2004 BMW 7 Series

Defect. BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2010 5-SERIES, 6-SERIES, AND MODEL YEAR 2002-2008 7-SERIES VEHICLES. A CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP MAY LEAK A SMALL AMOUNT OF LUBRICATING OIL. OVER TIME THIS COULD RESULT IN CONTAMINATION OF THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

Risk. POWER ASSIST BRAKING PERFORMANCE COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. IN EXTREME CASES THERE COULD BE A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ASSIST BRAKING. AN UNEXPECTED REDUCTION OR LOSS IN POWER BRAKING ASSIST MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT HEATING SYSTEMS, UPON ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, EXCESSIVE CONTACT WITH THE SIDE BOLSTER THAT IS CONTAINED IN THE SEAT'S BACKREST MAY DAMAGE THE HEATING MAT LOCATED IN THIS AREA. IF SUCH DAMAGE WERE TO OCCUR, WITH THE SYSTEM TURNED ON, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT MAY FEEL EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM THIS AREA.

Risk. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE HEATING MAT IN THE BACKREST'S SIDE BOLSTER COULD OVERHEAT AND DAMAGE, OR MELT A SMALL HOLE IN, THIS AREA OF THE SEAT COVER. IF THIS HAPPENED, IT COULD LEAD TO AN OCCUPANT BEING BURNED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE SEAT HEATING CIRCUIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING DECEMBER 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (ODS) MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RELIABLY DETERMINE IF THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS OCCUPIED.

Risk. IN CERTAIN CRASH CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER'S FRONT AIR BAG, HEAD PROTECTION SYSTEM, SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONER, AND KNEE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO A SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SOFTWARE FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 13, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 8 AND 12 CYLINDER ENGINES, THE DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL (EMC) UNITS WERE NOT PRODUCED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS.

Risk. AS A RESULT, ENGINE STALLING WILL OCCUR AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF OPERATION. THE VEHICLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESTART. ALSO, A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND, AFTER REPEATED ACTUATION OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, A LOSS OF BRAKE POWER ASSIST WILL OCCUR. THESE CONDITIONS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW DIGITAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT CONTROL UNIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

I HAVE BEEN GETTING THIS ERROR IN MY IDRIVE SYSTEM: "FAULT IN PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEM AFFECTING AIRBAG, BELT TENSIONER OR BELT-FORCE LIMITER. FASTEN AND CONTINUE TO WEAR BELTS. PLEASE CONTACT THE NEAREST BMW CENTER."

THE REAR SIDE DOOR UNEXPECTEDLY OPEN WHILE DRIVING, A WEEK LATER THE OTHER SIDE DID THE SAME THING THE FOR OPEN THEN IT CLOSED BY ITS SELF. I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A HIGHWSY.

I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THEY GOT HARD AND WENT TO THE FLOOR. BRAKES WOULD BE SOFT INITIALLY AND AS PRESSURE WAS CONTINUED WOULD GET HARD AND REQUIRED SUSTAINED INTENSE EFFORT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM BY BMW INVOLVING THE BOOSTER AND THEY CLAIM TO HAVE INSPECTED VEHICLE FOR THIS PROBLEM IN 2011 AND IT DID NOT REQUIRE BEING FIXED. THIS WAS BEFORE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALER. THEY NOW REFUSE TO FIX THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS NOT BEEN APPROPRIATELY ADDRESSED BY BMW. SADLY BMW PRIDES ITSELF IN GOOD BRAKES BUT REFUSES TO ADEQUATELY ADDRESS A PROBLEM THEY IDENTIFIED. IT WAS LISTED BY BMW AS A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE ON THEIR WEBSITE. 10V44660000 THEY SAY IT HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED. IT HAS NOT AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BECAUSE OF THE SERIOUS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. *TR

VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL INTO THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND I HAVE TO ADD MORE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD A RECALL CAMPAIGN NOVEMBER 2010 NO. 10V-446: BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO FIELDS BMW AND THEY PROVIDED ME WITH DOCUMENTATION STATING; "11/30/2010 0034910100 CK BRAKE BOOSTER LINE N62. B34, 04, 10". I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE, AND I COULD PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, AND THE EXPENSES FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER TO BE REPLACED. I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO A BMW TECH FOR A FULL DIAGNOSTIC, AND HE INFORMED ME THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE ABOVE, AND IT'S DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR. YOUR ASSISTANCE REGARDING THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

