Search for the perfect E38 - 728i or 740? - Unicorn options?
Discussion
Having owned an E38 728i Sport in the past which turned out not to be an actual Sport (quite a common occurrence I hear!), I am on the hunt once more. Mrs 911 is turning our C63 into an X5d and I am going to need a station car for my 15 minute commute and the occasional longer foray. Am I the only one that thinks that the E38 is one of the best looking BMWs of all time?
I am obviously looking for a Sport as I like the look, along with the suspension and other tweakery that they entail. I am also pretty set on having the Contour seats as my last one had them and I have honestly never sat in anything so comfortable. M-Paralells are a given but if something came towards me with the Alpina 20” wheels, it would certainly catch my eye. Heated Memory seats, widescreen satnav, sunroof are all given options to be looking for.
So the first question is 2.8 sixer or 4.0 V8? I imagine that the V8 is a lot smoother and has the gearbox shifting less often, it also gives the occasional opportunity for some burbles when in Sport mode. I loved the six that I had and found that when stirred it certainly had the ability to pick up its skirt-tails. Did this V8 have the same issues with the Nikasil linings that the V8 had in the 8-series?
I think I will probably be looking for as late a car as possible and to be honest all of the nice cars I am seeing are all 2001 plate cars anyway.
Individual spec is always nice as it introduces certain niceties such as the rarer colours and contrasting carpet/dashboard/upper combinations. Full BMW service history would be a plus but these are £4-6k cars so understandable when someone’s switched to a specialist. I saw this car which has a pretty astonishing spec and the most gorgeous colour (Stratus Metallic) that I have never ever seen before. But that interior is a bit strong for me and the high miles put me off as well.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
So what other rare options are there? Is there a two seat only rear seat option? I gather there might be one with a TV nestling in between the rear seat occupants, that sounds amazing.
I am sure I am not the only E38-lover out there, or indeed the only one on the hunt so let’s make this fun!!
For the E38 buyer with very deep pockets, your unicorn is already out there: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-750i-Extra-Long-Whee...
I am obviously looking for a Sport as I like the look, along with the suspension and other tweakery that they entail. I am also pretty set on having the Contour seats as my last one had them and I have honestly never sat in anything so comfortable. M-Paralells are a given but if something came towards me with the Alpina 20” wheels, it would certainly catch my eye. Heated Memory seats, widescreen satnav, sunroof are all given options to be looking for.
So the first question is 2.8 sixer or 4.0 V8? I imagine that the V8 is a lot smoother and has the gearbox shifting less often, it also gives the occasional opportunity for some burbles when in Sport mode. I loved the six that I had and found that when stirred it certainly had the ability to pick up its skirt-tails. Did this V8 have the same issues with the Nikasil linings that the V8 had in the 8-series?
I think I will probably be looking for as late a car as possible and to be honest all of the nice cars I am seeing are all 2001 plate cars anyway.
Individual spec is always nice as it introduces certain niceties such as the rarer colours and contrasting carpet/dashboard/upper combinations. Full BMW service history would be a plus but these are £4-6k cars so understandable when someone’s switched to a specialist. I saw this car which has a pretty astonishing spec and the most gorgeous colour (Stratus Metallic) that I have never ever seen before. But that interior is a bit strong for me and the high miles put me off as well.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
So what other rare options are there? Is there a two seat only rear seat option? I gather there might be one with a TV nestling in between the rear seat occupants, that sounds amazing.
I am sure I am not the only E38-lover out there, or indeed the only one on the hunt so let’s make this fun!!
For the E38 buyer with very deep pockets, your unicorn is already out there: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-750i-Extra-Long-Whee...
I'm on my 3rd E38 now, all 750's, and I agree, best looking BMW sedan made to date. Would easily buy a 4th if I needed. Out of the two in question I would go for the 728 tbh athough they might lack some what in the engine and equipment department they are more dependable than the V8's which suffer from a few niggles, cam chain tensioner, vanos rattle and a few more. The 740 is a lovely car tho I hear, never driven one. But in my opinion, if you are looking for an E38 then get yourself a 750, they have more toys as standard and they seem to be frequent in sports guise in the U.K aswell, sure, they are thirstier than the V8's but not by much, but have a more durable engine with no real type faults. And it's a V12, love that engine.
