E38 7 series questions
Discussion
Sorry for the delayed reply, been a bit of a hectic day.
It's a late S plate 740i, double glazed, sat nav / tv / phone / the wheels I like whose name I don't know, loads of other stuff I've yet to discover.
Cosmetically the exterior is the only slight down side I've encountered so far as it isn't perfect, but is very good overall. As the service history is absolutely epic. Í could jack in doing weights and just use the service book to benchpress. Shade over 90k miles with the best part of a years tax and test on it, every previous MOT and tax disc, 10 or 11 service stamps, plus a folder full of reciepts for everything it's ever had replaced since new, some big bills in there as all the common problems like coolant hoses, radiator, drop links etc have been replaced, as well as wads of trivial stuff. Basically a service books full and an A4 folder full.
It was the dealers personal car around 7 years ago, which he sold on to a mate, who had it for 5 years and seems to have looked after it very well (hence the reciepts and spotless engine bay), before getting done for drink driving and selling him the car back.
As for what needs doing, not a lot really, it's got a scratch on the pax side front wing which is about 6 inches long, and a small amount of lacquer missing by the bonnet badge. There's a tiny little rust bubble *just* starting on the rear arch, and the lenses on the back lights are a bit manky. all fairly minor stuff. I'll pop it into the body shop to get it all sorted some time very soon. Key fobs are a bit tatty so they'll get replaced (I'm picky), and the front number plate is a bit shabby, and has the GB sticker on which I hate, so there's new ones en route from fancyplates. Interior is like brand new, totally immaculate and very well looked after.
Got some jewel rear lights ordered, the LED jobbies with the clear tops, personally much prefer the look of them, and some clear side repeater lenses just to freshen it up a bit, and a few other nice bits and pieces once that little lot is dealt with. More on that later but I do have some interesting plans for it.
A few pics, apologies for the pi$$ poor quality, it's a bit murky and I took them on an iPhone. It does look better in the flesh but everyone says that. I'm pretty happy with it. I'll get some better ones soon.
It's a late S plate 740i, double glazed, sat nav / tv / phone / the wheels I like whose name I don't know, loads of other stuff I've yet to discover.
Cosmetically the exterior is the only slight down side I've encountered so far as it isn't perfect, but is very good overall. As the service history is absolutely epic. Í could jack in doing weights and just use the service book to benchpress. Shade over 90k miles with the best part of a years tax and test on it, every previous MOT and tax disc, 10 or 11 service stamps, plus a folder full of reciepts for everything it's ever had replaced since new, some big bills in there as all the common problems like coolant hoses, radiator, drop links etc have been replaced, as well as wads of trivial stuff. Basically a service books full and an A4 folder full.
It was the dealers personal car around 7 years ago, which he sold on to a mate, who had it for 5 years and seems to have looked after it very well (hence the reciepts and spotless engine bay), before getting done for drink driving and selling him the car back.
As for what needs doing, not a lot really, it's got a scratch on the pax side front wing which is about 6 inches long, and a small amount of lacquer missing by the bonnet badge. There's a tiny little rust bubble *just* starting on the rear arch, and the lenses on the back lights are a bit manky. all fairly minor stuff. I'll pop it into the body shop to get it all sorted some time very soon. Key fobs are a bit tatty so they'll get replaced (I'm picky), and the front number plate is a bit shabby, and has the GB sticker on which I hate, so there's new ones en route from fancyplates. Interior is like brand new, totally immaculate and very well looked after.
Got some jewel rear lights ordered, the LED jobbies with the clear tops, personally much prefer the look of them, and some clear side repeater lenses just to freshen it up a bit, and a few other nice bits and pieces once that little lot is dealt with. More on that later but I do have some interesting plans for it.
A few pics, apologies for the pi$$ poor quality, it's a bit murky and I took them on an iPhone. It does look better in the flesh but everyone says that. I'm pretty happy with it. I'll get some better ones soon.
Still strong money for clean examples then....4.0l or 4.4 ?
The Sport I linked to earlier has had a price reduction...
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C92767/
The Sport I linked to earlier has had a price reduction...
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C92767/
Lovely car - nice one.
(Unless it was REALLY late in being registered for some reason)
Stu R said:
and some clear side repeater lenses just to freshen it up a bit,
Can I recommend the smoked ones from BM Town (about 2/3 of the way down the page) - they blend into the rubbing strip really nicely.Slothario said:
....4.0l or 4.4 ?
S Plate will be a 4.4 (Unless it was REALLY late in being registered for some reason)Edited by monthefish on Tuesday 19th May 22:54
certainly is a 4.4, it's the very last of the S'
After probably 4-500 miles I can honestly say it's surprised me. I certainly wasn't expecting to be so content sitting there bimbling along under the speed limit. I'm normally at least on the speed limit wherever I go, if not a bit over (30's being the exception), but it's ace to just sit back and relax.
