1996 BMW E38 750i (SWB)
Discussion
I'm quite into 7 series, having had an e32 740i previously;
and a 1998 e38 740il;
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
and a 1998 e38 750il;
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
(pictured with my old E32 which a friend took on)
Been without a 7 for a while then started thinking about another e38. Someone on the barge thread linked to one for sale on Forum5 qhich wasn't for sale elsewhere, I read the advert, seemed genuine enough so contacted the seller and did a deal to go pick it up the following weekend. Original ad is here;
http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/85415-oxford-green-7...
I wanted a SWB this time but really wanted one in a colour other than green and with black interior. That said this was the best one on sale at the time so I took the chance to get it, there are lots less SWB's around.
Some pics from the ad;
The car looked good in the ad pics but in reality the wheels were in an awful condition having been refurbed badly previously. The interior, whilst presentable and not damaged, was grubby and the paint was flat. Nothing to worry about though.
Since having the car I have had the wheels refurbed... twice. The first time the refurbers (Wheel Specialist in Bournemouth) did them too dark;
I wanted them OEM looking so they want back in to be re-done in silver (pics to follow). Great quality service and finish received from Wheel Specialist in Bournemouth - highly recommended.
I'll upload some other pics later of the car once it had be cleaned and polished.
and a 1998 e38 740il;
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
and a 1998 e38 750il;
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
(pictured with my old E32 which a friend took on)
Been without a 7 for a while then started thinking about another e38. Someone on the barge thread linked to one for sale on Forum5 qhich wasn't for sale elsewhere, I read the advert, seemed genuine enough so contacted the seller and did a deal to go pick it up the following weekend. Original ad is here;
http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/85415-oxford-green-7...
I wanted a SWB this time but really wanted one in a colour other than green and with black interior. That said this was the best one on sale at the time so I took the chance to get it, there are lots less SWB's around.
Some pics from the ad;
The car looked good in the ad pics but in reality the wheels were in an awful condition having been refurbed badly previously. The interior, whilst presentable and not damaged, was grubby and the paint was flat. Nothing to worry about though.
Since having the car I have had the wheels refurbed... twice. The first time the refurbers (Wheel Specialist in Bournemouth) did them too dark;
I wanted them OEM looking so they want back in to be re-done in silver (pics to follow). Great quality service and finish received from Wheel Specialist in Bournemouth - highly recommended.
I'll upload some other pics later of the car once it had be cleaned and polished.
Chapppers said:
Oooh very nice. I've liked these since James Bond drove one. What are they like to own?
Excellent all rounder which is why I think I keep coming back to them. I use mine for my short commute to work and its perfect, the double glazing make it very insulated from the outside world. Comfy heated seats, excellent DSP stereo. Whilst commuting in one is good long trips are even better, have driven from Dorset to Paris before and the journey was a pleasure.Chapppers said:
Expensive?
Fuel on the V12's is fairly expensive. 13 mpg round town, 22mpg on a run, maybe more if you drive like a saint. I don't. Other than that tyres, brakes etc cost what you would expect on a 2 ton barge. EDC suspension can be expensive to put right if it goes wrong, but plenty of breakers about so 2nd hand shocks etc can be sourced easy enough. Bushes and suspension arms not too expensive in my experience. Servicing can be expensive, 12 plugs, 10 litres of oil.
Chapppers said:
Unreliable?
Not in my experience. The ignition barrel 'went' on my silver e38 740il meaning the key just kept spinning, new barrel had to be ordered from Germany, from memory it cost circa £400 to fix. That's the worse problem i've had so far. Leaky fuel tanks are a big issue, but i've been lucky so far.
Chapppers said:
Why have you had so many?
The e32 was purchased for a trip to the 'Ring. I liked it so much I bought the 740il, which I liked so much I wanted the 750il. I probably should have not sold the red 750il as it was loaded and in really good condition but at the time I had a Alpina B3 3.3 I was trying to sort out as well as an e39 530i Touring and we were moving house so something had to give! Plus I tend to change my cars quite often. I think the wheels look fantastic in the darker hue to be honest!
