Best Smoker Barges 1-5 large [Vol 7]

[E65Ross]

Patrick Bateman said:

E65Ross said:

You are correct. They only ever did LWB models of the V12 on the E65 (E66 I should say). Same with the current model only being LWB (F02). Do you mean what variants of the E66 760Li are relatively low on bork.... Well, being only 1 model you don't have much choice....

I was meaning what V12 barges in general.

Hmmm, does such a thing exist? I think a SWB E38 750il is one of the better bets perhaps, as there's no EDC suspension to go wrong. But then there is the fuel tank issue. Personally, I'd just take which car you preferred and risk the bork, rather than pick one that isn't your favourite based on the fact it might no go quite so wrong as another.

[Zwolf]

E65Ross said:

They only ever did LWB models of the V12 on the E65 (E66 I should say).

You can buy E65 760is as well as E66 760Lis - they're very rare, but they do exist. F02 was the first V12 Seven to be offered exclusively in LWB form. In large part due to ever decreasing take up rates for SWB V12s in the previous generations...

E65Ross said:

I think a SWB E38 750il is one of the better bets perhaps, as there's no EDC suspension to go wrong.

Yes there is, EDC was standard on all V12 E38s, as well as iLs with either engine. Likewise for E32, first LAD self-levelling rear suspension (a la E34 M5 3.6) then EDC (a la E34 M5 3.8, minus the extra hard Nurburgring setting).

There aren't any V12 Sevens of any generation with standard "struts n' springs" suspension.

Edited by Zwolf on Wednesday 1st October 20:54

[SuperHangOn]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-BMW-E38-728i-only-2...

I don't see much not to like there.


Truth be told, I think I would prefer the 2.8 to my V8.

[Zwolf]

SuperHangOn said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-BMW-E38-728i-only-2...

I don't see much not to like there.


Truth be told, I think I would prefer the 2.8 to my V8.

Like that, a very lot.

[E65Ross]

Zwolf said:

E65Ross said:

They only ever did LWB models of the V12 on the E65 (E66 I should say).

You can buy E65 760is as well as E66 760Lis - they're very rare, but they do exist. F02 was the first V12 Seven to be offered exclusively in LWB form. In large part due to ever decreasing take up rates for SWB V12s in the previous generations...

E65Ross said:

I think a SWB E38 750il is one of the better bets perhaps, as there's no EDC suspension to go wrong.

Yes there is, EDC was standard on all V12 E38s, as well as iLs with either engine. Likewise for E32, first LAD self-levelling rear suspension (a la E34 M5 3.6) then EDC (a la E34 M5 3.8, minus the extra hard Nurburgring setting).

There aren't any V12 Sevens of any generation with standard "struts n' springs" suspension.

Edited by Zwolf on Wednesday 1st October 20:54

Top, top beardage, is that, Sir Zwolf

[E65Ross]

SuperHangOn said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1998-BMW-E38-728i-only-2...

I don't see much not to like there.


Truth be told, I think I would prefer the 2.8 to my V8.

What car do you drive?

That does look quite nice, could be had for <£1500 I reckon.

[SuperHangOn]

E39 535i. The six looks that bit less scary. And I just like straight sixes in general.

You can't be that fussy on a cheapie though. Last owner for umpteen years, rebuilt box, Michelins and a/c that actually works takes the deal. And it was down the road.

[r129sl]

E65Ross said:

SpeckledJim said:

I'm not sure E38 is higher quality than E39 per se, it's just 10% bigger, and a few more gadgets. There's a lot of commonality between them.

This. But the extra space etc and I think refinement (nvh) in the E38 certainly make it feel like a higher quality product. It's just a shame they didn't put the M52 3.0 litre in it, that would be good for those who prefer the economy of the 728i

I remember driving one of the first E39s in Newcastle, a pale green metallic 528i ASE on 17" cross spoke split rims. It was on loan, at the time my old man's firm had three 728is so the dealer was friendly enough. Anyway, the E38 interior I felt was noticeably better than the E39's. The difference was most obvious in the sliding central armrest, the centre console cubby and the arrangement in the vicinity of the wireless. I seem to recall the door pockets being better on the 7, too. Detail differences, I am sure, but I remember thinking that anyone who was used to an E38 would frown at the slight inferiority of the E39's cabin.

[bmthnick1981]

I've had a few E39s as well and I would say the E38 interior feels of better quality than the E39. I recall on my e38 v12s the door bins being lined in leather, don't recall that on the e39s! Sometimes it is hard to articulate what constitutes higher quality or why one perceives something to be of higher quality, maybe its the additional space in the e38 as well which helps.

[Zwolf]

E65Ross said:

It's just a shame they didn't put the M52 3.0 litre in it, that would be good for those who prefer the economy of the 728i

M54 3.0, they did - in Europe, but the UK soldiered on with the M52 2.8 in the E38 after the M52 family had otherwise been completely superseded by M54s. Would hav ebeen good and largely rendered the 735i redundant.

bmthnick1981 said:

I've had a few E39s as well and I would say the E38 interior feels of better quality than the E39. I recall on my e38 v12s the door bins being lined in leather, don't recall that on the e39s!

