1998 BMW 7 Series 740iL 4.4L

Summary:

Well maintained or not... 7 means expensive!

Faults:

7 means... expensive!

Valve cover gasket has no life span.

Power steering motor goes at 100K.

Belt tensioner goes... so does your cooling system.

General Comments:

Great car... handles well, fast, but it will cost you after 100K.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th December, 2010

20th Jan 2012, 20:06

1998 740iL owner since new. Wonderful classic car, until you need a part. Was just charged over $700 to have the glove box lock/handle replaced. This is a two-part piece of plastic that can't cost more than $10 to make. That's how BMW treats their faithful. Abusive.

I'll never buy another BMW.

Jay in NYC.

In reply to 20th Jan 2012, 20:06

29th Jan 2020, 06:10

I just spoke to my mechanic today about the glove box components! I have a 2001 740i... and the mechanism costs upwards of $400.00 to this day (nineteen years later)!!! LOL.

In reply to 29th Jan 2020, 06:10

29th Jan 2020, 18:58

My Porsche key fobs are $600 each. Fob tip goes into the ignition switch; not a true key. Oil change $500. But it’s totally worth owning a 911. I had a 5 grand Mercedes air conditioner replacement bill in the 90s. And even classic car parts have similar high costs. Like a rare air cleaner or steering wheel.

In reply to 29th Jan 2020, 06:10

30th Jan 2020, 03:59

Check if the part number is also used for other BMW models via RealOem website. Try getting a used part via eBay UK, dismantlers offer used parts cheap.

1998 BMW 7 Series 740iL 4.4L M62 Fuel Injection Engine

Summary:

Fast, luxurious, but unreliable

Faults:

Passenger Seat Airbag Sensor - $500

Faulty Front Calipers - $800

Cracked Tail Lights - $200

Fan Clutch - $1000

MAF - $1000

Radiator - $300

Catalytic Converters - $400 (Replaced with After-market)

Oxygen Sensors - $400 (all 4)

Squeaky Moon-roof - not fixed

Missing dash pixels - not fixed

Seats starting to wear out - not fixed

Cracked shifter knob - not fixed

Rear suspension creak - not fixed

Carbon buildup on cylinder heads - quote $8000.

General Comments:

The 1998 BMW 740iL is certainly a sexy head-turning car, it handles amazingly well for a 2.5 ton car and is plush and very comfortable on long trips. VERY SAFE, got rear ended on the highway and it only left a small dent on the bumper while the other car was almost totalled! Incredible rear leg room. Gas mileage for highway is decent, 25mpg on a recent 200 mile trip. City mileage is not so great at 11mpg.

If you're thinking of buying it used, Don't! I've learned not to buy German cars used, if you don't have too much money, lease new! Overall, the repair costs for 2 years is over $12600 and the depreciation is about $5000. Overall running costs: $17600, should have leased a new 5 series or A6 and save the headaches.

However, if you are determined to buy a used 7 series, do your due diligence before buying. Also know that the after-market "extended warranties" are useless because everything is "wear and tear."

If the 7 series had ls400 like reliability, I would recommend it without hesitation. However, it's far from the case, consumer reports rates the 7 series one of the worst used car buys due to reliability. The ls400 or acura RL may not be as sexy, but it sure saves you time/money/and headaches. If you REALLY want sexy, go lease a new Bentley Continental GT for $2500 a month.

Oh, and I still have the car, anybody want it for $7000? NO? Well I don't blame ya.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 12th April, 2007

14th Apr 2007, 08:24

The reviewer buys a vehicle with high mileage. I would have wanted all maintenance records or would not have bought it. Most of what has gone wrong appears to be normal maintenance and wear items so don't blame the car.

10th May 2007, 12:15

If you pay more than 2-3K for ANY car - have it checked out by professionals, especially when you buy luxury car with high miles and, god forbid, no service history. Yes it will cost you $100-150 but you will feel better knowing that you are making a right decision. There are plenty of BMW mechanics around, you don't need to go to the dealership. By 2007 all common problems in 95-2001 740i's have already been discovered.

Buy 740i if you already have a second car that you use daily. Drive 740i when you are in the mood for some spirited driving or just weekend driving. This is not the car for people on the budget.

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