Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 60,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1994 740IL.
The 1994 BMW 740IL introduced the E38 platform, pairing its engine with a 5-speed automatic transmission to deliver EPA fuel economy of 15 city, 21 highway, and 17 combined miles per gallon. Routine servicing demands 7.9 quarts of oil meeting API SJ specifications in 15W-40, 10W-40, or 10W-30 viscosities, keeping the powertrain operating in a model year subject to just a single recall. Within the broader 1993–2001 generation, this year logged the lowest volume of owner grievances with only 4 total complaints focused on the engine and engine cooling, making it the reliability high-water mark for researchers evaluating the platform's long-term durability.
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 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 | 13321720101 |
| Spark plug | 12129063428 alt 12129064619 |
| Front wiper blades | 61618355052 alt 61618361475 |
| Serpentine belt | 11287636367 alt 11287833266 |
| Thermostat | 11531702279 alt 11511705408 |
| Cabin air filter | 64311390836 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
| Overall length | 197.6 in |
| Overall width | 72.8 in |
| Overall height | 55.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 116.1 in |
| Curb weight | 4057 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 60.2 / 61.4 in |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 15 / 21 / 17 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 105 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 13 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Premium Gasoline |
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, GL-5 in the differential, DOT 4 brake fluid.
| Brake Fluid | DOT 4 |
| Differential Gear Oil | GL-5 |
| Differential Gear Oil Capacity | 4.9 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 |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 60,000 mi | Oxygen Sensor (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Compared with the 1993 model year’s nine complaints and one recall, the 1994 BMW 740IL shows a marked reduction to four complaints while holding steady at one recall and only two technical service bulletins. Across this generation, federal filings trend sharply upward after 1994, climbing to twelve complaints and four recalls in 1995, then ultimately peaking at thirty-seven complaints by 1998 before moderating in later years. The 1994 model sits at the lowest point of this arc, recording the fewest complaints of any year in the dataset and zero crash or fire-related complaints, with its limited grievances concentrated in engine and engine cooling followed by the electrical system. Because the data does not specify root causes for the subsequent escalation, we cannot attribute the later spike to any particular failure mode, but the record clearly positions 1994 as the most federally quiet year of the run. For a buyer prioritizing minimal documented exposure to recalls and owner complaints within this generation, 1994 stands out as the strongest candidate on paper.
All 4 complaints on record, top 2 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
Showing 2 of 2 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… |
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 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 15 city / 21 highway / 17 combined mpg.