2004 BMW 7 Series: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2004 BMW 7 Series: 4 recalls, 28 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.
Recalls
4 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #04V344000 · 2004 · 4,102 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with 8 and 12 cylinder engines, the digital engine management control (emc) units were not produced according to specifications.
Why it matters: As a result, engine stalling will occur after a short period of operation. The vehicle May not be able to restart. Also, a loss of power steering and, after repeated actuation of the brake pedal, a loss of brake power assist will occur. These conditions could result in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Dealers will install a new digital engine management control unit. The recall began on July 16, 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Seats Vehicle recall #04V379000 · 2004 · 3,940 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, the software programming of the driver's seat occupant detection system (ods) May not be able to reliably determine if the driver's seat is occupied.
Why it matters: In certain crash conditions, the driver's front air bag, head protection system, safety belt pretensioner, and knee air bag May not deploy, increasing the risk of injury to a seat occupant.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the software for the driver's seat occupant detection system. The recall began October 13, 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Seats Vehicle recall #04V575000 · 2004 · 17,905 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with front seat heating systems, upon entering and exiting the vehicle, excessive contact with the side bolster that is contained in the seat's backrest May damage the heating mat located in this area. If such damage were to occur, with the system turned on, the vehicle occupant May feel excessive heat from this area.
Why it matters: It is possible that the heating mat in the backrest's side bolster could overheat and damage, or melt a small hole in, this area of the seat cover. If this happened, it could lead to an occupant being burned.
The fix: Dealers will modify the seat heating circuit. The recall is expected to begin during December 2004. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #10V446000 · 2010 · 198,352 vehicles
What's wrong: A check valve of the brake vacuum pump May leak a small amount of lubricating oil. Over time this could result in contamination of the brake booster.
Why it matters: Power assist braking performance could be adversely affected. In extreme cases there could be a complete loss of power assist braking. An unexpected reduction or loss in power braking assist May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Bmw will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on November 24, 2010.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 2 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Transmission & drivetrain (4): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Brakes (hydraulic) (4): the most common themes are leaks (3).
- Engine & cooling (3): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Electrical (3): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2004 BMW 7 Series has 28 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 17 7 Series model years for complaints (3.8× the average 7 Series year). Complaints peaked in 2011 (6 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 54,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2003 (8 complaints, 2 recalls), 2005 (4 complaints, 1 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4 L 8-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 24 | 19 | Premium |
| 6.0 L 12-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 13 | 21 | 16 | 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 2004 BMW 7 Series.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
Books ~$30–$40 · AllAccess $34.99/moHeads up: we may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Prices checked 2026-10 and can change. We never host or link to pirated manuals. Disclosure
FAQ
Does the 2004 BMW 7 Series have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 vehicle recalls for the 2004 BMW 7 Series. 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 2004 BMW 7 Series problems?
Owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are transmission & drivetrain (4), brakes (hydraulic) (4), engine & cooling (3).
What gas mileage does the 2004 BMW 7 Series get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (4.4 L, Automatic (S6)), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2004 BMW 7 Series 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.