Well, I bought an E66 760Li, it's EPIC

Well, I bought an E66 760Li, it's EPIC

Author
Discussion

DevonPaul

1,161 posts

136 months

Friday 2nd December 2016
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BlownImp said:
Thanks chaps! We're famous! Front page news biggrin

Despite it's faults, it is a great ownership experience, you really do feel like chairman of the board. It's that and the confused faces on people when you pull up at lights with some dubstep or jungle playing, brilliant biggrin
All this thread I've followed mentions of CAN faults, service items, ebay tools, etc, but you've lost me here.

This 'jungle' you refer to, does it require a boot full of garden waste?

B'stard Child

28,282 posts

245 months

Friday 2nd December 2016
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Excellent result - well done on both the feature and the car choice

myhandle

1,178 posts

173 months

Friday 2nd December 2016
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Hello, I think that 760li is really nice, well done, a nice big V12, it doesn't get much better than that! I borrowed a friend's E38 750il V12 for six months and loved it. The E38 is obviously one of the all-time clasdically elegant saloons, but I predict that the E65 is going to be viewed as a design classic in the future. Rather a lot nicer than the legions of 320ds that you see everywhere! Enjoy.

Small Car

877 posts

198 months

Friday 2nd December 2016
quotequote all
Great to read this and I wonder about getting one as a shed and to see how big one's ball are.

At the start of the recession a 3yo green 760 came through the ring, ex lease (Cadburys Chairman chauffeur car) and (after a long story) I ended up with it.

Being tight I serviced it myself, and was amused how the filters etc (which I got from Euro Car Parts) were for the Phantom and the 760. That is cool! Great car - although I caught the active anti roll bar on a rock in a car park at Mallory Park, which bent it, and save buying another we engineered it back in shape. Wonderful machine and I look forward to reading more as you start to enjoy it.


turbobloke

103,631 posts

259 months

Friday 2nd December 2016
quotequote all
Origin Unknown said:
Love it OP. What does the rear iDrive control and what can you do with it?
In these cars, basically it's for the CEO to operate when they want to, rather than allowing the chauffeur free rein...personally I'd drive such cars myself (as I do, in fact) but each to their own!

rtz62

3,333 posts

154 months

Friday 2nd December 2016
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Burwood said:
p1stonhead said:
turbobloke said:
p1stonhead said:
Amazing value! £120k car for £10k assuming all is indeed as well as can be expected.

Getting so much car for the money makes it a sweet deal if you like that sort of thing, and I certainly do.

On the value side they're worth more than they're worth wink to the right people. I suspect demand is limited...even though there's a select band of barge admirers, pricing may well reflect the thought of mpg and potential repair costs (and insurance for some). In a way, that's OK as it makes for a better deal for the rest of us.
Its amazing isnt it.

Even if you had to spend £5k bringing it up to 100%, it still seems like a huge bargain.

The depreciation is just savage though. Here is a 2011 with 46k miles for £26k.

Assuming it was £120k? Thats £20k a year in depreciation - £1600 a month or £2.17 per mile! yikes

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2011-BMW-7-SERIES-760LI-...
The car looks suspect or at least some thorough investigating.

First Reg date 20 Sept 2010 (not 2011)

Odd MOT history

Sept 2013 14k miles
22 Jan 14 14.3k miles
17 Dec 14 21.2k
11 march 15 26.6k
11 March 16 40k
6 April 16 41k

A look at the wool mats shows almost worn through and in very poor condition. I would say almost without doubt that there is no way mats would wear through so fast. I think its been clocked. OR its a shed (or both). Having owned this model BMW before and researched very low mile barges (7 series) the low miles is a warning that the car has been a nightmare and spent a long time in the garage having faults remedied.

The above not detracting from the market value of a good one of similar age/miles.

