BMW 745e
Modular four-cylinder turbo, the workhorse of the current model range. Very broad power spectrum from 135 to 306 hp. Reliable; watch oil consumption and turbocharger at high mileage.
Solid Turbo Petrol
Reliable four-cylinder turbo — competent in everyday use, but without a goosebump moment.
Engine Weaknesses 6
Timing chain guide rail can break; chain jump and engine damage follows. More common on early production years and with spirited driving.
Symptoms: Rattling, clattering from the engine, sudden power loss, engine damage
Oil filter housing with integrated oil/water heat exchanger leaks. Coolant loss and overheating risk from about 60,000 km.
Symptoms: Coolant level warning, oil puddle under engine, overheating
A plastic bleed line between the cylinder head and expansion tank becomes porous and breaks. Coolant loss follows; the mounting location is difficult to access, so labour costs dominate.
Symptoms: Dropping coolant level; coolant warning on the instrument cluster; faint sweet smell; no visible puddle under the car
The wastegate linkage on the B48 turbocharger has too much play by design and rattles, especially on cold start and at low revs. BMW offers a repair kit (e-actuator 11655A7A286) as a goodwill measure.
Symptoms: Metallic rattling or clattering from the turbo area on cold start and at idle; disappears at higher revs
As a direct-injection engine the B48 does not wash the intake valves with fuel. Oil vapour from crankcase ventilation and EGR gases form deposits that reduce flow and cause misfires.
Symptoms: Stumbling on cold start; power loss at high revs; rough idle; increased fuel consumption
The crankcase ventilation (PCV) integrated into the valve cover wears out and allows oil into the intake tract. Because PCV and valve cover are a single unit on the B48, the entire cover must be replaced.
Symptoms: Increased oil consumption (>0.5 L/1,000 km); blue smoke on cold start; oil in the intake line; rough idle
Vehicle Weaknesses 16
Wiring harness problems or CAN bus faults cause fault messages across many control units simultaneously.
The PHEV system has no alternator. A fault in the SME module opens the contactors and the 12V battery discharges while driving.
Air bellows become porous from around 100,000–150,000 km; the compressor overheats from frequent pumping and fails. Car sags on one side or completely.
Signal fault in the motor position sensor can deactivate hydraulic brake assist. Approximately 1 million vehicles worldwide.
Recall KBA 16187R: a potentially misrouted cockpit wiring harness can be damaged during cabin filter replacement. A short circuit can cause smoke or fire — 337,374 vehicles worldwide affected.
G11 sags unevenly at all four wheels overnight. No fault code stored.
NOx sensor upstream of the SCR catalyst fails. Complete tank replacement costs 2,500–3,000 €.
Blocked or porous panoramic roof drain tubes channel water into the cabin instead of outside. Water collects in the headlining and runs toward the battery or control units.
Driver assistance systems on the G11 (lane keep assist, blind spot warning, junction assistant) malfunction frequently and require software updates or camera reinitialisations.
Faulty comfort access system draws continuously elevated current and drains the battery.
The interior door opening button integrated into the diamond light strip fails and no longer illuminates. Climate controls on the same side can also fail simultaneously. BMW replaces the entire light strip — approximately 4 weeks lead time.
Heavy luxury saloon with large brake discs. Surface rust after standing causes squealing.
Over-the-air updates can cause malfunctions: eSIM loses connection, settings reset.
The i7 shows significant range loss in cold conditions due to battery thermal management.
The G70's integrated eSIM module frequently loses connection at vehicle startup. BMW addressed the issue with software update 11/2023.42; improvements confirmed by several owners.
Soft-close doors don't retract reliably; comfort exit function stops working after OTA updates. Various body electronics functions show sporadic failures.
Reports & Tests
13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2015–2022). Most reported: Engine (3), Electrical (3), Seat Belts (2).