My 2014 BMW F01 730d M Sport

[The Gauge]

This is my first ever BMW which I've only had a few days, a fairly spontaneous purchase after finding out a lad at work had this car and was about to sell it. I've aways desired a 7 Series but never thought I'd own one, but after he let me have a drive and explained it had full BMW dealer service history from brand new, I committed to having it. It meant putting my 2017 Skoda Yeti 2.0L 4x4 up for sale, which thankfully sold in just a few days from advertising.

It's an utterly fantastic car to drive, very majestic and smooth, yet has plenty of speed if you slam your foot down. This one is in Sophisto-grey brilliant metallic and has 87k miles, purchased for £11k. I'm overjoyed if I'm being honest...














I wasn't initially a fan of its cream leather interior but it's since grown on me and I now think it really does suit this car..

Edited by The Gauge on Saturday 19th April 21:14

[Sn1ckers]

Very, very nice!

Particularly like the piping on the seats. The engine is brilliant and imo sounds good. Hope you enjoy the car.

[gf15]

An unbelievable amount of car for the money. Enjoy!

[Andrew-b90y3]

Glorious car and great purchase price. BMW have these as their flagship model for a reason.

[danb79]

Lovely

Big fan of the F01 7 series. Regretted selling mine when I did but it was a needs/must at that time...

The N57s a superb lump and it suits the car well

If it's on RFTs still, bin them and fit non RFTs - the ride will really improve. Keep the oil and filter fresh too, one a year at minimum IMO

If you want to update the sat nav, speak to Rusty at satnavupgrades.co.uk

Make sure the brakes are in rude health, I ran Brembo 2 piece discs and Textar pads all round and found them to be very good

They can go through suspension parts too. Sounds like yours has been well serviced though, but keep an eye on them. Any steering wobble at speed / braking or clunks up front, it'll be the lower arms and main thrust arms

[The Gauge]

danb79 said:

Lovely

Big fan of the F01 7 series. Regretted selling mine when I did but it was a needs/must at that time...

The N57s a superb lump and it suits the car well

If it's on RFTs still, bin them and fit non RFTs - the ride will really improve. Keep the oil and filter fresh too, one a year at minimum IMO

If you want to update the sat nav, speak to Rusty at satnavupgrades.co.uk

Make sure the brakes are in rude health, I ran Brembo 2 piece discs and Textar pads all round and found them to be very good

They can go through suspension parts too. Sounds like yours has been well serviced though, but keep an eye on them. Any steering wobble at speed / braking or clunks up front, it'll be the lower arms and main thrust arms

I'm grateful for the advice, thank you.

My mate who I bought it from ditched the run flats as soon as he bought it, and had a new set of Nexen all season tyres fitted for when I collected it. He'd also taken it to the BMW dealer for its service, continuing its dealer service history.

As it isn't on run flats I want to buy a spare alloy wheel for it, and a jack as there obviously isn't one. Can anyone recommend a suitable jack to keep in the boot please?

[Wills2]

Very nice, I love a 7 series, interior looks great I think you need a contrast when the car is big otherwise it's just a black hole, comfort seats and nappa leather, just like my old G11, enjoy!

[danb79]

The Gauge said:

I'm grateful for the advice, thank you.

My mate who I bought it from ditched the run flats as soon as he bought it, and had a new set of Nexen all season tyres fitted for when I collected it. He'd also taken it to the BMW dealer for its service, continuing its dealer service history.

As it isn't on run flats I want to buy a spare alloy wheel for it, and a jack as there obviously isn't one. Can anyone recommend a suitable jack to keep in the boot please?

No worries; the project for my F01 is here if you're bored with nothing better to do with your time

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Re jack kit - My pal has this kit in his F31 as he does a lot of from Lancashire to Germany and back driving for his job

https://www.amazon.co.uk/IMAYCC-Portable-Changing-...

He runs with a spare 18" wheel and normal tyre; just has it face down in the boot so he can stuff it with bits to make use of all the space etc - He's only had to use it once but said that jack & kit are very sturdy

[The Gauge]

danb79 said:

No worries; the project for my F01 is here if you're bored with nothing better to do with your time

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Re jack kit - My pal has this kit in his F31 as he does a lot of from Lancashire to Germany and back driving for his job

https://www.amazon.co.uk/IMAYCC-Portable-Changing-...

He runs with a spare 18" wheel and normal tyre; just has it face down in the boot so he can stuff it with bits to make use of all the space etc - He's only had to use it once but said that jack & kit are very sturdy

Brill, thanks, I have ordered that same jack. I've also found an identical alloy on eBay to the ones I have, complete with tyre which I will strap down in the boot. I've not been comfortable driving around without a spare and jack.

[danb79]

The Gauge said:

danb79 said:

No worries; the project for my F01 is here if you're bored with nothing better to do with your time

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Re jack kit - My pal has this kit in his F31 as he does a lot of from Lancashire to Germany and back driving for his job

https://www.amazon.co.uk/IMAYCC-Portable-Changing-...

