Talk to me about...E38s

[Partridge]

I’m considering going down the pikey/drug dealer/curb crawler route for my next car when the 45 has it’s worn out it’s welcome. Much to my Jag loving girlfriend’s chagrin I’m interested in a E38 at the mo (That’s “James Bond†shape 7 series for those not of a BMW disposition).

I had custody of a 740i for a week and it was great for pissing chavs off at the traffic lights and straights I broke out my Prodigy CDs and had good fun tooling around whist getting dirty looks from everyone in suburban Hampshire, thinking a drug dealer was in their midst.

So yes, I do want one purely to be an obnoxious cunt.

 

So, any words of wisdom or abuse to hurl at my direction about these? Does anyone know of a half decent on going? Also, how can I win round my GF? I have a feeling some “privileges" may be rebuked if I buy a Nazi Staff Car...

[AeroNautiCal]

They were very popular in Germany for a number of years.

 

Here's a pic of one partially stripped.

 

[Spiny Norman]

I've looked at a few of them and came pretty close to buying one not that long ago.

From what I can tell they're pretty easy cars to appraise, it'll either be obviously well cared for or it'll be one of those elderly Kraut barges where, the more you look, the more bits you find that don't work, or have been neglected.

A good one will make itself quite obvious to you within a few minutes.

 

I think the autoboxes can go, it's the usual 'sealed for life' job that's nothing of the sort, most BMW peeps recommend changing the fluid & filter at 100k. They can rot slightly but they're WAAY better than Mercs of the period (& I say that as a 'Merc of that period' owner...) and the electrics can play up a bit, so make sure you check everything works and accept that unless you're on very good terms with a sparky, if it doesn't work when you view the car it never will again.

 

Engine wise I'd be happy enough with the 2.8. It goes reasonably well and can manage quite impressive mpg if you care about such things, but the V8s are nice too.

(And of course there's always the 750iL V12 if you've just got too goddamn much money but don't fancy a coke habit)

 

Buy one before petrol costs £10 a gallon and spoils the fun.

[cort16]

I had a 740 with 272,000 miles and it still went okay until the gearbox gave in. The boxes are supposed to be sealed for life but there's a sump plug on the box and a filter is about 30 quid from BMW. Be warned that they only take the BMW fluid that it made out of unicorn testicles and costs £16 a litre (it takes 8 litres to do the v8 box without the torque convertor). This can fix a few of the changing/slipping issues you get but it's not gaurenteed.

 

The usual BMW stuff off 56mph front wheel wobble, worn suspension arms and clunking sub frames bushes. The 728i will occassionally see 30mpg and is alright for wafting along. If you're going to go for a v8 then you might as well go for a 740 unless you get the chance of a nice spec one with a lesser engine for the same money. The v8's had that nicosil fuel liner issue when they were new but they're all passed that now.

 

If you want it for a daily drive I'd look out for a facelift (post 2000) 728i Sport. You should get one for about £1500. There was a really nice 735i Sport on ebay that sold for around £1500 recently.

The sports are much nice spec'd cars.

[Partridge]

Thanks gents. I won’t have it as a daily driver, just for the odd trip out or going oop North to see Miss Partridge. Seeming as the trip is done on the motorway cruising for 90% of it’s duration, fuel shouldn’t be too bad. I hope. I pray.

They seem like they’re just best bought on common sense, from what I’ve read hear, and elsewhere. The sports do look nice, but they’re all bloody 728is. I would be temped to get the full fat 740i (in for a penny, in for a pound).

A Jaaaaag is still very much on the cards though.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

They're alright, but have a few age related crises. Cooling system temp/pressure on the Post 1996 M62 3.5 and 4.4 V8's with the mapped thermostat is bastard high and they love popping hoses, rads etc. Single row timing chains and they like to break a guide rail. Late 1998 onwards M62TU V8's have Vanos and a water cooled alternator, both $$$$$$$$$$. Later autos were a bit marginal, again on M62 V8's.

If you can find one, the 4.0 V8 was certainly more reliable - standard stat, duplex chains, air cooled alternator and the beefy 560 ZF box. These are M, N and P reg so they're worth fuck all and you might bag a decent one for 800 quid. 730i's were smooth and nice sounding but not that quick, but are capable of good econ on a run.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I used to have a 728i, with an LPG conversion. The most expensive car I've ever bought, at 3 grand. Kept it for 2.5 years without any issues. Some parts may not be easy to find outside of the dealer network.