The 1990 BMW 735iL has 1 safety recall and 1 owner complaint on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (1 complaint).
Problem: THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CAN FAIL ALLOWING THE SWITCH TO REMAIN IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS OFF" POSITION OR IN THE "BRAKE LIGHTS ON" POSITION.
Risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER WILL NOT OPERATE OR WILL BE CONTINUOUSLY ON, REGARDLESS OF BRAKE PEDAL POSITION. FOLLOWING DRIVERS WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE VEHICLE IS STOPPING, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED SWITCH.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
735il
16mpg combined
City / highway
14 / 20 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
3.4 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Vehicle speed control
1
1
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Aug 13, 2002 · crashVehicle speed control CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARD IN WHICH THE VEHICLE STRUCK AN ELECTRICAL BOX, PUNCTURED THE GAS TANK AND BURST INTO FLAMES. MR *JB
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.