This is my 2000 swb 750 M-sport.
Edit: That stratus 740 looks amazing, full individual and a fantastic colour. And cheap too, paid over £6000 for my 750.
This is my 2000 swb 750 M-sport.
Edit: That stratus 740 looks amazing, full individual and a fantastic colour. And cheap too, paid over £6000 for my 750.
Edited by PowerslideSWE on Tuesday 9th June 16:30
I happen to have a very original late model 728i Sport with the Individual spec and only 24,000mls on the clock! The car was first registered by the local dealer then bought by my mother straight from the showroom as her company car. She owned it until last year when I took pity on it's lack of use and snatched it from her. Having said that I have hardly used the car either! I think about 2K in the last 12 months!
This must be one of the very last E38 built (build July 2001). It has the later M52R specification engine.
I think the colour is 'Mora', a deep metallic purple, cream comfort seats, with piping the same colour as the car. As you can imagine its immaculate inside and out.
It also drives like new, no squeaks or rattles! Incredible really!
This must be one of the very last E38 built (build July 2001). It has the later M52R specification engine.
I think the colour is 'Mora', a deep metallic purple, cream comfort seats, with piping the same colour as the car. As you can imagine its immaculate inside and out.
It also drives like new, no squeaks or rattles! Incredible really!
They haven't got any for sale at the moment but GMS cars generally have some fantastic looking and well specced e38 in
Maybe worth contacting them and seeing if they can source one or at least put yourself on their radar for when one comes in.
http://www.gmscars.co.uk/
Maybe worth contacting them and seeing if they can source one or at least put yourself on their radar for when one comes in.
http://www.gmscars.co.uk/
Deaconfi said:
I happen to have a very original late model 728i Sport with the Individual spec and only 24,000mls on the clock! The car was first registered by the local dealer then bought by my mother straight from the showroom as her company car. She owned it until last year when I took pity on it's lack of use and snatched it from her. Having said that I have hardly used the car either! I think about 2K in the last 12 months!
This must be one of the very last E38 built (build July 2001). It has the later M52R specification engine.
I think the colour is 'Mora', a deep metallic purple, cream comfort seats, with piping the same colour as the car. As you can imagine its immaculate inside and out.
It also drives like new, no squeaks or rattles! Incredible really!
Wow that's nice, treasure it! This must be one of the very last E38 built (build July 2001). It has the later M52R specification engine.
I think the colour is 'Mora', a deep metallic purple, cream comfort seats, with piping the same colour as the car. As you can imagine its immaculate inside and out.
It also drives like new, no squeaks or rattles! Incredible really!
tch911 said:
PowerslideSWE said:
And it's a V12, love that engine.
Lovely car! Hmm, had forgotten the 750. Have never owned a V12...maybe now's the time!Edited by PowerslideSWE on Tuesday 9th June 16:30
I've run a 1988 E32 750iL for 15 years - a magnifcent car.
The V12 is sublime & makes for easy 110 - 130 mpg cruising where the law & conditions allow!
I'l admit that that the driver's door seal admits enough wind noise at 150 for the Missus to ask me to slow down - but other than that it's been fast, spacious, refined and reliable.
Still has a Full BMWSH from new!
The V12 is sublime & makes for easy 110 - 130 mpg cruising where the law & conditions allow!
I'l admit that that the driver's door seal admits enough wind noise at 150 for the Missus to ask me to slow down - but other than that it's been fast, spacious, refined and reliable.
Still has a Full BMWSH from new!
bmthnick1981 said:
tch911 said:
PowerslideSWE said:
And it's a V12, love that engine.
Lovely car! Hmm, had forgotten the 750. Have never owned a V12...maybe now's the time!Edited by PowerslideSWE on Tuesday 9th June 16:30
This is my 3rd 750 since I bought my first one in july last year, a '95 orientblue/black nappa leather beauty that I sold only because my current facelift 750 with the M-sport package appeared in the classifieds, and I had to have it. Had another '95 briefly too, only bought as a parts car, sadly too far gone to save, but made a 728 owner up north happy by donating the entire interiour, recouped the purchase price on that sale alone.
Too bad that the 728 in this thread is RHD, would otherwise give you a serious offer on it, looks absolutely fantastic that.