CHECK VALVE OF THE BRAKE VACCUM PUMP LEAKING. CHIRPING SOUND DURING IDLE. SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V446000. *JS

HARD TO START, CRANKS FOR A WHILE TILL IT BUILDS UP PRESSURE THEN STARTS. IDLES ROUGH AND SOMETIMES DIES WHEN SITTING AT STOP LIGHT, AND SPUTTERING POWER AT TIME WHEN TAKING OFF, LEAKS FUEL FROM RIGHT REAR WHEEL WELL WHEN FILLING WITH FUEL. ALSO STALLS WHILE DRIVING AND TOTAL LOSS OF POWER FOR STEERING AND OTHER CONTROLS, VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT OCCURS. I'M TOLD IT IS THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND I MUST SAY THAT I CANNOT SEE HOW THIS PART CAN BE SO EXPENSIVE ($2,700) AND SURPRISED THAT BMW DID NOT RECALL THESE AND REPLACE IF THIS IN AN ENDEMIC FAULT. I WAS LUCKY THAT MY CAR FAILED 20 YARDS FROM MY HOUSE AS I RETURNED FROM A 200 MILE ROUND TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY. I DREAD TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED TO ME IF THIS HAD STOPPED WHILE I WAS ON THE FAST LANE OF THE HIGHWAY. FOR WHAT IS A FLAGSHIP CAR, IT IS A POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP. *TR

IN REFERENCE TO BMW 760LI FUEL PUMP. RECENTLY HAD TO REPLACE MINE, AFTER CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE THE HIGHWAY. CAR ALSO WAS HARD TO START, HAD TO CRANK ALONG TIME TO BUILD UP ENOUGH PRSSURE TO START. PROBLEM BECAME WORSE OVER TIME. *TT

OWNER OF '04 745I AS OF 4/8/11. LAST MONTH RECEIVED NOTICE STATING "DEFAULT IN DRIVER RESTRAINT SYSTEM & AIRBAG ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY & MESSAGE STATING AIRBAG MAY NOT OPERATE." TOOK A TRIP TO MISSOURI LAST WK & RECEIVED A NOTICE THAT THERE'S A FAULT IN PASS RESTRAINT SYSTEM, RED ILLUMINATED LIGHT, AIRBAG MAY NOT OPERATE." BMW STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO HOOK IT UP TO A MACHINE ($225) TO READ THE CODE AND THAT IT MAY BE FROM PEOPLE MOVING AROUND IN THE SEAT AND THAT AFTER RETRIEVING THE CODE, THE LABOR & PARTS COULD RANGE FROM $250-$3000. *TT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 760LI. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MERGE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE STALLED APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED BOTH HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMPS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 760LI. WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 50 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE EXCESSIVELY AND THEN STALL WITHOUT WARNING SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V344000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM). BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL AND OFFERED NO ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 51,600 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 51,550.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I SERIES. THE CONTACT STATED HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE DRIVER SIDE REARVIEW MIRROR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLASMA FRACTURED FROM THE MIRROR CAUSING THE MIRROR TO BECOME CLEAR AND DARK WITH CIRCLE SPOTS THAT CREATED A DOUBLE VISION. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MIRROR REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER10V446000, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST VACUUM AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT REPLACING THE HOSE WOULD ONLY BE A TEMPORARY REPAIR THAT WOULD CAUSE FUTURE PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 58,500.

I STARTED MY BMW 745I TO WARM IT UP ALONG WITH THE HEATED SEATS. CAME OUT OF MY HOUSE THREE MINUTES LATER TO LEAVE AND SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. I LOOKED AROUND BUT DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING OUTRIGHT OBVIOUS. I STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY WHEN I FELT BURNING SENSATION TO MY LEFT SIDE. I TURNED TO LOOK AND SAW THAT SEAT HEATER WAS BURNING THROUGH THE LEATHER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BACK OF THE SEAT. I MADE LEFT A MESSAGE WITH A SERVICE REP AT "NEW COUNTRY BMW" OF HARTFORD,CT WITH NO RETURN CALL WITHIN 24 HOURS AS THERE ANSWERING SERVICE PROMISES. I THEN BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO "NEW COUNTRY BMW" OF HARTFORD, CT WHERE THE SERVICE REP TOLD MYSELF HE HAD "NEVER HEARD OF THERE BEING A SEAT HEATER RECALL". *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ROUTINE REPAIR AND THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED OIL LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP INTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V446000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: POWER ASSIST: VACUUM). IN CONJUNCTION TO THE RECALL REPAIR THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP WAS REPLACED AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REMEDY WAS NOT SUFFICIENT AND FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