You can buy a last of the old model 760, say 2014-15 for 50k and with the new one, when fully optioned coming in at 140k i doubt you'll see many.
Of course, the car in that alert may have bell need to one of the trade that are a front for money-laundering drug dealers (like we have a proliferation of locally) who don't give a fishes-tit about looking after the mats.
However, the steering wheel and seat bolsters look ok at first glance, so could it be that someone swiped the original set and the ones now fitted are a used set obtained from FleaBay?
With reference to the mileage, isn't it a bit of a seeping statement to say that low miles means it's an indicator of a car that's been a nightmare?
What about if it's got to 3 yrs old, been sold through 'the block', sold on but then moved around various car pitches, being unsold or just taking root on a forecourt because punters are frightened of potential bills. Or that their purchase will be a nightmare?
Back to the OPs car, what a great beast you have there, unfortunately, as I am hung like a hummingbird, my petit-pois sized man vegetables won't allow me to risk owning one, but I shall 'live the dream vicariously' through your blog!


keo

2,005 posts

169 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
Looks great op! I have been looking at these, you get so much for your money. I have no real need for one, 95% of thr time i am on my own in the car. I am currently doing about 500 miles a week for work and a 7 could possibly be a little to big. But I want one.

Burwood

18,709 posts

245 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
rtz62 said:
Burwood said:
p1stonhead said:
turbobloke said:
p1stonhead said:
Amazing value! £120k car for £10k assuming all is indeed as well as can be expected.

Getting so much car for the money makes it a sweet deal if you like that sort of thing, and I certainly do.

On the value side they're worth more than they're worth wink to the right people. I suspect demand is limited...even though there's a select band of barge admirers, pricing may well reflect the thought of mpg and potential repair costs (and insurance for some). In a way, that's OK as it makes for a better deal for the rest of us.
Its amazing isnt it.

Even if you had to spend £5k bringing it up to 100%, it still seems like a huge bargain.

The depreciation is just savage though. Here is a 2011 with 46k miles for £26k.

Assuming it was £120k? Thats £20k a year in depreciation - £1600 a month or £2.17 per mile! yikes

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2011-BMW-7-SERIES-760LI-...
The car looks suspect or at least some thorough investigating.

First Reg date 20 Sept 2010 (not 2011)

Odd MOT history

Sept 2013 14k miles
22 Jan 14 14.3k miles
17 Dec 14 21.2k
11 march 15 26.6k
11 March 16 40k
6 April 16 41k

A look at the wool mats shows almost worn through and in very poor condition. I would say almost without doubt that there is no way mats would wear through so fast. I think its been clocked. OR its a shed (or both). Having owned this model BMW before and researched very low mile barges (7 series) the low miles is a warning that the car has been a nightmare and spent a long time in the garage having faults remedied.

The above not detracting from the market value of a good one of similar age/miles.

You can buy a last of the old model 760, say 2014-15 for 50k and with the new one, when fully optioned coming in at 140k i doubt you'll see many.
Of course, the car in that alert may have bell need to one of the trade that are a front for money-laundering drug dealers (like we have a proliferation of locally) who don't give a fishes-tit about looking after the mats.
However, the steering wheel and seat bolsters look ok at first glance, so could it be that someone swiped the original set and the ones now fitted are a used set obtained from FleaBay?
With reference to the mileage, isn't it a bit of a seeping statement to say that low miles means it's an indicator of a car that's been a nightmare?
What about if it's got to 3 yrs old, been sold through 'the block', sold on but then moved around various car pitches, being unsold or just taking root on a forecourt because punters are frightened of potential bills. Or that their purchase will be a nightmare?
Back to the OPs car, what a great beast you have there, unfortunately, as I am hung like a hummingbird, my petit-pois sized man vegetables won't allow me to risk owning one, but I shall 'live the dream vicariously' through your blog!
All maybe true but I owned one back in 2004, an 03 reg. It was 12 months old, has 12k on the clock and was a lovely car when it worked but what a dog. The original and first owner rejected it too and had a new replacement. I rejected it in the end and took on an M3. BMW sold it on to someone else. I do wonder where it is now. Kalahari beige

aky156

1 posts

197 months

Saturday 3rd December 2016
quotequote all
Hi blownlmp

Great read up I currently have a 03 760li, I was about to have mine taken Darren woods Stockport until I came across your thread.. I have weak battery which has probably died by now as I haven't driven it for a while but before I had it parked up I had the same message as you " DRIVE MODERATELY, ENGINE FAULT" and few lights on dash..

