"Ooh that's a nice colour" - E38 740i Navarraviolett
Discussion
So, I haven't done any build threads for a while which is a shame as I do like looking back over the evolution of a car, but recently I've bought them already modified and done very little to them, or kept them standard and therefore there's not a lot to write about. After getting really obsessed with E36 for quite a while (check out my 'Upping My Green Credentials' thread), I decided to diversify in colour and model a bit. Although not very far - I chopped in my 328i cabrio for a pair of Z3s, and eventually the green coupé made way for a rather leggy (220k!) E38 740i in Calypsorot, with the ubiquitous sandbeige interior (beige dash, ugh).
Whilst I very quickly got a taste for the E38 vibe, I was also conscious of the fact that such epic mileage combined with a shopping list full of niggly faults and a rather tired interior meant that investing in the old boat long term was probably not really worthwhile. So, I had my eye open for suitable replacements, but all the nice ones were priced a little high and the fixer-uppers were in generally worse condition than my Calypso.
Then all of a sudden, the right car popped up. A little bit light on options, but in nice condition, an interesting colour, and most importantly, a nice interior that wasn't a total beigefest.
So, yesterday I trundled up the A303 to London in the Z to pick up the new beast. Early 1998 build 740i, non-VANOS 4.4 in Navarraviolett, with Lavendelgrau/Aubergine interior. The colour is great. It goes from a fairly sober shade of off-black in dull conditions (like today!) to popping with a subtle purple flake. The nearest thing I can think of to describe it is Kalamata olives. I have to say, it was the unusual aubergine/lavender grey interior that made me go for it. It's in lovely condition, minimal marring to the wood or leather.
Unfortunately today has been mostly rainy so I've already managed to get it a bit dirty, but I've taken a few quick shots for posterity...
Here it is on the way home with the Z yesterday evening...
My old E38 is obviously a little worried. And it should be as a fair few of the nicer bits are coming off it to go on the new arrival which does look a little 'Plain Jane' as it sits at the moment. First up will be the M-parallels. Think I'll keep the Style 5s to go on an E36 at some point in the future.
Then drove it up to a scenicdogging hotspotbeauty spot for a couple of shots after the rain had eased off a little...
First impressions of the car are very positive. My last one was/is a catalogue of 'known issues' ranging from the dreaded 'E38 Shimmy' to the 'Ignition Switch' bug (makes it look like most things including important ones like indicators don't work, even though they actually do) - this one doesn't have any of those although I have seen the old 'brake light circuit' message pop up on the OBC once (just like every other 90s BMW with Check Control I have ever owned). The amplifier for the stereo seems to be a little tempramental as occasionally the sound on the passenger side of the car fades out and then back in after a few minutes. The Nav computer also likes to make the OBC whitescreen - however I'm not too fussed about this as I can snaffle the MK4 computer that's been retrofitted to the Calypsorot car.
Other positives include the bodywork, which is in fantastic condition overall, looks like this car lived indoors and never got parked in supermarket carparks. Only a couple of small things let it down - I don't think any previous owners had heard of Gummi Pflege as most of the rubber window seals are very dry and brittle, and there is a small, recent-looking crack in the front bumper, and the beginnings of bubbling on the rear arches.
First steps will be to revive the looks a bit. Clay bar (paint is full of impurities), polish, several layers of carnauba wax.
I won't bother fitting any side skirts but I will freshen up the grey/black paint on the sills. The sidelights and headlights are quite dim - uprated bulbs will be fitted.
I don't enjoy the handling on 16s as much as I did the 18" M-parallels on the other car, so they will be transferred over, along with the later version nav computer, the 750il 'porn lights' and one or two other bits and bobs. Eventually I could see it sitting on Style 32, Alpina or Style 95 wheels. Eibach or H&R springs will follow, then a few months later the inevitable bushing refresh. Then some kind of more sonorous exhaust will happen. Otherwise the car will probably remain fairly standard, just my usual OEM+ type additions.
Stand by for more pics!
Whilst I very quickly got a taste for the E38 vibe, I was also conscious of the fact that such epic mileage combined with a shopping list full of niggly faults and a rather tired interior meant that investing in the old boat long term was probably not really worthwhile. So, I had my eye open for suitable replacements, but all the nice ones were priced a little high and the fixer-uppers were in generally worse condition than my Calypso.
Then all of a sudden, the right car popped up. A little bit light on options, but in nice condition, an interesting colour, and most importantly, a nice interior that wasn't a total beigefest.
So, yesterday I trundled up the A303 to London in the Z to pick up the new beast. Early 1998 build 740i, non-VANOS 4.4 in Navarraviolett, with Lavendelgrau/Aubergine interior. The colour is great. It goes from a fairly sober shade of off-black in dull conditions (like today!) to popping with a subtle purple flake. The nearest thing I can think of to describe it is Kalamata olives. I have to say, it was the unusual aubergine/lavender grey interior that made me go for it. It's in lovely condition, minimal marring to the wood or leather.
Unfortunately today has been mostly rainy so I've already managed to get it a bit dirty, but I've taken a few quick shots for posterity...
Here it is on the way home with the Z yesterday evening...
My old E38 is obviously a little worried. And it should be as a fair few of the nicer bits are coming off it to go on the new arrival which does look a little 'Plain Jane' as it sits at the moment. First up will be the M-parallels. Think I'll keep the Style 5s to go on an E36 at some point in the future.
Then drove it up to a scenic
First impressions of the car are very positive. My last one was/is a catalogue of 'known issues' ranging from the dreaded 'E38 Shimmy' to the 'Ignition Switch' bug (makes it look like most things including important ones like indicators don't work, even though they actually do) - this one doesn't have any of those although I have seen the old 'brake light circuit' message pop up on the OBC once (just like every other 90s BMW with Check Control I have ever owned). The amplifier for the stereo seems to be a little tempramental as occasionally the sound on the passenger side of the car fades out and then back in after a few minutes. The Nav computer also likes to make the OBC whitescreen - however I'm not too fussed about this as I can snaffle the MK4 computer that's been retrofitted to the Calypsorot car.
Other positives include the bodywork, which is in fantastic condition overall, looks like this car lived indoors and never got parked in supermarket carparks. Only a couple of small things let it down - I don't think any previous owners had heard of Gummi Pflege as most of the rubber window seals are very dry and brittle, and there is a small, recent-looking crack in the front bumper, and the beginnings of bubbling on the rear arches.
First steps will be to revive the looks a bit. Clay bar (paint is full of impurities), polish, several layers of carnauba wax.
I won't bother fitting any side skirts but I will freshen up the grey/black paint on the sills. The sidelights and headlights are quite dim - uprated bulbs will be fitted.
I don't enjoy the handling on 16s as much as I did the 18" M-parallels on the other car, so they will be transferred over, along with the later version nav computer, the 750il 'porn lights' and one or two other bits and bobs. Eventually I could see it sitting on Style 32, Alpina or Style 95 wheels. Eibach or H&R springs will follow, then a few months later the inevitable bushing refresh. Then some kind of more sonorous exhaust will happen. Otherwise the car will probably remain fairly standard, just my usual OEM+ type additions.
Stand by for more pics!
sidgolf said:
Dull lamps might be an iffy earth.On my e30 the earth is on the n/s/f inner-wing.
Possibly, but I think if there were earth issues I'd probably be experiencing a few more gremlins. I think it's more just a case of cheap, old bulbs.They're fully functional, one can still see to drive at night they're just a bit feeble when compared to modern Halogens or HID. According to the service history, the previous owner (who kept the car a very long time) was the kind of person who replaced springs and shocks one at a time (at truly horrendous expense, as well - receipts here show bills in excess of four hundred pounds to change a single front spring - and therefore probably wasn't the kind of person who would be investing in Osram Nightbreakers and the like. Rabbo said:
MrMoonyMan said:
Just googled it and bought some.
Cheers
Remember, it's for use on the door seals, not exterior rubber or plastic. For that, you want some Gtechniq C4 Cheers
OK, so first thing I'm having a little difficulty with is re-syncing the keys. They're the older three-button type. The chap I got the car from said he hadn't been able to get them to work, suspected weak batteries. The LED tell-tale was lighting when buttons were pressed, but I replaced the batteries anyway to be sure. I've followed the resync procedure (turn key in ignition to position one and back in under 5 seconds, hold 'unlock' button, press 'lock' repeatedly till the LED starts to flash etc) but the central locking doesn't lock and unlock as it should. I just tried removing the rear-view mirror to see if the receiver has been disturbed and the whole thing (including the metal mounting button) just fell off in my hand. I'm guessing the windscreen's been replaced cos normally those things are bonded to the glass very very firmly indeed. Does anyone reckon the receiver might be at fault here?
The Spruce goose said:
what sort of mpg do these do?
This one is the earlier non-VANOS engine, the VANOS ones get slightly better MPG due to more modern engine management and more low-end shove, but the VANOS cars are also less reliable so swings & roundabouts. Round town, 13-17 mpg. On a run my last one couldn't get better than 27, this one did 33 on the way back from collecting it. According to the OBC anyway. Brimmed the tank (80 litres) with Momentum99 at Tesco near the IKEA on the North Circular, was reading over half a tank when it got back to Exeter. A303 is not the most economical road in the world thanks to slow uphill stretches and a lot of roundabout -> short dual carriageway -> roundabout sections. Certainly for a 20 year old car weighing around 2.2 tonnes powered by a 4.4 V8 running oldskool Bosch Motronic engine management I don't think it's bad at all. So not that much to report other than I bought a set of Style 95 but couldn't run them due to some issues with the alignment in the front causing a tyre to catch on the spring perch. So, I took them off again for the time being whilst the nearly new Eibach springs and Monroe shocks taken from the Calypso car were ported across to the new one.
Weather is filthy so no decent photos yet. Here's one on the 95s with the old suspension and one of how its sitting with the uprated kit.
The style 95s will go back on tomorrow, weather permitting.
Weather is filthy so no decent photos yet. Here's one on the 95s with the old suspension and one of how its sitting with the uprated kit.
The style 95s will go back on tomorrow, weather permitting.
Edited by vsonix on Saturday 11th November 17:39
Back on the 95s. I know some people think they're a bit played out and will prefer the car on balloon tyres but I think these are a better size for the car, 9in wide in front and 10 at the rear. Also they've plenty of tyre to keep the ride quality good. Overall ride height is about the same as standard now despite the drop from the Eibachs 
Edited by vsonix on Thursday 16th November 22:15
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