Most common 2005 BMW 745li problems
Share of the 25 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
BMW 745li complaints by model year
Best 745li years: 2005, 2002. Years to avoid: 2003. Compare all years →
2005 BMW 745li recalls (3)
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2005-2008 745i, 745Li, 750i, 750Li, 760i, 760Li, and B7 Alpina vehicles equipped with both the Comfort Access and Soft Close Automatic options. In these vehicles, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently open.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the door latch system, free of charge. The recall began February 8, 2018. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2007 7-Series vehicles, equipped with both Comfort Access and Soft Close Automatic options, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through September 3, 2007. Due to a software problem, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently open.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners and dealers will update software. The recall began on December 12, 2012. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
BMW is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 7-Series vehicles, equipped with the Comfort Access option, and manufactured August 23, 2004, through July 24, 2008. The affected vehicles have an electronic key and an electronic connection between the gear shifter and the transmission (shift-by-wire) that automatically shifts the…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners beginning in November 2012. The remedy became available in March 2013. Owners may call BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 4 possible defects involving the 2005 BMW 745li:
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.
BMW airbag light illumination
In certain my 2005 through my 2006 BMW vehicles, the occupant classification system (ocs) for the passenger frontal airbag May malfunction and render the passenger airbag inoperative.in June 2006, BMW issued a technical service bulletin (si b 72 02 06) regarding the illumination of the airbag warning light and the passenger airbag status lamp.illumination of these lights warn that an open electrical circuit May be…
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…
BMW airbag light illumination
BMW is conducting a safety recall campaign on approximately 200,000 my04 through my06 subject vehicles built through 11/30/05 to correct the front passenger seat air bag occupant detection mat. The specific vehicles included in the recall aremy04- 06/ 5-series with standard and sport seats, my04-06/ x3-series and my06/ 3-series with sport seats.
What 2005 BMW 745li owners say
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 BMW 745li. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled and the check engine failsafe mode warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator housing failed. The vehicle was repaired. On another occasion, while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel veered to the right causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. As a result, the contact crashed into a bridge through the railing and into a pole. A police report was filed. The contact sustained unknown injuries that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 141,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 BMW 745li. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH and attempting a turn, the front driver's side door opened independently. The instrument panel displayed that the doors were closed. The soft close automatic option failed and the contact had to slam the door in order for it to properly close. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The check engine light was also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop for emissions inspection and the contact was advised that the crank case ventilation valves had to be replaced. The repair was not performed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number: 12V504000 (latches/locks/linkages), however the VIN was not included in the recall campaign. The failure mileage was 100,000 and the current mileage was 120,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl contact owns a 2005 BMW 745li. The contact stated when attempting to place the vehicle in park, the transmission shift back to neutral without warning. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician was unable to diagnose the problem. The manufacturer was not aware of the failure. The contact was made aware of NHTSA campaign number: 12V502000 (electrical system, power train) however, the VIN was not included. The approximate failure mileage was 145,000.
My vehicle stalls in traffic and once it cuts off there is no way to put it in neutral. A police tried to help me out and told me that is a safety hazard. I keep having this problem especially when I'm driving on highways once it cuts off there's no way for me to steer off of the road. It's frightening.
Air bags
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 BMW 745li. While driving 65 MPH, the vehicle veered to the left and crashed into a guardrail. In addition, the vehicle slid to the right and flipped over onto the passenger side. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained a neck injury and medical attention was required. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 126,119.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 BMW 745li. Upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning indicator illuminated and remained lit while driving. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer for diagnostic testing and repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not mention any recalls for the air bag failure. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
2005 BMW 745li 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 2005 BMW 745li a good car?
Based on 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 745li rates average: 21% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 745li at the same age. It is one of the best 745li 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 2005 BMW 745li?
The engine & cooling — 6 complaints, 24% of all complaints for this model year, most often about exhaust system. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (5) and air bags (5).
How many recalls does the 2005 BMW 745li have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2005 BMW 745li, the most recent from May 18, 2017 (latch). 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 745li?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005 and 2002. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003. See the full BMW 745li years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 BMW 745li problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 82,000 miles; 9% 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.