Lovely barge. As said, I had a Corgi model as a kid since it starred in the 007 movie (although watching the scenes back now it is a rather ridiculous sequence!)
How many toys has it got? Or is it easier to say what it hasn't got?!
Lovely barge. As said, I had a Corgi model as a kid since it starred in the 007 movie (although watching the scenes back now it is a rather ridiculous sequence!)
How many toys has it got? Or is it easier to say what it hasn't got?!
bmthnick1981 said:
Excellent all rounder which is why I think I keep coming back to them. I use mine for my short commute to work and its perfect, the double glazing make it very insulated from the outside world. Comfy heated seats, excellent DSP stereo. Whilst commuting in one is good long trips are even better, have driven from Dorset to Paris before and the journey was a pleasure.
Other than that tyres, brakes etc cost what you would expect on a 2 ton barge. EDC suspension can be expensive to put right if it goes wrong, but plenty of breakers about so 2nd hand shocks etc can be sourced easy enough. Bushes and suspension arms not too expensive in my experience. Servicing can be expensive, 12 plugs, 10 litres of oil.
Stunning car Other than that tyres, brakes etc cost what you would expect on a 2 ton barge. EDC suspension can be expensive to put right if it goes wrong, but plenty of breakers about so 2nd hand shocks etc can be sourced easy enough. Bushes and suspension arms not too expensive in my experience. Servicing can be expensive, 12 plugs, 10 litres of oil.
Do you mind me asking how far you commute ?, my work is 2.5 miles away (mostly walk, cycle), traffic through town can get tailed back, dont mind sitting through it in my Disco 1 (300tdi) but hate the thought of it in the 750 so have'nt taken the car to work yet
, it's also the thought of using such a big engine for a tiny journey (though the car is probably better being used than sat around all week)What oil do you run the car on ?, used Mobil 1 new life in my old 728 (0-40), 10 litres of that would be well over £100
Also one of my front shockers has a rotten (rusty) spring seat, was thinking about replacing the shocks and springs with standard, even do-away with the self levelers on the rear, do you think that's adviseable or should i look for a S/H EDC front shock ?
Markgenesis said:
bmthnick1981 said:
Excellent all rounder which is why I think I keep coming back to them. I use mine for my short commute to work and its perfect, the double glazing make it very insulated from the outside world. Comfy heated seats, excellent DSP stereo. Whilst commuting in one is good long trips are even better, have driven from Dorset to Paris before and the journey was a pleasure.
Other than that tyres, brakes etc cost what you would expect on a 2 ton barge. EDC suspension can be expensive to put right if it goes wrong, but plenty of breakers about so 2nd hand shocks etc can be sourced easy enough. Bushes and suspension arms not too expensive in my experience. Servicing can be expensive, 12 plugs, 10 litres of oil.
Stunning car Other than that tyres, brakes etc cost what you would expect on a 2 ton barge. EDC suspension can be expensive to put right if it goes wrong, but plenty of breakers about so 2nd hand shocks etc can be sourced easy enough. Bushes and suspension arms not too expensive in my experience. Servicing can be expensive, 12 plugs, 10 litres of oil.
Do you mind me asking how far you commute ?, my work is 2.5 miles away (mostly walk, cycle), traffic through town can get tailed back, dont mind sitting through it in my Disco 1 (300tdi) but hate the thought of it in the 750 so have'nt taken the car to work yet
, it's also the thought of using such a big engine for a tiny journey (though the car is probably better being used than sat around all week)Markgenesis said:
What oil do you run the car on ?, used Mobil 1 new life in my old 728 (0-40), 10 litres of that would be well over £100
Haven't done the oil on this one yet but I don't get too precious over oil, if its 0-40 fully synthetic that'll do for me, try ECP when they have an offer on.Markgenesis said:
Also one of my front shockers has a rotten (rusty) spring seat, was thinking about replacing the shocks and springs with standard, even do-away with the self levelers on the rear, do you think that's adviseable or should i look for a S/H EDC front shock ?
