1994 BMW 740I Recalls, Complaints & Safety

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE OUTER TUBE COULD CATCH ON THE EDGE OF THE BROKEN BUSHING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.

410,000 vehicles affected

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

180,000 vehicles affected

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 BMW 740I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS CRUISE CONTROL LOCKED UP AT FULL THROTTLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO OVER 100 MPH WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED. HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKES, AS WELL AS ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. HE DROVE TO A SERVICE STATION AND SOMEONE DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AWAY NORMALLY WITHOUT USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE BMW DEALER ADVISED HIM TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THEM ON OCTOBER 27, 2008. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000. UPDATED 11/14/08 *CN UPDATED 11/18/08.*JB UPDATED 12/12/08 *CN UPDATED 12/15/08. *JB

LTR FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER REGARDING THE GOVERNMENT ALLOWING BMW TO IMPORT AUTOMOBILES INTO THE US MARKET WITH A DEFECTIVE ENGINE**CC THE CONSUMER OWNS A 1994 BMW 740I WHICH HAD A PROBLEM KNOWS AS A LEAK DOWN PROBLEM WHICH RESULTED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK HAVING TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER USED NIKASIL, AN ALUMINUM NIKEL AND SILICON ALLOY TO LINE THE CYLINDERS OF THE M60 ENGINE. THE CROSS-HATCHED NIKASIL LININGS REACT WITH HIGH SULFUR CONTENT GASOLINE. THE REACTION CAUSED DAMAGED TO THE VERY TOP OF THE CYLINDER BORE, WHERE THERE WAS MOST CONTACT OF THE BURNING MIXTURE AND CYLINDER LINING. THE DAMAGED PREVENTED A GOOD SEAL FROM FORMING BETWEEN THE PISTON CYLINDER WALL WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. *JB

1994 740I BMW LEAK DOWN PROBLEM THAT DESTROYED THE ENGINE**CC THE LEAK DOWN FLAW CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DEVELOP WORN LININGS AND EXHIBIT A ROUGH IDLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER USED NIKASIL, AN ALUMINUM, NICKEL AND SILICON ALLOY TO LINE THE CYLINDERS OF THE M60 ENGINE. THE CROSS HATCHED NIKASIL LININGS REACTED WITH HIGH SULFUR CONTENT FOUND IN LOWER-QUALITY GASOLINE. THE REACTION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE VERY TOP OF THE CYLINDER BORE, WHERE THERE IS MOST CONTACT OF THE BURNING MIXTURE AND THE CYLINDER LINING. THE DAMAGE PREVENTED A GOOD SEAL FROM FORMING BETWEEN THE PISTON AND THE CYLINDER WALL, WHICH CAUSED A LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY PERMANENT FIX FOR THE PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE SHORT BLOCK WITH THE EQUIVALENT BLOCK USING ALUSIL LININGS, WHICH DO NOT EXHIBIT THE CORROSION PROBLEM. *JB

SINCE 1999 MY 1994 740I WITH 41,367 MILES HAS INTERIM CAR SHAKES ON THE STREET AND AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. FOR TWO YEARS THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS NOTHING AND WE SHOULD REPLACE THE MOUNTS. *AK NOW IN 2004 THE ENGINE SHAKES REAL BAD, LACKS POWER, AND A LOT OF GREY SMOKE IS COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. WE'VE GONE BACK TO THE DEALER AND AFTER CHARGING US $350 FOR A CYLINDER LEAK TEST WE HAVE CONFIRMATION THAT ALL 8 CYLINDERS HAVE BETWEEN A 38%-60% LEAK. BMW NOW STATES THAT AT 73,114 WE NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT A COST OF $14,732.

I HAVE LISTED A NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS THAT ARE EQUAL TO THE TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING. TELL IF THIS TRUE AND WHAT CAN I DO. I HAVE A 1994 BMW 740I WITH 89,000 MILES. 1) 740I M60 SLIGHT SHAKING VIBRATING AT IDLE HELLO, MY 740I MODEL 1994 95,000 MILES (BUILT SPET. 1993) IS SHAKING A LITTLE AT IDLE. I HEARD ABOUT THE NIKASIL ISSUE, BMW SHOP SAYS THAT'S NOT THE REASON. THE AIR PRESSURE HAS BEEN TESTED FOR LEAKAGE (AT OIL FILL IN) AND WITH 2.5 (OF WHATEVER) IT IS OKAY, SAYS THE MECHANIC. 3.5 AND ABOVE WOULD BE BAD, HE SAYS. THEIR SOLUTION TO SOLVE THE SHAKING IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION MOUNTS (890.00 US$ TOTAL), BUT I DON'T AGREE WITH THEM, SINCE THE SHAKING IS VISIBLE AT THE ENGINE BLOCK, AND THAT IS NOT NORMAL. EVERY NOW AND THEN (+-3 SECONDS) A SLIGHTLY STRONGER SHAKE IS NOTICEABLE. IT IS NOT REALLY DRAMATICAL, JUST ANNOYING, AND DEFINITELY NOT NORMAL, SINCE THE ENGINE DOESN'T RUN SMOOTHLY ROUND (MY DAD HAS THE SAME CAR, SO I KNOW HOW NICE IT CAN BE). RECENTLY THE SPARK PLUGS AND ROCKER GASKETS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEA WHAT TO LOOK FOR NEXT, I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE COMMENTS! 2) THE PROBLEM IS LISTED AT HTTP://WWW.KOALAMOTORSPORT.COM/TECH/MISC/V8SHORTBLOCK.HTM TELL ME IF THIS MY PROBLEM? ARE YOU GOING TO FIX. 180,000 UNITS AFFECTED. *LA

WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, IT ROLLS BACK LIKE VECHICLE IS STILL IN REVERSE. DEALER CONTACTED.*JB REPLACED BUSHINGS AND IDLER ARM AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT. LEFT VALVE COVER GASKET REPLACED. REPLACED POWER STEERING RETURN CLAMP. REPLACED FRONT CONVERTER TO WELD. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. *TT

DRIVER TURNED ON TO HEAVILY TRAVELED STATE HIGHWAY WHEN STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO TURN TIRES. CAR TRAVELED ACROSS HIGHWAY AND CAME TO REST JUST SHORT OF DITCH. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR.