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If you are spending $48 a month on repairs & maintenance you aren't doing it all, I can tell you that, OR...you aren't driving very much. You can't run a Honda Civic on $48 a month and do everything the car requires. That's $575 a year or .05 cents per mile, which is way below any car in the world. Great for you but I'm wondering what you're doing with this car aside from possibly cutting corners or driving maybe only 5,000 miles a year? Not a criticism but it is astonishing that you are so far below the average cost per mile for all makes and models.
Are you including repairs AND maintenance? Tires, brakes, etc?
Have you taken out the warranty years when you spent little or nothing. I was advising people who bought used 740s out of warranty. So that might also skew the numbers.
I think anyone counting on spending $48 a month to keep a used 740 running is bound to be disappointed. You are way over on the extreme end of the bell curve of statistical probability.
:P
Your question about using a dealer mechanic "on the side" may not be workable, because the mechanic *probably* has an agreement with the dealer prohibiting him from doing this (especially with existing customers). It could get him fired. It doesn't hurt to ask, though.
I get about 16 mpg with mine knocking around town, and have gotten over 24 mpg on trips. It sounds like you may have a tuning isue. Premium fuel is not required - the owners manual recommends 89 octane, which is mid-grade fuel at most places. That's what I use. My car just turned 50k miles.
DB
Of course I love the car but am I getting into a money trap situation? From what I've read here the car will run darn near forever but might cost me a fortune in repairs along the way. I am happy with the cars we have now but it's tough to say no.
I know the upside on this car, but what should I expect? Has ten years sitting around in the hot Florida salt air doomed this car to a lot of service in the years ahead?
Mike V
Has the car been sitting around for long periods of time? On 2nd thought since the non-BMW mechanic likely does not have access to BMW computers for checking the car, have the dealer give you an estimate and then take that to the other mecahanic. BMW will charge you for the evaluation(100.00) it would be well worth it for you would know what would be needed service wise. The cars can run forever. I ran into a guy when I was getting new tires for my car, He has the same model year, same color and same equipment. He has 160,000 miles on his and other than a water pump and new radiator the car was problem free. Best of luck to you.
The question is not "how many miles does this car have? " The question should be "how many miles does this car have left?"
If you consider the options of purchasing (I've made all the mistakes) a new BMW, pre-owned at around $30k, or a "high mileage" German car with around 100k or even 150k miles, do the math.
A E32 can be purchased for around $5-$8k with 100k-150k miles. This car should have at minimum another 50k-100k of relatively low maintenance driving compared to a $800/mo payment for 60mos = $48k for a $30k used car purchase + any risk of unexpected maintenance.
And, unless you own a business, you shouldn't be in a new 745i lease (like I was) paying $1000/mo - 36 mos, and be facing a $48k buyout. Imagine the maintenance costs of that baby at 100k miles!
Do yourself a favor. Rethink the mileage thing completely. Then make a purdent purchase decision and spend the rest of your money on a condo in Florida
Check out this website: www.karnutz.com
Made a lot of sense to me.
Good luck
If one drop out items or "let things go" because they aren't important, that's fine but one is skewing the average numbers. Maintenance means the car stays 100% tip-top. A car wash is maintenance.
I have the 18in sport rims with ContiSportContacts on my 740iL, live in Chicago. These tires are rated Ultra High Performance- summer, not good for winters here.
You have two choices - based on how much you drive.
1) purchase snow tires for the winter
2) check out www.tirerack.com - The best rated tire for our car that is all season
is the Michelin Pilot A/S.
Check out the website.
My view of the 740 is about the same as for all BMWs---basically a very sound, reliable, well-engineered car that will nickel and dime you forever as the miles accrue.
So my approach to the 740 is to buy low miles and stay away from those 100K miles Plus cars with the attractive price tags.
Will a 740 be as reliable as a Lexus? No. Will it be awful? Not at all.
