735i - Ideal compromise?

[HRG]

Amongst many other cars I'm considering a 2000 735i. Is it the ideal compromise between the 728 and the 740? I'm not interested in setting the tarmac alight, I've got a Griff for that, but I do want something that can pull it's own weight and perform reasonable overtakes on single carriageway NSL roads as we have lots of dawdlers round here.

While I'd like the 4.4 litre I'm currently getting 29MPG from my daily driver and anything below 25MPG seems unnecessary.

Yay or nay?

[ukdennis]

Nay. You would be surprised how little difference there is in fuel economy between the 3.5 and 4.4 (the double Vanos made a substantial difference to the 4.4 fuel economy when introduced in 99). The 3.5 doesn't have enough torque to shift nearly two tonnes of car in a respectable fashion. I've had my 99 740i sport for six years now, and it is a pleasure to drive with bags of power for overtakes. It gets 30mpg easily on motorway runs and averages 23mpg around town/village/school runs etc

[HRG]

Thanks for that

If I go for a 7 series I'll look at the > 99 ones then.

[Nick2]

We have a 1996 735i and whilst it has thus far only been used for short journeys we are not getting more than 23 mpg. I suspect that it would be better on a run but can't imagine a 740i would be any worse.

It does feel adequately fast and very smooth but certainly not quick. Having said that a truly wonderful car for very little money.

Nick

[Fox-]

Top non M BMW tip: In each family of cars, each cylinder configuration tends to deliver more or less the same consumption regardless of engine capacity.

I'll use the 5 Series as an example - 520i, 525i and 530i combined MPG ranges from 29.7mpg to 31.1mpg. Virtually nothing. 535i and 540i are something like 23.7 and 24.0.

So get the biggest of any given configuration. It wont cost any more to fuel.