745I problems

[Anarki_Renegades]

Well here's a rule that I've learned to swear by, and although it's by no means for everyone, I will never buy a car within its first 2 model years. That way you are guaranteed to have most of the major crap that happens ironed out before you get your ride.
:greenchai

[Pennzoil GT-R]

Originally posted by Anarki_Renegades
Well here's a rule that I've learned to swear by, and although it's by no means for everyone, I will never buy a car within its first 2 model years. That way you are guaranteed to have most of the major crap that happens ironed out before you get your ride.
:greenchai

thats seems a pretty sensible way to go about things

[talentwave]

I'm like a couple of the posts above completely disguisted with my 745i purchased in March with 3500 miles. I've been talking to BMW for about a month or more trying to get a refund. I've had all the problems mentioned above plus my back doors wouldn't open and I had to have people crawl into the front seat to get out of the car (embarassing). I also had a scarey experience. A high pitched whistle would go off intermittently and would make it almost impossible to stay in the car. The dealer told me that it was a problem with the i drive controller (the one that controls the tape deck). I'm not going to stop until I get my money back. This is my 7th BMW, including an couple of 6 series L6) in the 80s, and the rest 740i's. The 740s were mostly fairly reliable. I never owned a MB, but I'm thinking about it right now. I wish they had a restyled S500. I sure am a sucker for the latest and greatest. I wonder if I'll ever learn.

[stecot]

Originally posted by talentwave
I'm like a c eries L6) in the 80s, and the rest 740i's. The 740s were mostly fairly reliable. I never owned a MB, but I'm thinking about it right now. I wish they had a restyled S500. I ssomure am a sucker for the latest and greatest. I wonder if I'll ever learn.

Stay away from the S-Class. You must be a glutton for punishment to have owned so many BMW's. There are serious problems on some S-Class MB's. Mine was a disaster. I've spoken to many other S-Class owners. While none of them has experienced as many serious problems as I did, many had serious problems with the cars electronics. I had 7 MB's. My last and final car was replaced with a Lexus LS430. It has almost all of the features that the MB has, some that the MB doesn't have, was $25K less expensive, and best of all the quality and reliability are at least 2 sigma better than the S-Class.

[talentwave]

It may be two sigmas better, but I think it is ugly. So what other choices are there?

[stecot]

Originally posted by talentwave
It may be two sigmas better, but I think it is ugly. So what other choices are there?

The BMW is no raving beauty either. The i-drive system is a disaster. I don't think the LS 430 is ugly, just not very distinctive. The build quality is much better than BMW or MB. The nice thing is that I don't have to go to my MB dealer to see it.

[schmidtfahrer]

The amount of rhetoric is almost amazing...

BMW has been a producer of great autos for a long time with a good rep in the engineering dept (save a few black sheep)... one of the major problems is with people who don't have an eye for used autos with good repair histories. Always look for repair records, run ckecks through VIN numbers, have a specialist who is used to the specific model of vehicle check it out before buying. I have owned a shitload of older and more recent beemers and through scheduled maintainance (most of which my dad and myself peformed on our own with certified parts) I have had very few problems at all. I agree with Anarki_Renegades philosophy on avoiding early production models... but again that is not specific to one auto maker but to all.

The relation to "the Germans" paying taxes to ex ss officers, I think steco needs to go do a bit more research, and mind his manners as well.

PS, my 73 Bavaria just clocked in at over 300,000 miles and STILL looks good(with loving scheduled maintanance and some minor upgrades)

[stecot]

To the best of my knowledge, all companies with facilities in Germany pay federal taxes. Part of those taxes are allocated to paying the pensions of military veterans, which unfortunately includes the despicable SS. As far as minding my manners, I have nothing to apologize for, which can't be said by SS veterans. Where I come from it is not impolite to freely express ones opinions. In fact it is not only our right to do so but ethical and honest as well. The European weanies would do well to develop a culture of ethics and honesty. Europeans are generally self absorbed, selfish and have convenient memories. The USA has saved European barbarians from destroying themselves twice in the last century and an additional time for the ungrateful French. Now, after the 9/11 attacks on US soil and terrorist attacks with Europeans as targets, they have conveniently forgotten Munich. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Since France and Russia have major stakes in Iraqi trade, they once again seem to value money more than the security of themselves and the rest of the world. They have lulled themselves into the illusion that they can once again deal with a meglomaniacal dictator.

[Pennzoil GT-R]

Originally posted by stecot
To the best of my knowledge, all companies with facilities in Germany pay federal taxes. Part of those taxes are allocated to paying the pensions of military veterans, which unfortunately includes the despicable SS. As far as minding my manners, I have nothing to apologize for, which can't be said by SS veterans. Where I come from it is not impolite to freely express ones opinions. In fact it is not only our right to do so but ethical and honest as well. The European weanies would do well to develop a culture of ethics and honesty. Europeans are generally self absorbed, selfish and have convenient memories. The USA has saved European barbarians from destroying themselves twice in the last century and an additional time for the ungrateful French. Now, after the 9/11 attacks on US soil and terrorist attacks with Europeans as targets, they have conveniently forgotten Munich. Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Since France and Russia have major stakes in Iraqi trade, they once again seem to value money more than the security of themselves and the rest of the world. They have lulled themselves into the illusion that they can once again deal with a meglomaniacal dictator.

and dont ever forget who exactly it was who got the USA on its feet. And who is gonna end up causing World War 3 if that lemon you call a president doesnt watch himself?

[Pennzoil GT-R]

and anyway, this is about cars, not politics, lets try to keep it that way.

[stecot]

Originally posted by Pennzoil GT-R


and dont ever forget who exactly it was who got the USA on its feet. And who is gonna end up causing World War 3 if that lemon you call a president doesnt watch himself?

WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? IF YOU MEAN WE WERE FLOODED BY IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO CAME HERE BECAUSE THEY WANTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE, EDUCATE, FEED, HOUSE AND CLOTHE THEIR FAMILIES. WHY DID THEY TRAVEL TO AMERICA? BECAUSE THEY WERE STUCK IN COUNTRIES THAT HAS RIGID CLASS AND CASTE SYSTEMS. I GUESS YOU MEAN THAT EUOROPE PUT US ON OUR FEET BY CHASING MILLIONS OF ITS CITIZENS OUT DURING THE LAST CENTURY WHEN THE SOPHISTICATED(?) EUROPEAN GENTRY AND LEADERSHIP MANAGED TO MASSACRE 50+ MILLION OF ITS CITIZENS.
ABOUT BUSH. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE US CONGRESS AGREE WITH HIS PLAN TO STOP HUSSEIN. THE WORLD NEEDS A LEADER. EXCEPT FOR TONY BLAIR, EUROPE ARE A BUNCH OF CORRUPT WUSSES.

AND THE BMW IS STILL A PIECE OF CRAP.

[Pennzoil GT-R]

Originally posted by stecot


WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN? IF YOU MEAN WE WERE FLOODED BY IMMIGRANTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WHO CAME HERE BECAUSE THEY WANTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE, EDUCATE, FEED, HOUSE AND CLOTHE THEIR FAMILIES. WHY DID THEY TRAVEL TO AMERICA? BECAUSE THEY WERE STUCK IN COUNTRIES THAT HAS RIGID CLASS AND CASTE SYSTEMS. I GUESS YOU MEAN THAT EUOROPE PUT US ON OUR FEET BY CHASING MILLIONS OF ITS CITIZENS OUT DURING THE LAST CENTURY WHEN THE SOPHISTICATED(?) EUROPEAN GENTRY AND LEADERSHIP MANAGED TO MASSACRE 50+ MILLION OF ITS CITIZENS.
ABOUT BUSH. IT SEEMS LIKE THE WHOLE SECURITY COUNCIL AND THE US CONGRESS AGREE WITH HIS PLAN TO STOP HUSSEIN. THE WORLD NEEDS A LEADER. EXCEPT FOR TONY BLAIR, EUROPE ARE A BUNCH OF CORRUPT WUSSES.

AND THE BMW IS STILL A PIECE OF CRAP.

i mean it was the british and europeans who first gave the US a real civilisation. you cant deny Europe and especially Britain was by far the most advanced and powerful place on the earth back then, and we brought that to you.

And Bush is still an idiot. What exactly has he done with his war on terrorism except turn the entire middle east even further against the West, and try to start a potentially catastrophic war with Iraq.

And this is STILL about cars not politics. so i will say no more on this.