And the hyde to this jekyll, well it's surprisingly surefooted and nimble for such a big old girl, I've given it a run down some very curly roads and chucking it around corners, and couldn't quite believe how well it stuck to the road. No bangs, rattles, knocks, squeaks or anything of that ilk, it's smooth as silk it seems.
Thanks for the heads up on the smoked indicators, and a general thanks to everyone who's provided such useful advice on this thread, it's been invaluable and I dare say I probably wouldn't have bothered without it.
After probably 4-500 miles I can honestly say it's surprised me. I certainly wasn't expecting to be so content sitting there bimbling along under the speed limit. I'm normally at least on the speed limit wherever I go, if not a bit over (30's being the exception), but it's ace to just sit back and relax.
And the hyde to this jekyll, well it's surprisingly surefooted and nimble for such a big old girl, I've given it a run down some very curly roads and chucking it around corners, and couldn't quite believe how well it stuck to the road. No bangs, rattles, knocks, squeaks or anything of that ilk, it's smooth as silk it seems.
Thanks for the heads up on the smoked indicators, and a general thanks to everyone who's provided such useful advice on this thread, it's been invaluable and I dare say I probably wouldn't have bothered without it.
yup, t'was reg'd pretty late. It's got quite an interesting ownership history actually. Well, not interesting par se.
Anyway, enough of that rubbish, While I'm here, a little progress report
;
Liking the car very much, and have been extolling the virtues of bangernomics, well, bargain barges, to everyone I know, no doubt boring them stupid in the process. Ordered some bits, and have started to formulate a small plan of attack to improve the car a bit.
New rear lights arrived today, and side indicators. Booked it in to get the paintwork made perfect the week after next, so I'll probably just fit the lights then. Musing over some angel eyes for the front and a rear lip spoiler for the boot too. Threw it in for a service today, wasn't far from being due an oil change so had a proper service done while it was there as a matter of course. Didn't really need it but I figured why not. Also gave it a proper clean and polish, so it's looking miles better. Seems it's got a K&N filter fitted, which looks newish, that'll be going in the bin and something better put in it's place, never was their biggest fan.
Which brings us onto the first main thing I need help with, as now we need some wheels, any recommendations? I want something with a rather deep dish. The standard ones are too small and not dishy enough. However, I don't wish to look like a bradford based drug dealer. Any suggestions (other than leave the standard ones on, which won't happen) as to who to look for, I'm not really all that clued up on who knocks wheels out for Beemers, but I've looked at Breyton, Alpina, OZ, and a few others to little avail, with a certain set of BBS being the only ones I like, but they're not dishy enough either.
Also in search of suspension upgrades, nothing too extreme, just a minor lowering without generating too thrashy a ride, but it's supple enough to lose a small amount of it's overall comfort in favour of something sporty. Again suggestions would be ace. No rush for that, can wait till the wheels are on as I'll probably replace some of the arms as a matter of course anyway.
Exhaust wise I'm going to drop it in to get a custom one made at a very highly regarded place locally, free up the V8 a bit, and give it a bit more of an entertaining soundtrack, not that I expect to be able to hear much through the double glazing. Nothing offensive, just get the old girl rumbling a bit.
Once that little lots done in the next few weeks I'll be looking for brake upgrades, as the front brakes are a bit, well, they could be beefed up a bit, already got an idea of what's replacing them but more on that later, and also I'll be investigating methods on extracting a few more ponies from the old girl and making a few more little tweaks. Also I fear the standard sound system is a bit lukewarm at best, so I'll be putting a decent set of speakers in, again, for sound quality, not mcdonalds car park stuff.
Shaping up to be a fun little project for a daily smoker, past history dictates I find it impossible to leave anything standard, so some mild fettling was always going to happen. Nothing vulgar or 'chav' don't worry, though I am considering a vinyl wrap after the paint's sorted (
), more on that later...
Cheers,
Stu
Anyway, enough of that rubbish, While I'm here, a little progress report
;Liking the car very much, and have been extolling the virtues of bangernomics, well, bargain barges, to everyone I know, no doubt boring them stupid in the process.
Ordered some bits, and have started to formulate a small plan of attack to improve the car a bit.New rear lights arrived today, and side indicators. Booked it in to get the paintwork made perfect the week after next, so I'll probably just fit the lights then. Musing over some angel eyes for the front and a rear lip spoiler for the boot too. Threw it in for a service today, wasn't far from being due an oil change so had a proper service done while it was there as a matter of course. Didn't really need it but I figured why not. Also gave it a proper clean and polish, so it's looking miles better. Seems it's got a K&N filter fitted, which looks newish, that'll be going in the bin and something better put in it's place, never was their biggest fan.
