Most common 2011 BMW 740li problems
Share of the 11 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 740li complaints by model year
Best 740li years: 2020, 2012. Compare all years →
What 2011 BMW 740li owners say
Electrical system
Vehicle is equipped with soft closing doors. Passenger door actuator malfunctioned which prevented the passenger door from locking. That malfunction short circuited the entire vehicle locking system. It created a unsafe driving condition which locked the driver side door from the inside and outside of the vehicle. Basically locking the driver inside the car. The only way for the driver to exit the vehicle was to climb to another door. If the driver was in a accident and needed to exit the car immediately, he wouldn't be able to do it.
Electric water pump failed. While driving, engine overheated and warning light illuminated. I immediately pulled over and my car was towed in for repairs. Why wasn't the N54 engine not included in the recall campaign#11V-521? Also, my fuel line was found to be leaking when this car was towed in for the electric water pump repairs. I did smell fuel on days prior to this incident, but I mistakenly ignored the smells. This whole incident had the potential to be catastrophic.
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 BMW 740li. While the vehicle was stationary, the water pump failed. The contact stated that the wire of the auxiliary that connected to the water pump melted. The contact purchased a new auxiliary wire for the water pump, but complained of a burning odor inside the cabin of the vehicle even after the parts were replaced by chapman BMW in phoenix, arizona. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
Purchased the car in January 2012 from BMW concord as a leased vehicle. Mileage was 12,000 when purchased. In April 2017, transmission failure notice came on and car would not shift into reverse. We took the car to the BMW dealership in concord. Service center said transmission had completely failed and needed to be replaced. Service center said high pressure fuel pump had also failed and needed to be replaced. Service analyst said it was unusual for a car with this mileage to see this kind of failure but he had seen it before.
Fuel & propulsion system
Electric water pump failed. While driving, engine overheated and warning light illuminated. I immediately pulled over and my car was towed in for repairs. Why wasn't the N54 engine not included in the recall campaign#11V-521? Also, my fuel line was found to be leaking when this car was towed in for the electric water pump repairs. I did smell fuel on days prior to this incident, but I mistakenly ignored the smells. This whole incident had the potential to be catastrophic.
Purchased the car in January 2012 from BMW concord as a leased vehicle. Mileage was 12,000 when purchased. In April 2017, transmission failure notice came on and car would not shift into reverse. We took the car to the BMW dealership in concord. Service center said transmission had completely failed and needed to be replaced. Service center said high pressure fuel pump had also failed and needed to be replaced. Service analyst said it was unusual for a car with this mileage to see this kind of failure but he had seen it before.
2011 BMW 740li engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 BMW 740li a good car?
Based on 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 740li rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the 740li 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 2011 BMW 740li?
The electrical system — 4 complaints, 36% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (3) and fuel & propulsion system (3).
How many recalls does the 2011 BMW 740li have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 BMW 740li. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the BMW 740li?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020 and 2012. See the full BMW 740li years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 BMW 740li problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 84,000 miles; 22% 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.