BMW 7 Series 740i Engine ReplacementCompare Prices & Get Quotes

A BMW 7 Series 740i engine replacement cost varies significantly by generation. E38 M62B44 engines cost £1,200-£2,200 used, £2,200-£3,800 reconditioned, and £3,000-£5,000 rebuilt. E65 N62B40 engines cost £1,800-£3,200 used, £2,800-£4,800 reconditioned, and £4,000-£6,000 rebuilt. G11 B58B30 engines cost £2,000-£3,800 used, £3,800-£6,000 reconditioned, and £5,000-£8,000 rebuilt. Supply & fit adds £780-£1,300 in specialist labour.

• Used engines: lowest upfront cost, limited warranty
• Reconditioned: mid-range, some new parts fitted
• Rebuilt: highest cost, fully restored to factory spec with 12-month warranty

Common symptoms include blue or white smoke from the exhaust on cold startup, excessive oil consumption between services, and a strong smell of burning oil. The smoke typically clears after a few seconds but will return on the next cold start. Many E65 740i owners report this issue developing at 69,500 miles or earlier.

• Smoke on startup: classic symptom
• Oil consumption: 1 litre per 1,000 miles or more
• Burning oil smell: indicates oil leaking into the exhaust

This depends on the generation. For an E38 740i valued at £2,000-£8,000, a £3,000-£5,000 rebuilt engine may be borderline - carefully evaluate the car's overall condition. For an E65 740i valued at £2,000-£6,000, a valve stem seal repair (£1,800-£3,000) is often better value than a full rebuild. For a G11 740i valued at £18,000-£35,000, a rebuilt engine at £5,000-£8,000 represents 20-30% of the car's value and is financially viable.

• Sub-£4,000 car: consider a used engine or targeted repair
• £4,000-£8,000 car: reconditioned engine is viable
• £8,000+ car: rebuilt engine with warranty makes strong financial sense

A typical BMW 7 Series 740i engine replacement takes 2-5 days for supply and fit at a specialist garage. V8 engines (M62, N62) take longer due to the engine bay complexity, while straight-six engines (N55, B58) are more straightforward. Most specialists offer collection/delivery options nationwide.

• Same-day dispatch available for in-stock engines
• Fitting typically completed within 3-5 working days
• Collection/delivery options available across the UK

The 740i has always been a V8 or straight-six engine, while the 750i has consistently been a V8. In the E38 generation, the 740i used a 4.0L or 4.4L V8 while the 750i used a 5.4L V12. In the E65 generation, the 740i used a 4.0L V8 while the 750i used a 4.8L V8. In the F01 and G11 generations, the 740i switched to a 3.0L straight-six while the 750i retained a 4.4L V8. The 750i generally offers more power and torque but carries higher replacement costs.

• 740i: V8 (E38/E65) or straight-six (F01/G11)
• 750i: V8 (all generations, larger displacement)
• 740i replacement cost: generally lower than 750i

Reliability varies significantly by generation. The M62 V8 (E38) is known for timing chain guide failure. The N62 V8 (E65) is notorious for valve stem seal failure and oil consumption. The N55 straight-six (F01) is more reliable but has HPFP issues. The B58 straight-six (G11) is the most reliable of the bunch, with PCV valve failure being the main concern.

• E38 (M62): timing chain guides - inspect at 80,000 miles
• E65 (N62): valve stem seals - known failure from 60,000 miles
• F01 (N55): HPFP - a known weakness
• G11 (B58): PCV valve - the most reliable of the 740i engines