Discussion
As I'm now back in a BMW with a V8 (bliss) and driving around in a jet propelled stately home, I got to wondering if there were any PHers who have experience of this delightful form of motoring who could let me know what I can expect to be wrong or go wrong.
It's a 94M with 88k miles, so not long run in, and just about every option available except parking sensors. Inside is virtually as new, although you can tell the driver's seat has been satupon. Outside there's a small scuff to the rear bumper. Oh and someone put 5-series alloys on it at some stage, but after thinking "er..." the look is growing on me. After reading on a few other forums I specifically checked the suspension bushes and the rest (OK), radiator / cooling system (OK) and it has 12 months MoT so cats are OK, for now at least. The auto box behaves well. It looks, sounds and drives like a much newer 'tight' car, only not the V8 which is nicely free revving.
There's a FBMWSH to ~80k then receipts. Under the bonnet it all looks honest, and consumes bugger all oil and no coolant. The price was unbelievable so I've got a few quid for an automotive rainy day ... therefore, noble PHers, over to you ... is there anybody else on here not in M-cars? What did I fail to spot on the test drive and (my own) inspection. What will shortly go pop? Is there a hypermega 90k service to explain why it was sold now? Any other advice, apart from try to get out of it occasionally? Ta
It's a 94M with 88k miles, so not long run in, and just about every option available except parking sensors. Inside is virtually as new, although you can tell the driver's seat has been satupon. Outside there's a small scuff to the rear bumper. Oh and someone put 5-series alloys on it at some stage, but after thinking "er..." the look is growing on me. After reading on a few other forums I specifically checked the suspension bushes and the rest (OK), radiator / cooling system (OK) and it has 12 months MoT so cats are OK, for now at least. The auto box behaves well. It looks, sounds and drives like a much newer 'tight' car, only not the V8 which is nicely free revving.
There's a FBMWSH to ~80k then receipts. Under the bonnet it all looks honest, and consumes bugger all oil and no coolant. The price was unbelievable so I've got a few quid for an automotive rainy day ... therefore, noble PHers, over to you ... is there anybody else on here not in M-cars? What did I fail to spot on the test drive and (my own) inspection. What will shortly go pop? Is there a hypermega 90k service to explain why it was sold now? Any other advice, apart from try to get out of it occasionally? Ta
Hiya, as you can guess am a bmw lover, i have run 740iL for ages up until latest 7 came along, highest mileage was 235k all with no major problems, switches seems to be the worst problem, with colours etc wearing off fronts!!!! Drivers seats are good for 150k and then recover or buy second hand for £150.
Now running new 730d which is brilliant, best car ever for my job. www.chauffeurdriveltd.com
All the best
Now running new 730d which is brilliant, best car ever for my job. www.chauffeurdriveltd.com
All the best
bmwdrivernigel said:Thanks for the reassurance Nigel, I can't help but think that this silver lined motoring just gotta have a cloud somewhere. BTW do you - or anyone else - remember an expensive 90k service or am I being paranoid? It wouldn't matter too much, I expected as much before handing over the folding. ETA - it had a service before collection and is now on five greens - so does the service regime just continue through 90k according to the lights?
...switches seems to be the worst problem, with colours etc wearing off fronts...
>> Edited by turbobloke on Tuesday 30th August 22:34
TB,
Good buy! - I have a 94 730i as my luxobarge and she is up to 174K miles and still drives like new.
It sounds like you have covered most of the obvious problems. Favourites are
radiator neck snapping off.
water pump
suspension and brakes(big barge!!)
fuel pump
apart from that - pretty bomb proof.
Good buy! - I have a 94 730i as my luxobarge and she is up to 174K miles and still drives like new.
It sounds like you have covered most of the obvious problems. Favourites are
radiator neck snapping off.
water pump
suspension and brakes(big barge!!)
fuel pump
apart from that - pretty bomb proof.
turbobloke said:
ETA - it had a service before collection and is now on five greens - so does the service regime just continue through 90k according to the lights?
Yes. Service intervals are variable, not fixed.
If you are on five greens, then you've got about 15,000 miles or so, depending on how you drive, before the next service.
Might be worth checking the service book for what the next service is. Basic oil service, Inspection 1 or Inspection 2. I expect Inspection 2 at a BMW dealer for a seven series to be quite expensive [£ 500 ?] plus anything else they can find wrong.
Alistair H. said:Thanks for the tips AH.