[stecot]

It is a perverse point of view that concludes that Europe gave the USA it's start because there were millions of repressed Europeans who came to our shores. They came because they were sick of the rigid caste/class system, which was dominant from the 15th through the 1st half of the 20th century Europe. Immigrants came here because of the hopelessness engendered by the lack of opportunity and freedom and the brutality visited upon them by their "governments" and had the courage to resettle in the new world. You also conveniently forgot the Revolutionary war. I suppose you also take credit for starting our unsophisticated America because the British had the good form to loose that war.
You may think that Bush is an idiot; you are entitled to that opinion. But aren't you just a wee bit curious as to why we have had freely elected presidents for over 225 years and Europe has produced Napoleon, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin and countless other dictatorial leaders. So-called sophisticated Europeans may turn up their collective noses when they characterize America. That is nothing more than a manifestation of jealousy. Europeans have been slaughtering each other from time immoral. Americans have had to intervene at the request of Europe to stop the senseless killing. I think an introspective look at many European societies will reveal cowardly barbarians under a thin veneer of civility.

Really, BMW's suck.

[johnkell]

Originally Posted by globaldweller

Here is a list of problems of have encountered with 745i purchased in March with 3000 miles.

· >>> At infrequent intervals, the automobile hesitates when pressing on the gas from a stationary state. This is not consistent nor can I recreate at will. Also, the acceleration is not smooth.

· The interval marks on the speedometer is for kilometers/hr and not miles. This is confusing and annoying. For example, it is difficult to determine when going 45 miles per hour. Also, this is not consistent with the pictures in the owner’s manual.

· At times, the remote does not work. Also, you need be very close to the car for the remote to work.

· The clear button on the slide out phone keypad does not work in a manner consistent with the clear button on the portable phone.

At times, the navigation display shows the measurement distance to be 50 miles when it is actually displaying 400 feet.

· The warning in the display that must be accepted via the iDrive every time the car started is very obtrusive. How many times does a person need to be told? It would be different if it could ignore it after first reading it like airbag warning on most car visors.

· The telephone has a lot of static when in the car cradle and playing sound through the car’s speakers. I can hear this immediately after pressing the send button before the call is connected so I know this is not the cellular network.

· My dealer originally told me that BMW would provide a phone for any cellular provider. However, when I went to pick up the phone, a day after purchasing the car, I was told a phone for my carrier was not available. I use Cingular GSM service. To use in the car phone and receive the BMW assistance feature I had to sign up with another provider.

· Three time, in three months, I have had to take the car into repair due to a fault in the passive restraint system. They do not know the cause of this fault.

· One time I have had to take the car in for repair because the radio, telephone and voice activation failed to work. I was told re-booting the phone computer fixed the problem.

· Infrequently, and I cannot consistently recreate, the iDrive fails to respond. This happens in the Telephone sub-menu.

· The automatic movement of the headrest when moving the seat forward or back is very, very annoying. The position it automatically adjusts to is not comfortable. I wish I could stop this.

· One time, the window would not stay down. It automatically kept going back up. Turning the car off and on again fixed this problem.

· The booklet titled “The most important functions of your BMW 7 Series at a glance” came with pages upside down and I could not make sense how it was assembled.

· The pictures and instructions for CPT 8000 phone manual do not match the car. It is for a different BMW model.

· When the front seats are raised higher, as is probably required due to the hood line of the car, they do not go back as far. It is difficult to balance seating comfort with visibility. This was not a problem in the 740/750il.

· Changing to radio stations that are not preprogrammed is cumbersome. A tuner not accessed via the iDrive would be helpful.

I have same "acceleration problem " with my 745il since it cant be recreated at will the 4 trips to the dealer have been futile. I have had a few close calls with oncoming traffic. Has your problem been resolved? If so. How &who was the dealer? Thanks

[jumbo]

Originally Posted by johnkell

I have same "acceleration problem " with my 745il since it cant be recreated at will the 4 trips to the dealer have been futile. I have had a few close calls with oncoming traffic. Has your problem been resolved? If so. How &who was the dealer? Thanks

My acceleration problem, which the dealer told me was "normal",
happened while driving, not from starting.
I would be cruising along, often about 50-60,and need to accelerate
quickly to change lanes, pass, enter freeway.
The pedal would not respond. If I were doing 60 when I pressed the accelerator, it would continue to do 60 for a substantial pressure on the pedal. Then, slowly, it would begin to accelerate.
Ultimately, it was resolved without comment, during one of the many software "upgrades".
BTW, I have been to the dealer at least 14 times now in 13 months.
CA Lemon Law says I need to notch 30 days in the shop in 18 months.
So far I have about 19 in 13 months.
I don't drive the car a lot so I probably won't make the Lemon limit.