Discussion
If my wallet was a bit healthier right now this would be on my drive in a flash. I'm 18 FFS, I shouldn't want this. Out of interest, has anybody under 20 run one of these? (The 728 model, I'd have no chance of running the V12 
) Insurance crippling or not too bad considering what you get?
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2791924.htm
) Insurance crippling or not too bad considering what you get?http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/2791924.htm
Back when I was 20 I ran an XJ6 for a while which was (considering what you got) very cheap to insure, approximately half the cost of warm hatches at the time. It was a similar story insurance wise for an LS or an S-Class but absolutely not the 7 Series. I can only assume because owning it would allow me, a young man, to say he owned 'a Beeeeeeeeeemmmmer'. So, in my limited experience - it's going to be expensive to insure, although in general barges are the young drivers friend insurance wise.
Looking at that in particular, I wouldn't go for the 728 - it just wont suit the car and is unlikely to be any better on fuel than the 740, which is much more wafty. You're right, the V12 would likely be crippling...
Looking at that in particular, I wouldn't go for the 728 - it just wont suit the car and is unlikely to be any better on fuel than the 740, which is much more wafty. You're right, the V12 would likely be crippling...
Just been playing around with insurance quotes 
'bugger' is all I can say! Put in details being hopeful in a year's time I'd have 2NCB, but still £5k just for a 728 
Annoyingly, put in my gf's postcode and it'd be half that, despite less than 5 miles difference I'm pretty sure it'd be cheaper for me to move
Out of interest, what are the running costs of cars like this like? Are the smaller engined ones significantly cheaper? Agree they wouldn't suit the cars as much, but would say a 728 be significantly more costly in other 'stuff' than a 328 etc?
'bugger' is all I can say! Put in details being hopeful in a year's time I'd have 2NCB, but still £5k just for a 728 Annoyingly, put in my gf's postcode and it'd be half that, despite less than 5 miles difference
I'm pretty sure it'd be cheaper for me to move Out of interest, what are the running costs of cars like this like? Are the smaller engined ones significantly cheaper? Agree they wouldn't suit the cars as much, but would say a 728 be significantly more costly in other 'stuff' than a 328 etc?
JohnnyRims said:
Back when I was 20 I ran an XJ6 for a while which was (considering what you got) very cheap to insure, approximately half the cost of warm hatches at the time. It was a similar story insurance wise for an LS or an S-Class but absolutely not the 7 Series.
Jag XJ6 (97 model, not sure of model code!) actually comes out a couple thousand more! 
vit4 said:
Just been playing around with insurance quotes 'bugger' is all I can say! Put in details being hopeful in a year's time I'd have 2NCB, but still £5k just for a 728
Annoyingly, put in my gf's postcode and it'd be half that, despite less than 5 miles difference I'm pretty sure it'd be cheaper for me to move
Out of interest, what are the running costs of cars like this like? Are the smaller engined ones significantly cheaper? Agree they wouldn't suit the cars as much, but would say a 728 be significantly more costly in other 'stuff' than a 328 etc?
They're not that bad if you buy a decent one, but a pup will be ruinous. They're heavy on things like suspension bushes and arms, but they're all available fairly cheaply. The V8s have a few quirks with the cooling system, but it's easy sorted (albeit a faff on to get the rads in and out), other than that they're very solid cars. Meeknet and the E38 owners clubs are brilliant sources of info, invaluable when I was looking, and running mine. http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/ 'bugger' is all I can say! Put in details being hopeful in a year's time I'd have 2NCB, but still £5k just for a 728 Annoyingly, put in my gf's postcode and it'd be half that, despite less than 5 miles difference
I'm pretty sure it'd be cheaper for me to move Out of interest, what are the running costs of cars like this like? Are the smaller engined ones significantly cheaper? Agree they wouldn't suit the cars as much, but would say a 728 be significantly more costly in other 'stuff' than a 328 etc?
That meeknet is a brilliant link, cheers! 
Argh, it's awful. I'm meant to be saving money, but the lure of some disposable income on the horizon and my I'm eyeing up anything and everything remotely interesting It'd force me to work on the car myself as well, which would be good. I guess insurance will be the main factor sadly, but just didn't realise how cheap these had gotten to buy!
Argh, it's awful. I'm meant to be saving money, but the lure of some disposable income on the horizon and my I'm eyeing up anything and everything remotely interesting
It'd force me to work on the car myself as well, which would be good. I guess insurance will be the main factor sadly, but just didn't realise how cheap these had gotten to buy!vit4 said:
Just been playing around with insurance quotes 'bugger' is all I can say! Put in details being hopeful in a year's time I'd have 2NCB, but still £5k just for a 728
Annoyingly, put in my gf's postcode and it'd be half that, despite less than 5 miles difference I'm pretty sure it'd be cheaper for me to move
Out of interest, what are the running costs of cars like this like? Are the smaller engined ones significantly cheaper? Agree they wouldn't suit the cars as much, but would say a 728 be significantly more costly in other 'stuff' than a 328 etc?
