How suicidal would an F01 730d be?

[housemouse]

Have been shopping 530d F11 Tourers but struggling to find one I like. F01 730d seems like conspicuous value. Nobody wants a large saloon. Cheaper than a comparable F11 530D Touring at given mileage.

Here's one on 60k miles for just over 7 bags:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603261...

Don't think it has air suspension? I assume engine and box are the same as the F11? So, if there's a big maintenance cost differential, where would that come from with an F01? Suspension parts? Electronics?

[danb79]

housemouse said:

Have been shopping 530d F11 Tourers but struggling to find one I like. F01 730d seems like conspicuous value. Nobody wants a large saloon. Cheaper than a comparable F11 530D Touring at given mileage.

Here's one on 60k miles for just over 7 bags:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603261...

Don't think it has air suspension? I assume engine and box are the same as the F11? So, if there's a big maintenance cost differential, where would that come from with an F01? Suspension parts? Electronics?

Not at all; fantastic cars, easy to work on, easy to get parts for and when it comes to gadgets & electrics; very solid with very few problems

What is paramount is knowing its history; so service history/paperwork/invoices etc are paramount

This was my F01 730d SE Luxury; brilliant car and I regretted selling it: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

For the age they're at now; get the ZF box serviced. Diff fluid is an easy DIY, as in engine oil & filter(the N57 has a dipstick, so drain it that way, change the filter and fill with the oil of your choice etc)

[Monkeylegend]

Reduced by over £2k and the advert say their cars and premises were water damaged in storm Babet last year.

I would assume this car was one of those based on the advert.

[Collectingbrass]

1. Speaking as someone who ran a £5,000 645 for two years, buy well and buy wisely - the PH buying guides are your friend here. These are still £100k cars and have the prima donna needs & budget of a £100k car.

2. I would run away from a water damaged car, especially one with this level of electronics, regardless of the level of warranty offered or discount on price.

[Sheepshanks]

Monkeylegend said:

Reduced by over £2k and the advert say their cars and premises were water damaged in storm Babet last year.

I would assume this car was one of those based on the advert.

Babet was Oct 23.

[housemouse]

Linked car was just an example, there are several others offering a similar on-paper value proposition.

[housemouse]

Collectingbrass said:

1. Speaking as someone who ran a £5,000 645 for two years, buy well and buy wisely - the PH buying guides are your friend here. These are still £100k cars and have the prima donna needs & budget of a £100k car.

What would those prima donna needs be versus an F11 with a similar powertrain? That's what I am trying to understand. Where is the added cost coming from?

[housemouse]

danb79 said:

Not at all; fantastic cars, easy to work on, easy to get parts for and when it comes to gadgets & electrics; very solid with very few problems

What is paramount is knowing its history; so service history/paperwork/invoices etc are paramount

Thanks, that was my sense. I had already seen your thread which looked promising!

Basic anti-bork instinct says a 7er has to be a nightmare under the usual assumption of was a £70k car at birth and will retain £70k car running costs. But I am struggling to find specific reasons why an F01 730d is a dramatically more bork-prone proposition than an F11 530d.

[Monkeylegend]

Sheepshanks said:

Monkeylegend said:

Reduced by over £2k and the advert say their cars and premises were water damaged in storm Babet last year.

I would assume this car was one of those based on the advert.

Babet was Oct 23.

Read the advert and storm Babet is blamed for the flooding. Even worse if it was 2023, it means they have had cars since then so would you risk buying from them?

I know I wouldn't especially a car with the complexity of the 7 Series, and the fact it was originally over £9k would suggest they are having trouble selling.

[housemouse]

Ignore the linked car it was just an example of the basic value prop. There are plenty of other similarly priced options! I'm trying to understand the general F01 730d prop, I'm not querying the linked car specifically.