Sorry for hi-jacking the thread, but it's obvious, get yourself a 750
If you are insistent on Contour seats you should know they are actually very rare with bum warmers outside of a 750, and also know that the comfort seats really are lacking in any kind of meaningful lateral support; that said, if you intend to waft in an E38 then the Comfort seats are indeed armchairs that swallow any distance with ease - they can also sometimes be found in facelift cars with massage bases, a feature never fitted to the Sport or Contour seats.
Nice but reasonably common features are double-glazing, widescreen monitor, leccy steering column, heated seats, rear heated seats, rear leccy and lumbar seats, asperical/auto-dimming/heated/folding mirrors, porn lights, Chromeline trim, rear blinds, and so on. The V12 cars had stacks of stuff as standard including full leather and Nappa leather options.
As for 'unicorn' features; rear air-con, luxury rear seat package (headrest mirrors, picnic tables, writing board) dual phones, rear 'fondmonitor', fridge, rear entertainment console, fax machine, radar assisted cruise control, front passenger seat memory, Individual leather colours and trim, Anthracite wood trim, leather trim and any roof mounted stuff from the Individual programme as well as other Individual program rarities.
I have only ever seen the two rear seat option on the V12 only L7 cars but they were also available with a bench and three seat belts.
I went into E38 ownership at the deep end with a LWB V12 and I haven't regretted it at all.
Nice but reasonably common features are double-glazing, widescreen monitor, leccy steering column, heated seats, rear heated seats, rear leccy and lumbar seats, asperical/auto-dimming/heated/folding mirrors, porn lights, Chromeline trim, rear blinds, and so on. The V12 cars had stacks of stuff as standard including full leather and Nappa leather options.
As for 'unicorn' features; rear air-con, luxury rear seat package (headrest mirrors, picnic tables, writing board) dual phones, rear 'fondmonitor', fridge, rear entertainment console, fax machine, radar assisted cruise control, front passenger seat memory, Individual leather colours and trim, Anthracite wood trim, leather trim and any roof mounted stuff from the Individual programme as well as other Individual program rarities.
I have only ever seen the two rear seat option on the V12 only L7 cars but they were also available with a bench and three seat belts.
I went into E38 ownership at the deep end with a LWB V12 and I haven't regretted it at all.
Edited by E24man on Sunday 14th June 18:32
E24man said:
Edited by E24man on Sunday 14th June 18:32
Deaconfi said:
I happen to have a very original late model 728i Sport with the Individual spec and only 24,000mls on the clock! The car was first registered by the local dealer then bought by my mother straight from the showroom as her company car. She owned it until last year when I took pity on it's lack of use and snatched it from her. Having said that I have hardly used the car either! I think about 2K in the last 12 months!
This must be one of the very last E38 built (build July 2001). It has the later M52R specification engine.
I think the colour is 'Mora', a deep metallic purple, cream comfort seats, with piping the same colour as the car. As you can imagine its immaculate inside and out.
It also drives like new, no squeaks or rattles! Incredible really!
Oh, wow.This must be one of the very last E38 built (build July 2001). It has the later M52R specification engine.
I think the colour is 'Mora', a deep metallic purple, cream comfort seats, with piping the same colour as the car. As you can imagine its immaculate inside and out.
It also drives like new, no squeaks or rattles! Incredible really!
Thats awesome.
Fantastic, When I had my '95 I thought the facelift look better, and now when I have a facelift I think the pre-facelifts look better...go figure. Can have something to do with the fact that mine has colour coded bumpers and sill covers, and the latter makes the car look a little fat tbh, black sills kind of slims the profile alot. And yours being a LWB even more so.
I have to say that I agree that the colour coded sills of the facelift cars can make them look 'heavier', more so in lighter colours but I also much prefer the straight cut headlights and ginger-cators of the pre-facelift cars - the headlights especially make the front end look cleaner-cut and more purposeful.
That said, the switchgear in the facelift cars is nicer and so is the choice of steering wheels.
I do like the pictures I've seen of the new 7 Series too, it does seem to be a return to more classical lines with a much greater focus on classical lines rather than avant-garde styling.
That said, the switchgear in the facelift cars is nicer and so is the choice of steering wheels.
I do like the pictures I've seen of the new 7 Series too, it does seem to be a return to more classical lines with a much greater focus on classical lines rather than avant-garde styling.
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