2004 BMW 7 Series Powertrain & Transmission Problems

The electric parking gear shift slipped out of park on it own. When I stepped out of the car and the gear was placed in P park position, I got out the car was completely in park and not moving, I went to open my garage and planned to come back and drive car in garage. The car automatically with no one driving slipped into another gear on its own, I looked up as I was opening garage the car was driving towards me and pinned me in between the garage and car. I was stuck and screaming for help I almost lost my life a neighbor ran over and put it in reverse and saved my life. I was car flighted to trauma unit with fractured hips and pelvic area. I was almost killed in this accident.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE MANIFOLD. ALSO, THE WHEELS AND AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW OF STRATHAM (71 PORTSMOUTH AVENUE, STRATHAM, NH 03885, (603) 772-0000), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO WORK ON THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE AN AFTERMARKET WARRANTY. THE CONTACT DECLINED THE RECOMMENDATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. HAPPENS WHEN YOU ACCELERATE QUICKLY SPECIALLY WHILE CHANGING THE LANE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES DARK, THEN I NEED TO PULL OVER SHUT THE CAR AND RESTART. WHEN THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED IT, BASED ON THE DTC CODE, HE FIRST RECOMMENDED CHANGING THE BATTERY, WHICH I DID. THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME, AND BASED ON THE DTC CODE CHANGED THE ALTERNATOR. AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. BMW REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, THEY SAY THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN DUE TO THE AGE OF THE CAR. I DON'T EXPECT THAT A BMW TRANSMISSION SHOULD GO BAD UNDER 73K MILES, EVEN IF THE CAR IS 10+ YEARS OLD. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN IN SNOW/ICE, STAYS IN GARAGE FROM OCT - APRIL. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT BMW REFUSES TO ASSIST WITH. HAVE BEEN READING VARIOUS FORUMS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILSAFE MESSAGE COMES. I WOULD LIKE BMW TO STEP UP AND TAKE THE OWNERSHIP OF GETTING THIS ISSUE FIXED. *TR

I HAVE DRIVEN 2004 BMW 745I FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS. IT HAS 44000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RECENTLY, IT STOPS WHILE DRIVING. EACH TIME IT STOPS, THE GEAR IS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. WHEN I TRIED TO START ENGINE, IT WON'T START. AFTER USING CELL PHONE TO REQUEST FOR HELP, THE ENGINE STARTS. IT HAPPENED MORE THAN FIVE TIMES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 7451. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE ALTERNATOR HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V344000 (ENGINE) AND 03V240000 (POWER TRAIN). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

SENSOR MALFUNCTION CAUSES TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT INTO ALTERNATE GEARS WHILE CAR IS IN MOTION. WHILE IN DRIVE CAR WOULD SHIFT INTO REVERSE OR NEUTRAL BY ITSELF WITH NO OPERATOR CONTROL. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND EVERYTHING WENT HAYWIRE AND ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE FELT LIKE IT SHUT OFF. AFTER I PULLED OVER I SHUT IT OFF AND TRIED TURNING IT BACK ON BUT IT WOULDN'T START. I SAT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 25 MIN AND TRIED IT AGAIN AND IT FINALLY TURNED BACK ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE PARK SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AS THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND INTO REVERSE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC FAILED TO PRODUCE ANY FAILURE CODES. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, WHEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. SHE IMMEDIATELY WENT OUTSIDE AND DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE HAD WENT INTO REVERSE ON ITS OWN AND HIT THE GARAGE DOOR. UPDATED 05/03/12

2004 BMW 745I. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE RAN THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY RUNNING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE ON ITS OWN AND CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED, AND NO PROBLEMS WERE FOUND. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED INVESTIGATION NUMBER PE11025. *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DECREASED HIS DRIVABILITY. IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS UNEXPECTEDLY. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER, NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING AND BRAKES FAILED REPEATEDLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE REPAIRED TWICE BEFORE LOCATING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER:04V344000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE -TCM, PCM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE FAILURE WAS IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, BUT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD OUT OF A GARAGE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE BY ENGAGING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,071.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 760LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ECM UNIT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V344000 (POWER TRAIN) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

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.

NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS INCLUDING "POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE" AND "LOSS OF STABILITY CONTROL" LIT UP ON MY 2004 BMW 745LI. THE VEHICLE LOST ITS ABILITY TO ACCELERATE, WHICH EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THE HIGH TRAFFIC SITUATION I WAS EXPERIENCING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS FAILURE IS IN ADDITION TO NUMEROUS WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS THAT APPEAR INTERMITTENTLY IN THE VEHICLE AND THEN RESET THEMSELVES ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE DIAGNOSIS BY BMW WAS THAT THE MECHATRONIC UNIT ON THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED (AFTER ONLY 70,000 MILES, THIS IS BARELY THE BREAK IN PERIOD FOR THESE VEHICLES). THE TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS QUOTED AT $5,000. THE MACHATRONICS UNIT WAS REPLACED AND SEEMS TO BE WORKING FOR NOW. UPON READING UP ON ISSUES RELATED TO THE BMW 745LI IT IS AMAZING THAT NO MAJOR RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED ON ITS ELECTRICALS, TRANSMISSION, AND COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS. ALL OF THESE SEEM LIKE HUGE SAFETY CONCERNS AS THE VEHICLE TENDS TO FAIL WHILE IN TRAFFIC. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION SAFE MODE ACTIVATED AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DYNAMIC DRIVE WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE COULD POSSIBLY BECOME DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *TR

VEHICLE TYPE IS A 2004 745LI BMW V-8 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE CAR IS IN 5TH GEAR THE CAR HICCUPS LIKE IT WANTS TO UP SHIFT BUT THEN DOES NOT. IT CAUSE THE CAR IT JERK EVERY 3 TO 5 SECONDS WHEN IN 5TH GEAR. WHEN THE CAR IS IN ANY OTHER GEAR IN DOES NOT DO THIS. I HAVE HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUID COMPLETELY CHANGED OUT. IN WHICH THE FLUID SMELLED BURNT AND LOOKED BROWN IN COLOR. BMW SAYS THAT IT IS A LIFE TIME FLUID (IT IS NOT). WHEN THE CAR IS ACCELERATING THROUGH 5TH GEAR IT DOES NOT DO THE PROBLEM EITHER. THERE IS SOMETHING CLEARLY WRONG WHICH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE TAKING THE CAR TO TWO INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOPS AND THEY HAVE NO IDEA. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THE CAR WILL STAY IN 6TH GEAR AT 45 MPH AND NORMALLY CRUISE IN THE CITY IN 4TH GEAR AT LOWER SPEEDS AND AVOID 5TH GEAR WITH THE USE OF THE MANUAL SHIFTS ON THE STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, THE DYNAMIC DRIVE SYSTEM FAILS ABOUT ONCE A MONTH IN WHICH YOU CAN TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN AND THE CAR DYNAMIC DRIVE SYSTEM WORKS FINE FOR A MONTH OR SO. THIS CAUSES THE CAR CHASSIS TO ROLL WHEN CORNERING. DURING THIS TIME OF FAILURE THE STEREO MAKES ODD NOISES IN WHICH I THINK IT IS BECAUSE THE STEREO VOLUME IS SET TO GET LOUDER AS THE CAR SPEED INCREASES. THESE ISSUES ALL TEND TO HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STALLING WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG, ENGINE, AND TRANSMISSION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SAFETY MODULE FAILED. THE REPAIR COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $1,200. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V344000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: CONTROL MODULE); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 136,000.

TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN FAILING ON MY 2004 754LI THE FIRST YEAR I PURCHASED IT. I HAVE SENT TO THE VIST BMW IN CYPRESS CREEK FLORIDA OVER 20 TIMES IT STAYED IN THE THEIR HANDS FOR WEEKS ON END AND ALWAYS TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. FOR YEARS IT WAS A CONSTANT CHORE TO DRIVE 30 MILES TO THEIR FACILITY AND FOR THEM TO INSPECT MY COMPLAINT TO SIMPLY TO TELL ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. LOW AND BEHOLD MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AND WHEN I WENT THERE AGAIN, THEY SAID " WELL IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND WOULD NEED EXTENSIVE REPAIRS". IMMEDIATELY, I COMPLAINED AND BEGAN TO REQUEST SUPERVISORS. THEY ONCE AGAIN CONTACTED THE BMW NORTH AMERICA SUPERVISOR WHO SAID THEY WILL NOT WARRANTY THIS COMPLAINT REGARDLESS OF THE DOCUMENTED HISTORY. I HAVE WASTED OVER 100 DAYS OF MY CAR BEING IN THE SHOP AND AT THIS POINT I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION IS CONSTANTLY FAILING AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. I PAID CLOSE TO 90K FOR THIS VEHICLE AND PLENTY OF ADDITIONAL MONIES FOR RENTALS AND ADDITIONAL REPAIRS DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE CARS TRANSMISSION TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO...PLEASE HELP IN THIS ECONOMY THE CAR'S VALUE HAS DEPLETED AND WITHOUT A PROPER TRANSMISSION IT IS ALMOST WORTHLESS. *TR