Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 BMW 750li owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 750Li. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the message "Transmission Fault - Drive Moderate" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the contact was advised that the vehicle would need to be kept over the weekend, but the contact declined. The vehicle was taken to Pep Boys, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 159,857.
The contact owns a 2006 BMW 750LI. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the gear shifter independently shifted into park. The contact also stated that water was entering the trunk of the vehicle. The contact stated that the battery had been replaced twice. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
On Oct 29, 2012, BMW recalled its 7-Series luxury cars due to reports of transmission control problems. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in the NHTSA campaign #12V502000 (power train and electric system) has caused at least 14 crashes and possibly 5 injuries, and in the NHTSA campaign #13V564000 (air bags). The recall involved 45,500 cars with model years from 2005 to 2008 that includes 2006 BMW 750LI. Our 2006 BMW 750LI's VIN is [VIN]. Our purchase was from BMW of Tenafly, 301 County Road, Tenafly, NJ 07670 on 3/19/2009. Odometer reading at the time of the purchase is 45,450 miles. Sale price is $35,777.84. Our BMW 750LI was vocationally used, and mostly garaged, from 2009-2011, in New Jersey; and completely garaged, from 2011-2014, in New Jersey. The vehicle was vocationally used, from 2014-2019, in Chicago. …
In 2009, we bought this 2006 BMW 750Li as pre-owned and certified warranty from BMW of Tenafly, New Jersey. We have registration address maintained in New Jersey, and have not updated, even though we moved to Chicago, Illinois in summer of 2011. BMW issued 6 recalls for 7-series manufactured between 2005 and 2008. The recalls on manufacturer defects on electric and transmission in 2012 and 2013, and again in 2017. We missed all of the notices for these recalls. The vehicle was driven for less than 50,000 miles, from 2009 to 2019. The vehicle was inspected, and in good mechanical conditions, as well as body, since the vehicle has been garaged most of times. Since 2019, the vehicle has been in shops for repairs for electric and transmission and engine. It has been more than 3 years for our vehicle in the shops, and over $21,000 spent, there is no sign that the vehicle can be driven. …
If you take off slowly from a stop, the transmission, while switching between 2nd and 3rd gear, will propel the car forward abruptly creating a loud metallic sound like gears slamming into each other (immediately illuminating the transmission fault). The transmission will stay in either gear until you stop the car and turn it off. As long as you speed through the gears, this will never occur. Sad to think you have drive irresponsible to prevent transmission damage. I took the vehicle to a BMW technician who diagnosed it as being a bad transmission, drive shaft and guibo joint. After 2-years of learning to power through the gears, my bad transmission works fine, drive shaft and guibo joint are unaffected and chalk up another defective guibo joint blamed for unnecessary repairs. …
Pre-owned vehicle -transmission issue which is not mechanical...vehicle did not shift to reverse from park. Local BMW dealer says new transmission is needed. Research indicates it to be a problem with the vehicle electronics (solenoid) which sends shift signal to the transmission. BMW will not say this is an inherent issue with its product as evidenced by the number of similar complaints. When vehicle is in motion on any roadway at 40-55 MPH, a series of fault codes are displayed on the dashboard [transmission fault-drive moderately], and subsequently the vehicle will stall and not engage into gear. Efforts to prove that this is not owner/consumer responsibility due to the internal nature of the fault(s) are not accepted by the BMW dealer/company. The cost of company stated repairs ($3500-$8000) are beyond what the value of the vehicle is and financial ability to pay.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 BMW 750li. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate and shift into drive or reverse from the park position. The vehicle was unable to be safely driven due to the intermittent failure. The vehicle was towed to BMW of gwinnett place (3264 commerce ave nw, duluth, ga 30096, [phone]) who indicated that there was no manufacturer recall campaign to provide a repair and that the transmission assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to an independent repair facility for further diagnostic testing. The contact was uncertain if the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 12V502000 (power train, electrical system). The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 BMW 750li. When the vehicle was placed into reverse, it shifted into neutral position. The contact would have to shift the gear into reverse or drive several times before the gear locked and performed the desired action. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the transmission valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The contact returned the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was related to NHTSA campaign number: 12V502000 (electrical system, power train). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 151,000.
The vehicle jerks when going from stop to drive. At times it is so severe that I think the car has been hit from behind. Also moves very slowly when proceeding from stop to drive. This problem is less noticeable while on the highway going at fixed speed. The problem is during traffic drive. Have been struggling with this issue for approximately three years. Dealer unable to replicate problem; however as soon as I drive car, it immediately kicks. Getting worse with time. Another problem is the door latches. All my door latches are faulty. The rear passenger cannot be opened from inside and if opened from outside, you run the risk of it not locking at all. All doors have similar issues.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 BMW 750li. The contact stated that when depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle jerked and failed to drive. The contact mentioned that the vehicle veered from left to right. In addition, the transmission default warning light illuminated continuously. On another occasion, while driving up a hill, the tires spun but the vehicle failed to drive. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but the failure was unable to be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.
Transmission complaints in other 750li years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2006 BMW 750li?
NHTSA has 80 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2006 BMW 750li, 37% of the model year's 216 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (7 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 BMW 750li transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2006 BMW 750li, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 BMW 750li transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 87,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 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.