Jul 29, 2021SuspensionTransmission & drivetrain
My car has approximately 118,000 miles on it and is in excellent condition. It was dealer serviced within a week of this event. The dealer did not identify any driveline problems or conditions with the vehicle. While my wife was driving on the freeway, the rear u-joint on the front drive shaft failed, causing the drive shaft to flail from the front differential and beat a hole in the transmission. There was virtually no warning that this failure was imminent except for a slight vibration for approximately 15 minutes prior to the failure. In examining the driveshaft, there is no slip joint to allow it to change length when the front suspension travels. Talking to the local BMW dealer, I learned that another customer had the same thing happen with a 2012 750; the failure occurred while their service technician was driving the vehicle. Apparently the front u-joint failed on that vehicle resulting in catastrophic damage to the engine, resulting in total economic loss of the vehicle. I am finding other similar events online in researching this issue, so it seems to be a known common issue. While the drive shave did not break through the floor pan, that was certainly a possibility, and my wife was forced to suddenly stop the car in traffic.
NHTSA ODI 11426932
Nov 13, 2017Transmission & drivetrain
THE 2011 BMW 750LI XDRIVE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND THE POWER TRAIN MALFUNCTION INDICATOR CAME ON ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WHEN DRIVING AROUND 80MPH, I HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO 60MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS 70MPH. IF I WENT FASTER THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD FLASH UNTIL I SLOWED DOWN. THE CAR DRINKS OIL LIKE CRAZY AND THE FULL SYNTHETIC OIL IS NOT CHEAP. W#HEN I PULLED OVER I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AFTER 10 MINUTES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THE CAR WAS SHUDDERING WHEN I PULLED BACK ONTO THE INTERSTATE SLOWLY. THE CAR'S TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON AND STABILIZATION LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN I ACCELERATED THERE WAS NO POWER SO I HAD TO PULL OFF ON SIDE OF THE ROAD AGAIN. I FINALLY GO ON THE ROAD AND DROVE 60 MPH UNTIL I REACHED HOME. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED ALL NIGHT AND IN THE MORNING THE SAME THING. MAKING AN APPOINTMENT TO TAKE TO THE BMW OF STERLING, VA.
NHTSA ODI 11045572
Jun 29, 2017Transmission & drivetrain
ELECTRIC AUXILIARY WATER PUMP FAILURE ON MY 2011 BMW 750LI XDRIVE. SHOULD BE COVERED IN RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V521000). HOWEVER, BMW REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL. TOOK IN TO RAY CATENA BMW OF WESTCHESTER (543 TARRYTOWN RD., WHITE PLAINS, NY 10607, 914-761-5555) ON 6/27/2017. SHOWED THEM PRINTOUT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 11V521000. SERVICE MANAGER SAID EVEN THOUGH THE RECALL INCLUDED THE 2011 BMW 750LI XDRIVE, MY SPECIFIC CAR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAD TO COME OUT OF POCKET $949.31 TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED. *JS
NHTSA ODI 11002425