BMW 750li Electrical Problems

Owners have filed 70 complaints about electrical system problems with the BMW 750li — 15% of all 750li complaints. The worst model years are 2006 (22), 2007 (15) and 2008 (13). Problems typically start around 91,000 miles. One related recall has been issued.

70complaints
2006worst year
91ktypical miles
1related recalls
1crashes
5fires

Electrical complaints by model year

2006200720082009201020112012201320142020202122151326741
Electrical complaints per model year, BMW 750li.
YearComplaintsShare of year's complaintsTypical mileage
2013111%121,000 miles
2012417%83,000 miles
2011728%92,000 miles
2010620%57,000 miles
2009220%150,000 miles
20081320%96,000 miles
20071519%95,000 miles
20062210%91,000 miles

Which parts fail

  • 12V/24V/48V battery
    2
  • Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module
    1

Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    47%
  • 25k–50k
    36%
  • 50k–75k
    815%
  • 75k–100k
    1731%
  • 100k–150k
    1630%
  • 150k+
    611%

What owners report

I went outside and started my car, locked it and came back inside to grab a few things. Approximately five minutes later someone was banging on my door and ringing the doorbell. When I answered they said they had already call the fire department. My car's engine compartment was engulfed in flames and undercarriage covers were also burning. The rear bumper and light assemblies were melting. The doors were stuck windshield exploded and srs systems had activated. Fire department said it was electrical fire. USAA said it is a total loss and the electrical fire was in the engine compartment. My vehicle was parked on the street in front of my house and been driven the evening before and parked in front of my house. I have plenty of pictures.

2012 750li · Oct 2025 · fire

Drove car at approximately 8:30 p.m. Car was left in the garage for the night. At 3:35 a.m. Was awaken by my dog and smelled smoke, strongest in the area of the garage. Once extinguished by firefighters the car was pulled out. The left front number, headlight, and adjacent structures were melted. Extensive fire damage and smoke damage in the garage, and a lesser degree in the house. Cause of fire origin was not determined, but the car was not excluded. Concerned that this could be related to the auxiliary cooling pump issue noted in 2010 and 2011 models.

2012 750li · 18,000 miles · Aug 2012 · fire

[redacted] My car called fire I have a BMW seven series 750 LI apparently there was a cooling pump that Bmw put on the car that calls us fires. Bmw did a recall on these cooling pumps, but they did not add all the numbers to the recall, even though my car had, the actual coolant pump that caused fires my question is why was my Vin number that out of the recall if I had the faulty pump on my car, I would like for number to be added to the recall

2011 750li · May 2024 · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 BMW 750li. The contact stated while at a standstill, there was smoke coming from the driver side door. The vehicle was not taken to local dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of failure. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.

2011 750li · 126,000 miles · May 2021 · fire

Just had a new factory engine put in my 2010 BMW 750li under a class action lawsuit, in August 2019. December 2019 wife was driving car to grocery store and engine suddenly started bucking and smell of gas was overwhelming. She was in traffic at the time and could not maintain proper speed on the 50mph highway and lost total power. She nursed car into a nearby parking lot. It was snowing out and had to wait for a tow truck for an hour in freezing temperatures. Aside from the overwhelming fuel smell, almost caused accident by not being able to maintain proper speed, she was waiting in freezing temperatures for tow truck. This, I found out, is a very big problem with these cars. Its was a fuel injector that caused the issue. This is truely a safety hazard for the public. And an extremely expensive fix. …

2010 750li · 6,000 miles · Dec 2019

After I diagnosed a parasitic battery draw when the car has been off overnight. I found the auxillary water pump for the intercoolers still running drawing 5 amps when the car is off. This is the same exact issue I found with the recall 18v-248 I'm quite lucky my car didn't catch on fire yet.

2010 750li · 110,000 miles · Jun 2018

My 2008 BMW 750li is leaking oil they say its the pressure switch then they said it was the brake buster pump leaking. I know there has been a recall on this make and model BMW but it do not come up under my viin number in the recall list of viin. The vehicle is now parked searching for true answers..

2008 750li · 100,000 miles · Mar 2016 · fire

I have a 2008 750 li BMW 110,00 miles on it an I been haing problems with seat belt fault electrical parsitic draw in electrical system BMW cant seem to fix these issues. I have spent thousand of dollars chasing these defects and safety issues. I read the complaints about the same issue others were having and nothing has been done to recall these vehicle in. Please respond to this because im lost for answers on why isnt this vehicle been recall for these problems. Vehicle is sitting in my garage cant drive dont start change battery continue to drain. Have been to dealer three times for this problem. My phone nr to reach me is [redacted]

2008 750li · 110,000 miles · Mar 2019

Related recalls (1)

Electrical system › Ignition › Switch

NHTSA recall 12V-502 · Oct 17, 2012 · 45,500 vehicles

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 investigations

Vehicle Rollaway

NHTSA investigation PE11025 · opened Aug 5, 2011 · closed Apr 23, 2012

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

NHTSA investigation EA12002 · opened Apr 10, 2012 · closed Jan 24, 2013 · led to recall 12V-502

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…

Frequently asked questions

Which BMW 750li years have electrical problems?

By NHTSA complaints, the 2006 (22), 2007 (15), 2008 (13), 2011 (7) and 2010 (6) model years. Electrical complaints make up 10% of all complaints for the 2006.

Is there a recall for BMW 750li electrical problems?

Yes — 1 recall, including 12V-502 (switch, Oct 17, 2012). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.

At what mileage do BMW 750li electrical problems start?

Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 91,000 miles; 13% happened before 50,000 miles.

What part fails most often?

Owners most often name the 12v/24v/48v battery (2 mentions), followed by the ignition › anti-theft › control module (1).

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.