contemplating a cheap 7 series

coffeenuts

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/735-i-EX/201021198172110/advert?channel=CARS

thinking of buying this.

have always loved the 7 series and this is affordable even with the tax it seems like a great buy.

Any comments on things to look out for?

thanks

Shane732

coffeenuts wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/735-i-EX/201021198172110/advert?channel=CARS

thinking of buying this.

have always loved the 7 series and this is affordable even with the tax it seems like a great buy.

Any comments on things to look out for?

thanks

There is no such thing as a cheap BMW 7 Series unless you've got service inclusive on a model that old!

bmstuff

Sounds suspiciously low isn't?
Ok the car has 120k miles, still?

Stevie Dakota

That car would have been one of the first E65s in Ireland, and the first cars were full of electronic problems from launch, at one time nearly every one sold was back at the dealers as they battled to figure out what was wrong with them. I saw a month old example with the entire dash removed, cables everywhere, it was a horrific sight.

Having said that by this age and mileage you would expect that all the electronic gremlins to be ironed out, but it would still take a leap of faith, and cash in reserve, before I would risk it.

Voodoomelon

coffeenuts wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/735-i-EX/201021198172110/advert?channel=CARS

thinking of buying this.

have always loved the 7 series and this is affordable even with the tax it seems like a great buy.

Any comments on things to look out for?

thanks

Run a mile from the 02-04 models. You'd get an absolute cracker of a 01 E38 for that money and they're far better looking. Also no software issues and they're much easier to work on.

Stevie Dakota

Agree with Voodoo, a nice 728i sport, 2000-2001 would be a much better proposition.

This one is gone but just look at it!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1706944.htm

But this will give you a taste of potential running costs (albeit insane BMW main dealer)..

"last oil serviced by Bmw at 49528 in July last year,at this time all brake discs on each corner were replaced inclusive of the handbrake shoes, brake fluid changed, a new o/s/r coil spring and new front and rear ultrasonic parking sensors, the cost was a whopping 2400 pounds"

messymess

I'm not a big BMW fan but I have to say I love the 7 series ... nothing quite says "get out of my wayyyy, you piece of ****" quite like it

Voodoomelon

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

"last oil serviced by Bmw at 49528 in July last year,at this time all brake discs on each corner were replaced inclusive of the handbrake shoes, brake fluid changed, a new o/s/r coil spring and new front and rear ultrasonic parking sensors, the cost was a whopping 2400 pounds"

Mad money, if you're any way handy you can do the above yourself.

I bought my pads and discs for €600 from the dealer, standard DOT4 brake fluid is €15 and two PDC sensors run about €80 each for new OEM ones online. A coil is about €80 from the dealer too. Not sure about the handbrake shoes, but that list is no more than €1000 in parts and the whole lot would take no more than 3 hours to do. Thats some expensive labour.

SouperComputer

e65 if you are a gambling man (or woman). Early e65s can be more trouble than they are worth. e38's are a great car, but if you plan paying someone else to work on it, I'd pass. If you are up for doing maintenance (theres some fantastic resources online, forums.bimmerforums.com for example) yourself, do some research on the common issues and pick out a nice one.

unkel

coffeenuts wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/735-i-EX/201021198172110/advert?channel=CARS

thinking of buying this.

have always loved the 7 series and this is affordable even with the tax it seems like a great buy.

Any comments on things to look out for?

thanks

The obvious one. The NCT ran out last month. So either the car has been for sale for a long time, there are serious issues with the car, or the seller can't be bothered renewing the NCT (which can be done 3 months early)

Now if the seller agreed to NCT the car before the sale and you could get a BMW independent specialist to check the car over, with all lights set to green and all the electrics working you could be onto one of the greatest bargains around. Superb value for money, but don't expect you'll be able to easily sell it again in a few years time

Bigus

Nice wheels



http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/735i/201026198658155/advert?channel=CARS

Eoin

Stevie Dakota wrote: »

This one is gone but just look at it!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1706944.htm

Nice car, but unless I've done something horribly wrong on the VRT website, that would in or around €8k on Irish plates, which I think is crazy money. Also - I think I'd be going for a V8 in that car.

