NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls covering the 1996 BMW 7 Series. Open recalls don't stop you from selling or junking the car, but check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which apply to yours.
SuspensionAug 1997 · NHTSA campaign 97V140000
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Road grit and gravel associated with winter road conditions can penetrate the rubber of the lower front spring mounts and accumulate in the mounts causing notches or pits to develop. These notches can develop cracks resulting in breakage of a bottom coil of the spring.
Risk: The vehicle's ride height could be affected causing noise while the vehicle is driven. The vehicle's dynamic stability can be affected reducing the driver's ability to maintain control of the vehicle.
Vehicle Speed ControlAug 1997 · NHTSA campaign 97V131000
The cruise control and throttle cables are attached to the same throttle valve actuating lever at the throttle housing. It is possible that the plastic bushing on either cable could break due to environmental influences coupled with vibration. If the bushing breaks, the outer cable housing can separate from the bushing. In this case…
Risk: This could cause the throttle valve to remain partially open. It his were to occur, the car might not decelerate as expected increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fuel System, GasolineDec 1995 · NHTSA campaign 95V238000
Fuel seepage can occur between a hose and the metal fuel line on either end of the hose resulting in fuel odor.
Risk: Fuel leakage could potentially result in a vehicle fire.