E38 - 750i V12

Sun Apr 10, 2011 8:35 pm

I've been considering an E38 740i to replace the Touring but had my head turned by one of these beasts. I'm not too bothered about the fuel consumption - so what else could make me see sense and walk away??

Mon Apr 11, 2011 12:12 am

very high servicing costs.

Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:22 am

Not that high as long as you avoid a main dealer, not as bad as an M car either. Can't see a 750i being much worse than any other e38 to run, other than fuel/insurance. The engine is simple and pretty bullet proof.
It's likely to have more gadgets than lesser models though, which may not work anymore!
Go for it, at least you can experience, and say you've owned a V12

Tue Apr 12, 2011 12:40 am

I think they have EDC or some of them have. Very expensive to replace.

Thu Apr 14, 2011 3:29 pm

Thanks for the replies. Not sure at the moment, the Tourings had new tailgate, brakes, tyres, refurbed wheels in the past year. Was going to do the timing belt in the next month and given the pittance Tourings seem to be going for I might just run it for another year. Decisions, decisions....

Sat Apr 16, 2011 7:21 pm

you will also be very unlikely to sell it (quickly) once you are done with it.

Sat Apr 23, 2011 12:16 am

Blitz wrote:I think they have EDC or some of them have. Very expensive to replace.

my friend from school his mum had a 750iL circa late 1980s it had EDC. In the SPORT setting it feels just like the BMW Sports Suspension in my old BMW E46 323Ci. It is wide enough to go over certain types of speed bumps as well when they were driving. The leg room in the back is also MORE than enough.

Sat Apr 23, 2011 12:19 am

isnt the V12 just not two M20B25s pretty much joined together I remember reading that somewhere?
yeah very high servicing/fuel costs and possibly insurance.
imagine changing all 12 spark plugs that is going to cost ££££
most of the electronic gadgets probably wont work
probably got rust problems as well
also very few about as for the 7 series the top model never sell that well

Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:03 pm

Rust? e32s rarely rot let alone the e38

it'll pull low 20's on a run teens around town

Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:36 pm

I got confused my comments related to the BMW E32 750iL. I sat in it circa year 2000-2001.
I think a BMW E38 750iL would be a cracking buy if you get your hands on a good one.

Sun Apr 24, 2011 1:36 pm

I ran a 735i for a while and frankly it lacked performance for all the heft, so a 750i probably brings some of the fun back.

You'll be lucky to get anything like low 20s mpg though. It was an old engine design by the time it made it into the E38 (I think they never did a 48v V12 for it?!) and it'll drink fuel like fun hauling over 2 tonnes of car.

Also, I've heard some fairly scary stories about reluctant 750i cars stubbornly not running on 12 cylinders, also timing issues, hg issues and so on, because people buy these cars and neglect them. Do NOT buy a "cheap" unloved one unless you fancy a resto.

They are unlikely to rust, but check the sills and the wheelarches - 10 years of sitting outside and allowing algae to grow inside all the shutlines will take a toll, and many of these cars spend lots of time doing just that as owners decide to take their polos to work or w/e. BMW built these beautifully though, and they should be OK.

Another thing to look for on E38s is fried DSC modules. ABS and DSC lights will come on intermittently because the Bosch ECU is cooked. £1500 fix from BMW or £150 fix from a remanufacturer... find one of these and a bemused owner and you have yourself a good potential bargain.

I dunno much about the lwb models, but they have very complex climate control systems and things like rear electric seats - more to check to see if it all works reliably. I'd be after something like a 740i sport with the later 4.4 litre engine though to be honest. 32valve, valvetronic, much better fuel economy, cheaper to run and a neater profile line because of the shorter body, coupled with M parallel alloys and things like a black headlining and the "comfort" seats (which are really the sports seats on the 7er).

Find one of those that's been loved and you'll have a hell of a car. Stay clear of the 730i and the 4.0 740i though as they are nikasil.

HTH

Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:21 pm

Nothing wrong with the 730i and 740i 4.0. If they have survived this long then there alright.

Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:01 am

You're probably right, but it's just another thing to worry about. And the later V8s are pokier.

Revision: consider a 3.0 or a 4.0 as a £500 punt, but spend proper money on the alusil engined ones.

Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:03 pm

£500 V12, anybody?

Would there be parts to be had off this or is it fit for the scrappy only?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... NA:GB:1123

Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:54 pm

This was the car I had been in earlier I meant. There must be lots of things wrong with that.
Has it got EDC?
Love this bit
"please no messers, scammers from Nigeria"

Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:10 pm

Frag. Erm.... Front calipers might be worth a bit if they go in AND out.

Can't really see much being worth a lot on it other than that but maybe I'm wrong.

Best hope is that it works and it's worth the risk in my opinion. Looks like that leather is a retrofit though, as it has grey carpets and black seats. Seems a little odd as I bet electric leather was standard. Edit: maybe that's just the pictures.