Voodoomelon

Bigus wrote: »

Nice wheels



http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/735i/201026198658155/advert?channel=CARS

If they're genuine Alpinas, the car is only costing you €6,200!

daveharnett

Voodoomelon wrote: »

You'd get an absolute cracker of a 01 E38 for that money and they're far better looking. Also no software issues and they're much easier to work on.

I know it wasn't what you asked OP, but I have to agree with Voodoo. I'd go for the e38 over the e65 all day long. Just don't get caught out by the maintenance costs. Be prepared to make the mechanic's bank manager very happy unless you can do the work yourself.

That being said, if you can afford it, DO IT. Life is short.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

The idrive on that years 7 was a total nightmare, nearly impossible to get anything done. Buy yourself a e39 M5 instead

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/M5/201023198333968/advert?channel=CARS

Matt Simis

Esme Damp Ballpark wrote: »

The idrive on that years 7 was a total nightmare, nearly impossible to get anything done. Buy yourself a e39 M5 instead

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/M5/201023198333968/advert?channel=CARS

Good idea, though hardly cheaper to service (cant imagine much between them), but its an M car, thats worth its own price..

jock101

Running costs will cripple you! Unless you work for Anglo or the Gov!:rolleyes:

Max Power1

jock101 wrote: »

Running costs will cripple you! Unless you work for Anglo or the Gov!:rolleyes:

but sometimes its just worth it to drive something a little more "driving fun" than the usual micra/golf brigades

johnos1984

Personally if you are taking this much of a gamble and want something different with a low purchase price my money would be going here or on a similar one:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo/166/2.5-V6-I/201014197522047/advert?channel=CARS

You would have something very different, great to drive and an Alfa.

The BMW is a great looking car and in a different class but it is going to cost you an arm and a leg to run even if it goes right and each is going to be just as difficult to sell in the end

L-M

Smiles per gallon

I'd love to buy an older 7 series, a 750 went up on donedeal yesterday but I can't seem to find it. €20,000odd for a new Golf? My arse

Mr Benevolent

Limerick man wrote: »

I'd love to buy an older 7 series, a 750 went up on donedeal yesterday but I can't seem to find it.

This it?

thebullkf

johnos1984 wrote: »

Personally if you are taking this much of a gamble and want something different with a low purchase price my money would be going here or on a similar one:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Alfa-Romeo/166/2.5-V6-I/201014197522047/advert?channel=CARS

You would have something very different, great to drive and an Alfa.

The BMW is a great looking car and in a different class but it is going to cost you an arm and a leg to run even if it goes right and each is going to be just as difficult to sell in the end

wouldn't touch it.


they give serious trouble-mind you-lovely to drive.

mileage very high-no mention of previous owners either!!!.



sometimes what the seller omits is more important than what he says.....

L-M

Confab wrote: »

This it?

Bingo, honeslty, I don't know how I couldn't find it. Stupid donedeal with it's idiotic search system :rolleyes:

johnos1984

Didn't particularly mean that 166 as I think its far too expensive.........166's in general really.

Ya they give trouble but in comparison to a 7 series they are cheaper to buy and fix

unkel

Confab wrote: »

This it?

Nice!

Seems to be owned by an administrator of the Polish BMW club Dublin website

Voodoomelon

Can't argue with rear electrically adjustable seats! Big old V12 though, no thanks! M62 V8 is just as quick (possibly quicker according to Youtube, BMW also understated it to make the 750 look better), more reliable, easier to diagnose and cheaper to service.

Something special about the 750 though; you'd want deep pockets.

L-M

Would I be right in assuming that's actually the amount of space you have in the rear of it? Because the seat looks a tad pushed forward but not overly... Electric rear seats...

