740iL Sport transmission differences please

[Bread]

I'm going today to look at a couple 2001 740iL sports, but I have a couple questions about the transmissions. I was reading about how the sport transmission shifts much firmer/quicker giving a 2 second faster 0-60 time than the stock transmission. Now, the dealer told me that only the 740i has the steptronic tranny, which is the fast one. The 740iL in either sport or standard trim has the same tranny. Is this true? I gotta know before I buy one of these.

[jasleinstein]

yes. the 740I, sport has the steptronic tranny. It is very quick, well worth the money.
Be very careful about high mileage on 7 series though. BMW says that the transmission fluid is life time or 100K. There are a rash of high mileage 740s having trannies go out.

Make sure the fluids get changed before 80K.

My tranny just went out on my 2000 740M sport with 110K miles. It was going to cost $8K to $10K. I lucked out and got it rebuilt for $6K. During the process my mechanic called several BMW repair places on the west cost and 740s with mileage over 80 - 90K seem to be shelling transmission so fast rebuilt ones can't be found.

Even though the 740M was the best car I have EVER owned, I took the huge financial hit, getting less than $20K for the car and bought a new 4.4 X5.