e38 728i
Author
Discussion

richard300

Original Poster:

1,086 posts

238 months

Saturday 13th October 2012
quotequote all
I bought this car at the end of August with a suspected DSC pre-charge pump issue. But with other stuff going on i have not had time to do anything to the car.

Initially i bought the car to maybe sell on, but having had a sort out and sold a couple of my own cars recently i am left with nothing that fits my default 'daily driver' criteria - which is: comfy, big, auto, old'ish luxo barge'

So, today i gave the car a clean, put some road tax on her and reminded my mechanic friend that he needed to come round and attach his diagnostics to the car, to indeed confirm that the pre-charge pump needs replacing. I'll probably put a fresh MOT on the car and service the fluids to.

With me now thinking about keeping the car, i am thinking about larger wheels, so have just fired off an e-mail about a set of E65 Style 93's that are for sale.

Anyway, here are a few pictures on the car as she currently looks. After a clean this morning.























em177

3,149 posts

193 months

Saturday 13th October 2012
quotequote all
Fantastic.

bennyboydurham

1,617 posts

203 months

Saturday 13th October 2012
quotequote all
Lovely. I had one just like it. e65 wheels might not look right though IMHO. Why don't you go for a set of M Paras, for that 'Tomorrow Never Dies' 007 look?

richard300

Original Poster:

1,086 posts

238 months

Saturday 13th October 2012
quotequote all
Thanks....

Benny, i agree that the 18" M-Parellel's are a great looking wheel. But i cant find any sets for sale that are worth buying and i like the 18" style 93 because it manages to address the 'under wheeled' look my car has, whilst being very subtle and simple (it's very easy to make one of these e38's look a bit ghetto - Which is the last thing i want to do)

http://www.europarts4sale.com/catalog/$(KGrHqYOKj!... - Style 93.

Baryonyx

18,280 posts

188 months

Saturday 13th October 2012
quotequote all
Lovely looking car. I wouldn't bother fitting the E65 wheels, far too many E38's have had the 'bling' treatment already and they deserve better!

Max M4X WW

5,027 posts

211 months

Saturday 13th October 2012
quotequote all
bennyboydurham said:
Lovely. I had one just like it. e65 wheels might not look right though IMHO. Why don't you go for a set of M Paras, for that 'Tomorrow Never Dies' 007 look?
I thought the same, but they look pretty good actually..


mcelliott

10,468 posts

210 months

Saturday 13th October 2012
quotequote all
That's lovely smile.

falkster

4,258 posts

232 months

Saturday 13th October 2012
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Love it but M Parallels FTW

Paracetamol

4,267 posts

273 months

Saturday 13th October 2012
quotequote all
My dad had one of these new in 1996- totally brilliant car. Perfect blend of economy and performance. Very sensitive to good tyres and a proper alignment (there was alot of adjustment on th rear suspension I recall). I remember it came back from a 'KDS' alignment session at the main dealer and was transformed. Good thing is yours is the later block aswell and so nickasal problems..Leave the wheels- it looks classy being totally standard. Spend the money on good tyres and changing bushings etc..

richard300

Original Poster:

1,086 posts

238 months

Sunday 14th October 2012
quotequote all
As it would happen, a set of 18" M-Parellels have come up for sale at a price i can live with. So maybe i'll have the 007 look? Actually i would quite like to put amber indicators on the car, but finding amber 'jewel' is proving hard.

sparks_E39

12,738 posts

242 months

Sunday 14th October 2012
quotequote all
Lovely car, nice one!

falkster

4,258 posts

232 months

Sunday 14th October 2012
quotequote all
richard300 said:
As it would happen, a set of 18" M-Parellels have come up for sale at a price i can live with. So maybe i'll have the 007 look? Actually i would quite like to put amber indicators on the car, but finding amber 'jewel' is proving hard.
I think having amber indicators they can easily look dated but the facelift lights/indicators really make the car look awesome.

wackojacko

8,581 posts

219 months

Sunday 14th October 2012
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M parallels are a must, did you buy this car from the Reading area by any chance ?

Jw Vw

4,920 posts

192 months

Sunday 14th October 2012
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Beautiful. These cars are such VFM. Fantastic barge.

Baryonyx

18,280 posts

188 months

Sunday 14th October 2012
quotequote all
falkster said:
I think having amber indicators they can easily look dated but the facelift lights/indicators really make the car look awesome.
That is the point! biggrin

Zwolf

25,867 posts

235 months

Sunday 14th October 2012
quotequote all
Looks great, I'd leave it on the standard Ellipsoids because of the benefit to ride comfort.

In terms of lights, there were three phases of E38:

Original (-98):


(these also came in clear version - with silver headlamp inserts - when you specified the Sport pack new).

Facelift (98-00):



2001MY (00-02)



It shouldn't be too difficult to get a set of the middle ones from BMW, but they won't find them from the chassis/reg number of your car as a factory 2001MY vehicle.

Also, this link should prove indispensable for running an E38: http://www.meeknet.co.uk/e38/

falkster

4,258 posts

232 months

Sunday 14th October 2012
quotequote all
Baryonyx said:
That is the point! biggrin
Re-reading my post, it does sound a little dense.

richard300

Original Poster:

1,086 posts

238 months

Monday 15th October 2012
quotequote all
Yep, it's the 98-00 lights i'm thinking off.
Purchased a set of 18" M-Parells with tyres today which i think will look good with the black sills and bumper lower sections (i'm not a fan of the fully colour coded and de-chromed sport pack cars)

bennyboydurham

1,617 posts

203 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
richard300 said:
Yep, it's the 98-00 lights i'm thinking off.
Purchased a set of 18" M-Parells with tyres today which i think will look good with the black sills and bumper lower sections (i'm not a fan of the fully colour coded and de-chromed sport pack cars)
Good man. Glad we badgered you into it. We'll be expecting pics. 3000 PH points if you take them in a multi story car park that closely resembles that from 'Tomorrow Never Dies'....

richard300

Original Poster:

1,086 posts

238 months

Tuesday 16th October 2012
quotequote all
I know just the car park :-)