E38 BMW. What's the best engine to go for?

[Lowtimer]

The 3.5 V8 is OK in itself: it's just that the 4.4 is better. If you don't want or need the performance of the 4.4, and the car itself is a peach, then go for it. The one that is least favoured is the V8 730i, which offers little advantage over the six-cylinder 728i which is cheaper to run than any of the V8 cars.

[DeanR32]

Thanks for the replies

I'm looking at a 735i which apparently has had it's gearbox rebuilt at ZF in gemany with a receipt to prove. 2001 so I assume the last of the line, and looks pretty good to me.

Any options I should be looking for?

[hornetrider]

DeanR32 said:

Any options I should be looking for?

Ummm. Contour or comfort seats are awesome. Cool stuff like blinds or double glazing maybe to raise from above the crowd? Sports steering wheel is good. Also a nice set of 18" wheels sets the car off well - M-Pars or Style 32s. Generally speaking though they are pretty well specced I think.

[Lowtimer]

They all have everything you actually need, some of them have more. Really, with a car of this age and price point, unless you are looking for a restoration project you need to pick one based on its levels of body corrosion, mechanical freshness and general condition of interior rather than optional extras.

[hornetrider]

This one looks ok.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-728I-SPORTS-FULLSERV...

[sparks_E39]

This one looks good.

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/99492-bmw-728i-sport...

[DeanR32]

Very nice looking car sparks. I can't get a V8 out of my head in one of these though.

I've been looking at 39's and 46's too. 30i or d is fine by me in either car. Plenty more on the ground too

If you lot see anything out there, please let me know. I just can't seem to make my mind up on what I want!

[Esseesse]

bmthnick1981 said:

Whilst the V12 power is similar on paper the delivery and experience is very different in my opinion. The v12 is near silent unless provoked (the v12's are double glazed also so this helps keep noise out as well), I find the V12 smoother and almost turbine like, there is power all throughout the rev range whenever you want it.

I imagine this is because (IIRC) a V12 is essentially 2 I6's strapped together, and I6's are perfectly balanced (don't need balancer weights). So a V12 is perfectly balanced like a nice smooth I6, with even more cylinders that help make it even more smooth.