My god I want it:o

Voodoomelon

iL has 5 inches more legroom over the i, but the driver seat is a fair bit forward. Some space all the same.

notel70

unkel wrote: »

Nice!

Seems to be owned by an administrator of the Polish BMW club Dublin website

And a member of the fog light club

Matt Simis

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Can't argue with rear electrically adjustable seats! Big old V12 though, no thanks! M62 V8 is just as quick (possibly quicker according to Youtube, BMW also understated it to make the 750 look better), more reliable, easier to diagnose and cheaper to service.

But V8s are for the riff raff! :cool:

rcdk1

coffeenuts wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/BMW/7-Series/735-i-EX/201021198172110/advert?channel=CARS

OP, dunno much about the 7 series but 5 owners in 8 years seems alot.

unkel

Confab wrote: »

This it?

This it? :eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGswiW7zWJU

galwaytt

thebullkf wrote: »

wouldn't touch it.


they give serious trouble-mind you-lovely to drive.

mileage very high-no mention of previous owners either!!!.

johnos1984 wrote: »

Didn't particularly mean that 166 as I think its far too expensive.........166's in general really.

Ya they give trouble but in comparison to a 7 series they are cheaper to buy and fix

Well, at least the Alfa will stay running long enough to achieve high mileage. The 7-, won't........

And, I daresay it can be no worse, on a mechanics per-hour rate, to fix either of them.

Throw in that the Alfa is half the price and Ding-Ding -we have a winner !

Big Nasty

Late E38 all the way! Last good looking 7 built IMO plus less costly to run. Defo go for minimum 735 though as the 728 is very underpowered (the standard model anyway) and would likely cost you as much on fuel as the 735. I recently bought a 99 735 and love it. Usually once I buy a car I am already looking at ideas for the next one - can't find any other luxobarge out there that I would like more. Very rarely have the same car twice but I will most likely go for a 01 model when I'm upgrading.

coffeenuts

wow most people really dont like the idea of the cheap 7 series.

How about a cheap S class then so...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/S-Class/320-Auto/200939195281107/advert?channel=CARS

johnos1984

coffeenuts wrote: »

wow most people really dont like the idea of the cheap 7 series.

How about a cheap S class then so...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/S-Class/320-Auto/200939195281107/advert?channel=CARS

They are competitors in more than one way

Big Nasty

coffeenuts wrote: »

wow most people really dont like the idea of the cheap 7 series.

How about a cheap S class then so...

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/S-Class/320-Auto/200939195281107/advert?channel=CARS

Much worse idea than the E65 IMO!

Again: E38 ALL THE WAY!!!!

coffeenuts

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/E-Class/E-200-AV/201025198502967/advert?channel=CARS

what about this? I'm liking the look of that. Cheap barge too!

Eoin

Sounds like a bit of a weedy engine for a car that size.

What about a Lexus GS300? More comparable in size with a 5 series than a 7 series, but so is the E class you linked to.

Big Nasty

coffeenuts wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/E-Class/E-200-AV/201025198502967/advert?channel=CARS

what about this? I'm liking the look of that. Cheap barge too!

E200? Not a Kompressor (supercharged). Wouldn't pull the skin off a sausage!

coffeenuts

so if I do go for the E Class its Kompressor all the way I take it.

Big Nasty

coffeenuts wrote: »

so if I do go for the E Class its Kompressor all the way I take it.

Most definitely, that or a larger engine! The one you posted (W211) ain't much more than a facelift of the outdated W210. Wouldn't be me I would have to say and in relation to size, it's comparible with a 5 series but smaller.

What have you against the E38?

EDIT:

01 E38 735

02 E65 735

Matt Simis

galwaytt wrote: »

Well, at least the Alfa will stay running long enough to achieve high mileage. The 7-, won't........
And, I daresay it can be no worse, on a mechanics per-hour rate, to fix either of them.
Throw in that the Alfa is half the price and Ding-Ding -we have a winner !

