7 series?

[J-skid]

I've found my mouse wandering over the pages of BMW approved used cars and quite fancy getting myself into something large and comfortable for cruising around in - thus a 2 year old 7 series seems stupidly good value at the minute. You can get a 745i for sub 30k with only 20-30k miles on the clock.

So, are there any major catches? Is all the electronic wizardry going to bite me on the behind in a couple of years?

Iain

[Deutscher]

Great buys, but the catch is the horrific depreciation rate will continue.

[J-skid]

Deutscher said:

Great buys, but the catch is the horrific depreciation rate will continue.

That's what I thought, but surely no worse than buying another new car for £30k and watching that lose 65% in three years?

Having been in a 745Li a few times, I just fancy the relaxed means of transport / the toys. I can then get something "interesting" for the weekends.

[B17NNS]

When I first saw the new 7 I thought it was awful but I too now find myself hankering after a 745i sport in black.

From the rear 3/4 I think it is actually quite handsome.

[Andrew D]

J-skid said:

So, are there any major catches?

Well it's hideously ugly...

I imagine that the fuel consumption is pretty interesting too.

They're pure luxury inside, but that's where you'll want to stay to avoid having to look at the thing!

I think if I were in the market for a 7 I'd go with a very late pervious model. They're a bargain, and you can get it in Imola Red too!

[bompey]

I've been looking at these as well but found some lease companies doing new 730Ds for about 450 per month. That seems a bargain

[off_again]

Funny thing is that the MPG on the modern BMW V8's isnt as bad as you might think. I can get over 30MPG out of mine and its not that new! The later 4.4 in the new 7 is even better (it did win Engine of the Year award for a couple of years - based on emissions, power and MPG!). Ok, big car, big engine - but you should expect to see mid to late 20's without too much trouble but be warned though - drive it in a City and it will be awful....

[church]

I had a 02 745i and loved it. Very fast and refined and there are so many toys to play with you'll never get bored. Recurring fault was the airbag warning light would come on every so often and then I'd take it to dealer they'd have a look and say no faults and re-set it. Then give it a month and same again! Also had the gearselector (looks like an indicator stalk if you've not looked at one yet) replaced under warranty (quite common I beleive). Other than that no problems. Averaged about 19mpg according to computer. Great value sold mine with 72k on it for £19k about 4 months ago! Also look out for them with the free servicing "Concours pack" which is worth quite a bit of money.

[noor]

Deutscher said:

Great buys, but the catch is the horrific depreciation rate will continue.

Sorry for the thread hijack..

I have seen a individual 730i fully loaded, with Alpina wheels, bodykit and suspension. Its priced at 25k. I am really inclined to go for it but fear the depreciation when i come to sell it in 18-24 months.

Can some one tell me how much it might be worth after 2 years?

Thanks in advance

[derin100]

I reckon it will probably still be 'ok' within your time frame...What really kills 7 Series values everytime is the advent of the next version. One year into the introduction of the next generation prices suddenly get slaughtered! More so than any othe series of BMW.

I've owned several 7's (in fact still own a 1989 E32 735i with a genuine 44K miles on the clock) including these two E38 740i's which I've since sold:

www.bmwclassics.co.uk/blue740i/index.html

www.bmwclassics.co.uk/740i/index.html

If you work on the basis that each generation cycle lasts about 8 years that will tell you when to nip out if you want to avoid the precipitious 'second-wave' of depreciation.

IIRC E65 arrived 2002?...we're in 2006 now...so you've got plenty of time in hand as on past form one might expect the successor to E65 to land around 2010? Thus I would expect a bumper, really BARGAIN crop of good E65's to occur around 2011? By bargain one means single figures! Though it might happen quicker i.e in the first year of the boy's arrival if it's half-way decent looking! I think we've got a little more used to the E65 looks but don't think it's ever really 'wowed' since it's introduction despite an early facelift.

Just my thoughts.

[J-skid]

All good food for thought.

Fuel consumption - does not worry me too much as I do few miles living on Jersey - 4,000 per annum tops. Plus fuel is about 15 - 18 pence per litre cheaper over here.

What I really want it for are the blasts through France down to the south coast and the like.

Depreciation - well based on the serious wedge I've lost on the Lexus I'm not too worried about it halving again over 3 years of ownership, but this is more paletable as I'm still driving around in what would be a 60k car new.

Toys - are they reliable? Having looked through the options on some of the cars, things like adaptive lighting - how do they stand the test of time? Or is it too early to tell?

Thanks again for the views

Iain

[church]

They are perfect for cross continent blasts, high speed stability well into the 100mph+ is tremendous and never feels strained. It could be too early to tell about if the toys will still all be working in another few years but my instict would say they are one of the best built cars around so should be safe as long as its used regularly - as that tends to be when gremlins occur IMHO.