What i initially thought tbh... 'bugger' is all I can say! Put in details being hopeful in a year's time I'd have 2NCB, but still £5k just for a 728 Annoyingly, put in my gf's postcode and it'd be half that, despite less than 5 miles difference
I'm pretty sure it'd be cheaper for me to move Out of interest, what are the running costs of cars like this like? Are the smaller engined ones significantly cheaper? Agree they wouldn't suit the cars as much, but would say a 728 be significantly more costly in other 'stuff' than a 328 etc?
(Dident know what i said about postcodes really is that much of a factor).
Sad really.Rediculess... 'only 5 miles difference' ey!
vit4 said:
Out of interest, what are the running costs of cars like this like?
To give you an idea on the service costs on a 750. Taken from the following ad - http://www.ultimate7.co.uk/P172%20HGM/P172%20HGM.h...
4813 miles - oil service on the 03/02/1997 by Holland Park BMW (invoice for £185.40)
9663 miles - inspection one service on the 13/05/1998 by Holland Park BMW
14584 miles - oil service on the 27/07/1999 by Holland Park BMW
19032 miles - inspection two service on the 30/08/2000 by Holland Park BMW (invoice for £1905.82)
22334 miles - brake fluid service on the 03/08/2001 by Holland Park BMW
28653 miles - inspection one service plus brake and coolant change on the 02/09/2003 by Holland Park BMW
31586 miles - inspection two service and brake fluid change plus various other works on the 13/12/2005 by HR Owen BMW (invoice for £3466.91)
33569 - oil service plus various other works on the 08/12/2008 by HR Owen BMW (invoice for £1317.92)
45,003 miles - oil service plus front brake pads and sensors, front bushes and battery on the 17/01/2011 completed by ourselves (invoice for £421.50)
Guess you could have it serviced cheaper outwith BMW however either way its certainly not a cheap car to run. You are going to have to have very deep pockets.
Conversely mine wanted for nothing, was serviced at an indy 3 times in 2 years, had a set of front pads and discs, a radiator, and a few other bits and bobs, certainly nowhere near 2 grand in 2 years. It's easy to spend big money but not a pre-requisite to ownership. Tyres were about the biggest expense.
Haven't heard anything about exploding gearboxes btw.
Haven't heard anything about exploding gearboxes btw.
They're not really expensive to run, apart from fuel. Gearboxes are fine so long as you change the oil. They were supposed to be 'sealed for life', but that really means life of the warranty. They'll all now be 10 years old with 100k miles, so if they haven't had a gearbox oil change then do one.
The best forum for information is www.the7seriesregister.co.uk Tim Meek who's website was posted up here is a regular there. The guys on there know this car inside out, and can help you to fix anything which comes up with minimal hassle and expense.
Don't listed to any internet experts who will tell you all about how expensive they are to run, etc etc. 60k car new and still have 60k car running costs. Only listen to people who have owned them. I've had 8, and the only reason I don't have one now is because I got a Range Rover, my first RR had the same 4.4 engine, same gearbox, and pretty much same seats switchgear etc, so I think of the RR as a 7 series on stilts.
But be warned, if you take the 7 series route, it's difficult to go back, any car afterwards will seem inadequate!
For insurance, take a MASSIVE excess, and insure the excess separately, go for fully comp, put your girlfriend and/ or mother on the policy. Don't assume the 740i will be more expensive to insure, try it on comparison sites. The 728 is NOT underpowered, however the 740i is sublime, and not that much more juicy. 750i you're looking at 20m mpg.
Good luck
The best forum for information is www.the7seriesregister.co.uk Tim Meek who's website was posted up here is a regular there. The guys on there know this car inside out, and can help you to fix anything which comes up with minimal hassle and expense.
Don't listed to any internet experts who will tell you all about how expensive they are to run, etc etc. 60k car new and still have 60k car running costs. Only listen to people who have owned them. I've had 8, and the only reason I don't have one now is because I got a Range Rover, my first RR had the same 4.4 engine, same gearbox, and pretty much same seats switchgear etc, so I think of the RR as a 7 series on stilts.
But be warned, if you take the 7 series route, it's difficult to go back, any car afterwards will seem inadequate!
For insurance, take a MASSIVE excess, and insure the excess separately, go for fully comp, put your girlfriend and/ or mother on the policy. Don't assume the 740i will be more expensive to insure, try it on comparison sites. The 728 is NOT underpowered, however the 740i is sublime, and not that much more juicy. 750i you're looking at 20m mpg.
Good luck
I had a 728i. Not quick by any means but reasonably wafty and could keep up with most of 'em. Expect mid 20s mpg most of the time. I have a 730d these days and the previous poster is right; it spoils you rotten to travel in such comfort. Most other cars feels like being bumped down from business to economy.
Encouraging last few posts annoyingly still playing with the idea in my head. Driving is mostly fast A-road and M-way, I'd be happy with 30mpg and could live with 25mpg over that sort of driving, is that reasonable to expect? Given the state of the roads, I'd imagine it'd be quite refreshing driving a waftmobile 
Must. Not. Get. Excited.
annoyingly still playing with the idea in my head. Driving is mostly fast A-road and M-way, I'd be happy with 30mpg and could live with 25mpg over that sort of driving, is that reasonable to expect? Given the state of the roads, I'd imagine it'd be quite refreshing driving a waftmobile Must. Not. Get. Excited.
vit4 said:
Must. Not. Get. Excited.
Enter at your own risk. http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
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