96 N 740i - Advice
Discussion
Turns out that my daily drive is about to be written off, and I'm going to need to pick up something for a small amount of amount £1500 tops, and I might have an option on a 740i.
Now, there is a LARGE part of me that screams, NO NO NO! It will be a money pit and the fuel bills alone will destroy you, but that little bit of us that isn't wired right when it comes to cars is telling me to come along and speak to the BM Beards and see what they can tell me about the said model of car.
So will the running costs of the car just be stupidly high (It will be the main car to a Boxster which lives a sheltered life) for something that will be used for a 50 mile a day commute on the M25.
I've never really been into barges before, and tend to run smaller cheap and bulletproof Japanese cars as a daily drive.
Now, there is a LARGE part of me that screams, NO NO NO! It will be a money pit and the fuel bills alone will destroy you, but that little bit of us that isn't wired right when it comes to cars is telling me to come along and speak to the BM Beards and see what they can tell me about the said model of car.
So will the running costs of the car just be stupidly high (It will be the main car to a Boxster which lives a sheltered life) for something that will be used for a 50 mile a day commute on the M25.
I've never really been into barges before, and tend to run smaller cheap and bulletproof Japanese cars as a daily drive.
A quick peruse of the PH classifieds and there's not one E38 I'd consider in the 1500 range.
If you don't want to spend money on a car, personally I think I'd look elsewhere as they do cost a wee bit to run. They're not unreliable, but they are big cars, and they do go wrong occasionally. They have a few common problems, radiators leaking, dash display going, worn suspension components due to them being pretty heavy over the front wheels, yadda yadda yadda. They're cheap second hand cars with expensive car running costs, and for what you've budgetted you're not going to get a mint one.
They are superb cars though, and I wouldn't be without mine as a daily smoker, so if you've found yourself a bargain one that's in great nick, go for it.
But for 1500 quid I'd either be looking at an E32 7 series or an E34 5 series, you'll get a lot better car for your money, and still keep quite a bit of the waftiness. Mate of mine picked up an E34 540 not long back, bargains
If you don't want to spend money on a car, personally I think I'd look elsewhere as they do cost a wee bit to run. They're not unreliable, but they are big cars, and they do go wrong occasionally. They have a few common problems, radiators leaking, dash display going, worn suspension components due to them being pretty heavy over the front wheels, yadda yadda yadda. They're cheap second hand cars with expensive car running costs, and for what you've budgetted you're not going to get a mint one.
They are superb cars though, and I wouldn't be without mine as a daily smoker, so if you've found yourself a bargain one that's in great nick, go for it.
But for 1500 quid I'd either be looking at an E32 7 series or an E34 5 series, you'll get a lot better car for your money, and still keep quite a bit of the waftiness. Mate of mine picked up an E34 540 not long back, bargains
Cheers for the input guys, the car would be coming from another PHer, he might even be along to give his 2p for this thread in a bit. I'm not doubting his car in anyway, just wanted some real world input.
I like the idea of waftyness, but the worry the costs of things like brakes, tyres and fuel don't quite fit with my normal snotter running costs. For example bought my last set of 4 decent tyres for my Primera for £150 (not fitted though) and something tells me I would be looking at at least triple that for the BM...
It's something to think about though.
I like the idea of waftyness, but the worry the costs of things like brakes, tyres and fuel don't quite fit with my normal snotter running costs. For example bought my last set of 4 decent tyres for my Primera for £150 (not fitted though) and something tells me I would be looking at at least triple that for the BM...
It's something to think about though.
i'd personally go for an E34 5 series at that price. you could get a good 525i for that money, and although not really half the car of a 740i, it will be way cheaper to run, and an E34 will still be very good for the daily, and a good wafter 
ETA: yes, tyres will cost MORE than triple your £150. but it's more than 3x the car
ETA: yes, tyres will cost MORE than triple your £150. but it's more than 3x the car
Edited by E21_Ross on Thursday 14th January 18:09
E21_Ross said:
ETA: yes, tyres will cost MORE than triple your £150. but it's more than 3x the car
See that's the thing, I don't need something 3x the car, I certainly don't want the costs. I've got enough of that with the Boxster! I'd like to run it for a year, but would be too nervy about it going pop in that time I think. Maybe I should carry on looking in the bargain bucket...
theboyfold said:
E21_Ross said:
ETA: yes, tyres will cost MORE than triple your £150. but it's more than 3x the car
See that's the thing, I don't need something 3x the car, I certainly don't want the costs. I've got enough of that with the Boxster! I'd like to run it for a year, but would be too nervy about it going pop in that time I think. Maybe I should carry on looking in the bargain bucket...
E21_Ross said:
theboyfold said:
E21_Ross said:
ETA: yes, tyres will cost MORE than triple your £150. but it's more than 3x the car
See that's the thing, I don't need something 3x the car, I certainly don't want the costs. I've got enough of that with the Boxster! I'd like to run it for a year, but would be too nervy about it going pop in that time I think. Maybe I should carry on looking in the bargain bucket...
drivin_me_nuts said:
OP, three choices come to mind as I am in the same position as you, with the same budget and the same sentiment.
This is what I have been thinking about very recently; Lexus LS400, W123/4 merc or Volvo 850/940
I'm starting to move away from the barge idea I have to be honest, something like this would be prefect I think.This is what I have been thinking about very recently; Lexus LS400, W123/4 merc or Volvo 850/940
theboyfold said:
drivin_me_nuts said:
OP, three choices come to mind as I am in the same position as you, with the same budget and the same sentiment.
This is what I have been thinking about very recently; Lexus LS400, W123/4 merc or Volvo 850/940
I'm starting to move away from the barge idea I have to be honest, something like this would be prefect I think.This is what I have been thinking about very recently; Lexus LS400, W123/4 merc or Volvo 850/940
If not in the large barge market how about one of these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
always found them solid and reliable - had one as a company car, I covered 160k in it and nothing went wrong - zero street cred but got a/c
=]
Edited by Egbert Nobacon on Friday 15th January 16:31
Egbert Nobacon said:
theboyfold said:
drivin_me_nuts said:
OP, three choices come to mind as I am in the same position as you, with the same budget and the same sentiment.
This is what I have been thinking about very recently; Lexus LS400, W123/4 merc or Volvo 850/940
I'm starting to move away from the barge idea I have to be honest, something like this would be prefect I think.This is what I have been thinking about very recently; Lexus LS400, W123/4 merc or Volvo 850/940
If not in the large barge market how about one of these
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...
always found them solid and reliable - had one as a company car, I covered 160k in it and nothing went wrong - zero street cred but got a/c
=]
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