2004 BMW 7 Series Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
ENGINE VALVE GUIDE SEALS MADE OF IMPROPER MATERIAL THAT FAILS CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE INTO EXHAUST, FOULING OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER, FAILURE TO PASS INSPECTION AND POLLUTION. THE VALVE GUIDE SEALS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURES WHICH CAUSES THE SEALS TO FAIL AT 80,000 TO 120,000 MILES. MY SEALS FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY 95,000 MILES CAUSING OIL CONSUMPTION IN EXCESS OF 1 QUART PER THOUSAND MILES. REPLACEMENT OF THE VALVE SEALS REQUIRES EXTENSIVE ENGINE READ DOWN AND COSTS APPROXIMATELY $9,000 TO REPAIR.
COOLANT TRANSFER PIPE SEAL IS MADE OF IMPROPER MATERIAL THAT IS NOT COMPATBLE WITH HIGH ENGINE TEMPERATURES. SEAL FAILS CAUSING LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT. SEAL FAILS AT 40,000 TO 110,000 MILES. REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $6,000 BECAUSE ENGINE MUST BE TAKEN APART TO REPLACE THE SEAL. MY SEAL FAILED AT 104,000 MILES. LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL DUE TO COOLANT LEAK ONTO SERPENTINE BELT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,245. UPDATED 5/8/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE KEPT RUNNING AND DID NOT DIE.
I HAVE A 2004 BMW 745I, I NOTICED A LOT OF SMOKE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE WHEN THE CAR IS IDLING/DRIVING. I TOOK IT IN FOR A DIAGNOSTIC AT A REPLICABLE REPAIR SHOP, AND I WAS TOLD THE VALVE GUIDE SEAL'S WHERE WORN AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE VALVE GUIDE SEALS BECOMES HARD OVER TIME AND DOESN'T PROVIDE A PROPER SEAL FOR THE VALVE STEM'S. THIS ALLOWS OIL TO PASS THROUGH THE VALVE STEM SEALS AND ENTER THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER AND THE EXHAUST.( NOT ONLY DOES THIS CAUSE POLLUTION) IT DAMAGES THE CAT CONVERTER THEREFORE YOU CAN NOT PASS A SMOG TEST. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE BY BMW, BMW REPAIR SHOPS, AND CERTIFIED MECHANIC ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. I CONTACTED BMW CORPORATE OFFICE REGARDING THE PROBLEM, I WAS THEN CONTACTED BACK BY [XXX] WITH BMW EXECUTIVE CUSTOMER CARE. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO BMW OF ONTARIO TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC, BECAUSE THEY DON'T EXCEPT THIRD PARTY OPINIONS. BMW OF ONTARIO CONTACT ME TO TELL ME IT WILL BE $6,500.00 BECAUSE THEY NEED TO REMOVE THE ENGINE AND TEAR IT DOWN FOR INSPECTION. I WAS LATER CONTACT BY [XXX], WHO TOLD ME THAT HER FIELD MANAGER DENIED ANY FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC OR REPAIRS ON MY CAR. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS VERY INEVITABLE ISSUE THAT HAPPENS TO 5,6,7 AND X SERIES BMW MODELS THAT ARE ON THE ROAD CAUSING NASTY POLLUTION. SEE LINK'S BELOW FOR EXAMPLE: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=DVO85LMZMFM HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=S-UZ__R1AOK HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=VZEZRAOIHKY INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745LI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE HOSE TO THE ENGINE WAS FRACTURED, CAUSING THE OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 90,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW 745I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE COOLANT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE. AFTER ADDING ANTIFREEZE, THE FLUIDS WENT RIGHT TO THE PIPE AND SPILLED ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE WATER PIPE WAS FRACTURED FROM THE RADIATOR TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
THE ENGINE OIL FILTER DRAIN PLUG IS INSUFFICIENT, CAUSING A LARGE LOSS OF OIL TO LEAK. THIS HAS AFFECTED AND DAMAGED THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Trend Over Time
Complaints by year
Other Issues
Common problems reported
Quick Summary
The 2004 BMW 7 Series has 7 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.