1996 BMW 740iL Service and Repair Manual

This factory service and repair manual for the 1996 BMW 740iL is built around a naturally aspirated 4.4L DOHC V8, gasoline-fueled, in a four-door sedan offered in Base trim only. Displacement, valve gear and induction are fixed for the year, so the fuel, ignition, cooling and emissions material lands on one calibration and one set of numbers. Chassis and body coverage follows the same single-configuration logic, down to the wiring diagrams for the sedan's lighting, comfort and instrument circuits.

Engines covered

• 4.4L V8 — DOHC, naturally aspirated, gasoline

Body styles covered

• 4-door sedan

Trims covered

• Base

Known issues on the 1996 740iL. Two recalls are on the federal record. The first involves a replacement steering center drag link whose shaft can shear, producing an immediate and complete loss of control. The second involves road grit working into the lower front spring mounts, pitting the rubber so cracks spread and the bottom coil of a front spring breaks, upsetting ride height and stability. Owners have logged 11 complaints, three on the fuel system, two on vehicle speed control and two on the engine and cooling system — steering, suspension and fuel work all covered here.