Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 BMW 740IL
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 BMW 740IL has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 26 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #10E021000 REPLACEMENT STEERING CENTER DRAG LINK NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 7 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 6 complaints
- Electrical System 5 complaints
- Power Train 4 complaints
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 2 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2 complaints
Together, the 26 complaints on file report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,800–$11,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 BMW 740IL has frequent engine and cooling system issues, with significant complaints about the fuel and electrical systems. The car had a serious recall impacting steering safety, further influencing its reliability negatively.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| engine cooling | 80,000–120,000 miles | $800–$1,500 | common |
| fuel system | 90,000–130,000 miles | $600–$1,200 | common |
| electrical system | 70,000–110,000 miles | $300–$900 | occasional |
| power train | 80,000–140,000 miles | $1,000–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil and filter changes
- coolant flush
- brake fluid replacement
- transmission fluid change
- air filter replacement
- spark plug replacement
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- engine overheating
- fuel smell in cabin
- frequent electrical faults
- transmission slipping
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 BMW 740IL at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.