[TW]Fox;17958509 said:
I will also be changing my half-the-age 5 Series for a 1996 750i, because it sounds like I could save a small fortune on running costs by doing so.
Fox you're missing the point.
Your running costs are high because you get any and all little niggles and faults rectified by training specialist technicians and take absolute pride in keeping your car in as good as condition as possible and damn the expense (to an extent).
To be honest it seems like you're trying to apply your way of running the 530i onto this chap possibly buying this 750 in which case, yes it's going to be expensive, horribly so, but I don't think any car is going to be particularly cheap to keep on the road if you follow your slightly OCD tendencies toward ownership experience. I mean come on, talking about a "suspension refresh" on a £1k car is a bit "lol".
"***** Prestige" is all about running the car into the ground figuratively speaking. Does it start? Does it drive? Does it stop? Does it go around corners? If it does the above Awesome, rock on. Don't worry that the NS/R seat heater doesn't work and the TV only picks up Channel 4, and long as their is nothing safety related wrong forget about it and enjoy the rest of the car.
You might think "What's the point?" and to be fair, you're right and if you have to ask that question the concept is obviously not for you. Personally I'd see it as an opportunity to smoke around in leather clad land-barge with a thumping V12 upfront for not much money.
Put it this way Even if it requires Pads, Discs and a Service I suspect you'd see change from £500 (If not get a Tool kit and do the work yourself!). Buy the time everything is said and done I'd, even if it needed. It breaks beyond all hope of repair I imagine you'd still make a few quid breaking it/sticking it up on eBay as Spares/Repairs, let's call it £500.
So, if it only lasts a year that's a only grand down the "drain". Come on, People lose more than that in depreciation on cars that comparatively can't hold a candle to even an "ancient" 7 series.