BMW 760Li
BMW AG's flagship sedan -- the long-wheelbase, 12-cylinder 760Li -- is one of those vehicles that churns up conflicting emotions.

The 760Li also comes with a supremely comfortable cockpit, a supple suspension and a potent power plant.

But this car has problems!!!
We truly love BMWs and wouldn't drive anything else, but until BMW addresses the problems inherent to this model, we will continue to post user comments here in an effort to get it fixed:

Here are some examples:

The big complaint is I purchased the car and the accelerator control, after having previously depressed and released the brake, sometimes:

1. Delays in responding from a fraction of a second to a second or more

2. Delays in responding from a fraction of a second to a second or more, then slams the car with extreme acceleration. The slams are so hard they actually hurt – it feels like being in a rear end collision.

3. Does not function at all, even if accelerator pedal is pressed completely to the floor. Lifting accelerator control back up and depressing again and the car functioned normally.

The car has done this erratically since initially purchased in Mid 2003.

The problem appears to lie in the “drive by wire” system where, while the brake directly (mechanically) operates the brakes, the accelerator control only operates through a sensor which sends accelerator pedal position information to the car computer. The car computer then controls the engine and thus acceleration. The accelerator control functions perfectly if the brake pedal has not been previously released. The malfunction only occurs when attempting to accelerate immediately after releasing the brake pedal. This is caused by some software glitch in the car computer.

BMW has been repeatedly appraised of the problem and been requested to fix this problem. The responses from BMW have ranged from:

1. We can't duplicate the problem.

2. It's all in how you drive.

After personally demonstrating the problem for them their tune changed to:

1. That's the way it's built – that's normal.

2. A software upgrade will fix this. (No, it didn't)

3. We're going to get the engineers in Germany working on this. (To date they haven't been heard from.)

4. Maybe the software for the 2004 will work in your 2003 car. (They haven't made this software available yet.)

Obviously, having the accelerator control fail to function reliably is a major flaw in the automobile which renders the car unsafe to drive. Ever try a left turn through traffic and have your car fail to accelerate? I can hear the screech of tires from oncoming traffic now trying to stop - while I await the sickening crunch of someone plowing into this turkey of an automobile.

Until BMW fixes this problem the BMW 760Li, a $125,000.00 automobile is unsafe to drive or operate on the streets. My attorneys are presently working on filing suit under the CA “Lemon law” to force BMW to either refund the cost of the car or to replace it with one that works. My hope is always that BMW will fix this car but to date they have not done so and do nothing but continue to utter empty promises.

Until such time as BMW corrects the problems apparently inherent in the BMW 760Li software design any would be buyer should use extreme caution before purchasing this automobile.

Signed one very dis-satisfied BMW 760Li owner.

Even During Testing

BMW certainly crammed a lot of electronics into the 7-series, some for the good and some not so good. The drive-by-wire system, for instance, eliminates the traditional mechanical linkages between the gas pedal and the engine, but there is a noticeable and disturbing throttle lag when you first touch the accelerator. Even everyday functions like the radio require additional training. For heaven's sake, our test vehicle came with a 46-page minimanual plus three regular owner's manuals!

BMW has mounted the tiny gearshift lever on the steering column and programmed it in such a way that it requires a surprisingly complicated set of motions to do something as simple as shifting into reverse to back out of a parking space, then shifting into forward gear to get under way.

Paul Lienert

You haven't even mentioned the dreaded iDrive, which we have sampled on several versions of the 7-series and still find virtually incomprehensible. Picture a big fist-size knob that doubles as a joystick and controls such functions as climate, audio and navigation. It should be intuitive, but it isn't. BMW just tried to cram too many functions into this unit. And the worst part is you have to take your eyes off the road to play with it. We now have put several hundred miles on two different 7-series, and we still can't get used to the iDrive.

Anita Lienert

BMW Lemon Site

We have been getting around 100 hits a day and about 20 emails a day on this site.  Apparently something drastic has changed in the BMW management and the way it handles its customers.  We are working on a discussion group to be incorporated into this web page so people can converse with each other on certain makes and models of BMW and possible other manufacturers.  I hope it will be ready soon.  BMW should already have some sort of open lines to its customers, but with unanswered mail, phone calls and emails what are we to do.

http://www.bmwlemon.com/

Please E-Mail BMW and request that they take care of their customers

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