2000 BMW 740IL

STEERING:LINKAGES:DRAG:LINK:CONNECTION

FCP GROTON IS RECALLING CERTAIN STEERING CENTER DRAG LINKS, P/N 32 21 1 096 057, SOLD FROM DECEMBER 1, 2009 THROUGH APRIL 9, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR MODEL YEAR 1995 THROUGH 2001 BMW 740I, 740IL, AND 750IL PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SHAFT OF THE STEERING CENTER TIE ROD MAY SHEAR OFF.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE BRAKE LAMPS IN THESE VEHICLES ARE CONTROLLED BY A SWITCH ACTIVATED BY THE MOVEMENT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS SWITCH COULD FAIL INTERNALLY, CAUSING IT TO REMAIN EITHER IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LAMPS ON" POSITION.

THE INFORMATION PANEL IN FRONT OF THE STERING COLUMN IN THE DASH IS SO PIXALATED THE INFORMATION SUCH AS THE ODOMETER AND OTHER NECESSARY SAFETY INFORMATION IS UNREADABLE. THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED BMW, 18 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE IN 2004 THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES AT THE TIME (NOW 75,000 MILES), SAID IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1500 TO $2000 TO REPLACE AND IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE LIVED WITH IT FOR SOME YEARS NOW AND TRY TO AVOID DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN USED SPARINGLY BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO CONDITION THAT WE KNOW OF THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. ONLY HEARSAY, BUT THE BMW SERVICE PERSON TOLD US THAT THIS HAPPENS SOMETIME AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY. WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE OTHERS WITH THE SOME PROBLEM BUT OF COURSE THE DEALER WOULD NOT SAY IN THEIR PROTECTIVE CONVERSATION. I DO NOT BLAME THEM BUT I DO BLAME THEM, THE DEALER, AND BMW FOR NOT GIVING THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND FULL DIDCLOSURE THAT IT WAS

Mileage: 65,000

THE INFORMATION PANEL IN FRONT OF THE STERING COLUMN IN THE DASH IS SO PIXALATED THE INFORMATION SUCH AS THE ODOMETER AND OTHER NECESSARY SAFETY INFORMATION IS UNREADABLE. THE DEALER WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED BMW, 18 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE IN 2004 THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES AT THE TIME (NOW 75,000 MILES), SAID IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $1500 TO $2000 TO REPLACE AND IT WAS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. WE HAVE LIVED WITH IT FOR SOME YEARS NOW AND TRY TO AVOID DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN USED SPARINGLY BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO CONDITION THAT WE KNOW OF THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. ONLY HEARSAY, BUT THE BMW SERVICE PERSON TOLD US THAT THIS HAPPENS SOMETIME AND THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY. WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE OTHERS WITH THE SOME PROBLEM BUT OF COURSE THE DEALER WOULD NOT SAY IN THEIR PROTECTIVE CONVERSATION. I DO NOT BLAME THEM BUT I DO BLAME THEM, THE DEALER, AND BMW FOR NOT GIVING THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND FULL DIDCLOSURE THAT IT WAS

Mileage: 65,000

I HAVE A 2000 BMW 740IL THAT IS VERY HARD TO READ FROM THE DASH BOARD OR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I CANNOT READ THE EXACT MILEAGE ON THE CAR, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE OR ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT COMES TO THE SCREEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THIS FIX SINCE IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. ANY IDEA OF WHAT TO DO FROM THIS POINT WILL BE OF GREAT HELP. *TR

Mileage: 97,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW 740IL. THE CONTACT WAS BRAKING FROM APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE BRAKES AND PROCEED. SEVERAL DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT WITHOUT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, HE AS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND REPLACED THE ABS UNIT. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,240 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 119,000.

Mileage: 118,240

I OWN A 2000 BMW 740IL AND THE REVERSE WENT OUT ON THE TRANSMISSION. AS I RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE I FOUND THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND KNOWN ISSUE TO BMW. I HAVE KEPT THE RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE AND WANT TO LODGE A COMPLAINT AS I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A RECALL ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 126,000

THE PROBLEM AREAS OF MISSING PIXELS ARE PRIMARILY LOCATED IN THE DRIVER'S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER THAT DISPLAYS ODOMETER & TRIP ODOMETER, OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE , AND CHECK CONTROL DISPLAY, SUCH AS WARNINGS/PARKING BRAKE/COOLANT TEMPERATURE /LEVEL/ KEY & SEAT BELT REMINDER, ETC. BMWS HAVE BEEN EVALUATING CASE BY CASE BASIS ON THOSE WHO KNEW WHERE TO COMPLAIN IN BMW ON THIS PROBLEM AND ON WHO COULD GET SERVICE. IT WAS THEIR DISCRETION OF HOW MUCH THEY WOULD COVER TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY BASED ON NON-SENSE CRITERIA , IF YOU'RE THE ORIGINAL OWNER OR NOT, IF YOU OWN OTHER BMW, WHERE YOU PURCHASED YOUR VEHICLE, ETC. THE MAIN PROBLEM, IN MOST CASES, I COULD NOT TELL WHAT WAS THE EXACT ODOMETER OR OTHER WARNING MESSAGES BECAUSE ALL THE PIXELS WERE MISSING DUE TO LOOSE/FAULTY INTERNAL WIRING OF THE DRIVER' S INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAY. BMW HAD FIXED A LOT OF THESE PIXEL PROBLEMS, BUT MANY OTHER PEOPLE WERE POORLY INFORMED OF WHAT THEY COULD DO. THERE WERE HUN

