Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 100,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 740I.
The 1997 BMW 740I rides on the E38 architecture with a five-speed automatic transmission and carries a 7.9-quart oil capacity requiring 15W-40, 10W-40, or 10W-30 API SJ viscosity grades. EPA fuel economy ratings stand at 15 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined. Within the model’s 1993–2016 complaint history, the 1997 model year’s three owner complaints place it near the bottom of the range—higher than the 1996 minimum of one but far below the 1993 peak of 22—indicating above-average reliability for the generation despite three recalls and primary concern in the Engine & Engine Cooling category.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 95R · 950 CCA battery, OE oil filter 11427510717. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Engine oil filter | 11427510717 |
| Engine air filter | 13721736675 |
| Fuel filter | 13321740985 |
| Spark plug | 12129063428 alt 12129064619 |
| Battery | 61217591085 |
| Front wiper blades | 61618361475 alt 61618203954 |
| Serpentine belt | 11287636376 alt 11287833264 |
| Thermostat | 11511705408 alt 11531437526 |
| Cabin air filter | 64312339888 alt 64118391385 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
| Overall length | 196.1 in |
| Overall width | 73.2 in |
| Overall height | 56.3 in |
| Wheelbase | 115.4 in |
| Curb weight | 4255 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 59.4 / 60.2 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 51/49 |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 15 / 22 / 18 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 107 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 13 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the 740I of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 740 740iL Sedan 4.4L V8 | 6.90 sec | 15.20 sec | 282 hp | RWD |
| 1998 | 740 740iL 4.4L V8 | 6.80 sec | 15.20 sec | 282 hp | RWD |
| 1995 | 740 740iL Sedan 4.0L V8 | 7.90 sec | 16.00 sec | 282 hp | RWD |
| 1995 | 740 740i Sedan 4.0L V8 | 8.00 sec | 16.10 sec | 282 hp | RWD |
| 1995 | 740 740i Sedan 4.0L V8 | 8.40 sec | 16.60 sec | 282 hp | RWD |
| 2000 | 740 740i Sedan 4.4L V8 | 5.90 sec | 15.50 sec | 282 hp | RWD |
| 2000 | 740 740iL Protection Sedan 4.4L V8 | 7.70 sec | 16.00 sec | 282 hp | RWD |
| 2001 | 740 740iL Sedan 4.4L V8 | 6.60 sec | 15.00 sec | 282 hp | RWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
This engine holds 7.9 qt of 15W-40 / 10W-40 / 10W-30 API SJ engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 88 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 22.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 3 Pints |
| Engine Coolant | ETHYLENE GLYCOL |
| Engine Oil | 15W-40 · API · 10W-40 · 10W-30 · 5W-30 |
| Engine Oil Capacity | 7.9 qt |
| Power Steering Fluid | ATF |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 22.0 ft-lbs |
| Lug Nuts | 88 ft-lbs |
| Rear Wheel Hub | 221 ft-lbs |
| Cylinder Firing Order | 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2 |
| Ignition Coil Primary Resistance | 0.4-0.8 ohms |
| Spark Plug Manufacturer | BMW |
| Refrigerant | R134a |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.148-3.00 lbs |
| Oil Group | PAG |
| Oil Type | 46 |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 95R |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 950 cca |
| Injector Primary Resistance | 15-17 ohms |
| Engine Compression | 159 |
| Engine Oil Pressure | 7.25 at idle, 65.25 regulated. psi |
| Intake Valve Lash | Hydraulic in |
| Exhaust Valve Lash | Hydraulic in |
| Intake Valve Lash | Hydraulic in |
| Exhaust Valve Lash | Hydraulic in |
| Torque Caliper to Bracket | 18-22 ft-lbs / 81 ft-lbs |
| Torque to Knuckle | 49 ft-lbs / 81-96 ft-lbs |
| Minimum Pad Thickness | Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in |
| Rotor Minimum Machining | 0.031 in |
| Rotor Discard at or Under | 1.118 in / 0.409 in |
| Rotor Finish | 0.5 - 3.5 μin |
| 1 | 73 ft. lbs., step 2: 60 degrees, step 3: 60 degrees, step 4: 30 | 73 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 22 ft. lbs. | 22 ft. lbs |
| 2 | 80 degrees | 80 degrees |
| 3 | 80 | |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 100,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 1997 BMW 740I sits at the trough of the generation's initial complaint arc, recording just 3 federal complaints compared to the early-generation spike of 22 in 1993 and the later rise to 15 in 2001. Compared to the preceding 1996 model, which had only 1 complaint, the 1997 model saw a slight increase in complaints but maintained the same recall volume (3) while experiencing a notable peak in Technical Service Bulletins (15 versus 9 in 1996 and 11 in 1998). For the 1997 model specifically, the data does not specify root causes, but the 3 complaints were concentrated in Engine & Engine Cooling (2) and Fuel System, Gasoline (1), with zero crash or fire incidents reported. Its position at the bottom of the complaint curve, coupled with the highest TSB count of the decade, implies that manufacturer refinements were taking hold and known issues were being routed to dealers proactively rather than escalating into federal complaints. Consequently, the 1997 model is a strong year to buy in the used market, offering the lowest complaint profile of the generation's middle years before federal complaints rose in the early 2000s.
All 3 complaints on record, top 2 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
FCP GROTON IS RECALLING CERTAIN STEERING CENTER DRAG LINKS, P/N 32 21 1 096 057, SOLD FROM DECEMBER 1, 2009 THROUGH APRIL 9, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR MODEL YEAR 1995 THROUGH 2001 BMW 740I, 740IL, AND 750IL… Remedy: FCP GROTON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE TIE ROD WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JUNE 1, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FCP GROTON…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ROAD GRIT AND GRAVEL ASSOCIATED WITH WINTER ROAD CONDITIONS CAN PENETRATE THE RUBBER OF THE LOWER FRONT SPRING MOUNTS AND ACCUMULATE IN THE MOUNTS CAUSING NOTCHES OR PITS TO… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH FRONT SPRINGS AND LOWER SPRING MOUNTS.
Showing 5 of 15 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| B510819 | 2024-01-16 | Electrical System | The basic conditions for initializing the power windows are not met. |
| B122917 | 2017-12-01 | Equipment | SERVICE ACTION: PROGRAM DME: The incorrect dataset could be programmed into DME 5.2.1… |
| B122817 | 2017-12-01 | Electrical System | SERVICE ACTION: PROGRAM DME (FOR O2 SENSORS): Due to DME software error, the following… |
| 64 01 98 | 1998-03-01 | Visibility | REPLACEMENT HEATER CORES FOR E38 VEHICLES. *YC |
| 16 01 98 | 1998-03-01 | Fuel System, Gasoline | INFORMATION ON EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL AND FUEL FILLER CAP / FILLER DOOR LABELS. *YC |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
7.9 qt of HIGH PERFORMANCE MINERAL OILS: ABOVE 5 degrees F: 15W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, -5 degreesF TO 68 degrees F: 10W-40 API SJ, SL OR SM, 5 degreesF TO 50 degrees F: 10W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API SJ, SL OR SM, BELOW 32 degrees F:, per the factory manual.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 18 combined mpg.