Just bought an E38... am I in for a world of hurt? ;)
Just bought an E38... am I in for a world of hurt? ;)
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Discussion

gazchap

Original Poster:

1,543 posts

203 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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I've just driven 120 miles back home in my new barge - a 1999 E38 735i with 120,000 miles on the clock.

Fantastically smooth ride, a few scary moments where I almost used the parking brake as a clutch (I think getting used to an autobox is going to take a while) but other than that, a nice ride home. Pretty economical too, considering - for most of the journey the MPG needle was hovering around 36-38 MPG. Not bad for a 3.5L V8!

Am I in for a world of hurt bills-wise? What were these cars new? I only paid £1,100 for it which seems a bargain considering it passed it's MOT with flying colours on Tuesday, and apart from a tiny bit of rust bubbling on the OSR arch, it's as clean as anything!

carreauchompeur

18,288 posts

224 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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No.

gazchap

Original Poster:

1,543 posts

203 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
quotequote all
carreauchompeur said:
No.
Short, and to the point.

Shaw Tarse

31,819 posts

223 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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sparks_E39

12,738 posts

233 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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Along with the E39, it's the best car BMW built.

gazchap

Original Poster:

1,543 posts

203 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
quotequote all
Shaw Tarse said:






No clunks from the suspension and no overheating smile Full service history from new, with only two previous owners.

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

233 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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Looks lovely, nice one! I could offload my 528 and get one for pretty much the same price. Hmmm...

martin84

5,366 posts

173 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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That looks a very smart motor. Well looked after. Nice to see a few of them still in such nick.

carreauchompeur

18,288 posts

224 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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Lovely, really lovely. Great colour combo too, I really like cream leather.

What's that drip under the front though? hehe

Chris944_S2

2,053 posts

243 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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Very good choice sir! thumbup

Mastodon2

14,128 posts

185 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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Excellent car - if it breaks you could bin it and cut your losses. What is a grand, a holiday to Spain? I'd gamble it on a BMW over a cheap holiday any day!

james n

82 posts

230 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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A couple of my friends have had these & loved them. Whole lot of car for the money, & always seemed reliable. You could have bought a clean 1.25 fiesta for that money & lived worry free about bills, but this is pistonheads, you did the right thing!
Like that a lot, enjoy it smile
James

Dominicc01

530 posts

187 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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Nice cars, fantastically good looking, small V8s sound fantastic, and you will be very comfortable. Sadly build quality variable..... just keep on top of the rust - it can get very bad very quickly. So long as there are no squeaks or clonks from the suspension, you should be fine cash-wise for the moment.

The ABS can be a very expensive problem if it goes wrong, as can anything else where electrics are involved; but that is standard for any big old barge.

Also, be careful what you're driving over: there is a pipe for the power steering which is close to the front and very exposed. It seems to be easily fractured, and suddenly steering will become a tad more difficult!

obscene

5,179 posts

205 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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cloud9


That is all.

SuperHangOn

3,486 posts

173 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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Blimey that is a lot of car for a grand. What are your plans for it?

I tend to run a barge for around a month to see if anything nasty happens, if not start on some maintenance if I like it.

thumbup

ShampooEfficient

4,278 posts

231 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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Lovely bit of kit! I'd be getting the chrome off though, but that's just me.

fatboy69

9,424 posts

207 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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What a great car for a grand. With 12 months MOT on it what have you got to loose? Nothing IMO. It's a great looking car & if it's looked after no reason why it shouldnnt give you years of decent luxury motoring.


Marquis Rex

7,377 posts

259 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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Nice! At least you got the decent engine and not the weenie-mobile 728i.

Its the model after that that had alot of complexity and some issues with age

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

233 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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Marquis Rex said:
Nice! At least you got the decent engine and not the weenie-mobile 728i.

Its the model after that that had alot of complexity and some issues with age
The 2.8 is suprisingly good in the E38, but yeah if I took the plunge it would have to be a V8, or the 750 wink

Tyrewrecker

6,419 posts

174 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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Seems like a proper bargin I tell theee