Any reason why not? E38

[okgo]

As per the title really!!

I drive 6k a year, and most of it is sat in traffic going to work. I have a company car, that I can go in and out of wily nilly, so I would just cancel that, and use another car, so that isn't an issue.

I have been borrowing a 540i over the last week, and I loved it!

I have been looking on PH classified and there are some nice looking cars for peanuts, I have not decided on which engine, but there is pretty much no difference in insurance (£600 on a 740, 21 y/o 2 ncb etc).

So why shouldn't I buy one of the following for my needs?

http://pistonheads.com/sales/961054.htm
http://pistonheads.com/sales/939256.htm
http://pistonheads.com/sales/937248.htm

I have driven the v8 and its great, fuel is not a concern (very few miles), I have only ever driven the 2.8 Straight 6 in a 3 series, it went fine, is it too little in a larger car?

[E21_Ross]

definitely go for the V8, i've heard the 6 cylinder is a little too under powered for the big car. as for things to check, it's mostly common sense really. check all the electrics (there is a lot of them!!!), check engine/gearbox...should be silky smooth, check suspension for any knocks while going over speed bumps, check tyre wear for uneven wear and so on. if maintained these 7 series are capable of mega miles. 100k miles on a well looked after one is barely run in. good luck!

[richyb]

740i all the way. Decent economy if you are cruising along, decent power & acceleration if you are having a bit of fun. Massively comfortable all of the time. A real bargain barge at the moment as well.

EDIT - http://www.meeknet.co.uk/E38/Index.htm is an incredibly helpful website to have a look at.

Edited by richyb on Thursday 26th March 17:46

[sparks_E39]

okgo said:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/961054.htm

Holy **** that is insanely good for what what it is

[TheEnd]

I fear the 740 is hiding huge milage, but it ticks all the right boxes (non nikasil bores on the larger 4.4 engine)

[okgo]

sparks_E39 said:

okgo said:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/961054.htm

Holy **** that is insanely good for what what it is

Yeh, I'm on it! No bloody phone number!!

I mean the 735 isn't my ideal choice as it probably cost the same to run as the 740, but still, its a very well specced car, looks good, and is newer than all the rest.

[sparks_E39]

okgo said:

sparks_E39 said:

okgo said:

http://pistonheads.com/sales/961054.htm

Holy **** that is insanely good for what what it is

Yeh, I'm on it! No bloody phone number!!

I mean the 735 isn't my ideal choice as it probably cost the same to run as the 740, but still, its a very well specced car, looks good, and is newer than all the rest.

Yes, the only problem with them is that they have the running costs of the more powerful cars without the performance- hence why they are well priced. I know you're not too bothered about fuel consumption, but be aware that in traffic and around town it will be in the low teens... my 2.8 E39 only gets around 20 mpg in heavy traffic and about 23 mpg around town in general. The 6 cylinder models in the E38 are surprisingly good for the size of the car. Drive a few of them, see what you think.

Edited by sparks_E39 on Thursday 26th March 18:24

[okgo]

Seems the price was wrong..

http://pistonheads.com/sales/948839.htm

[richyb]

okgo said:

Seems the price was wrong..

http://pistonheads.com/sales/948839.htm

Quite a difference! Straight from well priced to way over. Book price on that couldn't be more than £3.5k.

Edited by richyb on Thursday 26th March 19:11

[okgo]

Indeed, I am looking at one Paoloh (from here) has mentioned.. What do you think of this one?

http://pistonheads.com/sales/largepic.asp?i=944351...

[richyb]

okgo said:

Indeed, I am looking at one Paoloh (from here) has mentioned.. What do you think of this one?

http://pistonheads.com/sales/largepic.asp?i=944351...

That only links to a picture of it.

[B'stard Child]

I needed to replace my much loved Senator 24V with something that could live on the drive and not disolve every time it rained -

I looked at Lexus LS430, Audi A8, Jaguar XJ and S Class Merc

My Criteria

V8 was a must and engine capacity wasn't an issue - I don't do huge miles in any car but use what ever is best suited to the journey - but I expect sensible mpg on a run high 20's to low 30's

Must eat miles on long trips and leave me feeling as fresh after 500 miles as I was when I started

Pre 2001 - just in case they shaft the RFL up to silly heights

All toys must work as well as the essential AC

Leather essential

Dark colour prefered - preferably black

Must look prsentable (but not flash or brash)

I tend to buy on condition rather that being fixed on a particular model/make and the best candidate was a 1998 (99 model) 740i. I bought it 3 years ago and it's met every single one of the criteria above and I have only one complaint - ride quality is nowhere near as good as my previous 8 Senators - little over sprung for the state of the UK roads but overal comfort is OK - just a bit jiggly!!



