Is the 2006 BMW 750Li a bad year?
216 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 80, 8× a quiet 750Li year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 66k–121k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2006 750Li owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 87,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 80 (37%) | 66k–121k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 40 (19%) | 72k–101k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 34 (16%) | 64k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 26 (12%) | 78k–100k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 22 (10%) | 78k–124k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Engine | 22 (10%) | 72k–124k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 20 (9%) | 75k–122k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Seat belts | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Stability control | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 87,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 216 complaints: 6 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 3 report an injury · 6 say the car was towed.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Dec 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
While trying to back out of my driveway put car in reverse car jump back in to neutral , while putting car in drive loud clanking sound .many other problems with this car oil leaks around housing.
I have had my car in for service for an problem, that when moving from stop at an red light/ stop sign. It seen as if I'm being hit from the rear, this the second time it has been there for the same issue.
2 separate issues 1st, the vehicle when in park cannot switch to drive or reverse, it will only switch to neutral.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 87,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2006 BMW 750Li: 4
In these vehicles, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently open. The door may unexpectedly open due to road or driving conditions or occupant contact with the door. The sudden opening may result in occupant ejection or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The front passenger seat occupant detection mat that determines if and how the passenger frontal air bag should deploy in a crash may fatigue and develop cracks which could lead to a system failure. Should the system fail, in the event of a crash, the front passenger air bag would be deactivated, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Due to a software problem, the doors may appear to be closed and latched, but, in fact, may inadvertently open. The door may unexpectedly open due to road or driving conditions or occupant contact with the door. The sudden opening may result in occupant ejection or increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The affected vehicles have an electronic key and an electronic connection between the gear shifter and the transmission (shift-by-wire) that automatically shifts the transmission to Park when the driver presses the Start/Stop button to shutdown the engine. If the driver exits the vehicle with the transmission in Neutral and the parking brake is not applied, the vehicle may rollaway.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from BMW: 18
Repair instructions BMW sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2006 BMW 750Li. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
N62TU: EDK Throttle Potentiometer Faults Diagnostic
Delay in Automatic Driving Light Switching On/Off
BMW vehicles: fuel level sensor repairs
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Vehicle Rollaway
Vehicle Rollaway
BMW airbag light illumination
BMW airbag light illumination
Neighbouring years
2007 750Li: 77 complaints, keep it.
Every BMW 750Li year
2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2021 · All 750Li years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2006 BMW 750Li a bad year?
216 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 80, 8× a quiet 750Li year. At 87,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 66k–121k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 BMW 750Li?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (80), air bags (40), latches and locks (34), body structure (26), electrical system (22). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 66k–121k miles.
How many recalls does the 2006 BMW 750Li have?
4 recall campaigns list this model year: Latches and locks (NHTSA 17V-328), Air bags (NHTSA 13V-564), Latches and locks (NHTSA 12V-504), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 12V-502). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.