750iL - what goes wrong?

[thanuk]

I saw an old-shape 750iL on a forecourt for £9k earlier. At a cursory glance it looked immaculate and had 68k miles on it.

How bad an idea would it be to buy one of these? I'm assuming that any V12-specific parts were made in tiny numbers and are thus expensive. On the other hand, 68k miles should be barely run in for a car of this type. So I'm left wondering whether running one of these would be a route to bargain luxury or a bottomless pit of spending.

[GT3 Rob]

I had one of these as a company car back in 96, when they were still fairly new..

Great beast of a car, luverly whirr as you start that magnificent V12 engine, and an effortless rush as you hit the gas..

Not the most powerful engine in the world, 326bhp from 5.4 ltr.. the 850 had the M Power 5.6 ltr pushing closer to 380bhp.

Only thing I do remember is petrol consumption.. wow.!
Massive tank, will hold nearly £90 worth of fuel and it doesn't last long..(hours, not days).. On board computer would regularly show lowest reading available, in town, 7mpg.. ouch

Cheers
Rob

[dcb]

thanuk said:

I saw an old-shape 750iL on a forecourt for £9k earlier. At a cursory glance it looked immaculate and had 68k miles on it. How bad an idea would it be to buy one of these? I'm assuming that any V12-specific parts were made in tiny numbers and are thus expensive. On the other hand, 68k miles should be barely run in for a car of this type. So I'm left wondering whether running one of these would be a route to bargain luxury or a bottomless pit of spending.

Have a think of the physical size of the car.

One of the negative points of my Jaguar was that it was tricky to park because it was so big compared to English car parking spaces.

I downsized to a five series and the problem went away.
Mind you, the park assist might have helped.

[scared but happy]

I have posted a question about this as well. I have a choice of 750 or 5 series but cannot choose, are the 7s as fantastic as they look on paper and are they OK to live with? I understand the MPG is almost zero but can they cruse at a good speed all day?

[dcb]

scared but happy said:

I have posted a question about this as well. I have a choice of 750 or 5 series but cannot choose, are the 7s as fantastic as they look on paper and are they OK to live with? I understand the MPG is almost zero but can they cruse at a good speed all day?

They will both cruise all every day at speeds well in excess of anything you are allowed to do in the UK.

The real choice, as it seems to me, is that do you need the extra few inches space of the seven series so much that you are willing to pay a lot extra in fuel and insurance ?

Comparative numbers on fuel economy are available in any car comic.

[eliot]

dcb said:

Have a think of the physical size of the car.

Would agree with that, when you see one parked up in tesco's car park the back end of it is hanging out. Plus all the dozy mothers with their kids will scratch and dent your paintwork.

[scared but happy]

eliot said:

dcb said: Have a think of the physical size of the car. Would agree with that, when you see one parked up in tesco's car park the back end of it is hanging out. Plus all the dozy mothers with their kids will scratch and dent your paintwork.

Hmmm. I never thought of that. Good point.

[eliot]

ive got a 540i sport, nice quick motor, plenty of go. Just replaced the wife's astra with my dads old e36 325se, which after driving it 8 years ago got me into BMW's in the first place - and it still drives like a minter - (only done 58k on a '93)

[scared but happy]

Well, it looks like I am going to take the plunge and if all goes well I will be getting my 750iL on Thursday.

[dcb]

scared but happy said:

Well, it looks like I am going to take the plunge and if all goes well I will be getting my 750iL on Thursday.

Give it a month or so to bed in, and *please* post your MPG figures.

Inquiring minds want to know.

Will you get over 20 mpg in town, or over 25 mpg on a long run ?

[scared but happy]

dcb said:

scared but happy said: Well, it looks like I am going to take the plunge and if all goes well I will be getting my 750iL on Thursday. Give it a month or so to bed in, and *please* post your MPG figures. Inquiring minds want to know. Will you get over 20 mpg in town, or over 25 mpg on a long run ?

If all goes well I will do But I think round town is more like 9 mpg