Five problems related to radiator have been reported for the 1998 BMW 740. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
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 . .
No warning other than a slight anit-freeze smell. Upon checking out the odor, upper radiator neck between hose clamp and radiator just broke off spewing scalding hot fluid everywhere. Luckily hood was not completely open at the time. Radiator needed to be replaced, not repairable. Old part tossed.
Faulty radiators that have a design flaw that allows for the radiator neck to break off without notice and spray hot coolant everywhere. This problem is well known just visit roadfly. Org e38 message board and search for "radiator neck. " this typically occurs between 50,000-70,000 miles.
Radiator blew at 70mph on the freeway. This is a known problem with this model and BMW noth America refuses to admit there is a problem. Luckily no injuries were caused, but easily could have as the entire engine bay was sprayed with hot coolant. Antifreeze also sprayed down side of vehicle.