2002 BMW 745I: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2002 BMW 745I: 2 recalls, 54 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.

Recalls
2 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #02V150000 · 2002 · 8,412 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the fuel pump control system. Owner notification began June 28, 2002.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #03V240000 · 2003 · 5,470 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the digital engine management control unit. Owner notification began July 8, 2003. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (17): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (5), warning light on (4).
- Airbags (11): the most common themes are warning light on (5).
- Brakes (hydraulic) (10): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (2), noise or vibration (2).
- Electrical (8): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (3).
The 2002 BMW 745I has 54 owner complaints, ranking #1 of 8 745I model years for complaints (3.4× the average 745I year). Complaints peaked in 2012 (10 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 9 years old, at a median of 95,400 miles. Neighboring years: 2001 (1 complaints, 0 recalls), 2003 (32 complaints, 2 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 24 | 19 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2002 BMW 745I.
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FAQ
Does the 2002 BMW 745I have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 vehicle recalls for the 2002 BMW 745I. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2002 BMW 745I problems?
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (17), airbags (11), brakes (hydraulic) (10).
What gas mileage does the 2002 BMW 745I get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (4.4 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 1 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2002 BMW 745I repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.