Which brings us onto the first main thing I need help with, as now we need some wheels, any recommendations? I want something with a rather deep dish. The standard ones are too small and not dishy enough. However, I don't wish to look like a bradford based drug dealer. Any suggestions (other than leave the standard ones on, which won't happen) as to who to look for, I'm not really all that clued up on who knocks wheels out for Beemers, but I've looked at Breyton, Alpina, OZ, and a few others to little avail, with a certain set of BBS being the only ones I like, but they're not dishy enough either.
Also in search of suspension upgrades, nothing too extreme, just a minor lowering without generating too thrashy a ride, but it's supple enough to lose a small amount of it's overall comfort in favour of something sporty. Again suggestions would be ace. No rush for that, can wait till the wheels are on as I'll probably replace some of the arms as a matter of course anyway.
Exhaust wise I'm going to drop it in to get a custom one made at a very highly regarded place locally, free up the V8 a bit, and give it a bit more of an entertaining soundtrack, not that I expect to be able to hear much through the double glazing. Nothing offensive, just get the old girl rumbling a bit.
Once that little lots done in the next few weeks I'll be looking for brake upgrades, as the front brakes are a bit, well, they could be beefed up a bit, already got an idea of what's replacing them but more on that later, and also I'll be investigating methods on extracting a few more ponies from the old girl and making a few more little tweaks. Also I fear the standard sound system is a bit lukewarm at best, so I'll be putting a decent set of speakers in, again, for sound quality, not mcdonalds car park stuff.
Shaping up to be a fun little project for a daily smoker, past history dictates I find it impossible to leave anything standard, so some mild fettling was always going to happen. Nothing vulgar or 'chav' don't worry, though I am considering a vinyl wrap after the paint's sorted (
), more on that later...Cheers,
Stu
Stu R said:
New rear lights arrived today, and side indicators. Booked it in to get the paintwork made perfect the week after next, so I'll probably just fit the lights then.
Sounds good. Lights are easy to fit, just a bit fiddly and takes a bit of care not to drop the retaining nuts.Stu R said:
Musing over some angel eyes for the front and a rear lip spoiler for the boot too.
Not my taste, but each to their own I supposeStu R said:
though I am considering a vinyl wrap after the paint's sorted ( ), more on that later...
Now you're scaring me... ), more on that later... Stu R said:
Which brings us onto the first main thing I need help with, as now we need some wheels, any recommendations? I want something with a rather deep dish. The standard ones are too small and not dishy enough. However, I don't wish to look like a bradford based drug dealer. Any suggestions (other than leave the standard ones on, which won't happen) as to who to look for, I'm not really all that clued up on who knocks wheels out for Beemers, but I've looked at Breyton, Alpina, OZ, and a few others to little avail, with a certain set of BBS being the only ones I like, but they're not dishy enough either.
If you get the genuine 'M' Parallels, the dish in the rear is quite deep (and deeper than the front). Or are you going deeper still?Are these deep enough for you?
Stu R said:
Exhaust wise I'm going to drop it in to get a custom one made at a very highly regarded place locally, free up the V8 a bit, and give it a bit more of an entertaining soundtrack, not that I expect to be able to hear much through the double glazing. Nothing offensive, just get the old girl rumbling a bit.
I'd recommend Exhausts UK for that type of thing, but don't let the 'UK Pimp My Ride' (literally) associations put you off. Quality work at a very reasonable price, and they have had scores of e38 7's through their doors so they know what they are doing.Stu R said:
Shaping up to be a fun little project for a daily smoker, past history dictates I find it impossible to leave anything standard, so some mild fettling was always going to happen. Nothing vulgar or 'chav' don't worry,
Look forward to following the progress. I would suggest a good place to spend your money would be on 'colour coding' the lower reaches of the car (front & rear bumper valance and side skirts). This was standard on the later model cars (2001- I think) and really freshens the look. (especially on a lighter coloured car)Before
After
Edited by monthefish on Friday 22 May 11:31
http://sis.virtual-showroom.co.uk/(bvngorrm3w0adjq...
Low miles but come on !
Not even a Sport (which can be found for half that money though they are very thin on the ground...)
No colour coding or updated rear lights on a 2000 W ?
Ahhh....the dealer is in Highgate....
Low miles but come on !
Not even a Sport (which can be found for half that money though they are very thin on the ground...)
No colour coding or updated rear lights on a 2000 W ?
Ahhh....the dealer is in Highgate....
Cheers for the reply monthefish.
We've got an exhaust maker up here called AAS who do some amazing work, they've built some lovely systems for me in the past, not very expensive either.
Paintwork wise, yep I'm getting the lower valances & skirts colour coded while it's in.
Oh, an M parallels are nowhere near deep enough a dish
Slothario, not sure if you've read, but I have one now lol
We've got an exhaust maker up here called AAS who do some amazing work, they've built some lovely systems for me in the past, not very expensive either.
Paintwork wise, yep I'm getting the lower valances & skirts colour coded while it's in.
Oh, an M parallels are nowhere near deep enough a dish
Slothario, not sure if you've read, but I have one now lol
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