740i Auto E38 - MPG and issues?

[AngryApples]

Hi folks,

whats the likely MPG for On arun/round town on these (looking for actual expereience rather than "official"!)

Also, are there any main problems to look out for?


Thanks for your time

[gizlaroc]

I would say round town expect 16-20 depending on how you drive and on a run 22-28mpg depending on how fast you like to sit.

[parksie]

Totally agree with those figures,mine got a bit frightening if driven with spirit!!

[fluffnik]

I too got high teens round town at mid twenties on a run.

If you count bushes and waterpumps as consumables and can live with the odd dead pixel on the dash they're pretty bombproof, especially with the later 4.4l M62 and Steptronic 'box.

Do it, you'll love it.

[Olly]

We used to average 22 in our 740 (4.0) - didn't own it for very long though, so no issues, but was always entertaining baiting Scoobies...

A few years after the 740, we got an X reg 728 Sport which we did 45,000 miles in & averaged 29 - no issues at all ! Fantastic car - wish we'd never sold it now !

[Egbert Nobacon]

'99 E38 740.

Town : 18 - 22

Motorway : Normal - about 28/30
Best - Avge 30/32 mpg on 80/90mph cruise to Marbella.
Silly - 36 mpg on 60mph cruise back from Bournemouth (it was late & I couldn't be arsed)

Issues well documented on here, just search. My E38 is by far the best BMW I have had to date, far superior to E39's (imho). Little goes wrong if sensible with preventative maintenance.

Find a nice one and buy it.

[welwynnick]

If you're considering a 740i, I'd say consider a 750i, as they're no thirstier - Autocar even found the 750i slightly more economical as well as significantly faster. The bigger the engine the better I think. A friend at work has a 735i, and that's neither quick nor frugal.

I agree that the 7er is quite different to the 5er (though the latter does have the advantage of estate, manual or diesel models if thats what you want). For long journeys though, even against newer cars the E38 is king. Especially if it has double glazing - thats really worth having.

Nick

[Mark V8]

To say I'm content with my 740i Sport is a real understatement. I love it.
Take your time and find a highly maintained example loaded with options such as DSP Hi Fi, electric rear blind, Fully Auto Bootlid, Comms pack etc...... you may even be lucky enough to find an 'individual' spec job too .
Best of luck. Do it.

[Slurms]

Alas the 740i I bought recently had to go back.. due to some faults with the car.. But in the 48hrs I owned it I was getting around the 20 - 22 mpg ..