Table 1 shows one common service brakes related problems of the 1998 BMW 740.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes problems |
I was driving my BMW 740il on 2-17-2015 when after getting onto the highway and accelerating, there was a loud boom noise and black pieces shot out onto the road in front of me. I immediately got off the first exit only to find that 1. ) the car wouldn't stop after I applied the brakes, and 2. ) the car continued to accelerate even when my foot was off the accelerator pedal. I went through two intersections, unable to stop, before turning into a big driveway where I set the shifter into reverse, which slowed the car down, and then I put it into park. Steam was shooting out from under the hood and when I checked underneath it, I saw the blades of the fan behind the radiator had all been stripped off the rotor with pieces violently scattered around the engine area. Also, the hose to the coolant reservoir became detached and the hood received two dents from the inside when the fan exploded. The car has since been towed, and repairs have not yet been started. The whole situation was unbelievable. The vehicle had been in tip-top shape and there were no previous signs that anything was inherently wrong. Luckily nothing happened but people could have been seriously hurt or worse by what happened on that day. Please don't hesitate to contact me should you wish to inspect the vehicle prior to repairs. I also took several pictures of the damage.
I bought this vehicle in 2002 at 96k miles it has been nothing but problems, since buying vehicle, I have had water pump failure twice, replaced radiator twice , hoses & rings. . Two battery's front bumper, catalytic convertor l. Bay, changed. . Brakes & rotors changed Nov. 11. . . . . . 3 weeks later as I was driving home from work . . I got a transmission failure. . And the car stopped in the middle of the road. . The car goes in reverse but not forward. . I have only driven this car 15 -16k miles since owning the vehicle I have had all these chronic repairs. . I'm distraught that I could have been in a serious car crash. . Not sure what to do?. . But accrd. . To many BMW owners I find on the net there is a chronic problem w/ transmission failure BMW should be held accountable. . It is dangerous and unsafe for drivers there needs to be some investigation in regards to transmission failure . .
This is about my 1998 740il BMW. Two times since owning this vehicle the engine reveved up when I was pushing the brake pedal, nearly causing me to loose control. I found the problem. Compared to my previous Mercedes Benz, the accelarator and brake pedals are closer together. Also, the brake pedal of the BMW compresses further down that with any other car. As a result, if my foot was only on the edge of the brake pedal, the bottom of my foot extended over onto the gas pedal. The harder I pressed the brake, the more gas I was giving the engine. To a new person in that car, as I was, this was a deadly conbination. Now that I know, I am much more careful and the situation has not reoccurred.