Join a good forum like the seven series register for easy access to some knowledgable other owners or just use Timm Meeks site

[okgo]

Then there is this avenue http://pistonheads.com/sales/958493.htm

That other one was actually in NI.

[okgo]

TheEnd said:

I fear the 740 is hiding huge milage, but it ticks all the right boxes (non nikasil bores on the larger 4.4 engine)

It has just over 200k miles..

What are peoples thoughts on this level of mileage?

[richyb]

okgo said:

TheEnd said:

I fear the 740 is hiding huge milage, but it ticks all the right boxes (non nikasil bores on the larger 4.4 engine)

It has just over 200k miles..

What are peoples thoughts on this level of mileage?

If the engine is well serviced it could keep going for a long while yet but the rest of the car might not be upto it. The front suspension carries the weight of the heavy V8 and over 200k thats got to have taken its toll. Even minor front suspension work can be costly on this grade of car. There is also the wear and tear on the some what fragile cooling system. There a lots of 740i's out there around the 100-120k mark for £3k-3.5k. I'd keep looking.

Edited by richyb on Thursday 26th March 21:30

[okgo]

Yeh, I don't intend to rush into it, I hope.

But I do not want one with the old lights, I do not want one with black leather, I do not want one with crap wheels (seems most of them) ideally it will be a 00 facelift. But we will see. I suppose it also is useful to know when things are changed.

I have emailed him anyway to see what its had done etc. But judging from the bluntness of his first email, he won't reply.

[sparks_E39]

okgo said:

Yeh, I don't intend to rush into it, I hope.

But I do not want one with the old lights, I do not want one with black leather, I do not want one with crap wheels (seems most of them) ideally it will be a 00 facelift. But we will see. I suppose it also is useful to know when things are changed.

I have emailed him anyway to see what its had done etc. But judging from the bluntness of his first email, he won't reply.

There are plenty of facelift models out there for £3000 or thereabouts, you'll find the right one soon enough Can't get over what fantastic value for money these cars are.

[M5Dave]

richyb said:

okgo said:

TheEnd said:

I fear the 740 is hiding huge milage, but it ticks all the right boxes (non nikasil bores on the larger 4.4 engine)

It has just over 200k miles..

What are peoples thoughts on this level of mileage?

If the engine is well serviced it could keep going for a long while yet but the rest of the car might not be upto it. The front suspension carries the weight of the heavy V8 and over 200k thats got to have taken its toll. Even minor front suspension work can be costly on this grade of car. There is also the wear and tear on the some what fragile cooling system. There a lots of 740i's out there around the 100-120k mark for £3k-3.5k. I'd keep looking.

Edited by richyb on Thursday 26th March 21:30

You would hope that by 200k miles it would already have had a bit of suspension work done.

One of the guys that writes for Total BMW has an old late 80s six cylinder 730i with almost 300k on the clock. The thing just seems to soldier on without giving much bother at all.

If anything the V8 should be less stressed and even more robust.

[okgo]

sparks_E39 said:

okgo said:

Yeh, I don't intend to rush into it, I hope.

But I do not want one with the old lights, I do not want one with black leather, I do not want one with crap wheels (seems most of them) ideally it will be a 00 facelift. But we will see. I suppose it also is useful to know when things are changed.

I have emailed him anyway to see what its had done etc. But judging from the bluntness of his first email, he won't reply.

There are plenty of facelift models out there for £3000 or thereabouts, you'll find the right one soon enough Can't get over what fantastic value for money these cars are.

Which facelift are you talking about though? There was one in 1995/96 I have read (4 ltr - 4.4) and then another at 99/00?

[sparks_E39]

okgo said:

sparks_E39 said:

okgo said:

Yeh, I don't intend to rush into it, I hope.

But I do not want one with the old lights, I do not want one with black leather, I do not want one with crap wheels (seems most of them) ideally it will be a 00 facelift. But we will see. I suppose it also is useful to know when things are changed.

I have emailed him anyway to see what its had done etc. But judging from the bluntness of his first email, he won't reply.

There are plenty of facelift models out there for £3000 or thereabouts, you'll find the right one soon enough Can't get over what fantastic value for money these cars are.

Which facelift are you talking about though? There was one in 1995/96 I have read (4 ltr - 4.4) and then another at 99/00?

99/00, I wouldn't pay more than £2k for any 1995/1996 E38 unless it was a nice 750iL, as they are rarer and also have the good fortune of being a Bond/Transporter car (actually it was a 735 mocked up as a 750 in Transporter), therefore they command more money.