TB, Good buy! - I have a 94 730i as my luxobarge and she is up to 174K miles and still drives like new. It sounds like you have covered most of the obvious problems. Favourites are radiator neck snapping off, water pump, suspension and brakes(big barge!!), fuel pump, apart from that - pretty bomb proof.
dcb said:It had both Inspection 1 and 2 just before the latest oil service so maybe an inspection looks due next time. A year or two back I had an E36 3-series coupé with an engine transplant from an 840i that was serviced out of keeping with the lights to my own schedule - I just wondered if there was a big 'fixed' service at 90k for the 7's I didn't know about that made the seller let go. Good to hear that normal service will be resumed
Service intervals are variable, not fixed. If you are on five greens, then you've got about 15,000 miles or so, depending on how you drive, before the next service. Might be worth checking the service book for what the next service is. Basic oil service, Inspection 1 or Inspection 2. I expect Inspection 2 at a BMW dealer for a seven series to be quite expensive [£ 500 ?] plus anything else they can find wrong.
Hi there Turbo
My brother has one of the last 740is and it's been fine. I ran a new model 745SE for 10 months before I rejected the car. What a shed. Great car to drive but what gremlins in that flaming Idrive and key in dash cr*p. Oh and the dynamic drive self levelling suspension failed mid corner.
Hasn't put me off though, just a bad car
My brother has one of the last 740is and it's been fine. I ran a new model 745SE for 10 months before I rejected the car. What a shed. Great car to drive but what gremlins in that flaming Idrive and key in dash cr*p. Oh and the dynamic drive self levelling suspension failed mid corner.
Hasn't put me off though, just a bad car
turbobloke said:
Sorry to hear you experienced electrical snafus, would you mind elaborating a bit? What exactly is likely to go wrong?
Well, it's a while ago, but the main problem was the alarm system/central locking/general module/siren combo. There was other stuff, but I forget the details now...
The ancilliaries were the things that hurt me: cats, fuel pump, cooling system, crankcase ventilation valve, suspension bits. Much got fixed under warranty, which was just as well! Cats didn't though
Update.
After sensing curious front wheel movement at sudden (not emergency) stops, it turned out to need compression bushes in one pair of control arms so the suspension got me in the end ... but not costly for the parts, nor the labour at the Gloucester based indie that did a good job of it.
Spotted a small stain on the vee belt and eventually found a pinhole hiding in the plastic themostat housing that was responsible for it, again a really cheap BMW part - shocking.
After about a month of ownership it's averaging 26 mpg and delivering well over 30 mpg on longer motorway hauls. Inside, the comfort level coupled to effortless progress are great. I could rent out the boot space - small families only need apply. With a 50k plus car available for 3k plus a couple of hundred to sort, I should have done this sooner.
After sensing curious front wheel movement at sudden (not emergency) stops, it turned out to need compression bushes in one pair of control arms so the suspension got me in the end ... but not costly for the parts, nor the labour at the Gloucester based indie that did a good job of it.
Spotted a small stain on the vee belt and eventually found a pinhole hiding in the plastic themostat housing that was responsible for it, again a really cheap BMW part - shocking.
After about a month of ownership it's averaging 26 mpg and delivering well over 30 mpg on longer motorway hauls. Inside, the comfort level coupled to effortless progress are great. I could rent out the boot space - small families only need apply. With a 50k plus car available for 3k plus a couple of hundred to sort, I should have done this sooner.
I have the 750iL and think they are great cars.
My main complaint is the electrics.
The car phone will only take older SIM cards (annoyingly).
Sat-nav has gave up the ghost.
CD player has shredded one of its cogs that loads/ejects disks and now only works in the horizontal position.
Display kept saying brake light bulb fail, took them all out and found it was the highlevel light causing the problem.
Other things
Insurance group 20 - annoying
Brakes seem very poor for such a large car.
averaging around 20mpg.
But they are fantastic cars to run, goes like the clappers and the V12 roars into action and 100 comes up very quickly. Place everything into sport mode and it handles wonderfully.
Added: Sorry it is a '96 "N". Genuine 68,000 miles. 2 owners. Full 12 month warranty.
I give it 8/10.
>> Edited by scared but happy on Friday 30th September 18:57
My main complaint is the electrics.
The car phone will only take older SIM cards (annoyingly).
Sat-nav has gave up the ghost.
CD player has shredded one of its cogs that loads/ejects disks and now only works in the horizontal position.
Display kept saying brake light bulb fail, took them all out and found it was the highlevel light causing the problem.
Other things
Insurance group 20 - annoying
Brakes seem very poor for such a large car.
averaging around 20mpg.
But they are fantastic cars to run, goes like the clappers and the V12 roars into action and 100 comes up very quickly. Place everything into sport mode and it handles wonderfully.
Added: Sorry it is a '96 "N". Genuine 68,000 miles. 2 owners. Full 12 month warranty.
I give it 8/10.
>> Edited by scared but happy on Friday 30th September 18:57
scared but happy said:One morning with a 'check tail light' warning on the obc it turned out to be right, one of the n/s bulbs had blown. Won't say anything positive overall about the electrics - don't want to tempt fate. They do shift well. This one has done 8k a year, it'll do a few more now
I have the 750iL and think they are great cars. My main complaint is the electrics...Display kept saying brake light bulb fail, took them all out and found it was the highlevel light causing the problem.
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