I will replace the battery once I get home and hopefully that will sort it out..



Mikeeb

405 posts

117 months

Monday 5th December 2016
quotequote all
Don't forget the new battery will need to be coded to the car so that the alternator knows what's it's doing. You may not fix all of your battery induced errors if it's not coded.

pits

6,423 posts

189 months

Monday 5th December 2016
quotequote all
Small Car said:
Great to read this and I wonder about getting one as a shed and to see how big one's ball are.

At the start of the recession a 3yo green 760 came through the ring, ex lease (Cadburys Chairman chauffeur car) and (after a long story) I ended up with it.

Being tight I serviced it myself, and was amused how the filters etc (which I got from Euro Car Parts) were for the Phantom and the 760. That is cool! Great car - although I caught the active anti roll bar on a rock in a car park at Mallory Park, which bent it, and save buying another we engineered it back in shape. Wonderful machine and I look forward to reading more as you start to enjoy it.

I want those wheels frown

BlownImp

Original Poster:

91 posts

124 months

Thursday 12th January 2017
quotequote all
Morning Chaps,

Update time!

So the car drove us to Norfolk and back before Christmas, averaging just over 25mpg on the way there and a total trip average including daily trips out of 23.5mpg. Stunning if you ask me! I have got a couple of pictures of the car on it's holiday but they will have to wait.



Big news is......it broke.

Not badly, but enough to have spent the past 6 days off the road. So it has been squeaking a bit, this got worse until last thursday I decided to open the bonnet and have a look.
Turns out there is a LOT of sound deadening under that bonnet, once open it sounded more like a knocking rattle with a lot of squeaking over the top.

760Li Knocking Squeaking Noises

This is what I found

760Li Oh Balls

This is the GIANT viscous fan that is directly bolted to the water pump... joy.

The water pump was BORKED.

Initially I had it booked into Walkers but they had a long waiting list, so I decided to tackle it myself over a few days. If my coolant had arrived on time I would have had it done by end of Tuesday, as it stands I waited until yesterday, got impatient and then drove to the local factors and bought some there!

The job was actually not that hard, just a bit fiddly with the seven inlets / outlets on the pump. Other than that, it was a cinch. Even the viscous fan came off easy, just two whacks with a lump hammer and a chisel. Job done.

Pump is in here somewhere!



It now sounds like a sewing machine, smooth and quiet. Just need to find my electricity leak and we will be laughing biggrin

J




Mikeeb

405 posts

117 months

Thursday 12th January 2017
quotequote all
Great new well done.

Morningside

24,110 posts

228 months

Thursday 12th January 2017
quotequote all
That's bloody good mpg. I was only getting 19 out of my old E38 V12.

Prinny

1,669 posts

98 months

Thursday 12th January 2017
quotequote all
p1stonhead said:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-54-Reg-BMW-760-Li-6...

How can they be this cheap!?

Massive want.
Add another owner to the thread. I bought this one.

Back when this thread first appeared, I'd been to test this, and had put down a deposit, the only reason I didn't drive away on the day was a low battery warning. Taj (nice guy) got it sorted eventually, as it also needed something with the clock-spring in the steering wheel replacing, which wasn't readily available...

So, the thread appeared, and this got linked, & I was quietly enjoying the reviews. Finally picked the car up, the week before Christmas. Since then it's done a couple of thousand miles up & down the country, 0a took it for a spin at the 1-5 barge meet in Duxford, and when time allows (I work away), I'll get a reader's thread up for it.

If I've read the thread correctly, that makes it 3 owners on this thread, or 2% (approx) of total cars sold in the UK!

One final word... EPIC is right. wink

eliot

11,349 posts

253 months

Thursday 12th January 2017
quotequote all
BlownImp said:
Just need to find my electricity leak and we will be laughing
Are you getting battery drain issues? Chased this on my 750 over Christmas. Basically i noticed the battery was always low but always managed to start the car. Ran the gt1 diags and on the power diagnostics it reported that it was failing to fall asleep and also being repeatedly woken up by CAS or CA (Comfort access)
I started by having the glovebox and central console out to disconnect the aftermarket Parrot bluetooth as that was my first suspect - but it wasn't the cause.

