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As you can probably tell, I'd recommend the 5 series. It's a great car.
I currently own a 1997 740i with 60k and am experincing trans trouble.
bimmer roadfly is just another bs chat room
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e38/archives/forum.php?postid=999091&page=1
I just had a service 2 done on 10/8/02...Not under warranity. Here is what mine cost.
5.9 hours labor at 80. per....472.00
Parts ........................370.00
Total.........................842.29
8 sparkplugs @15.62 ea........124.96
1 air filter insert...........22.16
1 Filter element..............12.30
1 Fuel Filter.................25.20
2 Filter @63.18...............126.36
1 Seal Ring...................0.14
1 Lt Diff Oil.................18.07
8 Oil 5w30 Synthetic@4.71.....37.68
2 Clamps@0.88.................1.76
1 washer solvent..............1.66
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I also had coolant flush done..80.00 labor-16.47 antifreeze..96.47
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I had brake flush done also 0.60 hrs...48.00 labor-3.84 brake fluid-4.08 cleaner. 55.92 total
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Haz waste fee 6.50
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Also had rear window lifter replaced..1.5 hrs labor..N/C warranty
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I hope this gives you a good idea what to expect.
Harry
You'll find a link to the series in the "Helpful Links" box on the left side of the page. There is a link within that article to the most recent update.
Enjoy!
I purchased the New 745 Li in June.
I had leased a 740 iL and drove it for the three year lease period. I loved the car. I did not have a single maintinence or repair issue in the 50K miles I drove the car.
The 745 Li is a wonderful driving car and I believe it is actually superior to the 740 in handling, braking and power. However, the dealer has had the car in it's shop for almost a month (total elapsed time) since I received the car in June. I have never had these problems before with any of the 7 series car I have driven and I am curious if anyone else has experienced any of these problems:
The Computer freezes at times and requires several re-starts of the engine to unfreeze. BMW has re-programmed the car twice.
The radio goes off and on at random times.
The motor occasionally idles rough at start up.
The rear sun screens do not always work.
The head restraint on both front seats go all the way to the top of their settings automatically if you move the seat fore or aft. BMW claims this is normal. this never was a "normal" feature on any other BMW I have driven.
The cruise control does not function as the manual describes. Many of the adjustment features do not work.
The back of the gear shift enclosure fell off and had to be replaced.
There is a vibration in the steering wheel that is noticeable but BMW does not have a fix for at the present time.
Many of the features on the Cell Phone Computer display are not working and some of the call lists etc..are frozen and can not be changed or deleted.
Anyone else have these problems???
Steve Ludwig
St Simon's Island, Ga.
I think this car is vastly superior to the competion in many ways, but I won't touch one until they sort out the computer software issues. The 745, unfortunately, is a sober reminder of how first-year models can test your patience, especially a model like this that is so radically re-designed (especially the technology aspects).
Denny
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feel lucky. in addition to all the minor things you mentioned my 02 745i has had the engine replaced (yes the entire engine) and now a horrible sound is coming from the steering column during some turns. this latest problem the dealer has reproduced and does not know what to do.
i live in a small town with only one other 02 745i and his engine completely quit working and had to be replaced as well.
i can understand a few defects with a new model gets introduced, but this is ridiculous for 70K. we got at lexus gs 400 its first year of production and 0 problems. i got a honda s2000 its first year of production and 0 problems. i got the new bmw 01 M3 convert. and it had many problems. i now have a 03 M3 coupe and all the problems have been solved except for horrible radio reception (the 745i radio reception sucks too).
Does anyone have any idea if this is reasonable and if I should look into selling this car? If I add this repair my actual cost of the car would be 18,871.
Can I go somewhere else and possible get a lower cost?
I just can't see myself putting this amount of money into this vehical and something else major happening to it like Transmisson, etc.
Any ideas? Is it worth it? Are there more problem to come about with a '97 740 iL?
Thank you!
As far as catalytic converters, contact John@bekkers (www.bekkers.com).
You can also find them at http://www.thepartsbin.com/ for less than $400 each.
Thanks for the info, you are right on the mark. The neck cracked, and yes, it was repaired under warranty.
After two months of wavering while my 1998 740i lease ticked to the end, I started the process of buying the 740 from BMW because of my misgivings about the 745. This tread was a huge source of info on this.
When BMW offered very favorable financing terms to move out the 2002s, the cost of getting the 745 became fairly close to buying the non-warrantied '98 740. So I made the decision to get the 745 -- without ever having driven it. Can't really explain why.
My conclusions so far:
** The iDrive complexity issue is vastly overstated. It took very little time to get familiar with the base functions. The system's logic is fairly transparent, so I did not even consult the owner's manual on the iDrive until I wanted to do some more advanced tasks, like programming in voice commands for the built-in telephone. The "this car makes me feel like an idiot" folks should buy Cadillacs and shut up.
** The 745 is about 30% more fun to drive than the 740, which was already a near-perfect driving experience. The extra power in the engine is evident, making it just a tick smoother in highway driving. The sensation is slightly up-higher and more knife-like, more like the 5-series, instead of the lower sedan-like 740 feel.
