My monumentally moronic mega-miles 760Li purchase...

My monumentally moronic mega-miles 760Li purchase...

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Discussion

RoverP6B

Original Poster:

4,338 posts

127 months

Monday 15th July 2019
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OK, I guess I'm not running it that low, but on Tesco 99 octane, 99 quid all but brims the tank. I can usually get another 2 quid's worth into the filler neck, but that's about it. Besides, I often meet other petrolheads when refuelling.

When I was using my 535i on the same general usage patterns, it wasn't doing much better, averaging around 18-20...

BFleming

3,578 posts

142 months

Monday 15th July 2019
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Don't get us wrong... everyone respects you for just running the beast tank

RoverP6B

Original Poster:

4,338 posts

127 months

Monday 15th July 2019
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Part of me does question the sanity of the whole endeavour with this car. I am not particularly well-off, I currently have no income other than a minimal pension, and am living on the meagre proceeds of a house sale while living in short-term rented accommodation while trying to sort out something more permanent. It cannot be called an especially prudent purchase... but I needed transport capable of the odd 80-mile round trip (today was 143 miles) and, with the 535i in dry dock, I had little other option. I try to comfort myself with the thought that 7k isn't very much money and that I'm more comfortable in this over those distances than I would be in anything else. Public transport isn't really an option in these parts, thanks to Dr Beeching... when Boris scraps the monumental folly that is HS2, reopening the Okehampton/Tavistock route (and the branch off to Launceston, Wadebridge and Padstow), preferably stocked with Bulleid Pacifics and Mk2/3 carriages rather than cast-off Pacers, should be a high priority for the redistribution of that funding... but I digress. The furthest east I venture these days is Exeter, and the railway map west of Exeter was all but obliterated, with the exception of the slow and clunky Barnstaple branch and the GWR main line to Plymouth, which is no use for anyone north of Dartmoor!

jamesson

2,973 posts

220 months

Tuesday 16th July 2019
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RoverP6B said:
but I needed transport capable of the odd 80-mile round trip (today was 143 miles) and, with the 535i in dry dock, I had little other option.
I love the fact that you decided there was realistically no other choice to cover the odd 80 mile round trip than a 7 series with a V12 engine. hehe

RoverP6B

Original Poster:

4,338 posts

127 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
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Well, I say "the odd", it's a regular weekly commitment, and I need a big boot plus legroom for myself and two sons, and comfortable seats... a used Dacia Sandero wasn't going to cut it!

Pericoloso

44,044 posts

162 months

Wednesday 17th July 2019
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That epic mileage isn't as difficult to achieve as most think.

I managed similar as a same day courier ,21000 in a ropey ex GPO Escort van and then 48000 miles in a brand new

VW Caddy ,all in almost exactly one year.

Bluesgirl

766 posts

90 months

Tuesday 23rd July 2019
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Tommo Two said:
I love the soft close on the doors really nice feature and the rear sun blind operated from the front, especially useful when the person you have just over taken give you the full beam of appreciation!
biglaugh

That's a seriously stylish car, OP. Kudos.

Interesting that you mention MJF - Mark's got some lovely BMWs lying around in his yard - he's just around the corner from me and for a long time I used to take my E46 to him to get work done.

Spitfires

75 posts

79 months

Tuesday 23rd July 2019
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I'm sure when researching 545/550's a while ago, I came across something that mentioned Valvetronic as a possible cause for rough idle, but a quick search didn't seem to turn it up when I tried to find it to post a link.

Mr Helix on here can probably offer some advice, he's an oracle on all things BMW from that sort of era.

Lovely barge and following with interest!

RoverP6B

Original Poster:

4,338 posts

127 months

Wednesday 24th July 2019
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among the cars Mark has lying around his yard is my defunct 540i Touring... going to have to get something done about that.

The 760's MoT expires on the 6th August, so it's going down to RL Motor Services at Plympton by or on that date. The 535i is now finished (other than bodywork) and RL actually presented me with a final bill over £500 under the original estimate, and it has passed its MoT with no advisories (and at no extra charge), so I am very pleased about that. Excellent customer service, can certainly recommend Rich Lakey and his chief mechanic Kev to any West Country BMW owners.

V6todayEVmanana

759 posts

143 months

Thursday 6th February 2020
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Hats off to you. I got stick years ago for buying a 3.0 v6 Alfa, it did cost me a fair bit to run it but overall I'm so glad I did.

Could have got something more practical but I've never looked back with regret (even after the bills).

Whilst I've regretted not buying some other cool cars when had the chance, now they are out of reach or tatty.

Dropping 7k on a used hatchback could leave you in the learch too. Colleague had a Skoda VRS approved used, engine gave way after the 1 year warranty expired, left with no car.

Would like to see my interior photos and to hear more.




RoverP6B

Original Poster:

4,338 posts

127 months

Sunday 19th July 2020
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Well, the Seven soldiers on, had a few minor niggles (including a failed parking brake actuator immobilising the car on the road, twice!) and that misfire still isn't entirely cured, but I'm pretty pleased with it. The 535i has been sat at Plympton since the autumn - its MoT has just expired so Kev and co are sorting that for me.