Personally I wouldn't remove the EDC, its part of what makes the V12's special compared to the other e38's not only that I understand it to be very difficult to remove properly. Isn't it even integrated with the power steering? In terms of the fluid etc? That could be wrong but whether it is or isn't i'd be looking to keep the EDC, find a s/h EDC shock if you can. EDC is easy, just leave the dampers unpluged, the self leveling rear shocks are pressurised by the power steering pump, from what i've gathered it's just a case of looping the feed pipework back into the returns.
Turned the EDC on last Saturday when hussling the car about on back roads and could'nt feel any difference
Think you are right though i'll try looking for an EDC shock.
Also agree about the use , will try and take the car to work next week
Turned the EDC on last Saturday when hussling the car about on back roads and could'nt feel any difference
Think you are right though i'll try looking for an EDC shock.
Also agree about the use , will try and take the car to work next week
I've owned my '88 E32 750iL since August 2000 & prior to that my brother bought it as an approved used BMW in '98 with 50K on the clock. It's now at 90k but has never left the franchised BMW dealer network - so it gets whatever it needs to stay healthy.
About 10 years ago the rear shocks went rock solid - this was an EDC failure. Both EDC shocks were replaced, but they are expensive. I think most owners faced with the cost opt for Bilstein shocks - but it's these things which are the difference between an immaculate FBMWSH car and an old snotter. I'm insistent that everything on my car works, a/c, all electronics etc. That said the Blaupunkt Berlin IQ85 stereo has packed-up, I bought another one off Ebay in Germany, but the 25-year old speakers are kaput & the replacement stereo didn't work when tested - but the problem possibly lies somewhere else. I don't want to bung in some cheap looking chavvy unit.
Compared to running a Bentley Turbo R, the 750 is a paragon of engineering with superb reliability & relatively low maintenance. Admittedly my last service involved replacing the powersteering hoses & removing the intake system to replace the leaking camcover gaskets.
On another occasion, after being laid-up for the winter, I extracted it from the garage, had it serviced & was off across the continent cruisiing at an easy 130 mph (4000 rpm) - obviously only where it's legal to do so!
About 10 years ago the rear shocks went rock solid - this was an EDC failure. Both EDC shocks were replaced, but they are expensive. I think most owners faced with the cost opt for Bilstein shocks - but it's these things which are the difference between an immaculate FBMWSH car and an old snotter. I'm insistent that everything on my car works, a/c, all electronics etc. That said the Blaupunkt Berlin IQ85 stereo has packed-up, I bought another one off Ebay in Germany, but the 25-year old speakers are kaput & the replacement stereo didn't work when tested - but the problem possibly lies somewhere else. I don't want to bung in some cheap looking chavvy unit.
Compared to running a Bentley Turbo R, the 750 is a paragon of engineering with superb reliability & relatively low maintenance. Admittedly my last service involved replacing the powersteering hoses & removing the intake system to replace the leaking camcover gaskets.
On another occasion, after being laid-up for the winter, I extracted it from the garage, had it serviced & was off across the continent cruisiing at an easy 130 mph (4000 rpm) - obviously only where it's legal to do so!
Penguinracer said:
I've owned my '88 E32 750iL since August 2000 & prior to that my brother bought it as an approved used BMW in '98 with 50K on the clock. It's now at 90k but has never left the franchised BMW dealer network - so it gets whatever it needs to stay healthy.
About 10 years ago the rear shocks went rock solid - this was an EDC failure. Both EDC shocks were replaced, but they are expensive. I think most owners faced with the cost opt for Bilstein shocks - but it's these things which are the difference between an immaculate FBMWSH car and an old snotter. I'm insistent that everything on my car works, a/c, all electronics etc. That said the Blaupunkt Berlin IQ85 stereo has packed-up, I bought another one off Ebay in Germany, but the 25-year old speakers are kaput & the replacement stereo didn't work when tested - but the problem possibly lies somewhere else. I don't want to bung in some cheap looking chavvy unit.
