Just bought an E38 740i Sport - classic car??
Discussion
Hey all
I've had tens of cars, most being BMW's. I've also had a pair of 728i Sport which were great yet under powered.
Finally I've bought myself a virtual 1 owner, 2000 year silver 740i Sport facelift with on 72K and a fBMWsh from new, fully documented. Garaged from new, the car is exceptional. Quite breathtaking actually. Collection in this weekend.
We had a 740i Sport a few years back, but it was a shed and ruined the experience. This one is pristine (no advisories at recent BMW MOT).
I have most of the spec (comms pack, phone, black leather (electric), roof, CD etc. But it doesn't have heated seats or lumber support which is a shame. I also liked the rear electric blind our black one had, but I don't get the either.
BUT what I do get is a PRISTINE body, immaculate 18" parallel alloys, all MOT's since new, all receipts since new, fBMWsh, all 5 keys, original windscreen, brand new interior with unmarked mats. So I guess I'm happy.
Do you guys think these will ever achieve classic status? Is it worth me keeping the mileage low and using it occasionally? I mean, 72K is low for a 13 year old car (current owner bought it as a retirement present when retiring from IBM so has hardly used it).
I know it's not an M car, and I know it won't appreciate like my E30 M3 did, BUT these are kind of cool cars and still look so handsome when in perfect fettle. I have a feeling they have a little cult following aswell, so maybe it will go up in value?
Advice appreciated.
P.s - The age of these cars is telling. I typed genuine BMW E38 into eBay and came up with several BMW dealers clearing stock (guess nobody is going to main dealers for parts on these now). I got genuine 324mm front brake discs, genuine pads, genuine rear 324mm brake discs and genuine rear brake pads for £180!!! The list on this package is well over £500. Bargain!
I've had tens of cars, most being BMW's. I've also had a pair of 728i Sport which were great yet under powered.
Finally I've bought myself a virtual 1 owner, 2000 year silver 740i Sport facelift with on 72K and a fBMWsh from new, fully documented. Garaged from new, the car is exceptional. Quite breathtaking actually. Collection in this weekend.
We had a 740i Sport a few years back, but it was a shed and ruined the experience. This one is pristine (no advisories at recent BMW MOT).
I have most of the spec (comms pack, phone, black leather (electric), roof, CD etc. But it doesn't have heated seats or lumber support which is a shame. I also liked the rear electric blind our black one had, but I don't get the either.
BUT what I do get is a PRISTINE body, immaculate 18" parallel alloys, all MOT's since new, all receipts since new, fBMWsh, all 5 keys, original windscreen, brand new interior with unmarked mats. So I guess I'm happy.
Do you guys think these will ever achieve classic status? Is it worth me keeping the mileage low and using it occasionally? I mean, 72K is low for a 13 year old car (current owner bought it as a retirement present when retiring from IBM so has hardly used it).
I know it's not an M car, and I know it won't appreciate like my E30 M3 did, BUT these are kind of cool cars and still look so handsome when in perfect fettle. I have a feeling they have a little cult following aswell, so maybe it will go up in value?
Advice appreciated.
P.s - The age of these cars is telling. I typed genuine BMW E38 into eBay and came up with several BMW dealers clearing stock (guess nobody is going to main dealers for parts on these now). I got genuine 324mm front brake discs, genuine pads, genuine rear 324mm brake discs and genuine rear brake pads for £180!!! The list on this package is well over £500. Bargain!
I have had 2 740i Sport E38, both silver and both a dream motorway cruiser. No run flats and a decent suspension and tyre side wall, plenty of power but a bit thirsty.
Second hands parts can be bought cheaply (rear bumper in silver £40) etc, but unfortunely the one I had this year got written off
Second hands parts can be bought cheaply (rear bumper in silver £40) etc, but unfortunely the one I had this year got written off

Hi,
Overall? I doubt the E38 will see any significant kind of value rise across all it's 'normal' variants. The Individuals and even then perhaps the range topping 5.0 models and perhaps some L variants and the handful/smattering of Alpina variants might appreciate a little more in comparison though.
To get the best chance of any value increase, you'd need to keep the mileage down as best you can over perhaps the next 5-10/15/20 years, keep a massive history file of what you've done to maintain it including any dealer parts/servicing/repairs, keep it very very clean and in excellent condition, perhaps do some preventative measures like wheel arch and underbody sealing etc etc. You'd also need to keep it as close to oem spec as possible too. Even with all that, I suspect in 15+ years, it won't have appreciated that much overall and on top of that, 'value' and 'asking prices' can be as high as you like them to be, it's the 'selling price' which actually counts!
Cheers, Dennis!
Overall? I doubt the E38 will see any significant kind of value rise across all it's 'normal' variants. The Individuals and even then perhaps the range topping 5.0 models and perhaps some L variants and the handful/smattering of Alpina variants might appreciate a little more in comparison though.
To get the best chance of any value increase, you'd need to keep the mileage down as best you can over perhaps the next 5-10/15/20 years, keep a massive history file of what you've done to maintain it including any dealer parts/servicing/repairs, keep it very very clean and in excellent condition, perhaps do some preventative measures like wheel arch and underbody sealing etc etc. You'd also need to keep it as close to oem spec as possible too. Even with all that, I suspect in 15+ years, it won't have appreciated that much overall and on top of that, 'value' and 'asking prices' can be as high as you like them to be, it's the 'selling price' which actually counts!
Cheers, Dennis!
shim said:
I have had 2 740i Sport E38, both silver and both a dream motorway cruiser. No run flats and a decent suspension and tyre side wall, plenty of power but a bit thirsty.
Second hands parts can be bought cheaply (rear bumper in silver £40) etc, but unfortunely the one I had this year got written off
I forgot to say, never a classic but a great car.Second hands parts can be bought cheaply (rear bumper in silver £40) etc, but unfortunely the one I had this year got written off

I've a friend who has a 2000 750 and has extended the warranty every single year since new. It has galactic miles, has been shared among friends as a runabout and apart from a tired interior is about as mechanically sound as a new one can be. It once wafted us down to Monaco in one run on a hot summers day with zero stress. 150mph there most of the way four up and only stopped for fuel. We all got out feeling as fresh as we did on getting in. If not a little wind swept! That engine was an absolute masterpiece! As a package that is about the best car I've been in/used against my old Audi S8 (Ronin type)
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