Most common 2002 BMW 745i problems
Share of the 54 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 745i complaints by model year
Best 745i years: 2005, 2004. Years to avoid: 2002, 2003. Compare all years →
2002 BMW 745i recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling
On certain passenger vehicles, due to a software error, a desynchronization of the valvetronic motors for engine banks I and ii May occur. If this occurs, the engine could stall.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the digital engine management control unit. Owner notification began July 8, 2003. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
On certain passenger vehicles, the electric fuel pump runs at a rotational speed that could result in reduced lubrication of its internal components. Over an extended period of time, wear-induced internal damage to the fuel pump could result in insufficient fuel supply to the engine when the fuel tank contains one-third or less…
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the fuel pump control system. Owner notification began June 28, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2002 BMW 745i:
Vehicle Rollaway
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.
Vehicle Rollaway
In a letter dated October 16, 2012, BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) submitted a Defect Information Report (DIR), NHTSA Recall No. 12V-502 to NHTSA 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…
What 2002 BMW 745i owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 BMW 745i. The contact stated that after parking and exiting the vehicle, the vehicle rolled away in reverse and crashed into another vehicle. No police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 122,000 and the current mileage was 123,000.
While parked, the vehicle will come out of p (park mode) and fall away unattended. The vehicle was put into park automatically by pushing the start/stop button, and after leaving the vehicle, it was seen rolling across the street as if it was in neutral hitting the curb across the street.
Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 BMW 745i. While driving at approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal had to be depressed with extreme force in order for the vehicle to stop without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the brake booster needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 10V446000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
Brakes failed for 2nd time in 2 weeks, resulting in fender damage to 3 vehicles; accident occured at 5 MPH. The same failure had occured 2 weeks earlier (without any damages), and the local BMW dealership "repaired" the brake wheel sensors, stating this was the cause of the brake failure. There was no emergency brake handle that could be used in such an emergency (only a button on the dash).
Air bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 BMW 745i. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the air bag light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer who checked all connections to the air bags, scanned the computer, and the light dimmed. The failure recurred after two weeks and the light remained illuminated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that there was no recall. A follow-up appointment was scheduled with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Tl contact owns a 2002 BMW 745i. When the contact started the ignition, the frontal air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The warning indicator remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the failure was related to the air bag sensor. The contact was concerned that the air bags May not deploy in the event of a crash. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 67,000 and the current mileage is 69,800. Updated 10/16/08 the air bag light illuminated and the ac was not workking on high. Updated 10/21/08.
2002 BMW 745i engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 24 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Large car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 BMW 745i a good car?
Based on 54 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 745i rates use caution: 2.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the 745i at the same age. It is one of the 745i years we suggest avoiding. 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 2002 BMW 745i?
The transmission & drivetrain — 17 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission. Next are the brakes (13) and air bags (11).
How many recalls does the 2002 BMW 745i have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2002 BMW 745i, the most recent from July 1, 2003 (engine and engine cooling). 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 745i?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002 and 2003. See the full BMW 745i years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 BMW 745i problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 100,000 miles; 12% 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.