RE: SOTW: BMW 750iL (E32)
Discussion
The E32 was / is one of the most over-engineered cars that BMW built.
I think they look stunning and have massive road presence.
I have had two E32s, albeit only 730i's, but they are superb motorway cruisers.
They turn heads and still get respect.
This one does seem a bargain, although like a few have said, it's been on sale for a while.
I would prefer it in Diamond Black or Dolphin Grey, with the extended leather pack.
Not many other V12 engined-cars can be had for under a bag of sand!
I think they look stunning and have massive road presence.
I have had two E32s, albeit only 730i's, but they are superb motorway cruisers.
They turn heads and still get respect.
This one does seem a bargain, although like a few have said, it's been on sale for a while.
I would prefer it in Diamond Black or Dolphin Grey, with the extended leather pack.
Not many other V12 engined-cars can be had for under a bag of sand!
The "more computing power than the Apollo mission" was used in the advertising copy for the E38 7 Series (94-01) not this E32 (87-94).
A good friend of mine bought an interesting personal reg but had no UK registered car to put it on. A bar room conversation with an acquaintance resulted in us finding out the acquaintance had a car in the UK, in storage, that he was paying £300 per month to have stored in London and had no plans to ever use it again. My friend could have it for free, he said, as it would be doing him a favour. No mention of what the car even was.
The car turned out to be a metallic green 1996 750il (E38), factory multi spoke 18" wheels, BMW dealer factory parts clear indicator conversion all round (ie not naff aftermarket parts), cream leather, and 90,000 miles. Outstanding condition, not even a curbed wheel (the tyres are quite fat even on the 18s and stick out a bit beyond the rim, ideal for city use) or a parking dent. It had some kind of OK service history too. My friend insisted the guy took at least some money, and eventually gave him £2,000. This sounds made up, but it is not.
This was 4 years ago. Apparently the car was the Chairman of Marconi's limo from back in the 1990s. My friend still has the car. He normally drives a 2009 CL65 AMG, and in truth the 750il does not feel like a budget alternative. It has now done 115,000 miles.
About 2 years ago my friend was out of the country for about 8 months, and said if I looked after the car and paid for 50% of a year's insurance and 50% of the next service (minor, at a specialist therefore inexpensive) the car was mine for 8 months.
It was absolutely brilliant. It's a fast car, and handles like a big E36. It's still in brilliant condition, and hence to this day turns a lot of heads. The gearbox must have been well ahead of its time, as it's smooth by today's standards. The car has lots of electrics, and they all work. It has leather of a much higher quality than you find in a 3 or 5 series. It has wood on the interior that actually looks good. It has rear foot rests and sun blinds on all the rear windows, even the rear quarterlights. The E32 is probably not quite as good as the E38 though, but it's surely fairly similar. I tried to buy this 750 for the same £2K, but understandably he's keeping it, probably forever. Similar quality ones I have seen on Pistonheads from time to time seem to be advertised for about 8 - 12 K.
The moral of the story here is probably that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the V12 7 series. It depends on how the car has been cared for. My friend's one was/ is perfect; I am sure that a lot of them are not.
A good friend of mine bought an interesting personal reg but had no UK registered car to put it on. A bar room conversation with an acquaintance resulted in us finding out the acquaintance had a car in the UK, in storage, that he was paying £300 per month to have stored in London and had no plans to ever use it again. My friend could have it for free, he said, as it would be doing him a favour. No mention of what the car even was.
The car turned out to be a metallic green 1996 750il (E38), factory multi spoke 18" wheels, BMW dealer factory parts clear indicator conversion all round (ie not naff aftermarket parts), cream leather, and 90,000 miles. Outstanding condition, not even a curbed wheel (the tyres are quite fat even on the 18s and stick out a bit beyond the rim, ideal for city use) or a parking dent. It had some kind of OK service history too. My friend insisted the guy took at least some money, and eventually gave him £2,000. This sounds made up, but it is not.
This was 4 years ago. Apparently the car was the Chairman of Marconi's limo from back in the 1990s. My friend still has the car. He normally drives a 2009 CL65 AMG, and in truth the 750il does not feel like a budget alternative. It has now done 115,000 miles.
About 2 years ago my friend was out of the country for about 8 months, and said if I looked after the car and paid for 50% of a year's insurance and 50% of the next service (minor, at a specialist therefore inexpensive) the car was mine for 8 months.
It was absolutely brilliant. It's a fast car, and handles like a big E36. It's still in brilliant condition, and hence to this day turns a lot of heads. The gearbox must have been well ahead of its time, as it's smooth by today's standards. The car has lots of electrics, and they all work. It has leather of a much higher quality than you find in a 3 or 5 series. It has wood on the interior that actually looks good. It has rear foot rests and sun blinds on all the rear windows, even the rear quarterlights. The E32 is probably not quite as good as the E38 though, but it's surely fairly similar. I tried to buy this 750 for the same £2K, but understandably he's keeping it, probably forever. Similar quality ones I have seen on Pistonheads from time to time seem to be advertised for about 8 - 12 K.
The moral of the story here is probably that there is nothing intrinsically wrong with the V12 7 series. It depends on how the car has been cared for. My friend's one was/ is perfect; I am sure that a lot of them are not.
Nors said:
Cheburator mk2 said:
You are not serious, are you?
The BMW can easily do 20mpg at 70...
The Jag - hmm, how about 15mpg at best...
I accept the Beemer should be more efficient being a newer engine, all I'm saying is, I didn't think in real world driving the "economy" of both cars will be that far removed. If it's 5 mpg more in the Beemer, then fair play, didn't think the difference would be that much!The BMW can easily do 20mpg at 70...
The Jag - hmm, how about 15mpg at best...
Beemer should be miles more reliable though.
The BMW has a 4(?) speed 'box, I'm betting a fair amount of the improved economy is down to that? The rest will be properly mapped ignition(?)
ETA: Best shed in a while.
ked.varsas said:
Nors said:
Cheburator mk2 said:
You are not serious, are you?
The BMW can easily do 20mpg at 70...
The Jag - hmm, how about 15mpg at best...
I accept the Beemer should be more efficient being a newer engine, all I'm saying is, I didn't think in real world driving the "economy" of both cars will be that far removed. If it's 5 mpg more in the Beemer, then fair play, didn't think the difference would be that much!The BMW can easily do 20mpg at 70...
The Jag - hmm, how about 15mpg at best...
Beemer should be miles more reliable though.
The BMW has a 4(?) speed 'box, I'm betting a fair amount of the improved economy is down to that? The rest will be properly mapped ignition(?)
ETA: Best shed in a while.
BrightonEd said:
E32's. Cracking motors. Before petrol went completely silly I had an E23 735 (manual box & LSD) then a e32 730 schnitzer & and 735i sport.
All utterly brilliant. These cars are SO solid. And reliable.
Someone buy this, and drive it like it's on fire everywhere.Please
+1All utterly brilliant. These cars are SO solid. And reliable.
Someone buy this, and drive it like it's on fire everywhere.Please
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