Compared to running a Bentley Turbo R, the 750 is a paragon of engineering with superb reliability & relatively low maintenance. Admittedly my last service involved replacing the powersteering hoses & removing the intake system to replace the leaking camcover gaskets.
On another occasion, after being laid-up for the winter, I extracted it from the garage, had it serviced & was off across the continent cruisiing at an easy 130 mph (4000 rpm) - obviously only where it's legal to do so!
Sounds like an excellent example Penguin, any pics? I like the comparison to the Bentley Turbo R, another car I will own one day! About 10 years ago the rear shocks went rock solid - this was an EDC failure. Both EDC shocks were replaced, but they are expensive. I think most owners faced with the cost opt for Bilstein shocks - but it's these things which are the difference between an immaculate FBMWSH car and an old snotter. I'm insistent that everything on my car works, a/c, all electronics etc. That said the Blaupunkt Berlin IQ85 stereo has packed-up, I bought another one off Ebay in Germany, but the 25-year old speakers are kaput & the replacement stereo didn't work when tested - but the problem possibly lies somewhere else. I don't want to bung in some cheap looking chavvy unit.
Compared to running a Bentley Turbo R, the 750 is a paragon of engineering with superb reliability & relatively low maintenance. Admittedly my last service involved replacing the powersteering hoses & removing the intake system to replace the leaking camcover gaskets.
On another occasion, after being laid-up for the winter, I extracted it from the garage, had it serviced & was off across the continent cruisiing at an easy 130 mph (4000 rpm) - obviously only where it's legal to do so!
I'd argue that the V12 makes the 750 a very different drive to the 740. Whereas the V8 is a Tabby which whines when it gets kicked, the V12 is a Tiger which offers a menacingly low growl when poked with a sharp stick!
It's not ridiculous to compare a 750 to a contemporary Bentley Turbo R, I wouldn't even consider comparing a 740 to the slugger from Crewe!
It's not ridiculous to compare a 750 to a contemporary Bentley Turbo R, I wouldn't even consider comparing a 740 to the slugger from Crewe!
tbc said:
a friend has a cracking 728 going for peanuts
same comfort and poke up to a point and still gets 30mpg
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/bmw-...
Wow, you still pushing that for sale? Must have posted in 3/4 times in the barge thread, now here....same comfort and poke up to a point and still gets 30mpg
http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-motorbikes/bmw-...
Looking good, given where you said you picked the car up from and the pics above in the ad, I expect they were from when the previous owner bought it. I'm acquainted with that same driveway and it's not in the Midlands. It's where a couple of mine came from and where seemingly all the better SWB V12 E32/8s pass through at some point.
I've been having the problem for years of wanting a decent E38, when I have the spare money around, the cars can't be found, as soon as I don't, there they are. Sooner or later the two will coincide.
But having had a couple in a row (actually overlapping at one point), I'm more smitten with the slightly simpler charms of the E32 (size, doesn't feel quite so heavy etc, mechanical complexity is very similar as there's a lot of E32 in an E38, electrical complexity was the biggest change).
I miss no car I've ever had more than this old girl, whose only blot on the copybook was a leaky fuel pump and a radiator top hose that needed changing, otherwise wonderful and the EDC wasn't a problem and a clear difference between Comfort and Sport could be felt (the second one just had the standard LAD self levelling rears and the PAS/SLS pump has borked).
An E38 750i Sport in Imola Red would be absolutely perfect - however they are so few in number that one can't be fussy about colour and odds are it'll be silver or black. I think the only Imola one was a BMW GB press car, failing that a runout Mora Individual Edition. SWB narrows the field considerably, unfortunately.
Love the look of this one and look forward to following its progress.
I've been having the problem for years of wanting a decent E38, when I have the spare money around, the cars can't be found, as soon as I don't, there they are. Sooner or later the two will coincide.