What an odd statement. There are loads of mega mileage 750s out there. That engine is refined, solid, relaxed and easy. The e38 is the gen before Electrical "enhancements" so its fairly par for the course on that side too. I havent seen any 166s with such mileage as they are just flat out unpopular (or mechnically they dont make it so high or no one bothers maintaining them to allow it). I like the look of some Alfas, but not the 166, its just poorly shaped from front to rear.

The BMW also benefits by having a gazillion times more and better online resources to DIY nearly every part of ownership. There are more BMW independant mechanics than Alfas.
Alfa parts are at least as expensive as BMWs. Some of the design choices on Alfas that you uncover when working on them are so bad, its laughable, ie BMWs are far easier to work on.
Dont know about Dealership labour rates on either.


PS: I have an Alfa 156 and 2 BMWs.

-Corkie-

Op these cars cost huge money to maintain even newer ones... I had a A8 and it cost me a fortune on different things. I would prefer a smaller model with less complications..

Big Nasty

SARASON wrote: »

Op these cars cost huge money to maintain even newer ones... I had a A8 and it cost me a fortune on different things. I would prefer a smaller model with less complications..

An A8, or any older Audi is going to be more costly to maintain than the equivalent BMW.

Source: Experience.

unkel

Matt Simis wrote: »

There are loads of mega mileage 750s out there. That engine is refined, solid, relaxed and easy. The e38 is the gen before Electrical "enhancements" so its fairly par for the course on that side too. I havent seen any 166s with such mileage as they are just flat out

See the one on the M1 youtube clip. Big mileage while flat out

Note the new NCT on the 750 too...

BTW for those not aware - I owned an E38 735 V8 petrol for 5 years from when it was 7 years old and I had no major trouble with it. It never broke down. Sold it with over 140k miles when it was 12 years old.

A carefully picked E65 7 series should prove to be great value for money (and smiles per gallon ) as an ownership proposition too...

Voodoomelon

Also, if you have the cash and are after a mint E38, Japan is the way to go. You should see they examples they have over there, most are in and around 40-60k miles and immaculate all round, like the day they rolled out of the factory. Expect to pay in the region of €10k-€15k for a mint 2001, depending on spec.

I'm seriously tempted by a 2005 750i and may take the plunge in January as i've had a few offers for my own E38, but I still ache for a May/June 01 740i Sport.
But whenever I drive into the dealer for parts, the E38 looks seriously dated, even though it looks so fresh on the road!

And just to throw a spanner in the works, there's a RHD Alpina B12 for sale in the UK now for similar money to the 2005 750i. Decisions!

Matt Simis

Voodoomelon wrote: »

And just to throw a spanner in the works, there's a RHD Alpina B12 for sale in the UK now for similar money to the 2005 750i. Decisions!

Lol, thats no decision. The Alpina is a collector model within a range of collector models. An e65 is unfortunately a too-common sight on the roads, the e38 stands out with a air of respect and authority, vs the new money stigma the e65 has.

Voodoomelon

The big difference is practicality though, I don't know if I could justify driving a B12 every day and I certainly couldn't afford to run two cars. It would also be a different ball game when it comes to servicing and there's a big difference in age.

I'd also say there's almost as many E38s in my area as E65s.

Linkage.

jock101

There is no such thing as a cheap 7 series. Your only fooling yourself if you think you can run a 7 series on the cheap!:rolleyes: Not unless you want to park it and look at it out your window!:(

Matt Simis

Voodoomelon wrote: »

The big difference is practicality though, I don't know if I could justify driving a B12 every day and I certainly couldn't afford to run two cars. It would also be a different ball game when it comes to servicing and there's a big difference in age.

I'd also say there's almost as many E38s in my area as E65s.

Linkage.

All true (though I still debate here in Ireland which is more common, the e65 or e38).. but still, there is something "individual" about that Alpina.

But man, pricey isnt it?