[J-skid]

church said:

They are perfect for cross continent blasts, high speed stability well into the 100mph+ is tremendous and never feels strained. It could be too early to tell about if the toys will still all be working in another few years but my instict would say they are one of the best built cars around so should be safe as long as its used regularly - as that tends to be when gremlins occur IMHO.

Thanks - sort of confirms what I thought.

Now just need to decide which one to go after? Does anyone have a view on the merits of going for an "L" over an ordinary? I think 745 is the one I like. There seem to be lots of these around.

Also, someone mentioned the 730d. You see lots of these around London as executive transport - does anyone know how the 3.0d measures up in such a large car?

Iain

[Church]

I think the L's sell better used for some reason? The standard length has enough room in the back I'm 6'4 and it was comfortable on the odd occasion I had to ride in the back. The L has electric rear seats and such which adds even more gadgets to play with! I drove a new 530d and I was impressed, as to how it shapes up in the 7 I don't know. The 4.5 is well suited to the package and I think you said MPG wasn't a big issue so go for the 745, although when it comes to resale the diesel will probably do best...........

[scared but happy]

I have a '96 750il and love it. It has all the toys you could ask for and it idles along the motorways. As she is an older lady now she does have a few niggley problems but they are all minor and TBH it still feels like driving a new car! Although it has done 72,000 miles and I am only the third owner, the last owner was a horse breeder and he owned it since 1998! The V12 is superb, yes I know the MPG is quite low (19.7) but someone came round in a X5 and that was showing 17.1! Someone I know has the 735i but the quality and style is something else. I had a TVR before this and ok the TVR will beat it to 60 but this thing just pulls and pulls and pulls and....

Buy one you will love it.

[bmwdrivernigel]

J-skid said:

church said:

They are perfect for cross continent blasts, high speed stability well into the 100mph+ is tremendous and never feels strained. It could be too early to tell about if the toys will still all be working in another few years but my instict would say they are one of the best built cars around so should be safe as long as its used regularly - as that tends to be when gremlins occur IMHO.

Thanks - sort of confirms what I thought.

Now just need to decide which one to go after? Does anyone have a view on the merits of going for an "L" over an ordinary? I think 745 is the one I like. There seem to be lots of these around.

Also, someone mentioned the 730d. You see lots of these around London as executive transport - does anyone know how the 3.0d measures up in such a large car?

Iain

Iain

I run a fleet of 730d in both swb and l versions, the 730ld is the one to go for, there is no noticeable difference in performance for normal running around, most of ours are in the high 30s MPG wise, one is averaging 41.5 ( our oldest driver in that one! )
There are some extremely cheap, sorry inexpensive, 730d out there, even a new one will cost less than £900 pm on lease, but make sure you get the right bits on it, as they do start with poverty spec. I have a fully loaded 730 petrol going off fleet in the next few months, 03 plate 150k with fsh, BMW have offered 14k px for it!!!

Dont buy in Silver!!

[Antwerpman]

sorry for dragging up this old post but I am starting to think about a new shape E65 7 series. Probably a 735 or 730d

why not buy one in silver? are they a problem to sell on? what is the real world fuel consumption on these things like?

[bmwdrivernigel]

You will find that most of the silver 7's will have been used in the Chauffeur business, so will be heavily used but nice and shiny, up to about 150k they are good to go but after that you will find that the gremlins start, and they are not cheap to repair. We have just px'd a 2003 swb 730d, silver with good spec and took £11k for it, sounds cheap but knowing what it needs it will cost the next owner around £6k to fix! MPG should always be mid 30's, even our London cars are getting low 30's and they sit most of the day on tickover!
BUT they are a bloody good car, comfortable, in the right colour and with the correct wheels are quite pretty. If you want to see/drive a high mileage one PM me as I have a 2002 170k mileage one going off fleet soon.

Nigel

[Antwerpman]

Hi Nigel

Thanks for the reply, I would like to take you up on your offer but we are a little far apart! I would however be looking to buy a UK car and keep it registered in the UK as the taxes on larger cars in Belgium are just ludicrous.

I have been reading up on the cars and the engines seem to be seen as pretty bombproof, but electrical gremlins are mentioned. Are most of these overcome with software upgrades or is more needed to be done? What sort of problems start to come up with higher mileage (such as the 6k costs that need to be watched out for?

Finally what is the 'basic' spec like? is it fairly comprehensive or fairly spartan? what are the 'must have' options?

Thanks in advance for any light you are able to shed on this

Graeme

[MattOz]

I was offered a mint 52 plate 745i with 65k on the clock. Price for this silver barge was £16k on the button. That's a shed load of car for the money. Couldn't justify the outlay, so had to pass. Would've made someone a cracking car.

Matt