THE ENGINE OIL FILTER DRAIN PLUG IS INSUFFICIENT, CAUSING A LARGE LOSS OF OIL TO LEAK. THIS HAS AFFECTED AND DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASE OF A USED 2004 BMW 745LI, THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES. CAR WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION, THEREFORE I PAID $1700 TO BMW OF SILVER SPRING TO HAVE THIS CORRECTED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN AND LOSE POWER. THE SAFETY MECHANISM IN THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN IF IT SENSED A FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. ON ONE OCCASION, SHE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER AROUND THE CORNER AND THE OTHER TWO TIMES, SHE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE CODE WAS LOST. THE CONTACT SHOWED THE MECHANIC PICTURES OF THE MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT READ, "DO NOT DRIVE, ENGINE OVERHEATING, TURN ENGINE OFF". THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $600. SHE DID NOT BELIEVE THAT THE ISSUE CENTERED AROUND THE BATTERY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE NO CODE DISPLAYED, THEY COULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,827. UPDATED 09/17/08.*LJ UPDATED 09/25/08. *JB

WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP ON AN INCLINE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED FULL CHOCKED TO EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL FREEZES AND CANNOT BE TURNED TO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IT WILL NOT FREE UP UNTIL I SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND BACK UP A FEW FEET. AT THAT POINT IT WILL UNFREEZE WITH A JERK AND OPERATE CORRECTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ABOUT 6 OCCASIONS. I NOTIFIED THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, USED WITH 52,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS 55,000 MILES AND I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS. THE DEALERS SERVICE SHOP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY ERROR CODES IN THE OBD. I BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE ON AN INCLINE, WHICH IS THE CASE WITH MY DRIVEWAY, WHERE IT HAPPENED 4 OF THE 6 TIMES. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENCE HAPPENED ON MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY WHICH ALSO HAS A MODERATELY STEEP INCLINE. (*** UPDATE***) LOCAL DEALERSHIP CONTACTED THE FACTORY IN GERMANY AND WAS TOLD THAT A FIX WAS TO INSTALL 'BUMPERS" ON EACH END OF THE STEERING MECHANISM THAT WOULD PREVENT THE WHEELS FROM TURNING TOO FAR AND RIDING UP ONTO THE FACTORY INSTALLED STEERING STOPS. THE DEALER OBTAINED THE "BUMPERS" AND INSTALLED THEM AT NO CHARGE. I WAS TOLD THAT I'D RECEIVE PAPERWORK ON THE MODIFICATIONS SOON. *TR

WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP ON AN INCLINE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED FULL CHOCKED TO EITHER THE LEFT OR RIGHT THE STEERING WHEEL FREEZES AND CANNOT BE TURNED TO THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. IT WILL NOT FREE UP UNTIL I SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION IN REVERSE AND BACK UP A FEW FEET. AT THAT POINT IT WILL UNFREEZE WITH A JERK AND OPERATE CORRECTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON ABOUT 6 OCCASIONS. I NOTIFIED THE LOCAL DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR, USED WITH 52,000 MILES. IT NOW HAS 55,000 MILES AND I'VE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS. THE DEALERS SERVICE SHOP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND COULD NOT FIND ANY ERROR CODES IN THE OBD. I BELIEVE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE ON AN INCLINE, WHICH IS THE CASE WITH MY DRIVEWAY, WHERE IT HAPPENED 4 OF THE 6 TIMES. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENCE HAPPENED ON MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY WHICH ALSO HAS A MODERATELY STEEP INCLINE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A WARNING FROM THE COMPUTER TO ENGAGE HIS SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELTS WERE ALREADY ENGAGED, HOWEVER, HE CONTINUED TO RECEIVE THE MESSAGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH IN THE PROGRAM AND THEY WOULD NEED TO SERVICE THE COMPUTER. APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE. THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEATHER AND WIRING IN THE FRONT SEAT. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,200.