What Car for 3-4K?
- Thread starter Maxeh
- Start date
Even ones he has no experience of?
I ran mine for two years, yes it was expensive, but I was not kidding myself that it would be cheap to run over the period of time that I owned it. Anybody looking for a cheap run about should not look for a BMW regardless of model tbh.
The e39's cooling system is weak, that said, the system on my Dads 528i has not (yet) exploded after 11 years. Again, no such issues for my e38 thankfully.
Tyres are expensive, but again, they will be on any car thats running 18's.
The OP wanted something, by the sounds of it, large & with a big boot & great for motorways with no worrys about fuel.
The saving in fuel should more than compensate for the potentially high running costs, that said, from my own experience of BMW's, buy a good one and it won't cost you the earth to keep it on the road.
The trick is finding a good one alas.
As for selling my car, well, my circumstances changed. When I bought my e38 I was living at home with my Parents after a relationship breakdown, so obviously,bringing home £500 p/w and giving £60 "board" ment paying to run a BMW was not an issue for me.
2 years later, I have my own house & bills - you'll get there one day Fox - and surprise surprise, running a 7 series was no longer financially sensible to me at all, add to that I promised my GF a holiday at the end of her Cancer treatment, and something obviously had to give.
Things are different again now for me, I can afford another e38 and am looking for one but, tbh, the sheddy Mondeo I've been running since selling the e38 suits my needs perfectly - it gets me from A to B.
Why I am justifying myself to somebody who does not yet live in the real world, I don't know.
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
There are many shared components between E38 and E39. And the E38 is hardly going to be cheaper to run, is it?
So whats the issue? Clearly we both agree. Compared to other £3-4k cars, like say a Mondeo or a Clio, the E38 is expensive to run. Whats your point?
Again, I don't see what your issue is? What size tyres does a Clio run? A Mondeo? A Bora? etc etc? Not 18's..
Again - you've just backed my point up for another time. The 7 is expensive to run, so you had to sell yours for a bit. That tallies with exactly what I said
What the hell has that got to do with car running costs? You've done NOTHING in this reply other than try and personally insult me and AGREE with what I've previously said.
Just WHAT is your point?
You took issue with my opinion that an E38 was expensive to run and then.... posted a load of stuff pointing out that it was expensive to run
[TW]Fox;13196662 said:There are many shared components between E38 and E39. And the E38 is hardly going to be cheaper to run, is it?
So whats the issue? Clearly we both agree. Compared to other £3-4k cars, like say a Mondeo or a Clio, the E38 is expensive to run. Whats your point?
Again, I don't see what your issue is? What size tyres does a Clio run? A Mondeo? A Bora? etc etc? Not 18's..
Again - you've just backed my point up for another time. The 7 is expensive to run, so you had to sell yours for a bit. That tallies with exactly what I said
What the hell has that got to do with car running costs? You've done NOTHING in this reply other than try and personally insult me and AGREE with what I've previously said.
Just WHAT is your point?
You took issue with my opinion that an E38 was expensive to run and then.... posted a load of stuff pointing out that it was expensive to run
Your too damn easy to wind up [TW], Happy new year mate.
Perhaps...
Why do people expect cars to be free to run? None of those bills are excessive for running around in a luxury saloon such as a 7-series all day, compare it to buying first class train travel all day every day or whatever.
People expect cars to be so ludicrously cheap, average those above costs and they would barely break a couple of hundred quid a month probably...that's great value for what you get.
People expect cars to be so ludicrously cheap, average those above costs and they would barely break a couple of hundred quid a month probably...that's great value for what you get.
And I agree with that. For what you get, the running costs are a bargain. Thats why I run one.
However...
Comparatively speaking, they are a bit expensive and thus poor value compared to most £3-4k cars. For most people buying a £4k car, something lesser will be cheaper to run, less hassle and provide them with the same ability to get from A to B without getting wet.
My neighbour owns a 735 which is a reliability nightmare.
He says he's up to £3,000 in repairs alone so far and he's had it I guess around 18 months, the guy must do 5,000 miles a year tops.
Problem is these cars get you to pump money in gradually so you're never in the position where it's cheaper to walk away. Just another £300 and eveything will be ok, then it is for 3 weeks then bang - something else which is £200, and you can't bin the car for £200 can you?
7 series are leeches.
He says he's up to £3,000 in repairs alone so far and he's had it I guess around 18 months, the guy must do 5,000 miles a year tops.
Problem is these cars get you to pump money in gradually so you're never in the position where it's cheaper to walk away. Just another £300 and eveything will be ok, then it is for 3 weeks then bang - something else which is £200, and you can't bin the car for £200 can you?
7 series are leeches.
e38's are really starting to look old now though 
What advantages do they have over say...some old jag ?
EDIT - just seen the "e38 love" thread and some of them look decent actually, some of the run down ones look horrible now though
What advantages do they have over say...some old jag ?
EDIT - just seen the "e38 love" thread and some of them look decent actually, some of the run down ones look horrible now though
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e38's are really starting to look old now though
What advantages do they have over say...some old jag ?
Nothing really, an XJ LWB is a good alternative and also fantastic value. Often overlooked this option.
He's a Builder by trade not an Asian shopkeeper or a Chinese take away owner, so fortunately he bought a 7 series rather than a Merc.
Not quite there with the 220's yet, ime (my dad only got rid of his last year, others in his group still have them, you still see scores of them in the financial districts.
In a year or two's (tops) time it will be game over for it too, just like the E38. At which point if its still running i will tint the windows 100%, drop its suspension over the tops of the wheels, and buy a large jungle collection for the changer.
In a year or two's (tops) time it will be game over for it too, just like the E38. At which point if its still running i will tint the windows 100%, drop its suspension over the tops of the wheels, and buy a large jungle collection for the changer.
I iz looking forward to it braa.