Mileage: 75,000

I AM WRITING REGARDING MY 2000 BMW 740IL. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC), AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AT RANDOM INTERVALS. THIS INDICATES THAT THE DYNAMIC STABILITY AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS ARE NO LONGER WORKING. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A CONSISTENT REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I HAVE DRIVEN 50 MILES ON POTHOLE-FILLED, RAIN-SLICKED HIGHWAYS AND THE LIGHTS HAVE REMAINED OFF. ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE STARTED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE, STEPPED BACK IN THE HOUSE TO GET SOMETHING, AND COME BACK OUT TO FIND THE LIGHTS ON. TYPICALLY, I'M JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A LEVEL ROAD AND NOT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON. THERE ARE LOTS OF THEORIES AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE RULED OUT TIRES BECAUSE I RECENTLY INSTALLED FOUR NEW TIRES ALL THE SAME, ALL PROPERLY INFLATED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY, BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP. I HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED, BUT IT WAS OK. MY INDEPENDENT M

Mileage: 75,000

I AM WRITING REGARDING MY 2000 BMW 740IL. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), DYNAMIC STABILITY CONTROL (DSC), AND BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE AT RANDOM INTERVALS. THIS INDICATES THAT THE DYNAMIC STABILITY AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEMS ARE NO LONGER WORKING. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A CONSISTENT REASON FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. I HAVE DRIVEN 50 MILES ON POTHOLE-FILLED, RAIN-SLICKED HIGHWAYS AND THE LIGHTS HAVE REMAINED OFF. ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE STARTED THE CAR IN MY GARAGE, STEPPED BACK IN THE HOUSE TO GET SOMETHING, AND COME BACK OUT TO FIND THE LIGHTS ON. TYPICALLY, I'M JUST DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN A LEVEL ROAD AND NOT TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON. THERE ARE LOTS OF THEORIES AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENS. I HAVE RULED OUT TIRES BECAUSE I RECENTLY INSTALLED FOUR NEW TIRES ALL THE SAME, ALL PROPERLY INFLATED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY, BUT THAT DIDN'T HELP. I HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CHECKED, BUT IT WAS OK. MY INDEPENDENT M

Mileage: 75,000

TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASING A 2000 BMW 740IL WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT FROM A FRIEND, I LEFT MY DRIVEWAY AND ACTIVATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT. AFTER DRIVING SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS, I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE. I STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. MY WIFE WAS FOLLOWING IN ANOTHER VEHICLE AND PULLED ALONG SIDE ME. I ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOW AND WIFE SAID "THERE IS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE WINDOW!". I TURNED OFF THE SEAT AND OPENED THE DOOR AND LOOKED AT THE SEAT. THERE WAS A BURNT SPOT APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF A DIME HIGH ON THE OUTBOARD BOLSTER OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. I TOUCHED THE SPOT AND IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT TO THE TOUCH. MY ONE AND A HALF YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS STRAPPED IN HER CAR SEAT IN THE BACK. BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE, I UNLOCKED ALL THE DOORS IN CASE I HAD TO GO AROUND AND PULL HER FROM THE CAR. AFTER TURNING OFF THE SEAT, THE FIRE STOPPED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE ON SEVERAL BMW E38 WEBSITES AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS OF TH

Mileage: 45,678

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SIDEWALL AT THE BEAD HAS CRACKED. THE CRACK IS 10" LONG. THE CRACK IS BEHIND THE BEAD ON THE WHEEL WHICH CAUSED THE TIRE TO LOSE AIR QUICKLY CAUSING THE LEFT REAR TIRE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE TIRE FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED 30% OFF OF A NEW TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE IS MICHELIN. THE TIRE LINE/SIZE IS: 25545ZR18.