To troubleshoot sleep issues open the glovebox (so you can see the light) and turn on the map light in the overhead console.
I had the boot open but faked as closed by pushing the latch in so i could have a clamp on current meter on the battery lead.

With the car awake and the engine off you should see about 12 amps.
Remove the key and close the door (or fake close it by pushing the latch in)
After a minute or two the start button light should go out
Then shortly after the cd player will wurr and go off
Then after 15 minutes the start button will re-illuminate and the overhead map light will go off
Then a minute later (16 mins) the start button will go out and the electric seat controls will go dark - car is now in a deep doze and current draw should be very low (milliamps)
The glovebox light will stay on quite a bit longer - up to 1 hour, when it goes out the car is fully asleep

For me, the car would start going to sleep - start button would go out - but then after a couple of minutes it would come back on again and start all over again. From reading up, comfort access is the most common cause. So i removed all the fuses for the doors (two in boot for os and two in glovebox for ns) - low and behold car went to sleep correctly.
Turns out it was the drivers door handle that was constantly waking the car - yep, even the actual handle is intelligent and is connected to the car via a a data bus (pin1). The wires were frayed (another common fault) - but made no difference.
No handles are over £500 for a complete assembly - but you can swap over the guts of the handle from either a front or rear door on the same side of the car, this solved the problem and only cost me £30.

BlownImp

Original Poster:

91 posts

124 months

Friday 13th January 2017
quotequote all
Afternoon chaps,

Well done Prinny, glad there are more people who take heart over head on barges biggrin

Eliot! Thank you for the detailed account of the electricity chasing. I am already pretty certain that it is the door handles giving me grief, I found two of the fuses for the door but not the other two. And the trick for checking if it is in deep snooze on the glove box light is great. Looks like I will have a hunt for it this weekend smile

Going to order up sparkplugs next, see what the deal is with changing 12 of them biggrin

J

Prinny

1,669 posts

98 months

Friday 13th January 2017
quotequote all
BlownImp said:
Afternoon chaps,

Well done Prinny, glad there are more people who take heart over head on barges biggrin
....

Going to order up sparkplugs next, see what the deal is with changing 12 of them biggrin

J
I'm in Schiphol right now, when i get back I'll pm you an n73 .pdf listing all the details of the design, water pathways, etc... IIRC from it, changing the plugs is a manifold off job. It's something like once per 80k in EU, and 1/100000k in the US.

I therefore plan to do some digging into whether there's any difference in spark plug. After all, if you've got to get the manifold off, doing it as little as possible is a good thing, right?!

Good luck on chasing the voltage drain too! I (think) my logic7 amp is going - seems to be a design flaw. The current pondering is whether to get an approved used warranty (I still can) at circa 280/mo (eek!), or pay the 1200 for a replacement. Googling suggests repairs aren't guaranteed to not fail again. We'll see...

BlownImp

Original Poster:

91 posts

124 months

Monday 16th January 2017
quotequote all
How soon can you claim on the approved used warranty? And how soon can you cancel it biggrin

bennyboydurham

1,617 posts

173 months

Monday 6th February 2017
quotequote all
E65 owner since 2007 here. My BMW indie says not to get hung up on chasing ghosts from the fault reader. If the car isn't happy then you'll know about it.

Mine has in 9 years and 120k miles (had 20k on it when I got it):

- lunched sat nav drive (replaced under warranty)
- oil leak on cylinder head (warranty)
- driver's door handle failed (warranty)
- passenger's door handle failed (new cable, cheap fix)
- I drive menu button snapped off (can't remember the bill, wasn't a lot or I would!)
- boot leaked (£5 for indie to glue the corroded bung in the spare wheel well)
- starter motor failed (£200 fitted)
- torque converter failed (£1300 for exchange unit and replacement box oils and filter)
- headlamp self leveller failed (£150)
- coolant hose corroded (£40)
- brake pipes corroded (£200)

Apart from that just the usual discs, pads and servicing. I love it and it's known to family and friends as 'the limo'. They're always very pleased to get a ride in it!

Ironically, I'm selling it tomorrow. For another 7!