2002 BMW 745I: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2002 BMW 745I
On the 2002 BMW 745I, the failure owners report most often is other powertrain problem, and the reports cluster around 95,000 miles. Across every failure mode on this year, half the dated reports were filed before 90,000 miles. Overall it scores 68 out of 100, high risk for a 2002.
High risk for a 2002 — 173rd riskiest of the 329 2002 vehicles we can rate. 74 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What owners report breaking
Owners have reported 21 named failure modes on the 2002 BMW 745I, and the three most-reported carry 38% of everything filed.
Other powertrain problem leads with 15 reports, about 3.6 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 84k to 115,000 miles.
Other electrical problem follows with 7 reports, median 40,000 miles.
Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault follows with 6 reports, median 90,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into transmission (16), brakes (13) and airbag (10).
The mileage the reports cluster at
58 of the reports on the 2002 BMW 745I came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 90,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 17% by 50,000 miles, 60% by 100,000 miles and 97% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 80,000 and 90,000 miles, which alone holds 19% of the dated reports.
17% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 21. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
Severity, and what it costs
Across the named modes, 4 mention a crash and 2 a fire. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.01, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other powertrain problem at $400–$4,500, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault at $300–$1,600 and other brake problem at $300–$1,800. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
34% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 15 | 12 | 84k | 97k | 116k | 3.6 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 7 | 4 | — | 39k | — | 1.7 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 6 | 6 | — | 90k | — | 1.4 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 5 | 4 | — | 92k | — | 1.2 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 4 | 4 | — | 116k | — | 1.0 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 4 | 3 | — | 81k | — | 1.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 4 | 3 | — | 16k | — | 1.0 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 3 | 2 | — | 90k | — | 0.7 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Oil leak | engine | 2 | 1 | — | 104k | — | 0.5 | $250–$2,200 | Moderate |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 2 | 2 | — | 139k | — | 0.5 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 2 | 2 | — | 4k | — | 0.5 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 2 | 1 | — | 150k | — | 0.5 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 2 | 1 | — | 16k | — | 0.5 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 102k | — | 0.2 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 1 | 1 | — | 80k | — | 0.2 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 1 | 1 | — | 10k | — | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 1 | 1 | — | 70k | — | 0.2 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Other steering problem | steering | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.2 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 1 | 1 | — | 134k | — | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Unclassified problem | other | 8 | 8 | 68k | 94k | 145k | 1.9 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2002 BMW 745I draws about 18 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 91st percentile of complaint rates among 2002 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 4,206 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2002 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other powertrain problem
I took my car to bmw service dept. In march and april to get my car serviced for scheduled service and for the "check engine soon" light displayed. Immediately following the service I experienced my car hesitating to start and also sounded rough and idled. I called the next morning and spoke with a service advisor about my car and he said to bring it in. I stopped there on my way to work the next morning and they started my car and asked me what type of gas I was using and I said exxon. I was told that I probably got a hold of some bad gas and when I asked what should I do, I was told that I should wait until about 7-8 fill ups to allow the gas to burn out and if I still experienced the problem to bring it back. The service advisor informed me that bmw recommends using texaco gas with techron. Recently, I was traveling out of town with my two nephews in my car in the fast lane on route 95 south when I heard a sound that resembled a car back firing and then felt my car lose power which was one of the most frightening situations that I've ever experienced. I drifted to the side and noticed on my display my car read "transmission…
The vehicle jams into 1st gear when coming to a stop. Occurs just about every time the vehicle is stopped after high speeds. The vehicle's mechetronic module, transmission computer, was replaced at over 3,000 dollars. *tr
Other electrical problem
I leased this vehicle june/2002 and have had constant aggravation and frustration by the numerous failures of this car, this car has been at the bmw service center 6 times in the year I have had it -- 3 times for the engine failing to start,leaving me stranded at night in unfamillar and dangerous areas-- 2 times this vehicle had to be towed to dealer at night, each time waiting more than 3 hours for bmw assist to have a tow truck come and get car -most recently I waited more then 4 hours -- I do not feel safe driving this car as I don't know when it will brake down and not start. Please help me !!
The safety restraint device continuously malfunctioned, which resulted in the entire restraint system, including the air bags becoming inoperative. Dealership indicated the this malfunction was caused by a failure in the I/drive computer system. Dealership reprogramed the computer drive which only provided a temporary solution to the problem. *ak
Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 bmw 745i. When the contact started the ignition, the frontal air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The warning indicator remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the failure was related to the air bag sensor. The contact was concerned that the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 67,000 and the current mileage is 69,800. Updated 10/16/08 *bf the air bag light illuminated and the AC was not workking on high. Updated 10/21/08.*jb
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 bmw 745i. When the contact started the ignition, the frontal air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The warning indicator remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and they stated that the failure was related to the air bag sensor. The contact was concerned that the air bags may not deploy in the event of a crash. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure mileage was 67,000 and the current mileage is 69,800. Updated 10/16/08 *bf the air bag light illuminated and the AC was not workking on high. Updated 10/21/08.*jb
Recalls on the 2002 model year
NHTSA has issued 2 recall campaigns covering the 2002 BMW 745I, affecting an estimated 5,573 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover engine and engine cooling and fuel system, gasoline:delivery. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
5,470 vehicles 2003-07-01- Defect
- On certain passenger vehicles, due to a software error, a desynchronization of the valvetronic motors for engine banks I and ii may occur. If this occurs, the engine could stall.
- Consequence
- In those cases, the driver may not be able to restart the engine. Depending on the level of engine roughness, or stalling, as well as traffic conditions and the driver's reactions, this could lead to a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the digital engine management control unit. Owner notification began july 8, 2003. Owners should contact bmw at 1-800-831-1117.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
8,412 vehicles 2002-06-03- Defect
- On certain passenger vehicles, the electric fuel pump runs at a rotational speed that could result in reduced lubrication of its internal components. Over an extended period of time, wear-induced internal damage to the fuel pump could result in insufficient fuel supply to the engine when the fuel tank contains one-third or less of its maximum fuel capacity.
- Consequence
- If this were to occur, the engine could stall and not be restarted until more fuel was added to the fuel tank. This could occur even though the fuel gauge indicated that fuel still remained in the tank.
- Remedy
- Dealers will reprogram the fuel pump control system. Owner notification began june 28, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact bmw at 1-800-332-4269.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2002 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Where 2002 sits in the model line
High risk for a 2002 — 173rd riskiest of the 329 2002 vehicles we can rate. Every score on this site is a rank inside its own model year, which is what makes a 2004 and a 2019 comparable at all.
Across the 4 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2005 comes out best at 63 and 2003 worst at 73, with 2002 itself at 68.
If the model year is negotiable, 2005 scores lower than 2002 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 2001–2008 generation specifically, 2005 is the strongest year at 63 and 2003 the weakest at 73.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2001-2008 generation, 2005 BMW 745I scores best at 63 and 2003 BMW 745I worst at 73.
What the numbers say to check
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other powertrain problem from about 84k.
On a 2002 BMW 745I with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other powertrain problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
What this page cannot tell you
74 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 74 reports, 58 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 78% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2002 BMW 745I?
The most-reported failures are other powertrain problem (15 reports, median 95,000 miles), other electrical problem (7 reports, median 40,000 miles) and airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault (6 reports, median 90,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2002 BMW 745I problems start?
Other powertrain problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 95,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 85,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 90,000 miles.
Is the 2002 BMW 745I reliable?
It scores 68 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 173rd riskiest of the 329 2002 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2002 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the BMW 745I is best?
Within the 2001–2008 generation, 2005 scores best at 63 out of 100 and 2003 worst at 73. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed