The 1997 draws 2.38 complaints per run and the 1995 1, a 2.4-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age, so 87.6% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Engine and Engine Cooling, with 29 complaints, typically at 6.2 years.
BMW 740iL years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 21 | 10 | yes | |
| 2000 | 14 | 10 | yes | |
| 1999 | 5 | 3 | yes | |
| 1998 | 23 | 10 | yes | |
| 1997 | 19 | 8 | yes | |
| 1996 | 10 | 6 | yes | |
| 1995 | 10 | 10 | yes | |
| 1994 | 3 | 3 | yes | |
| 1993 | 7 | 6 | yes |
Among the 5 BMW 740iL years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 1997, 1998, 2001; the three worth hunting are 1995, 2000, 2001.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 2.2% | covered | |
| 1 year | 9% | covered | |
| 2 years | 10.1% | covered | |
| 3 years | 12.4% | covered | |
| 4 years | 24.7% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 36% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 48.3% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 61.8% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 66.3% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 75.3% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 83.1% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 86.5% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 92.1% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 94.4% | you pay | |
| 14 years | 97.8% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 12.4% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 87.6% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (4 years / 50,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 36% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
What waits further out is Engine And Engine Cooling at 6.2 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6.2 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Electrical System | 7.2 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Fuel System | 8.6 yrs | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 9 yrs | — | — | |
| Power Train | 9.1 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8.9 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Service Brakes | 6 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Steering | 9 yrs | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the 740iL's vehicle class. Per production run, the Dodge Charger draws 4.56, the Chrysler 300 4.11 and the Kia K5 3.08, against 1.72 for the 740iL. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the 740iL | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge Charger | 133 | 1983–2026 | |
| Chrysler 300 | 86 | 1999–2026 | |
| Kia K5 | 21 | 2021–2026 | |
| Hyundai Sonata | 152 | 1989–2026 | |
| Chevrolet Impala | 98 | 1981–2026 | |
| Lincoln Continental | 80 | 1981–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
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Frequently asked questions
Is the BMW 740iL reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.72 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which 740iL years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 1997, 1998, 2001. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 1995, 2000, 2001. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do 740iL problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 7 years of age. The most reported system is Engine and Engine Cooling, typically at 6.2 years, followed by Electrical System.
Will the warranty cover 740iL problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and only 12.4% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 36% of the complaints here.
Is the 740iL more reliable than the Dodge Charger?
Yes: 1.72 complaints per production run for the 740iL against 4.56 for the Dodge Charger.
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