Fuel Consumption 523 Vs 740

Big Nasty

Thinking of a change from 5er to 7er. Both cars are 97, what am I looking at in consumption for both city and motorway?

Thanks!

Seth Brundle

I think you will see it drop to an average of about 20mpg

unkel

There wouldn't be that much in it overall. Did just over 20MPG in my 735 (same engine as the 740) over the 4 years I used it (mainly Dublin city and county driving but no commute into the city centre). I would probably have gotten about 25MPG from a 523.

rebel.ranter

I have a 2002 525i auto that mainly sees a 25 min each way commute through Cork, average 22MPG for that but can get 33MPG average on a return trip to Limerick.
The journey you do can have a huge affect on the MPG. Also you should also consider the annual mileage you do, if it is low then the difference may not warrant worrying about MPG, just a thought.

Big Nasty

Well that's not so bad then! The dealer is looking for cq €1k to change, without seeing my car. This is the 7: http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/740,-FSH/200946195822737/advert?channel=CARS

Mine is a 97 523, 96k Miles, NCT until 07/10, Tax 02/10, manual, cloth, couple marks.

Fair price?

ShadowHearth

I am prety sure we had similar duscussion here before. 525/520 wount be much difference then 535/540 in mpg. So i gues 740 would be same...


Would love the 740 or 730/728 for daily confy driver... But the mpg is not a problem for me... More worried about suspension after perfect irish roads...

Big Nasty

ShadowHearth wrote: »

I am prety sure we had similar duscussion here before. 525/520 wount be much difference then 535/540 in mpg. So i gues 740 would be same...


Would love the 740 or 730/728 for daily confy driver... But the mpg is not a problem for me... More worried about suspension after perfect irish roads...

Seeing as it's just been NCT'd suspension *shouldn't* be a problem.

4.4 though, that's 11 litres between my daily and the weekend beast!

ShadowHearth

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Seeing as it's just been NCT'd suspension *shouldn't* be a problem.

4.4 though, that's 11 litres between my daily and the weekend beast!

Well i wouldnt worry much about mpg in 7series, if you allready tasted thirsty bmws allready. Tax would be bigger issue, 1.6k a year is alot, plus budget is coming soon, so it might go up...

When i was talking about suspention i was thinking about long run. Big german cars are very sensitive for irish roads. It can be destroyed in days... Bmw 7series suspention will be very expencive. And dont trust nct bud... I passes nct on mine clk200 with no brake pads/rear dicks allmoust gone aswell and steering bits destroyed, even the steering wheel was losse.. dont know how they misses that...

So if it has nct, its not a sign its good.

Heroditas

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Thinking of a change from 5er to 7er. Both cars are 97, what am I looking at in consumption for both city and motorway?

Thanks!

I've a 2005 523 manual.
If I'm in stop-start traffic to and from work, I get 20mpg per tank.
On long distance drives I get 35mpg cruising along the motorway.
As a result, my overall average mpg is somewhere between the two of them. Typically I get 30-31mpg

Big Nasty

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Well i wouldnt worry much about mpg in 7series, if you allready tasted thirsty bmws allready. Tax would be bigger issue, 1.6k a year is alot, plus budget is coming soon, so it might go up...

When i was talking about suspention i was thinking about long run. Big german cars are very sensitive for irish roads. It can be destroyed in days... Bmw 7series suspention will be very expencive. And dont trust nct bud... I passes nct on mine clk200 with no brake pads/rear dicks allmoust gone aswell and steering bits destroyed, even the steering wheel was losse.. dont know how they misses that...

So if it has nct, its not a sign its good.

I will get it checked out either way first. I live in Dublin so it's not gonna be throttled on country back roads anyhow.

unkel

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Fair price?

A 7 is worth more than a 5 same year, same condition, etc. That said, the 7 is pretty much sale proof and the dealer needs to make a little money as well seeing as you will have some come back if things go wrong. So a grand is very fair imho. Look at it this way - you'll get an awful lot more car for peanuts extra. Did you drive a V8 e38 yet? Different beast altogether compared to an E39. Think ultimate comfort and luxury instead of ultimate driving machine

Get it checked out by an independent BMW specialist, check all electrics. Suspension typically needs work at about 130-140k miles. Engine and tranny should be bullet proof. The NCT done early is a good sign for sure. Did you check insurance quotes yet? You might be pleasantly surprised on that front.

Go for it and enjoy :cool:

Big Nasty

unkel wrote: »

A 7 is worth more than a 5 same year, same condition, etc. That said, the 7 is pretty much sale proof and the dealer needs to make a little money as well seeing as you will have some come back if things go wrong. So a grand is very fair imho. Look at it this way - you'll get an awful lot more car for peanuts extra. Did you drive a V8 e38 yet? Different beast altogether compared to an E39. Think ultimate comfort and luxury instead of ultimate driving machine

Get it checked out by an independent BMW specialist, check all electrics. Suspension typically needs work at about 130-140k miles. Engine and tranny should be bullet proof. The NCT done early is a good sign for sure. Did you check insurance quotes yet? You might be pleasantly surprised on that front.

Go for it and enjoy :cool:

I've already sold it to myself! But 'others' have concerns over fuel consumption, tax and tax changes come the budget. Have driven the 735 and loved it!

unkel

Well, we've established that fuel consumption is not really an issue if you don't do high miles and you know the tax is currently €1566. We don't know what is gonna come with the budget, but would a worse case scenario of say 10c extra excise on a litre of fuel and the tax up to €2000 make you change your mind? And that tax hike would be highly unlikely as it would just force people to not tax / abandon their car. Better to get 1566 of the 1566 rather than 0 of the 2000...

Big Nasty

unkel wrote: »

Well, we've established that fuel consumption is not really an issue if you don't do high miles and you know the tax is currently €1566. We don't know what is gonna come with the budget, but would a worse case scenario of say 10c extra excise on a litre of fuel and the tax up to €2000 make you change your mind?

Probably not!

unkel

G'luck with buying it so and let us know how you're getting on

Big Nasty

unkel wrote: »

Well, we've established that fuel consumption is not really an issue if you don't do high miles and you know the tax is currently €1566. We don't know what is gonna come with the budget, but would a worse case scenario of say 10c extra excise on a litre of fuel and the tax up to €2000 make you change your mind? And that tax hike would be highly unlikely as it would just force people to not tax / abandon their car. Better to get 1566 of the 1566 rather than 0 of the 2000...

Had a second look at the running costs and am having second thoughts:

Car +/yr +/wk
523 N/A N/A
728 €629.00 €12.10
740 €1871.00 €35.98

I don't use the car during the week - herself drives in and out of town in it so that's a bit of a waste in a 4.4 costing an extra €35.98 a week. At the weekend I usually use the Trans Am, even for just pottering around so the only time I would get to enjoy the 7 would be on country runs (once every two months or so) and even in this case once she's up to speed a 728 would do the job quite nicely. Still undecided but I'm leaning towards holding off for a nice 728 with M-Paralles and white indicator lenses which would only cost me an extra €12.10 a week to run over the 523. (Rates include fuel, tax and insurance at current levels).

a_v525

Better off going for a nice 728i so, basically the same tax/fuel consumption as your 5er but bigger + nicer

Top Dog

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Well that's not so bad then! The dealer is looking for cq €1k to change, without seeing my car. This is the 7: http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/740,-FSH/200946195822737/advert?channel=CARS

BMW's still came with cassette players in 1997? :eek:

unkel

I'd strongly advice against a 728. The engine is fine in a 3 or a 5, but it just doesn't cut the mustard in a nearly 2 tonne saloon. Surely you of all people should know and appreciate that a big car like that needs a V8?

The savings on petrol would be negligible. Sure tax is more, but you won't save anything on insurance. In fact, a 728 might be more to insure than a 740! It might even be more expensive to buy in the first place in this tiny engine loving country! The lazy V8 is far less likely to give you trouble either. Don't do it

Master_Key

unkel wrote: »

I'd strongly advice against a 728. The engine is fine in a 3 or a 5, but it just doesn't cut the mustard in a nearly 2 tonne saloon. Surely you of all people should know and appreciate that a big car like that needs a V8?

The savings on petrol would be negligible. Sure tax is more, but you won't save anything on insurance. In fact, a 728 might be more to insure than a 740! It might even be more expensive to buy in the first place in this tiny engine loving country! The lazy V8 is far less likely to give you trouble either. Don't do it

Totally agree.

Nothing worse than having the right car, and then realising you have the wrong engine. The lazy v8 will be all the fresher for it if its 10-12 years old, whereas the old v6 should have felt a lot more strain by now.

Big Nasty

unkel wrote: »

I'd strongly advice against a 728. The engine is fine in a 3 or a 5, but it just doesn't cut the mustard in a nearly 2 tonne saloon. Surely you of all people should know and appreciate that a big car like that needs a V8?

The savings on petrol would be negligible. Sure tax is more, but you won't save anything on insurance. In fact, a 728 might be more to insure than a 740! It might even be more expensive to buy in the first place in this tiny engine loving country! The lazy V8 is far less likely to give you trouble either. Don't do it

There's truth in what you're saying but the thing is herself drives the car most of the time and it is mostly used travelling from Sandyford to Baggot Street return each day. As much as I would like to it's just not practical. (Yes she got to me on this one!)

However there's a couple of other things turning me off this car: appears to be large scrape on drivers door and front wing, doesn't have white indicator lenses, would prefer beige interior, topaz blue paint and the 99 facelift model. Plus, just to be safe I'll hang on and see what the budget brings us!

Think I'll hang on until I find exactly what I want in a 7!

unkel

MCMLXXV wrote: »

herself drives the car most of the time and it is mostly used travelling from Sandyford to Baggot Street return each day. As much as I would like to it's just not practical.

