Two problems related to transmission failure have been reported for the 2002 BMW 745. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
After having my car serviced approximately three months prior to the incident and then complaining to the dealership after I picked it up from being serviced that my car was idling rough, I was advised by the service technician to change to texaco gas. I was going on vacation to virginia and was on i95 driving at approximately 60 miles per hour, when my car started shutting down in the fast lane as cars were traveling behind me at a high rate of speed. I was able to maneuver myself over to the side of the beltway before my car shut down completely and went into driver failsafe mode, which I had no idea what that meant. I was later told by a BMW dealership that the mechatronic unit went bad and they would have to replace the transmission to the tune of $9,000 with a remanufactured transmission, which I felt was obscured. I have done extensive research and they had numerous problems with that years model and especially with the transmissions that were built by gm. Gm recalled other 2002 vehicles with those transmissions in them, but BMW will not own up to the ultimate driving machines transmission failure. I feel that as a consumer who has invested a great deal of money for this luxury vehicle and who has also have maintained the service and upkeep, that my life and potentially the lives of others should not be jeopardized by the arrogance of a company to not own up to this major problem. The incident could have ended in tragedy and it should not have to take that to hold a company accountable for poor quality and workmanship. If you look into it, you will find that the transmission was changed in 2003 due to the issues that found with the 2002 model. I want them to be responsible for the replacement of the faulty transmission in my car and others. So my ultimate driving machine sits covered. I tried reaching out to BMW of north America, but to no avail.
I took my car to BMW service dept. In March and April to get my car serviced for scheduled service and for the "check engine soon" light displayed. Immediately following the service I experienced my car hesitating to start and also sounded rough and idled. I called the next morning and spoke with a service advisor about my car and he said to bring it in. I stopped there on my way to work the next morning and they started my car and asked me what type of gas I was using and I said exxon. I was told that I probably got a hold of some bad gas and when I asked what should I do, I was told that I should wait until about 7-8 fill ups to allow the gas to burn out and if I still experienced the problem to bring it back. The service advisor informed me that BMW recommends using texaco gas with techron. Recently, I was traveling out of town with my two nephews in my car in the fast lane on route 95 south when I heard a sound that resembled a car back firing and then felt my car lose power which was one of the most frightening situations that I've ever experienced. I drifted to the side and noticed on my display my car read "transmission failsafe mode" and would not engage in drive even though it was still running and the "check engine soon" light was displayed. I had my car towed home because the service department was not open. The following week I had my car towed to the BMW to perform a diagnostic test and told them to notify my husband of the results. My husband was told that the diagnostic codes were due to a bad mechatronic unit, but there were recommending replacing the transmission to the tune of $12,000 (remanufactured) due to being changed in 2004. I was infuriated by the fact that the service manual says that the transmission should be serviced at 1000,000 miles, and there was no indication nor was I notified by BMW that needed to take place. To be placed in a dangerous and potential fatal situation at my cost is unacceptable.