I think if you scan all the reliability studies that this is about what you'll come to understand with 740s.
Would I buy a used one? Probably I'd go for the 5 series but that's more about size and feel rather than any worries about reliability.
I'm someone who loves to drive. I don't care what CR says about a car's "defects per 100 vehicles". I buy a car because it is fun to drive, lovely to look at, and very well made. And a 7 series is all those things.
Any advise in details will be greatly appreciated.
Regards
Shop for lower miles and if you can get an extended warranty, would be my advice. I think 7 Series BMWs over 100K are kind of scary if you aren't the original owner and haven't been in control of the car's maintenance since new.
Look at it this way: Suppose I came up to you and said: "Gee, my car's engine just blew up"
And you'd probably say "oh, too bad. How many miles on it?"
If I said "10,000" you'd say----wow, what a lemon...but if I said "150,000" you'd probably say...."well, you got some good use out of it".
So at 135K you are just a year away from ......what? Who knows?
Thanks a million.
Personally, I'd take a wee bit more sober approach if you are seeking legal redress. E-mailing everyone makes you look like a crackpot IMHO and I don't think it helps your case. Address your complaints and documentation to the parties who will be *directly* involved in your case. Contacting a lawyer may be a good idea at this point. BBB is supported solely by business money and may be helpful but they have no legislative arm and no power. They are mediators at best. So don't contact BBB if you are going to sue.
But I agree in general, that you need to become very proactive at this point. Time is not on your side here.
Is sport pkg. on 740 a good thing and just precisely what is the effect, visually and performance wise, on the driver and the car?
Would appreciate input.
I like what we call the "GT concept". This means a high performance road car but with a slightly softer suspension for comfort. Very decent but not extreme handling capabilities.
Visually I don't think you'd notice much, but I personally am not fond of 18" wheels. They increase braking distance slightly and the tires show edge wear earlier.
Performance wise you'll have perhaps a more firm shift in the transmission and I'd bet worse fuel economy than a standard 740, because they change the axle ratio on the sports package I THINK....
You'll also have the firmer ride as I mentioned.
So take a good long test ride---remember once you buy this car, if you don't like the ride or how it shifts, you aren't going to be able to do anything about it.
BMW NA Customer Relations
I know the 2000 7 series to have a better track record overall than the 98's in terms of maintenance, and my next care will be either a 00 or an 01.
Insofar as gas ... 22 might be pushing it a bit unless you drive a lot of freeway miles. But ... that said, there's no comparing a 7 series beemer to an ES300. Your friends are talking about an upgraded Camry and one of the best luxury cars in the world. If mileage and maintenance are your bywords, go Japanese. If you want to make a statement about what you drive ...
Does anyone know of a way to have Sat radio added to a 2003 745Li? I would prefer one that is intergrated like the new models. I called my dealer and he said BMW doesn't have a retro kit for my car. I find that hard to believe but that is what I was told. It can be XM or Sirrus.
Thanks....
I was very surprised, though, when one of the installers let me try one of those XM hand-held units (kind of resembles an I-POD) with an FM modulator built in. It worked really well over the BMW's FM radio. Even though the radio unit is in the BMW's trunk, I got perfect reception, and this particular unit allowed you to choose from about 5 or 6 FM stations to escape interference. I had assumed the interior FM modulator wouldn't work in a 7-series, but since it worked so well, I think I'll go that route, just hiding power and antenna wires the best I can.
Good luck. Please post here if you figure out a way to send XM to I-Drive in a pre-2004 7-series
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Then the second time BMW misdiagnosed the problem, and it ended up at another BMW dealer and again my warranty did not pick up the tab, when it should have been covered.
I personally think in my case I paid 2700 for nothing!
Now I've got The continental contisport contacts, and have had a little better luck. Not to great in wet weather.
In the winter I'll throw the stock 16's with michelin mxv4 pilots on em.
The problem continues, the engine runs great. Any suggestions on what the problem might be?