second hand 7 series

second hand 7 series

Author
Discussion

billb

Original Poster:

3,198 posts

272 months

Saturday 20th September 2003
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n-r reg 7 series - great 2nd hand buy lots of kit and impressive looking car or easiest way to financial ruin with petrol/spares/servicing etc???

comments please!

silverback mike

11,290 posts

260 months

Thursday 25th September 2003
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A colleague has one. I think the newer shape, M reg. (740). Fantastic car, bit thirsty.
He didnt pay much for it in the great scheme of things, it is a fantastic looking car and nothing has ever gone wrong with it.
I would definately buy one, but have to get a TVR itch out of my system first.
The only thing he did say is to make sure it has been regularly serviced by either BMW Or a specialist.

sohlman

590 posts

261 months

Thursday 25th September 2003
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The big 7 like any of the other BMW's if well looked after will go on for ever. Only problems you will have are electrical gremlins which the newer cars suffer from and wear and tear items like suspension, brakes and tyres as it's a big heavy car. Run one on the cheap and neglect it and it will cost you loads in the long run. Maintain it regardless of cost and it won't go wrong if you know what i mean.

Marshy

2,749 posts

291 months

Friday 26th September 2003
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Had a 1994 730i - V8.

Lots of early electrical problems when I got it - sorted by warranty, but pain in the rear nonetheless. The warranty is worth its weight in gold, so if you can get one from a dealer with the BMW warranty, do so.

If you get a V8 prior to about 1996 (when 3.0 went to 3.5 and 4.0 went to 4.4) check it's had its block swapped to avoid bore wear problems.

As the miles pile up, watch out for suspension wear (thrust/control arms, shocks, springs), and engine ancilliaries: water pump, crispy coolant hoses, etc. Expect to eat brakes regularly.

All that said: fantastic cars. Little soft, handling-wise, but still capable of being driven like a hot hatch. Great interior, bullet-proof exterior. V12s are reckoned to be ruinously expensive to run...