1996 BMW 750iL - ubershed
Discussion
HI Everyone,
I've been browsing the Best Smoker Barges topic for a while, while my Housemate's been looking for a donor for the V12 E36 project he's thinking of. It culminated a week or so ago in me bidding on ebay for a 1996 BMW 750iL, which I won, for not a lot of money...
In fact, so little money it technically falls into the 'Shed' category rather than 'Smoker Barge'...
When I announced this in the Smoker Barges thread, the general responses were mainly along these lines:
I've taken a few photos, but will get a load more up when I've got some better weather (hopefully this week), my poor photo skills, coupled with a Digi Camera so old it's a scheduled historic monument meant that I couldn't get any good shots in the light yesterday evening...
First impressions - it's bloody awesome and I love it - what an amazingly engineered vehicle. Despit the fact it tips the scales at over 2 tons, it's still amusingly quick.
There are a few problems - rusty arches, bonnet release lever has snapped off so you need pliers to pull the release, a wobble at about 70 mph (which I've been advised is probably bushes rather than just wheels needing balanced) and there's a couple of fault codes on the dash:
One related to the lights, which probably isn't helped by the aftermarket le rear lights and clear indicators
Two is more worrying and is a general engine 'Failsafe Mode' code - I need to check this out a bit more, but it only comes on on start up and then vanishes - everything else seems OK...
Oh, and the towbar isn't a great job - wil get some more photos, but looks as if whoever fitted it got bored after bolting it up and couldn't be arsed to pretty the job up - I'll correct that, but not remove it, as it will prove useful I think...
I do like the wheels - the budget tyres, not so much, but they seem OK so far - I'll see what they're like over a few more miles though...
I've been browsing the Best Smoker Barges topic for a while, while my Housemate's been looking for a donor for the V12 E36 project he's thinking of. It culminated a week or so ago in me bidding on ebay for a 1996 BMW 750iL, which I won, for not a lot of money...
In fact, so little money it technically falls into the 'Shed' category rather than 'Smoker Barge'...
When I announced this in the Smoker Barges thread, the general responses were mainly along these lines:
loafer123 said:
You, sir, have balls of steel.
I salute you.
I salute you.
Jobbo said:
How long will the recovery truck take to get you home? 
bmthnick1981 said:
Brave purchase, keep us updated. I miss mine already.....
jonnydm said:
Wow! Straight in at the very deep end. A 750 is quite something although not all the bits on that are quite to my taste - will you be keeping the wheels / re-ambering? Do get a thread up in Readers cars.
So taking on those comments, here's my first thread in Reader's Cars I've taken a few photos, but will get a load more up when I've got some better weather (hopefully this week), my poor photo skills, coupled with a Digi Camera so old it's a scheduled historic monument meant that I couldn't get any good shots in the light yesterday evening...
First impressions - it's bloody awesome and I love it - what an amazingly engineered vehicle. Despit the fact it tips the scales at over 2 tons, it's still amusingly quick.
There are a few problems - rusty arches, bonnet release lever has snapped off so you need pliers to pull the release, a wobble at about 70 mph (which I've been advised is probably bushes rather than just wheels needing balanced) and there's a couple of fault codes on the dash:
One related to the lights, which probably isn't helped by the aftermarket le rear lights and clear indicators
Two is more worrying and is a general engine 'Failsafe Mode' code - I need to check this out a bit more, but it only comes on on start up and then vanishes - everything else seems OK...
Oh, and the towbar isn't a great job - wil get some more photos, but looks as if whoever fitted it got bored after bolting it up and couldn't be arsed to pretty the job up - I'll correct that, but not remove it, as it will prove useful I think...
I do like the wheels - the budget tyres, not so much, but they seem OK so far - I'll see what they're like over a few more miles though...
ajb85 said:
Have you tried the "50p standing on edge on top of the V12 rocker cover test" test yet?
Basically, the coin doesn't move on idle, and likewise when he hits the throttle if I remember rightly. Have a look on Youtube if you've not the faintest what I'm on about...
Like thisBasically, the coin doesn't move on idle, and likewise when he hits the throttle if I remember rightly. Have a look on Youtube if you've not the faintest what I'm on about...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxYh2tmfT_o&fea...
BorkFactor said:
Looks fantastic! Got any pictures of the interior? 
Hope it works out well for you!
Cheers!Hope it works out well for you!
No good pics of the interior yet - weather's been awful so I've been waiting for sunshine before takig a load more pictures...
The interior is good, but smells of smoke a lot - a previous owner must have smoked like an unfeasibly smoky thing!
I'm ging to hit it with a serious dose of Autoglym leather cleaner and leather care/feed when I get back home later in the week, hopefully that will take it out - along with Autoglym carpet shampoo on all the carpets etc...
Fatboy said:
Cheers!
No good pics of the interior yet - weather's been awful so I've been waiting for sunshine before takig a load more pictures...
The interior is good, but smells of smoke a lot - a previous owner must have smoked like an unfeasibly smoky thing!
I'm ging to hit it with a serious dose of Autoglym leather cleaner and leather care/feed when I get back home later in the week, hopefully that will take it out - along with Autoglym carpet shampoo on all the carpets etc...
No good pics of the interior yet - weather's been awful so I've been waiting for sunshine before takig a load more pictures...
The interior is good, but smells of smoke a lot - a previous owner must have smoked like an unfeasibly smoky thing!
I'm ging to hit it with a serious dose of Autoglym leather cleaner and leather care/feed when I get back home later in the week, hopefully that will take it out - along with Autoglym carpet shampoo on all the carpets etc...
The AutoGlym stuff is brilliant, I use it on my E46. They also do an odour eliminator which I have found to work very well in the past. I haven't tried their carpet shampoo yet, is it any good?
Good luck, there is always the option of a Magic Tree if all else fails
BorkFactor said:
The AutoGlym stuff is brilliant, I use it on my E46. They also do an odour eliminator which I have found to work very well in the past. I haven't tried their carpet shampoo yet, is it any good?
Good luck, there is always the option of a Magic Tree if all else fails
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