1993 BMW 740I problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 1993 BMW 740I have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1993 BMW 740I. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

Q: What gas mileage does the 1993 BMW 740I get?

The 1993 BMW 740I has a U.S. EPA estimate of 16 mpg combined (14 city / 20 highway).

1993 BMW 740I at a glance

Safety recalls2

Owner complaints22

Combined16 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1993 BMW 740I recalls 2

Vehicle Speed Control NHTSA Campaign #97V131000 · 19/08/1997

THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE CABLES ARE ATTACHED TO THE SAME THROTTLE VALVE ACTUATING LEVER AT THE THROTTLE HOUSING. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE PLASTIC BUSHING ON EITHER CABLE COULD BREAK DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFLUENCES COUPLED WITH VIBRATION. IF THE BUSHING BREAKS, THE OUTER CABLE HOUSING CAN SEPARATE FROM THE BUSHING. IN THIS CASE, DURING APPLICATION OF THE THROTTLE PEDAL WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED, THE …

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING STEEL CLIP ON THE OUTER TUBE OF EACH CABLE IN THE AREA OF THE ADJUSTING SCREW AND PLASTIC BUSHING. THE CLIP IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE OUTER TUBE FROM DISLODGING FROM THE BUSHING.

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch NHTSA Campaign #96V111000 · 01/07/1996

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1993 BMW 740I common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine And Engine Cooling

Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

Seats

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Fuel System

Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.

Gasoline

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Air Bags

Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Electrical System

Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

1993 BMW 740I MPG & running costs

Combined16 mpg

City14 mpg

Highway20 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$5,150

EPA size classMidsize Cars

TransmissionAutomatic 5-spd

Passenger volume101 cu ft

Cargo volume13 cu ft

5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$13,750 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1993 BMW 740I costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$25,750

Fuel only$25,750

Per mile$0.34

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 3

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered.

The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met.

Bulletin B510819 · Electrical System, Visibility · Jan 2024

SERVICE ACTION: PROGRAM DME: The incorrect dataset could be programmed into DME 5.2.1 control module.

Bulletin B122917 · Equipment · Dec 2017

CHILD AIRBAG LETTER, WARNING LABEL AND SAFETY REFERENCE CARD. *TW

Bulletin 72/07/96 · Equipment · Dec 1996

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the 740I. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

1993 BMW 740I vehicles on record

1993 BMW 740IWBAGD41040DD57831

1993 BMW 740IWBAGD81080DE40265

1993 BMW 740IWBAGD41050DD56834

1993 BMW 740IWBAGD81000DE41944

1993 BMW 740IWBAGD81080DE41142

1993 BMW 740IWBAGD41070DD57063

1993 BMW 740IWBAGD41010DD58869

1993 BMW 740IWBAGD41090DD56397

1993 BMW 740IWBA65110005716945

1993 BMW 740IWBAGD41070DD59394

1993 BMW 740IWBAGD41050DD58650

1993 BMW 740IWBAGD41080DD55838

Other BMW 740I model years

1993 BMW 740I — frequently asked questions

Does the 1993 BMW 740I have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1993 BMW 740I. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1993 BMW 740I?

Across all 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine and engine cooling, seats, fuel system.

What gas mileage does the 1993 BMW 740I get?

The 1993 BMW 740I has a U.S. EPA estimate of 16 mpg combined (14 city / 20 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.