1997 BMW 7 Series

Owner complaints

What owners report most

1. Fuel system, other1
2. Unknown or other1

Latest complaints

• May 2, 2011VA228,800 mi
  Fuel system, other
  I have a 1997 740il BMW third owner 228,000. I start to notice in april of 2011 that when I fuel the car up that when removing the gas cap there was a hissing sound. A couple of weeks later it started leaking fuel when I look under the car I seen that the fuel tank on the driver's side was crush in…

  I have a 1997 740il BMW third owner 228,000. I start to notice in april of 2011 that when I fuel the car up that when removing the gas cap there was a hissing sound. A couple of weeks later it started leaking fuel when I look under the car I seen that the fuel tank on the driver's side was crush in and had a hole in it. I have park the car till I have the money to repair it. I have not run over anything nor has the ever been in a crash and has been keep very well. *Tr

• Aug 30, 1999CA
  Unknown or other

  Cup holder malfunctioning. *yc

Defect investigations

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.

• Windshield wiper inoperation

  SQ98010Opened Jun 3, 1998Closed Sep 11, 1998
  BMW believes that there IS no indication of a systematic or safety defect concerning the subject wiper relay.the main reason that precipitated the issuance of the service bulletin was to inform dealers of a new relay part number for the subject vehicles since this part number was not included in the part catalogs.odi…

  BMW believes that there IS no indication of a systematic or safety defect concerning the subject wiper relay.the main reason that precipitated the issuance of the service bulletin was to inform dealers of a new relay part number for the subject vehicles since this part number was not included in the part catalogs.odi has no complaints alleging wiper failure and bmw's warranty rate (0.13%) does not indicate an existing failure trend.washington-area BMW dealers surveyed by odi reported no complaints relative to the subject relay.a safety defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of the agency resources does not appear warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by nhtsa that no safety-related defect exits.the agency reserves that right to take further action on these maatter if warranted by the circumstanes.

Service bulletins

Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.

• 10249437The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.
• 10244242Various functions of the camera-based driver assistance systems (ADCAM system) can lead to customer complaints.
• 10135028SERVICE ACTION: PROGRAM DME: The incorrect dataset could be programmed into DME 5.2.1 control module.
• 10051519BMW: the high-voltage (hv) battery cells could be damaged if the vehicle IS prevented from entering sleep mode for an extended period of time. Updated 03/11/2013
• 10044024BMW: wipers lights and front power windows are inoperative. This situation may start and lead to a permanent fault. Also included model F07 (5 series gran turismo) model years up to march 2012.
• 10037700BMW: there may be excessive cranking before the vehicle starts. The service engine soon light may also be on with a lack of engine power.
• 10033132BMW vehicles: N63 turbocharger auxiliary water pump faults. The service engine soon lamp IS illuminated with the following fault codes stored in the dme control module. Turbocharger coolant pump, control line, electric, 0x1016-line interruption. An internal component fault of the auxiliary water pump will cause it to not power up intermittently. Improved pumps went into production on 6/3/09. Models E70, E71, E72, F01, F02, F04, F07, F10. Updated 2/7/11. No model years listed.
• 10032990BMW: diagnosis of dme me 9.2 map thermostat fault 2ef4/279b. The service engine soon light illuminated. The engine does not overheat and the map thermostat operates properly. Possible causes are deterioration of coolant quality; increased contact resistance between the thermostat temperature sensor, the engine wiring harness and the dme connector; internal defect of a map cooling thermostat. Updated 11/17/10.
• 10029964BMW: the safety belts for the front seats have an electric motor-driven reel (ema) which will retract/pretension the seat belt a specified amount when certain hazardous driving situations are present.
• 10029684BMW: service engine soon lamp or the check gas cap warnings are illuminated while driving. When diagnosed, the dme has stored faults for small leak, micro leak, super fine leak, or large leak in relation to the tank ventilation or evaporative system updated 10/27/09.
• 10029605BMW service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. The airbag warning lamp (awl) IS illuminated, together with the passenger airbag status lamp (pol). The problem may be intermittent. Microcracks in the OC3 seat mat. Updated 9/30/11.
• 10029604BMW: vehicle may intermittently exhibit any of the following: hard to start or may not start; engine runs rough and lacks or loses power; engine power reduced. Vapor lock in the fuel system could occur under certain engine operating conditions, which then would cause a drop in the low side fuel pressure. Updated 7/22/09. Models F01 and F02.
• 10029348BMW: sporadically, the following conditions may occur-wipers are running on a dry window; speedometer and tachometer are inoperative; check control message emf dropped out (drive control system emergency mode).
• 10029264BMW: low beam headlamps are switched on, or after starting the engine, one of the xenon low beam headlamps flashes serveral times, and then intermittenly switches off.
• 10029025BMW: small number of vehicles experience problems ranging from leaking oil filler caps, leaking or broken valve covers, to complete engine failure in extremely cold climate conditions. Moisture accumulating in engine crankcase ventilation valve or hoses can freeze due to low ambient temperatures.
• 601210Subject regarding the abs/asc warning lights illuminated during dynamometer test.
• 54315Complaints of radio display on mid does not appear when ignition IS turned on.
• 54154Situation on the srs airbag light comes "on" and stays illuminated for up to two minutes after starting vehicle.
• 53951Radio disolay on mid does not appear when ignition IS turned on.
• 53108Trip odometer resets by itself.

Every BMW 7 Series model year

Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.