BMW 740Li - £2500.. Worth a punt?

ramirez

ramirez

ramirez

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Altrincham
I want a big luxurious car as my day to day commuter.

Have seen a 1998/9 740 Li for sale near me in Chester for £2500.

It's got 175k on it so would guess most of what goes wrong on these cars probably already has done. MOT I believe until August.

What should I be looking out for on a big barge like this?

Here's the link :

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1449422.htm
 
sort_of_want.jpg


Usual... Service history...list of previous MOT failings... all 4 tyres the same can be an indicator
 
A bloke we get in work bought one a while back with the intention of getting rid of it when he inevitable gets a big bill and he is yet to even have a repair charge at all on his.
 
I think its priced too high for what it is and especially given what it could throw at you in terms of repairs....

Speaking from experience of running an e38 for a few years, watch out for leaking fuel tanks (big job to repair properly) expensive exhaust system (4 cats iirc) tyre munchers (I got under 10k from my last set of Falken 452's) they are heavy cars and equally heavy on suspension components.

Wonderful cars, I'm after a 740i myself (not the iL, the std wheelbase one is quite big enough for your average car parking space believe me!) but they do hit you in the pocket.

Appreciate this and you have imo a great car.
 
mjt said:
spend £1k more and get one that looks in better condition
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1400389.htm

do you really need the L? unless you're going to be spending most of the time in the back, what's the point in having an even more impractical car? :p
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Pristine original condition
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Thats laughable imo! - And still overpriced.

Just as an example of what a really prestine original example of an e38 looks like have a browse here....

http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=E38_750iL

Ok, its a 750i but you get the idea....

Edit, he has a 740i after all.... http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/blue740i/index.html

In fact, if you want to see what pretty much any recent BMW should look like in "Pristine Original condition", look no further than this sites Gallery, some truly stunning cars there. http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmFilters= - Sorry Fox, his e39 is not featured as its his daily driver I believe! :D
 
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Nah I don't need the il or li whichever it is! It's just local to me so worth a look! I should have about 5k for a car but didn't really want to use it all.

Am I right in thinking the 4.4 is the better block than the 3.5 or 4?

Truth be told I don't need something as big as an e38, I just like the look of them compared to 5 series and they seem very good value (albeit expensive when they break.)
 
Provided you know exactly what you are getting into and are financially secure enough to just throw it away if it gets too stupid billswise, go for it. Especially with a £5k budget - if you want a £2.5k 5/7 Series buying one when your budget is higher is the best way to do it.

As for whether its overpriced, no idea, not sure I'd care. This sort of car at this money there are far more important things to worry about than walking away because its £293 more than the book says.
 
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[TW]Fox;15810603 said:
Provided you know exactly what you are getting into and are financially secure enough to just throw it away if it gets too stupid billswise, go for it. Especially with a £5k budget - if you want a £2.5k 5/7 Series buying one when your budget is higher is the best way to do it.
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True enough. - I nearly paid around £3k for an e38 but decided to punt out a bit more, in my case £5k plus my old e36 as part ex. Yes, it still cost a lot to run & maintain but a Hell of a lot less, I'm sure, than the "cheaper" example would have worked out.
 
R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Thats laughable imo! - And still overpriced.

Just as an example of what a really prestine original example of an e38 looks like have a browse here....

http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=E38_750iL

Ok, its a 750i but you get the idea....

Edit, he has a 740i after all.... http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/blue740i/index.html

In fact, if you want to see what pretty much any recent BMW should look like in "Pristine Original condition", look no further than this sites Gallery, some truly stunning cars there. http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmFilters= - Sorry Fox, his e39 is not featured as its his daily driver I believe! :D
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Oh ok thanks! Now I want an 8 series!

There's a 840ci around here in Estoril blue I think, it looks amazing!
 
A topaz blue 840Ci "Sport(?)" sits 2 roads down, it has a front cracked bumper lip and curbed alloys as well as faded exhaust tips but even so still looks amazing.

Just wish the owner would have looked after it!
 
mrk said:
A topaz blue 840Ci "Sport(?)" sits 2 roads down, it has a front cracked bumper lip and curbed alloys as well as faded exhaust tips but even so still looks amazing.

Just wish the owner would have looked after it!
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He probably picked it up for the relative bargain money they go for and then found out they still cost supercar money to maintain properly. Alas, the fate of many a fine car...
 
R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
He probably picked it up for the relative bargain money they go for and then found out they still cost supercar money to maintain properly. Alas, the fate of many a fine car...
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He (or she) has had it for years and years, I have seen this car there as long as I can remember riding/driving/walking down that road.
 
R420LA6X2/4MNA said:
Thats laughable imo! - And still overpriced.

Just as an example of what a really prestine original example of an e38 looks like have a browse here....

http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=E38_750iL

Ok, its a 750i but you get the idea....

Edit, he has a 740i after all.... http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/blue740i/index.html

In fact, if you want to see what pretty much any recent BMW should look like in "Pristine Original condition", look no further than this sites Gallery, some truly stunning cars there. http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmFilters= - Sorry Fox, his e39 is not featured as its his daily driver I believe! :D
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haha spot the member on detailing world

The "eat your dinner off them" clean wheel arches, the stripes wet vac'd into the mats, the immaculately clean engine bay.

He could have really looked after the car, but then he could have done what most others do and pay £500 to get it detailed ;) Explains the obviously machine polished paintwork too. Bet it wont have looked like that all its life lol.
 
Hey Ramirez!

I saw that E38 in Chester. They had it up for £2,995 last Thursday.

Looks nice and it's got a pretty decent spec, but a bit too much dosh for the mileage I'd have thought.

Here's my 2000 740i:

P1010080.jpg


P1010133.jpg


I'm just down the road from you so, if you want to have a nosey your welcome, or if you need any help or info, email me and I'll give you my phone number.

Ray.
 
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