Maybe you should stick to your 523 for another while then? You'd only be driving the 7 yourself at the weekend on longer drives and this is precisely where you need the oomph of the V8 for smooth overtaking etc. You're absolutely right not to buy anything until you've given it more thought / until after the budget. Keeps us in the loop

Big Nasty

unkel wrote: »

Maybe you should stick to your 523 for another while then? You'd only be driving the 7 yourself at the weekend on longer drives and this is precisely where you need the oomph of the V8 for smooth overtaking etc. You're absolutely right not to buy anything until you've given it more thought / until after the budget. Keeps us in the loop

And there lies the dilema.....

I've had three 3er's 2 5er's and now it's time for a 7! We had three cars but we sold her car a few months back as we didn't need three cars - I work just round the corner from where we live. We're both bored of the 5, she's happy to drive a 7, but the 740 - this or any one, is just not practical for city driving. So do we go for a slightly underpowered and possibly troublesome 728 or go all out for a 735 / 740?

Personally I would like the V8!

Musts for me are:
Topaz Blue
M-Paralles
White Indicator Lesnses
Sub 130k Miles

740 or not, the above will tip me over the edge!

Keep your eyes open lads!

JHMEG

unkel wrote: »

And that tax hike would be highly unlikely as it would just force people to not tax / abandon their car. Better to get 1566 of the 1566 rather than 0 of the 2000...

That's an enforcement issue and the Dept said before that it does not influence policy.

There is a view in Ireland at the moment that if certain sections think you have lots of money they want you to pay more tax. A quarter of a million of them are going on strike tomorrow.

B11gt00e

JHMEG wrote: »

That's an enforcement issue and the Dept said before that it does not influence policy.

There is a view in Ireland at the moment that if certain sections think you have lots of money they want you to pay more tax. A quarter of a million of them are going on strike tomorrow.

... motoring section or politics?

unkel

JHMEG wrote: »

That's an enforcement issue

Nothing to do with enforcement. If someone decides enough is enough and just takes their big engined car off the road, the motortax take on that car is neither the 1566 it actually did bring in pre-budget nor the 2000 it is supposed to bring in post-budget, but a sobering zero because the car is no longer taxed post-budget.

JHMEG

unkel wrote: »

Nothing to do with enforcement. If someone decides enough is enough and just takes their big engined car off the road, the motortax take on that car is neither the 1566 it actually did bring in pre-budget nor the 2000 it is supposed to bring in post-budget, but a sobering zero because the car is no longer taxed post-budget.

If people are dodging tax it's an enforcement issue, i.e. the Gardaí have to deal with it.

Otoh, do you honestly think that sufficient big engined cars would be taken off the road because of high motor tax to make a noticeable difference? I don't.

Mr Benevolent

JHMEG wrote: »

If people are dodging tax it's an enforcement issue, i.e. the Gardaí have to deal with it.

Otoh, do you honestly think that sufficient big engined cars would be taken off the road because of high motor tax to make a noticeable difference? I don't.

I think he's referring to people not taxing their cars because they've put them off the road.

JHMEG

Confab wrote: »

I think he's referring to people not taxing their cars because they've put them off the road.

I know, that's what I referred to in the 2nd line of my post.

VolvoMan

a_v525 wrote: »

Better off going for a nice 728i so, basically the same tax/fuel consumption as your 5er but bigger + nicer

Yawn... Same old typical Irish mentality.:rolleyes:

That 740i looks a good 'un by the way! The 'M' Parallel double spoke alloys are the best wheel you can get for them and there also looks to be a good deal of service history as well. At only 1k to change, I'd say you can't lose at that price to be honest.

Mr Benevolent

JHMEG wrote: »

I know, that's what I referred to in the 2nd line of my post.

Ah, I see that now!

unkel

JHMEG wrote: »

do you honestly think that sufficient big engined cars would be taken off the road because of high motor tax to make a noticeable difference?

Are you joking? Are you in touch with the times we live in? Ask a few low value (sub 5k - 10k) big engined car owners and you'll find many of them have taken their cars off the road in the past year or so...

JHMEG

unkel wrote: »

Are you joking? Are you in touch with the times we live in? Ask a few low value (sub 5k - 10k) big engined car owners and you'll find many of them have taken their cars off the road in the past year or so...

I haven't heard of significant numbers. The few people I know with just one car that has a large engine (2.5L+) are still running theirs. I'm not talking 5.7L weekend cars. Which are you talking about?

Big Nasty

Here's another thought:

Trade the 523 in against the 740, tax for three months, give herself a chance to get used to it and if she doesn't like it (i.e: having a freaker about running costs) I've a stronger car to trade against a 728 / 730 next year?

ShadowHearth

I actually would love to go for 7xx as daily driver aswell...

I would drive not much, like 15milles per day to work, but would that be worth it? Like i mentioned before, suspention is dodgy on irish roads, thought driving it 15miles per day wount destroy it that fast....

and that major kick in arse 1.6k tax....

I agree on not taking 728... If you going 7series, 735 would be minimum to get...