He runs with a spare 18" wheel and normal tyre; just has it face down in the boot so he can stuff it with bits to make use of all the space etc - He's only had to use it once but said that jack & kit are very sturdy

Brill, thanks, I have ordered that same jack. I've also found an identical alloy on eBay to the ones I have, complete with tyre which I will strap down in the boot. I've not been comfortable driving around without a spare and jack.

I've done it now since my 1st ever BMW back in 2010, an E38 that didn't come with a spare wheel etc

Never had any issues touch wood (always have a decent tyre repair kit and inflator in the boot though)

However, I do very low miles bar longer runs to Anglesey and up to the Highlands etc

[The Gauge]

The Gauge said:

danb79 said:

No worries; the project for my F01 is here if you're bored with nothing better to do with your time

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Re jack kit - My pal has this kit in his F31 as he does a lot of from Lancashire to Germany and back driving for his job

https://www.amazon.co.uk/IMAYCC-Portable-Changing-...

He runs with a spare 18" wheel and normal tyre; just has it face down in the boot so he can stuff it with bits to make use of all the space etc - He's only had to use it once but said that jack & kit are very sturdy

Brill, thanks, I have ordered that same jack. .

The jack arrived but sadly the area of the jack that locates into my jacking points is too big for them. The area inside my plastic jacking points is about 4cm x 3cm. it might look like it fits in this photo but it's too large. I'll have a search for another jack.





However this Heyner jack looks to have a suitable sized surface area for my jacking points..

Edited by The Gauge on Monday 21st April 18:16

[willmagrath]

The Gauge said:

The jack arrived but sadly the area of the jack that locates into my jacking points is too big for them. The area inside my plastic jacking points is about 4cm x 3cm. it might look like it fits in this photo but it's too large. I'll have a search for another jack.





However this Heyner jack looks to have a suitable sized surface area for my jacking points..

Edited by The Gauge on Monday 21st April 18:16

There's a little Jack adapter for BMWs. Round with a rectangle protrusion. Can get on amazon really cheap. I keep one in the car.

[danb79]

The Gauge said:

The Gauge said:

danb79 said:

No worries; the project for my F01 is here if you're bored with nothing better to do with your time

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Re jack kit - My pal has this kit in his F31 as he does a lot of from Lancashire to Germany and back driving for his job

https://www.amazon.co.uk/IMAYCC-Portable-Changing-...

He runs with a spare 18" wheel and normal tyre; just has it face down in the boot so he can stuff it with bits to make use of all the space etc - He's only had to use it once but said that jack & kit are very sturdy

Brill, thanks, I have ordered that same jack. .

The jack arrived but sadly the area of the jack that locates into my jacking points is too big for them. The area inside my plastic jacking points is about 4cm x 3cm. it might look like it fits in this photo but it's too large. I'll have a search for another jack.





However this Heyner jack looks to have a suitable sized surface area for my jacking points..

Edited by The Gauge on Monday 21st April 18:16

My fault; should have said Chris has one of these too: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rubber-Frame-Protector-Ja...

But he said he's jacked the car up without one easy enough and no issues; once it's up tight it doesn't move

[The Gauge]

Thanks, I happen to have a jack pad being delivered tomorrow that I intend to use with my trolley jack when at home, wasn't so sure it would be secure enough to use with a scissor jack.

Edited by The Gauge on Tuesday 22 April 00:14

[The Gauge]

Thankfully the Heyner Ultra Lift Black 2 Tonne scissor jack from Amazon fits into the cars jacking point..







I'll keep it in the boot with the spare full size wheel when it arrives, wheel chocks, tyre inflator and puncture repair stuff.

[The Gauge]

Had a GDW T60 detachable towbar and 13 pin electrics fitted today for towing my caravan.




The storage recess in the boot is the perfect size to store it.

[Lozw86]

Are the wheels not staggered on this?

[The Gauge]

Yes, I’ve got 245’s on the front and 275’s on the rear

[danb79]

That's fine; run a front as a spare and it can be used on any of the corners etc

This could be a consideration: https://www.thewheelshop.co.uk/product/bmw-7-serie...

[The Gauge]

danb79 said:

That's fine; run a front as a spare and it can be used on any of the corners etc

This could be a consideration: https://www.thewheelshop.co.uk/product/bmw-7-serie...

Thanks. I was considering one of those space savers, but I then decided to buy a 2nd hand full size matching front alloy with 245 wide tyre. It takes up the same space in the boot apart from it obviously being a bit taller when laid flat. But laying it alloy face down means I can get my compressor and tools inside the barrel of the wheel.

My next consideration will be to buy a set of EMUK towing mirrors as they are made bespoke to the cars mirrors rather than the generic type I currently use.

Edited by The Gauge on Wednesday 30th April 23:29