Most common 1998 BMW 740il problems
Share of the 26 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 →
What 1998 BMW 740il owners say
Engine & cooling
I was driving my BMW 740il on 2-17-2015 when after getting onto the highway and accelerating, there was a loud boom noise and black pieces shot out onto the road in front of me. I immediately got off the first exit only to find that 1.) the car wouldn't stop after I applied the brakes, and 2.) the car continued to accelerate even when my foot was off the accelerator pedal. I went through two intersections, unable to stop, before turning into a big driveway where I set the shifter into reverse, which slowed the car down, and then I put it into park. Steam was shooting out from under the hood and when I checked underneath it, I saw the blades of the fan behind the radiator had all been stripped off the rotor with pieces violently scattered around the engine area. Also, the hose to the coolant reservoir became detached and the hood received two dents from the inside when the fan exploded. …
Low coolant message came on while driving. Within a few miles, radiator cap overpresured and steam burst out while on the highway. Pulled over and was towed to the dealer. Replaced coolant hoses. 4 months later, low coolant message came on again while traveling; stopped at a service station to check level; level was very low, and a slow leak was visible. Replaced coolant reservoir assembly. 6 mos later, check engine light came on. Dealer replaced sensor. One week later, the low coolant message came on again (3rd time). Coolant was low; took to dealer for repair. All work was at owner's expense (non-warranty).
Fuel & propulsion system
Hi, I brought this car from another person (original owner),he told me that the car makes a weird noise when sitting or driving he couldn't tell me why it was happening upon further inspection found fuel tank to be sucking in and out I didn't pay to much attention thinking wasn't much to it until one day went to refuel vehicle wasn't able to get any gas into vehicle,upon inspection found gas tank had imploded beyond repair,I spoke to an advisor at local BMW dealer if there was any bulletins on issue he told me no at first,he then asked a tech at dealer about issue he said the EVAP canister system had something to do with ,so there is some knowledge about issue my question is due think that there should of a recall or campaign out there regardless of year of vehicle since I think its a safety issue to me and my family as well as to the next person who gets this vehicle,aswell its very …
Tl contact owns a 1998 BMW 740il. While refueling he noticed gas was leaking form underneath the vehicle. Once he stopped pumping gas it stopped leaking. This failure recurred whenever he would refuel the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to be examined for the cause of failure. Over time he began to hear a thumping noise coming from the fuel tank while driving or stopped. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop where he was informed there was a split on one of the seems for the fuel tank. The vehicle was then taken to another independent repair shop where the fuel tank was repaired. The thumping failure continued to recur so the vehicle was taken back to an independent repair shop where the fuel tank was replaced. The thumping failure continues to recur. The failure mileage was 178,000 and the current mileage was 180,000.
Electrical system
On cruise control at 60 MPH proceeding north on state route 3 in virginia when the auto started to accelerate. Tapped the brake no effect. Turned of the cruise control no effect. By this time I am doing 90 MPH so I turned off the ignition. That had an effect. Coasted to the side of the road got out raised the hood could see nothing wrong. Got in the auto and started it up. RPM went shooting up shut the auto off. Checked the linkage to the throttle could see no problems. Worked the linkage to see if there was binding no binding. Drove home with no further problem. Yet!!
The doors will not unlock. All doors with the exception of the driver door will not unlock. If you pull on any of the doors door handle twice from the inside it should open. All of this happen when the alarm activated without any reason. Alarm stopped working and doors will not unlock.
1998 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 1998 BMW 740il a good car?
Based on 26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1998 740il rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the 740il 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 1998 BMW 740il?
The engine & cooling — 8 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cooling system › radiator assembly. Next are the fuel & propulsion system (7) and electrical system (6).
How many recalls does the 1998 BMW 740il have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 BMW 740il. You can still confirm with your VIN using our 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 1998 BMW 740il problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 114,000 miles; 5% 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.