or pits to develop. These notches can develop cracks resulting in breakage of a bottom coil of the spring.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both front springs and lower spring mounts.
What 1996 BMW 740il owners say
Speed control & acceleration
Vehicle was involed in sudden acceleration while traveling on the highway with cruise control engaged at approximately 55 MPH. Consumer was approaching oncoming vehicle, applied brakes to slow down, as soon as he lifted his foot from pedal, vehicle suddenly took off. Went out of control and hit a parked vehicle on side of road before stopping. Als,o both air bags failed to delpoy. Seeking help from NHTSA in this matter. Dealer notified.
Vehicle is experiencing sudden acceleration. As soon as the vehicle is started, the RPM's will rev up to 3500 rpms preventing the driver from putting the vehicle in gear without a possible crash. Driver would apply the brakes but the vehicle will continue to surge. Provide further detail. Defective parts replaced. Car went by itself to 90 MPH on the interstate. Replaced front throttle body gasket and idle speed regulator.
Fuel & propulsion system
The gas tank started to make popping noises and thumping sounds. Then when I realized something is wrong when the gas gauge started reading 1/4 tank when it was empty, strangely when I was filling up with gas the cap was hard to remove and as soon as I removed the cap air was rushing in. I ran out of gas on the interstate without any warning managed to get the car on the shoulder. Later on the way to work I started smelling a strong gas odor I assumed it was the cars surrounding me. When I went on my lunch break my coworkers informed me that there was a large puddle of gas under my car, when I got back to work I started to investigate what happened and my tank was imploded and developed leaks around the seams. I find this a major concern since this is right next to a hot exhaust system and May cause a fire due to poor gas tank ventilation. …
Gas tank imploded sucking itself in and causing gas to leak and spill. Tank was replaced in September of 2000. However, problem has been ongoing since then. Also, there are popping noises coming from tank area, which means that gas in tank is not properly venting,causing a build up. Technicians have heard the noise, but are unable to rectify it when it's not doing it.
Engine & cooling
The gas tank started to make popping noises and thumping sounds. Then when I realized something is wrong when the gas gauge started reading 1/4 tank when it was empty, strangely when I was filling up with gas the cap was hard to remove and as soon as I removed the cap air was rushing in. I ran out of gas on the interstate without any warning managed to get the car on the shoulder. Later on the way to work I started smelling a strong gas odor I assumed it was the cars surrounding me. When I went on my lunch break my coworkers informed me that there was a large puddle of gas under my car, when I got back to work I started to investigate what happened and my tank was imploded and developed leaks around the seams. I find this a major concern since this is right next to a hot exhaust system and May cause a fire due to poor gas tank ventilation. …
Tl contact owns a 1996 BMW 740il. While parking the vehicle, the contact attempted to shut off the engine and exit the vehicle. As she turned the key and removed it from the ignition, the engine remained running and would not shut off. She had to remove the engine fuses from under the hood and disconnect the battery in order to shut off the engine. Afterwards, the vehicle failed to restart and was towed to a mechanic. The mechanic installed a new cylinder and housing. Three weeks after the repairs, the failure recurred and the vehicle was towed back to the dealer, who is not taking any responsibility for the defect. The vehicle is currently still at the dealer. The failure and current mileages were 203,000.
1996 BMW 740il engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 BMW 740il a good car?
Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 740il rates average: 26% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 740il at the same age. It is one of the best 740il years by this measure. 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 1996 BMW 740il?
The speed control & acceleration — 3 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about linkages. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (3) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 1996 BMW 740il have?
There is 1 recall for the 1996 BMW 740il, the most recent from August 22, 1997 (coil springs). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 740il?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1999, 1996 and 1995. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000 and 2001. See the full BMW 740il years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 BMW 740il problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 179,000 miles; 0% 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.