[Snubs]

If you're happy with the 7 series as a saloon, why not the F10 530d salon? I had one and it was fantastic and these days, quite a bit cheaper than the F11 as I understand it. Mine didn't cost much to run at all and i don't think the 7 series would be that much either TBH. Solid engine and transmission and the rest was just odds and sods. The rear springs like to snap which is a bummer as you have to take the rear seats out to get at them so costs a few quid in labour. But by now I'd imagine they've largely been replaced by aftermarket springs that don't break.

[Googie]

Always hankered after a 7 series but for me a bit too big and maybe bought into the high maintenance cost myth- I can however vouch for the F10 530d-fabulous all rounder and fairly bullet proof subject to usual servicing- Pro nav is a desirable option which from memory doesn’t support Apple Music.

[danb79]

housemouse said:

danb79 said:

Not at all; fantastic cars, easy to work on, easy to get parts for and when it comes to gadgets & electrics; very solid with very few problems

What is paramount is knowing its history; so service history/paperwork/invoices etc are paramount

Thanks, that was my sense. I had already seen your thread which looked promising!

Basic anti-bork instinct says a 7er has to be a nightmare under the usual assumption of was a £70k car at birth and will retain £70k car running costs. But I am struggling to find specific reasons why an F01 730d is a dramatically more bork-prone proposition than an F11 530d.

Nope; both strong cars, well put together and as said, easy to work on... They ironed out all the creases from the previous E6x range (I had an E65 730D M Sport for 6 months - great looking car, but cost me a fortune re electrical issues and unfortunately, was happy to see the back of it)

In comparison, the F01 was a breeze and a delight to own; I was very sorry to see it go

[Collectingbrass]

housemouse said:

Collectingbrass said:

1. Speaking as someone who ran a £5,000 645 for two years, buy well and buy wisely - the PH buying guides are your friend here. These are still £100k cars and have the prima donna needs & budget of a £100k car.

What would those prima donna needs be versus an F11 with a similar powertrain? That's what I am trying to understand. Where is the added cost coming from?

My main point was that both the F01 & F11 are prima donnas. In terms of what is the extra, the F01 is about 200kg heavier. It will wear it well, and the rear is roomier (adults in the back v teenagers), but this will play out in suspension & tyre wear. Finding one with a lump that has had the mechanical pre-emptive work done will be key. Stem seals on my 645 was a non negotiable, you'll need to dig into the specific needs of an F01.

[housemouse]

Snubs said:

If you're happy with the 7 series as a saloon, why not the F10 530d salon? I had one and it was fantastic and these days, quite a bit cheaper than the F11 as I understand it. Mine didn't cost much to run at all and i don't think the 7 series would be that much either TBH. Solid engine and transmission and the rest was just odds and sods. The rear springs like to snap which is a bummer as you have to take the rear seats out to get at them so costs a few quid in labour. But by now I'd imagine they've largely been replaced by aftermarket springs that don't break.

Yeah, it's a fair point. And the F10 is indeed tangibly cheaper. But I just don't like the vibe of the F10. Purely an aesthetic preference.

F11 Touring I don't absolutely love, but much prefer to the saloon and then it has the practicality benefit. That's not essential and the F01 I have always thought was a nice design and life is short and it could be fun to experience something from the segment up. On paper, a 730d isn't even that much heavier than an F11 530d.

I'll add the F01 to my search. I'd still probably lean F11 if I had the choice between two really god examples, but perhaps I'll let fate decide which car offers up an appealing example!

[housemouse]

Collectingbrass said:

My main point was that both the F01 & F11 are prima donnas. In terms of what is the extra, the F01 is about 200kg heavier. It will wear it well, and the rear is roomier (adults in the back v teenagers), but this will play out in suspension & tyre wear. Finding one with a lump that has had the mechanical pre-emptive work done will be key. Stem seals on my 645 was a non negotiable, you'll need to dig into the specific needs of an F01.

https://www.carfolio.com/bmw-530d-touring-210155
https://www.carfolio.com/bmw-730d-179839

These figures actually have an early 730d at 10kg lighter than an F11 530d. LCI 730d a bit heavier, but I doubt the reality is 200kg.