But having had a couple in a row (actually overlapping at one point), I'm more smitten with the slightly simpler charms of the E32 (size, doesn't feel quite so heavy etc, mechanical complexity is very similar as there's a lot of E32 in an E38, electrical complexity was the biggest change).
I miss no car I've ever had more than this old girl, whose only blot on the copybook was a leaky fuel pump and a radiator top hose that needed changing, otherwise wonderful and the EDC wasn't a problem and a clear difference between Comfort and Sport could be felt (the second one just had the standard LAD self levelling rears and the PAS/SLS pump has borked).
An E38 750i Sport in Imola Red would be absolutely perfect - however they are so few in number that one can't be fussy about colour and odds are it'll be silver or black. I think the only Imola one was a BMW GB press car, failing that a runout Mora Individual Edition. SWB narrows the field considerably, unfortunately.
Love the look of this one and look forward to following its progress.
Zwolf said:
Looking good, given where you said you picked the car up from and the pics above in the ad, I expect they were from when the previous owner bought it. I'm acquainted with that same driveway and it's not in the Midlands. It's where a couple of mine came from and where seemingly all the better SWB V12 E32/8s pass through at some point.
I've been having the problem for years of wanting a decent E38, when I have the spare money around, the cars can't be found, as soon as I don't, there they are. Sooner or later the two will coincide.
But having had a couple in a row (actually overlapping at one point), I'm more smitten with the slightly simpler charms of the E32 (size, doesn't feel quite so heavy etc, mechanical complexity is very similar as there's a lot of E32 in an E38, electrical complexity was the biggest change).
I miss no car I've ever had more than this old girl, whose only blot on the copybook was a leaky fuel pump and a radiator top hose that needed changing, otherwise wonderful and the EDC wasn't a problem and a clear difference between Comfort and Sport could be felt (the second one just had the standard LAD self levelling rears and the PAS/SLS pump has borked).
An E38 750i Sport in Imola Red would be absolutely perfect - however they are so few in number that one can't be fussy about colour and odds are it'll be silver or black. I think the only Imola one was a BMW GB press car, failing that a runout Mora Individual Edition. SWB narrows the field considerably, unfortunately.
Love the look of this one and look forward to following its progress.
Thanks Len, your dolphin grey metallic E32 was a true beauty. I remember when it surfaced at Hills of Lymingon near me, very low mileage I recall.I've been having the problem for years of wanting a decent E38, when I have the spare money around, the cars can't be found, as soon as I don't, there they are. Sooner or later the two will coincide.
But having had a couple in a row (actually overlapping at one point), I'm more smitten with the slightly simpler charms of the E32 (size, doesn't feel quite so heavy etc, mechanical complexity is very similar as there's a lot of E32 in an E38, electrical complexity was the biggest change).
I miss no car I've ever had more than this old girl, whose only blot on the copybook was a leaky fuel pump and a radiator top hose that needed changing, otherwise wonderful and the EDC wasn't a problem and a clear difference between Comfort and Sport could be felt (the second one just had the standard LAD self levelling rears and the PAS/SLS pump has borked).
An E38 750i Sport in Imola Red would be absolutely perfect - however they are so few in number that one can't be fussy about colour and odds are it'll be silver or black. I think the only Imola one was a BMW GB press car, failing that a runout Mora Individual Edition. SWB narrows the field considerably, unfortunately.
Love the look of this one and look forward to following its progress.
You are right re: the pictures on the familiar driveway being from the owner before who I bought from.
I also recall you and I exchanging emails regarding your calypso red E32 in November 2012, do you still have plans to restore it or do you think a break up and sale of bits is more likely? I'd hate to see it dismantled, and if I could save it I would, however I really must finish my 560 SEC before I can think about anything else!
Next on the list for the Green V12 are a few electrical niggles, CD changer needs changing, 1 folding mirror not working, nothing major.
I share your thoughts on an Imola Red e38 v12, but I dont think i've ever even seen one!
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