One annoyance with the 7 is that there's an exhaust heat shield hanging down under the car where it's caught a rock or something on the lane here - I wonder if it might be possible to wire in a controller for the rear air suspension to get it to lift? Converting the front to air (using L322 Range Rover parts?) could also be an option, I suppose, but doubtless much more expensive... the Seven is ideal for so much of what I do, but it's the last mile or so to the house where the Range Rover would be more suitable!

RoverP6B

Original Poster:

4,338 posts

127 months

Thursday 23rd December 2021
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In case anyone has looked this car up recently, and particularly if they have noticed it has neither tax nor MoT, this is not because the car no longer exists, but simply because Covid and an increasingly persistent misfire (which, ironically, failed to materialise the last time to ran) led me to cease using it. It is sat on my driveway with a flat battery and has locked me out - neither key barrel will turn, so it’s going to be necessary to find some other external means of putting a charge on it. The pressure has also leaked out of the rear air suspension through disuse. DVLA were utterly unhelpful when I attempted to SORN it, insisting it would all have to be done on paper by snail mail, even though I'd gone through the process online before with this and other cars. The old faithful 535i remains my daily, although it has recently started using coolant, and there’s an intermittent seatbelt/airbag warning light issue that causes problems with every MoT. Had to have a minor exhaust leak welded. 540i still untouched over three years on from its failure, unfortunately - hoping to change that soon - so getting back in my barnstorming barge is probably going to take a back seat to getting that back on the road. These things all take longer than one would hope, but both my non-runners (540 and 760) will see the road again.

ATM

18,037 posts

218 months

Thursday 23rd December 2021
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Cars are so much more fun when they work. Sometimes it feels like my list of jobs is getting longer and longer. In fact maybe I should actually make a list. Then I can stop and assess it honestly.

g3org3y

20,590 posts

190 months

Thursday 23rd December 2021
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RoverP6B said:
In case anyone has looked this car up recently, and particularly if they have noticed it has neither tax nor MoT, this is not because the car no longer exists, but simply because Covid and an increasingly persistent misfire (which, ironically, failed to materialise the last time to ran) led me to cease using it. It is sat on my driveway with a flat battery and has locked me out - neither key barrel will turn, so it’s going to be necessary to find some other external means of putting a charge on it. The pressure has also leaked out of the rear air suspension through disuse. DVLA were utterly unhelpful when I attempted to SORN it, insisting it would all have to be done on paper by snail mail, even though I'd gone through the process online before with this and other cars. The old faithful 535i remains my daily, although it has recently started using coolant, and there’s an intermittent seatbelt/airbag warning light issue that causes problems with every MoT. Had to have a minor exhaust leak welded. 540i still untouched over three years on from its failure, unfortunately - hoping to change that soon - so getting back in my barnstorming barge is probably going to take a back seat to getting that back on the road. These things all take longer than one would hope, but both my non-runners (540 and 760) will see the road again.
Sorry to hear of your woes with the 760, very frustrating.

This is (as you've noted) the reason for owning multiple BMWs. Important to have a spare or two. biggrin

Hope you can get the 760 sorted soon.

Jamescrs

4,418 posts

64 months

Friday 24th December 2021
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Just picked up on this thread today and I must say i'm very impressed with the journey so far, it's brilliant to see someone keeping these old barges going, I hope the 7 series is back on the road very soon

Prinny

1,669 posts

98 months

Saturday 25th December 2021
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Sorry to hear that. I guess by both barrels you mean drivers door & boot? As you know, there’s a +ve terminal under the bonnet, you might be able to get to it from below with a bit of fiddling about, & then connecting a jump pack to that & an earth might get you enough juice to get a door open, and then you’re in business (maybe). Failing that, I’d be breaking a grille to get the bonnet raised, as the grille is cheaper than a double-glazed window!

Collectingbrass

2,191 posts

194 months

Saturday 25th December 2021
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Prinny said:
Sorry to hear that. I guess by both barrels you mean drivers door & boot? As you know, there’s a +ve terminal under the bonnet, you might be able to get to it from below with a bit of fiddling about, & then connecting a jump pack to that & an earth might get you enough juice to get a door open, and then you’re in business (maybe). Failing that, I’d be breaking a grille to get the bonnet raised, as the grille is cheaper than a double-glazed window!
There should be a way into the boot with the key (behind the logo on the bonnet i think); failing that jack it up and get some juice in via the starter terminals

RoverP6B

Original Poster:

4,338 posts

127 months

Saturday 25th December 2021
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Can't get to the engine bay as the bonnet release is under the car. Don't want to try jacking a 2.2 ton car that's parked across a sloping gravel drive. Pretty sure there's an undertray preventing easy access to the starter and alternator. I've heard it said that people have charged these and similar cars via door mirror wiring, rear number plate lights etc, so will try these. It just hasn't been a priority lately.

AW10

4,412 posts

248 months

Tuesday 4th January 2022
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On some BMs you can open the door of a car with a flat battery by turning the key and lifting the door handle at the same time. Might need a few attempts to get the motions in sync though.

d_a_n1979

8,006 posts

71 months

Tuesday 4th January 2022
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AW10 said:
On some BMs you can open the door of a car with a flat battery by turning the key and lifting the door handle at the same time. Might need a few attempts to get the motions in sync though.
This ^^

My E65 had a battery drain issue until I unplugged the comfort access handles; the lock would allow me to open the boot & the drivers door to open the bonnet etc

Might need to spray the locks with some WD40 to clean any grime out first though and then turn the key as much as you can to 90º etc