Don't think the F01 has specific engine needs? Surely it's the same N57 lump as the 530d and any other contemporary BMW with the 3.0 240-250PS spec diesel?

[danb79]

housemouse said:

Snubs said:

If you're happy with the 7 series as a saloon, why not the F10 530d salon? I had one and it was fantastic and these days, quite a bit cheaper than the F11 as I understand it. Mine didn't cost much to run at all and i don't think the 7 series would be that much either TBH. Solid engine and transmission and the rest was just odds and sods. The rear springs like to snap which is a bummer as you have to take the rear seats out to get at them so costs a few quid in labour. But by now I'd imagine they've largely been replaced by aftermarket springs that don't break.

Yeah, it's a fair point. And the F10 is indeed tangibly cheaper. But I just don't like the vibe of the F10. Purely an aesthetic preference.

F11 Touring I don't absolutely love, but much prefer to the saloon and then it has the practicality benefit. That's not essential and the F01 I have always thought was a nice design and life is short and it could be fun to experience something from the segment up. On paper, a 730d isn't even that much heavier than an F11 530d.

I'll add the F01 to my search. I'd still probably lean F11 if I had the choice between two really god examples, but perhaps I'll let fate decide which car offers up an appealing example!

I'd love an F11 530/535d touring - superb car; but we have an F31, so another touring isn't really needed....

The pull of a decent 7'er is strong; they're the next level interior wise over the F1x range - much better put together, more premium materials etc. /And they can be bought for not a lot of £££ now - c£10-£12k will get you a decent car

The F01 interior is a lovely place to sit too:



When I had mine I was still full size and not battling the health issues I am now (I was 22 stone when I had my F01 and still competing in powerlifting and stone lifting)

The F01 took me from Preston up to Dunkeld; and then from Dunkeld over to Braemar to lift the Inver Stone at the Braemar Highland Games Centre and I got out the car like I'd driven to the shops; comfy, warm and ready to go etc

As an example these 2 are great cars for not a lot:

c£10k: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/157770516972
c£12k: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/389891323284

[housemouse]

Those look nice but would have to be an SE with the small wheels for me. Think they're in less demand and cheaper than the M Sport, too, which is an added bonus.

I suppose an M Sport on small wheels might be OK! Oh, but the interior has to be anything but black. And privacy glass also a deal breaker.

Quite like the old fart vibe on this one, though talk of remap is off putting!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604161...

Or there's this, even if the extra chrome on the LCI SE doesn't do it many favours:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603301...

Pretty spectacular value, anyway. You'd pay more for an F11 530d with the same miles.

[danb79]

housemouse said:

Those look nice but would have to be an SE with the small wheels for me. Think they're in less demand and cheaper than the M Sport, too, which is an added bonus.

I suppose an M Sport on small wheels might be OK! Oh, but the interior has to be anything but black. And privacy glass also a deal breaker.

Quite like the old fart vibe on this one, though talk of remap is off putting!

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202604161...

Or there's this, even if the extra chrome on the LCI SE doesn't do it many favours:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202603301...

Pretty spectacular value, anyway. You'd pay more for an F11 530d with the same miles.

Yup; I like those. The first one is very individual - plus Rhino Maps are a good company; I know a good few folk that have used them with zero issues, and the right work has been done also - none of that is off-putting to me and I'm very finicky

The 2nd one is very nice too; but unless you're handy with a DA and wash your cars regularly (and wax them/towel dry them etc); it's a lot of dark car and marks/swirls really stand out...

Mine was Azurite Black; an SE Luxury (which personally is the one I'd go for if you can find one) and it was a sod to keep clean; but looked superb when washed/towel dried and then polished

I ran 2 sets of wheels - Style 234s with 18" winter tyres for the trips up to The Highlands:



And then 19" 351Ms from an F10; with 15mm rear, 12mm front spacers to have them sitting right; with premium summer tyres

It drove brilliantly on both:



It came on 20s; they got binned fast!

[housemouse]

That looks fantastic on the 18s.