Or on E38s that weren't V12s or iLs. It was a standard feature of those, along with leather dash etc. (Part of why they weigh so much more than those variants too: extra kit, leccy motorised everything, double glazing, extra battery in some, more complicated suspension setup and so on, the engine itself is only 15kg heavier than the M62 V8) Whereas full leather interior was optional even on the M5. But it's bloody lovely when you do find one with it.

Driven dozens of the things in both E38 and E39 guise and can't put my finger on one being of perceptibly greater quality than the other, either way. Just as with E32 and E34 and F01/10. I've not spent much time at all in different E65/60s to be able to comment fairly, but would suspect the trend to be consistent.

[slippery]

I remember sitting in the new E38 750i at the motorshow and being wowed by the Teletext TV!

[Lowtimer]

SuperHangOn said:

E39 535i. The six looks that bit less scary. And I just like straight sixes in general.

?? The E39 535i was a V8. The biggest six in the E39 was the M54B30 in the 530i
The last 535i to be a straight six was an E34

[E65Ross]

Lowtimer said:

SuperHangOn said:

E39 535i. The six looks that bit less scary. And I just like straight sixes in general.

?? The E39 535i was a V8. The biggest six in the E39 was the M54B30 in the 530i
The last 535i to be a straight six was an E34

He knows it's a V8, he says he prefers the 6 cylinder engines.

I thought as much the main E39/E38 interior differences were space related. I do remember the centre console being noticeably narrower on the E39, and wide door pockets on the 7 Series is something one gets used to very quickly. Month or 2 back when I went to Wales as a passenger in a corsa I remarked how little I could actually fit in the door pocket it was so bloody narrow!

[RenesisEvo]

E65Ross said:

Month or 2 back when I went to Wales as a passenger in a corsa I remarked how little I could actually fit in the door pocket it was so bloody narrow!

One of my biggest gripes with modern cars are the appalling door pockets. Having said that, my old TT had a net flush against the casing, so that was good for little more than a few bits of paper and a cloth. Given the lack of cupholders anywhere, I do wish the E39 pockets were wide enough to take a small water bottle. At least they're carpeted.

[E65Ross]

RenesisEvo said:

E65Ross said:

Month or 2 back when I went to Wales as a passenger in a corsa I remarked how little I could actually fit in the door pocket it was so bloody narrow!

One of my biggest gripes with modern cars are the appalling door pockets. Having said that, my old TT had a net flush against the casing, so that was good for little more than a few bits of paper and a cloth. Given the lack of cupholders anywhere, I do wish the E39 pockets were wide enough to take a small water bottle. At least they're carpeted.

Cup holders in the E38 were pretty poor (the E65 ones are great) but at least the door pockets were wide enough for a water bottle.... Poxy E39s

[RenesisEvo]

E65Ross said:

Cup holders in the E38 were pretty poor (the E65 ones are great) but at least the door pockets were wide enough for a water bottle.... Poxy E39s

Quiet you - I've not long got over a desire for an E65, I can't go back there again. It's still a car I need to sample.

[E65Ross]

RenesisEvo said:

E65Ross said:

Cup holders in the E38 were pretty poor (the E65 ones are great) but at least the door pockets were wide enough for a water bottle.... Poxy E39s

Quiet you - I've not long got over a desire for an E65, I can't go back there again. It's still a car I need to sample.

Are you going to Sunday Service in a couple of weeks? If so, happy to take you out in it to see of you like them.

[PowerslideSWE]

Zwolf said:

Yes there is, EDC was standard on all V12 E38s, as well as iLs with either engine. Likewise for E32, first LAD self-levelling rear suspension (a la E34 M5 3.6) then EDC (a la E34 M5 3.8, minus the extra hard Nurburgring setting).

There aren't any V12 Sevens of any generation with standard "struts n' springs" suspension.

Edited by Zwolf on Wednesday 1st October 20:54

On some markets perhaps that is true Zwolf. My 1995 E38 SWB 750 doesn't have EDC, and never has, it's on regular springs a shocks, albeit SLS in the rear.
Neither does it have double glazing. Mine is imported from Germany to Sweden as a baby (1 year old), and I have talked to all the 3 previous owners about the car and I have, I kid you not an inch tall stack of papers, reciepts and what-nots and the suspension has not been changed from EDC to a more conventional setup. A quick look at the VIN-number backs up my claim aswell.

The '95's have a few odd things that the newer ones do not, an aluminium bonnet for instance.

[RenesisEvo]

E65Ross said:

Are you going to Sunday Service in a couple of weeks? If so, happy to take you out in it to see of you like them.

If you mean Porsche/Silverstone, yes I should be there, in which case I'd love to take you up on that generous offer. I'd return the favour but sounds like an E39 wouldn't interest you

[E65Ross]

RenesisEvo said:

E65Ross said:

Are you going to Sunday Service in a couple of weeks? If so, happy to take you out in it to see of you like them.

If you mean Porsche/Silverstone, yes I should be there, in which case I'd love to take you up on that generous offer. I'd return the favour but sounds like an E39 wouldn't interest you

Sent you a pm mate. Always interested in E39s....except ones with a certain engine

Edit - not sure I'd call the E65 mighty.... It's not a slouch but it ain't no M5. E39 M5 one of my favourite all time cars by the way...

Edited by E65Ross on Thursday 2nd October 21:53