** Once you drive it, the "looks" issue becomes less of a problem for those, like me, who consider the 740 a classic. The 740 is still the better looking car, but the feel of the 745 is in synch with the body changes, the rearward location of the cabin, the accent on the wheels, the more rounded corners. (It's cute that the video BMW gives you with the car includes a Chris Bangle segment explaining that the raised trunk design is tied to the roof aerodynamics -- they clearly are defensive on this point.)
** There are a couple of really silly quirks that are beyond explanation. Why would any engineer design a headrest to automatically rise when the seat is adjusted?
** Of course, if the car ends up spending 2 weeks in the shop because of software snafus, I'll have a completely different view. But I've heard the mantra "those problems have been fixed and all the campaigns have been performed on the late-build vehicles" enough to believe it, for now.
http://www.mesaperformance.com/index.html
http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e65/
I think its a great idea. When the seat goes up, your in a more upright position so your head in higher. I'm assuming that it rises only when the seat moves to a more upright position.
Now if it rises when the seat is moving back away from the steering wheel, then it doesn't make sense.
http://www.germancarfans.com/News.cfm?NewsID=2021217.001
A friend with a new one got his done and it now works.
He loves being a Beta tester for $75K products that are still a year or so away from being finished and ready for sale.
Good luck!
DB
Overall, the integrety of the car at 150 K miles is fantastic. It rides, looks, and feels just as good as new. The major costs & complaints that I have had lie in "component failure"... If you spend the money and replace the failed part... the car is as good as new again. These component failures on my car are more frequent and costly than on a Lexus. I had a 93 Lexus ES300 that I ran up to 175,000 miles. I had far fewer problems with component failure on the Lexus.
Component Failures:
Intermittent Brake Light Bulbs replaced
Water Pump Failure: 80 K Miles
Radio Display & In-Dash Digital Readout failure: 90 K Miles (Replaced radio & dash displays)
Driver Pwr Seat Adjustment Failure: 90 K Miles
New Radiator: 100 K Miles (Neck Broke)
Vacuum Plate in Engine (Blue Smoke): 110 K Miles
Catalytic Converter Right Side: 110 K Miles
(Ck Engine Light intermittent errors today)
Transmission Shifting Problems: (130 K Miles)
Note: The transmission was drained and refilled at dealer. Transmission now shifts as smooth as the day I got it!).
I had a 100 K warranty with this car..so much of the expense was taken care of by BMW. The after 100 K "unexpected" stuff has set me back about $ 4,000 over the past 24 months.
If you own or plan to buy this car, it is a great car, but just make sure that you budget about $2 K - $3 K per year for expensive maintenance and component replacements.
Note, however, that you can pick up a higher mileage BMW 740IL (late 90s) in the low 20s to mid 20s. I would much prefer to drive the 7 with 100 K miles than a brand new Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Just make sure that you budget the maintenace and don't complain when you have to spend the extra money.
The only item that I did not get fixed by the dealer was the Catalytic Converter. (OEM)... and the new Catalytic Converter is not working well with the BMW onboard computer (lots of errors, etc.)... For the most part, spend the money and work with a dealer or highly qualified mechanic. I would tend to stick with the BMW parts as well.
I have a great relationship with my local BMW dealer service department. They tend to take care of the "small stuff" gratis. (But they tend to nail me on the big ticket items). Overall, they take care of me and keep the car running very well.
Also note, that once you take this car up above $100 K miles... you are trapped in it. The resale prices are very low relative to original purchase price and it is very difficult to rationalize replacing it with anything else (without spending $40 - $50 K more).
I hope this post helps.
Also, does anyone know whether rear passenger air bags, incl. head curtains are standard in these cars? Mine doesn't seem to have them...
Re radiator, interestingly and sadly, I just got my 740 on the 16th of this month and had to put it in for servicing already because the radiator itself (not the hose) sprung a leak. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come...
http://www.ultimatecupholders.com/index.html
Harry
who would turn in a car in that price range with so few miles????
Does anyone have a view of the useful life on the engine? My 735, 6 cylinder is basically indestructible... not so the transmission however, but that is a different story. I bought the 735 from the original owner with 77,000 miles on it, and now, many years later, have about 130,000. I fully expect the engine to outlast 200,000.
I have been looking at 750s with miles between 70,000 and 90,000. Can I expect the same life out of the v12? Or when do they tend to go out to pasture?
Does anyone have insight into what I may want to consider with this model/year? Any particular issues I should be looking for? Concerns I should anticipate around the corner?
I'd expect to hold on to this car for 3 to 5 years.
Also, what about purchasing on ebaymotors? Never quite sure about buying through this channel, but very intrigued by the prices I'm seeing.
Thanks for the help.
In any case you should view the carfax record for that car (usually provided free by seller on the item page) to look for a salvage title or frequent title changes, which might indicate a problem. Dealers generally do not sell salvage vehicles, but the laws vary by state.
Generally I would say not to buy unless you can travel to the site and inspect it. Sometimes an overriding factor is the fact that you may not be able to find a specific car locally, but the car you're looking at is fairly ubiquitous right now (3-year olds off lease).
One suggestion: if you see some cars you like and it's inconvenient to inspect them before the auction ends, you may still be able to acquire one if the car does not meet it's reserve. Just contact the seller after the auction and make arrangements to see the car first. You can even negotiate the price of the car before you travel, "pending inspection".
Buyers are acquiring a lot of vehicles on Ebay these days, and I have no doubt most of them are satisfied, so it really comes down to how much risk you wish to assume.
DB