Mileage: 65,036

REAR TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT 99,000 MILES

Mileage: 99

I PURCHASED A 2000, BMW 740IL ON APRIL 5, 2005. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 65,000 MILES. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR COOLANT SYSTEM FAILURE 4 TIMES. EACH TIME THE MONITORING SYSTEM INDICATED LOW COOLANT. THE FIRST 2 TIME, THE ENGIN HAD PLENTY OF FLUID. THE THIRD TIME IT WAS SUGGESTED BY THE DEALER THAT THE SENSOR MAY NEED REPLACING. IT WAS REPLACED ON MAY 2, 2005. ON MAY 7, THE ENGIN MONITORING SYSTEM INDICATED ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE COOLANT LEVEL. AFTER THE CAR WAS PARKED, COOLANT BEGAN TO LEAK ONTO THE GROUND. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR FURTHER REPAIRS. IMOGENE F. CLARKE

CAR IS SMOKING WHEN STARTED OR IDLING, HAPPENED AFTER OIL AND TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE. LARGE CLOUDS OF SMOKE, TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, REPLACED MANY ITEMS,COST T ME 1400. NO CHANGE IN PROBLEM. DEALER DOES NOT HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT'S WRONG. AM CONTACTING BMW MAIN OFFICE. *JB

Mileage: 79,500

THE REAR TIRES WERE WORN AND THE CONSUMER COULD SEE THE TIRE BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. MICHELIN 25545R18 PLEASE PROVIDE THE DOT NUMBER. *JB

Mileage: 95,000

MICHELIN TIRE: SIZE 2554518 A/S PILOT; UPON WALKING AWAY FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A WHITE SUBSTANCE ON THE REAR TIRE. AFTER EXAMINING CLOSER, IT WAS THE TREAD BELTS SHOWING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE. THIS PROBLEM IS ALSO SHOWING ON THE OTHER REAR TIRE. MICHELIN HAS BEEN IN CONTACT BUT ISSUE NOT RESOLVED. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS. *NM

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(NHTSA 04C002000) FOR THE CAR SEAT STRAP WEBBING. NO PARTS AVAILABLE. BRITAX E920606 MARATHON OCT 27 2003. *JB

I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING SLIGHT VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE ON I-95. A WHILE LATER, I BEGAN TO SENSE A VERY SLIGHT CONTROL ISSUE WITH THE CAR AS IT SEEMED TO WOBBLE JUST A BIT AND DECIDED IT WAS BEST TO PULL OFF AT THE APPROACHING EXIT. AT THE TOP OF THE EXIT I BEGAN TO MERGE WITH THE OTHER ROAD WHEN I HEARD AND FELT A "THUMP-THUMP" SOUND. I THEN FELT THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE DROP TO THE PAVEMENT WITH A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND AND AN INSTANT LATER I SAW ONE OF MY WHEELS WHIZZING PASS THE DRIVER'S WINDOW AND ACROSS THE ROAD INTO THE WOODS ABOUT 150 FEET FROM MY VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS RETRIEVED AND IT SEEMED TO BE PROPERLY INFLATED AND MOUNTED ON THE WHEEL. INSPECTION OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE HUB SHOWED THAT ALL FIVE LUG NUTS HAD BEEN SHEARED WITH THE ENDS STILL FIRMLY IN PLACE. I RETRIEVED THREE OF THE OTHER ENDS OF THE LUG NUTS THAT HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE THREADED PORTIONS DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF UNUSUAL WEAR. THEY SIMPLY ALL SHEARED OFF. A PASSER-BY TOOK DIGITAL PICTURES

Mileage: 64,540

I HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING SLIGHT VIBRATIONS IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE ON I-95. A WHILE LATER, I BEGAN TO SENSE A VERY SLIGHT CONTROL ISSUE WITH THE CAR AS IT SEEMED TO WOBBLE JUST A BIT AND DECIDED IT WAS BEST TO PULL OFF AT THE APPROACHING EXIT. AT THE TOP OF THE EXIT I BEGAN TO MERGE WITH THE OTHER ROAD WHEN I HEARD AND FELT A "THUMP-THUMP" SOUND. I THEN FELT THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE DROP TO THE PAVEMENT WITH A LOUD SCRAPING SOUND AND AN INSTANT LATER I SAW ONE OF MY WHEELS WHIZZING PASS THE DRIVER'S WINDOW AND ACROSS THE ROAD INTO THE WOODS ABOUT 150 FEET FROM MY VEHICLE. THE TIRE WAS RETRIEVED AND IT SEEMED TO BE PROPERLY INFLATED AND MOUNTED ON THE WHEEL. INSPECTION OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE HUB SHOWED THAT ALL FIVE LUG NUTS HAD BEEN SHEARED WITH THE ENDS STILL FIRMLY IN PLACE. I RETRIEVED THREE OF THE OTHER ENDS OF THE LUG NUTS THAT HAD BROKEN OFF AND THE THREADED PORTIONS DID NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OF UNUSUAL WEAR. THEY SIMPLY ALL SHEARED OFF. A PASSER-BY TOOK DIGITAL PICTURES

Mileage: 64,540

SPEEDOMETER READS 10% TOO HIGH - DEALER CAN NOT FIX - DOT STANDARD 2.5%. *PH *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**768326

THE DEALER SAYS US SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE HEADLIGHTS CANOT BE ADJUSTED FOR SAFETY REASONS. CONSUMER STATES' THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING FOR THE ROAD AHEAD. CONSUMER FEELS ITS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE AT AN ANGLE WERE THEY ARE POINTING DOWNWARDS INSTEAD OF STRAIGHT AHEAD. DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE BOTH HEADLIGHT BUCKETS WITH SAME BUCKETS THAT ARE DEFECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR