Discussion
I'm going to treat myself to a silly car soon, and I keep coming back to a 7 series, probably a V8 (if an E38; 2.8 seems a bit pointless when looking for silly, and the V12 possibly a bit too silly (Python)... I'm not sure what's available under the bonnet of an E65).
Budget could run up to 6k, and I'm sort of surprised to see a good number of the ugly new idrive E65 7s are well down into that bracket now.
I'm still drawn to the shape and simplicity of the older E38 model (I'll be able to fix a lot of it myself; I think they're less over-complicated on the whole even than the E46 I've spent the last few years mending each time it breaks) but I guess the newer one will have its own pros and cons.
So a £3k-ish tidy E38 740, with plenty left over for petrol and servicing and to my eyes the best looks, or reach for a E65 (and learn about the engine options etc!)?
Budget could run up to 6k, and I'm sort of surprised to see a good number of the ugly new idrive E65 7s are well down into that bracket now.
I'm still drawn to the shape and simplicity of the older E38 model (I'll be able to fix a lot of it myself; I think they're less over-complicated on the whole even than the E46 I've spent the last few years mending each time it breaks) but I guess the newer one will have its own pros and cons.
So a £3k-ish tidy E38 740, with plenty left over for petrol and servicing and to my eyes the best looks, or reach for a E65 (and learn about the engine options etc!)?
E65 petrols are 3.0 V6, 3.5V8, 4.5V8 (pre LCI), 4.0 and 5.0 V8 post LCI and of course the 6.0V12.
I picked up an 02 E65 745i with 138k miles last year for £2.8k, cosmetically perfect, and have had 6000 generally trouble free miles so far.
Have replaced both front window regulators and just been in for for routine service and inspection (£215 inc micro filters). Garage reported fault on secondary air system and an oil leak with quotes for £650 and £400.
Car runs fine and I suspect they are long term faults so I will leave them until next MOT. If that passes ok I might get them fixed. Front suspension is a bit past its best so I might get new shocks at some point but I have made a deal with the car that for every 1000 miles it gives me it accumulates £100 for repairs. No point in buying one of these unless you can keep it in reasonable condition otherwise you are just driving an expensive banger that you will have trouble selling.
I had yearned after an E65 for ages but I only got one when the price got so low that I could leave it at the local scrap yard should a big bill come in and not feel too bummed.
They are magnificent cars though and I can't imagine selling it (what else could you get for that money?). You just have to accept that it will cost a bit and if you are really unlucky you might lose your investment.
Fuel consumption is suitably tragic, 18mpg in mixed driving to 28 on a run. I commute in mine.
There is no haynes manual though and DIY information is scarce so you are mostly in the hands of a garage (indy of course).
E38 is a very old car these days and I think the E65 interior has much more class. Then again the F01 interior is gorgeous and I'm hoping the E65 will last long enough to get me one of those! Not many petrol F01 about though.
Has to be a V8, 745/740 is just right. I hear the V12 can produce mega bills.
I picked up an 02 E65 745i with 138k miles last year for £2.8k, cosmetically perfect, and have had 6000 generally trouble free miles so far.
Have replaced both front window regulators and just been in for for routine service and inspection (£215 inc micro filters). Garage reported fault on secondary air system and an oil leak with quotes for £650 and £400.
Car runs fine and I suspect they are long term faults so I will leave them until next MOT. If that passes ok I might get them fixed. Front suspension is a bit past its best so I might get new shocks at some point but I have made a deal with the car that for every 1000 miles it gives me it accumulates £100 for repairs. No point in buying one of these unless you can keep it in reasonable condition otherwise you are just driving an expensive banger that you will have trouble selling.
I had yearned after an E65 for ages but I only got one when the price got so low that I could leave it at the local scrap yard should a big bill come in and not feel too bummed.
They are magnificent cars though and I can't imagine selling it (what else could you get for that money?). You just have to accept that it will cost a bit and if you are really unlucky you might lose your investment.
Fuel consumption is suitably tragic, 18mpg in mixed driving to 28 on a run. I commute in mine.
There is no haynes manual though and DIY information is scarce so you are mostly in the hands of a garage (indy of course).
E38 is a very old car these days and I think the E65 interior has much more class. Then again the F01 interior is gorgeous and I'm hoping the E65 will last long enough to get me one of those! Not many petrol F01 about though.
Has to be a V8, 745/740 is just right. I hear the V12 can produce mega bills.
I can afford to run/repair either, within the rules of shedding (ie, repair is less than the cost of buying another whole car). The MPG is simply reflected in the purchase price, IMO 
I don't spend lots of time driving high miles, I just fancy being wafted into work each day and trying something I haven't tried before.
E38s may be old, but they're properly built out of Real Stuff as far as I can tell; my E46 nightmare means I'm less convinced about more computers.
If I spotted an E65 at £3k or less though, I might be hard pushed to resist - that's throw-it-away-if-it-breaks-much-at-all land.
Another point is the looks though... not sure I'd ever get a thrill walking towards an ugly duckling E65 the way the E38 speaks to my eyes!
I don't spend lots of time driving high miles, I just fancy being wafted into work each day and trying something I haven't tried before.
E38s may be old, but they're properly built out of Real Stuff as far as I can tell; my E46 nightmare means I'm less convinced about more computers.
If I spotted an E65 at £3k or less though, I might be hard pushed to resist - that's throw-it-away-if-it-breaks-much-at-all land.
Another point is the looks though... not sure I'd ever get a thrill walking towards an ugly duckling E65 the way the E38 speaks to my eyes!
I would say the E65 is a beautifully built car, possibly better than the later F01 in that it had a bespoke interior rather than looking like a big 5 series. Having had an E39 I'd say the E65 is a better car in every way bar b road chuckability though even there it'll surprise you!
There's no doubting the quality when you take a look at the details; like the doors that are on struts an stay where you put them rather than the two positions most cars have or heaters in the windscreen to release the wipers on frosty days or rear headrests that drop down when there's no passenger etc etc.
Get a later pre facelift E65 (say 03 or 04) - most of the gremlins of the earlier cars are sorted - and you've got yourself a fantastic car for next to nothing.
There's no doubting the quality when you take a look at the details; like the doors that are on struts an stay where you put them rather than the two positions most cars have or heaters in the windscreen to release the wipers on frosty days or rear headrests that drop down when there's no passenger etc etc.
Get a later pre facelift E65 (say 03 or 04) - most of the gremlins of the earlier cars are sorted - and you've got yourself a fantastic car for next to nothing.
I think 04 onwards came with DVD sat nav which means you can just enter the postcode and get updated software for. My 02 has a CD system with no postcode input so you have to enter the address which is tiresome to say the least.
Re the E38, it is my experience that cars get better all the time. Before the E65 I ran a new 2013 320d for a year and I have to say that in terms of ride quality, there was not much in it between the new 320 and the old E65 even allowing for tired suspension so an elderly E38 might be a disappointment. Sound proofing is much better in the 7 though, as you would expect.
Re the E38, it is my experience that cars get better all the time. Before the E65 I ran a new 2013 320d for a year and I have to say that in terms of ride quality, there was not much in it between the new 320 and the old E65 even allowing for tired suspension so an elderly E38 might be a disappointment. Sound proofing is much better in the 7 though, as you would expect.
notsofast said:
Re the E38, it is my experience that cars get better all the time. Before the E65 I ran a new 2013 320d for a year and I have to say that in terms of ride quality, there was not much in it between the new 320 and the old E65 even allowing for tired suspension so an elderly E38 might be a disappointment. Sound proofing is much better in the 7 though, as you would expect.
Interesting, my F10 550 SE doesn't ride anywhere near as well as my E65 on 21s (Alpina B7 admittedly). This has been scientifically proven by my missus who claims the 550 is a bugger to apply her make up in whilst on the move!notsofast said:
There is no haynes manual though and DIY information is scarce so you are mostly in the hands of a garage (indy of course).
This is the other bit that's nagging at me. I know I could do most things on an E38 without even looking at any instructions due to owning E30/36/46. And I'm sort of planning to add a fairly good amped sound system, and I'm guessing that'll be much easier in an E38 too.Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff