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2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
If anything hurts the sales of this car it will probably be the i-drive. I think that in 2-3 years most people will want this on their cars, although for now I can see where it might scare away some buyers, especially the techniphobes. But in the long run BMW will be remembered as innovative for introducing this option.
DB
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
All suggestions will be appreciated.
http://www.germancarfans.com/News.cfm?NewsID=2020709.001
If reliability is a must go with a japanese make such as Lexus, if you want a car that is a serious driver get the bmw. I have a 2000 740il love it, best car I've ever had, only problem I have now is that the left rear door does not lock and unlock.Any of you guys have an answer to that???? Thanks.
I am looking at late model ('95-'01) 7-series and noticed that all of them had either a built-in phone or phone wiring (a wire where th phone should go with a plug in the end. I wanted to know if I could hook up my cell phone (motorola i95cl) and used the hands-free features the car ofers. THanks
BTW, does anyone look at this board. I have not gotten any responses to my post above. Can I hook up my digital cell phone to the hands-free guts of a 7-series BMW? Thanks
Other specifics:
Lube, oil, filter - depending on your location, dealer charges $50-$75. Keep in mind the car uses synthetic oil
Tire rotation - BMW does not recommend rotating the tires
Check to see if the car has had Sevice II. If not, this can cost upwards of $700.
For excellent info and great tips from great guys, go here: http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e38/
Thanks, Stan Yoder, Pittsburgh.
What are the pros and cons?
Here are some that immediately come to mind.
Pros: More room, more comfortable seats, better ride and handling
Cons: Slower acceleration, lesser quality sound system, dated IP, higher maintenance cost
How gracefully do these large BMWs age? The Cadillac at 100K is running strong and still feels fairly tight, easily has another 50k to 100K left of fairly reliable driving.
Bottom line, should I make this jump?
Also, if anyone has something positive to say about their use of i-drive I'd love to hear it. (I'm currently driving a rather low-tech Land Rover.) I'm not scared of technology at all, it's just that I have a toddler who can be distracting enough on her own!
Thanks for the input.
I would like to say that the car drive great. I gave my my Porsche Boxter for the new 745i and I have to say love the way this luxury sedan handles. Also, its a beautiful car.
(FYI: I'm not really a "car" person, just an attorney who happens to represent people in a warped rotor case against GM.)
I'm still thinking about getting the 2003 model. I'm glad you like yours.
Good Luck. Kelly
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
Your wife will miss the image & status with the Toyota but her friends and neighbors will get over it. Invest the 50k you will save and use it towards a preferred nursing home when you get old.
Ok, I'm being a little extreme. If it make you feel better get the LS430 and invest only 20k towards the nursing home.
As for the rest of you say hi to the parts guys for me.
I’ve been a diehard BMW fan for many years. My first car was a ’74 Bavaria. My second car was a ’75 3.0csi, which I am glad to report is resting comfortably in my garage as I scribe this email. Now I am in the market for a 2001 740il sport package – my 200,000 mile Camry just no longer does it for me, especially since I have two small children and am beginning to drive them around much more than in the past.
With the safety marketing "message" Volvo has cornered so well, I figured I would go the conservative route (since I’m a frugal guy) and buy a Volvo. What boring cars – all of them. I’m sorry, but basically the only four-door sedan that excites me is the 740il w/sport package. I love the idea of the 740i "short" sport, but one of the main reasons I will buy a replacement for my Camry is to haul my kids around, so I feel the need for the additional 5.5 inches. Plus – given what I will have to spend on one of these cars, I would not be at all surprised if I keep it for ten years or more, so my children will be able to grow into the rear seat area.
So, that brings us to the purpose of my email. What is a good and fair price for a late "build" 2001 740il w/sport package/winter package with fewer than 15k miles? Based upon the numerous price info posting during the last year or so, it appears that the showroom floor price for the car I want was probably about $65k give or take $1k. If, on a lease basis, BMW drops the cars residual value during a 36-month lease to approximately 50% of the invoice amount, I calculate a monthly depreciation amount for the car of approximately $900/month. Therefore, a car driven moderately for twelve months should have a value of approximately $54,000 ($65K less 12 months of depreciation). However, most of the cars I’ve seen advertised – even with mileage approaching 20K or more, have asking prices starting at $57,000. In addition, the Town Hall postings describing the Year end 2001 sale of the il sport package cars at less than $60,000 brand new seems to throw a further wrench in my evaluation of the same year car, now used at the same price as a new one at the end of last year. Furthermore, the E39 is now discontinued – shouldn’t that further depress the price on these cars? Am I missing something here? Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.
Finally, I want to weigh in on the 745i. In some respects I am quite drawn to the car. However, the design of the rear-end just doesn’t work for me – so much so that I would not purchase the car. By the same token, I completely support controversy, descent and provocative ideas. Therefore, I give BMW a hardy bravo for pushing the envelope.
It is unfortunate I do not care for the design of the 745i, since it is described as a truly phenomenal automobile. BMW has, and continues to, produce wonderful cars. I have recently been reminded of their design instincts as I now routinely drive my ’75 3.0 coupe around town after five years of having the car in storage. Virtually every time I take the coupe out it draws positive attention. Ultimately, BMW is in the business of selling cars, not simply pushing innovative ideas, though, and if the new 745i is turning off potential buyers in large numbers, I would expect the 745i will be redesigned in the not too distant future.
Thanks for reading.
My thoughts on depreciation--I think the new E65 has had a reverse effect on values of the E38. So many people (including me) were so turned off by the E65 styling that it created a demand for late model E38s. I turned in my off-lease 740iL and opted to replace it with a 740i Sport, even though I could have afforded a 745i.
Steptronic transmission
3.15:1 performance rear axle
Higher stall speed torque converter
Lowered about 1"
Firmer shocks
Thicker roll bars
M-Parallel wheels with tires front 235/50ZR-18, rear 255/45ZR-18
Shadow line exterior trim
18-way Contour sport seats
Vavona redwood interior trim
740iL Sport:
M-Parallel wheels with tires front 235/50ZR-18, rear 255/45ZR-18
Shadow line exterior trim
18-way Contour sport seats
Vavona redwood interior trim
Force98 - I believe one of the big differences between the 740i and the Sport model is the top-end speed limitation on the non-sport model due to the chip. My 98 740i has H-rated tires thanks to the 129mph limiter.
DB
-- Car Guy147
Hope someone out there responds to my journalist friend on the following mission:
Anyone out there shopping for a BMW? I'm a journalist with a national
publication looking for people who have owned or are seeking to buy a
BMW. I'm also looking for long-time BMW owners with thoughts about the
styling of the new 7-series. If you don't mind being quoted, please send
an email with your telephone number to carguy147@hotmail.com and I will
call and interview you. I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks from both of us,
Jeannine Fallon
PR Director
Edmunds.com
MODERATOR /ADMINISTRATOR
Need help navigating? kirstie_h@edmunds.com - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
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That's the price i was given at my BMW dealer yesterday, Anyone know where I can get one cheaper??
Taking this mechanical problem into account should I keep the car or return it at lease end and perhaps get another CPO car, which will cost me more per month. I'm trying to avoid another big car payment for a while. Any recommendations?
1) How much will I get killed on maitnenance?
2) Is an extended warranty available and/or advisable?
3) What will the useful life be?
I have never owned a luxury car before (I have always been a camry guy, but I have always loved the big beemer and the price seems right. I just don't want to spend the rest of my life getting a car fixed. Please advise as to personal experience.
1. What's the experience with 740s (97-99)on maintenance and hassles in the 50k-100k mile range? Mine has 47k, and I'm worried it will start showing problems now that warranty is off.
2. Any reason to think the 2003 model 745s will solve the problems with the 2002?
2.
Traditionally the second year of a new model for BMW is stronger as compared to the first year. Take a look at the reliability ratings of a 1998 E39 5 series as compared to the 1997 models. I would think that the new 7 will follow suit. BMW knows there are bugs and glitches and they're the kind of company that will deal with those kinds of things (unlike GM, but that is for a different thread).
If you really like your current '98 740i, then you can keep it and not really have to worry too much about the costs of upkeep and maintenance. Since the body changed, the residual of your car has probably dropped considerably, so buy it out at a cheaper price and have your BMW dealer Certify the car with a CPO warranty. The CPO warranty from BMW will cost you a little more (but think of how much more car you're getting for your dollar because of depreciation), but every time you visit the BMW dealer it will only cost you $50. There's a poster named reiz over on the 5 series board who has extensive knowledge of the BMW Certification process. Maybe you should post your question over there for REIZ.
Hope I helped a little bit:)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
I just came back from vacation and found out my battery is dead... So that I have to buy a new one and replace it. I called the dealer, and they told me that it will cost $203 just for the battery, and $270 including part and labor.
According to the spec, I need to have a battery with 950CCA. And I couldn't find any of them at our local auto shops. But I found 1 with 925CCA and 1100CA. Will a 925CCA good enought to power up a 740? Is any other place that I can find a battery for 740? Does any shop have special order?
Dealer told me that if the car lost battery, once the new one is installed. Radio is NOT going to work, and I have to spend $30 to get the secure code. Is this true?
Please help, since I really don't want to spend $220 for a battery..
Regards,
Chang
Also, is service #2 a in warranty or post warranty service?
In contrast to NYCCARGUY's observations on BMW factory support for troublesome new designs, one of my colleague's litany of problems with a 750iL literally produced a textbook of poor customer relationship management correspondence. Needless to say, that fellow is delighted with his non-BMW replacement. Although all of the firms have their challenges and missteps with new product introductions; BMW is not at the top of the satisfaction index in this area. Toyota does a better job with their Lexus branded products, but would you want to actually want to have one? Ugghh...
Back to the topic, the previous 7 series is a pending minor classic; like nyccarguy's suggestion, I'd vote for you to enjoy it for a couple more years until the dust and bugs settle away from the new 7 series. Then do a comparison with the competitors at that time.