Looking into buying an '87 735i

There is a 735i for sale locally and I am considering picking it up for a daily driver. The seller says he has owned the car for the past 2 years and everything is fine mechanically except for the A/C. This is a big concern for me as I live in central FL and I can't live without it. I wanted to know if this would potentially be an expensive fix if say, the compressor or some other component is shot.

I have not gone to look at the vehicle yet and also wanted to know if there were some common things to look for.

Thanks guys!

Sometimes some sellers list their car as being an 87, when really it's an 88. If that's the case, I can give you a lot of info on the E32's. If it really is an 87, then the E23's are rather unknown to me.

The A/C can be expensive IF you get taken around the bush a few times by someone who won't admit that they have no idea what they are doing. If you're a Do-It-Yourself'er, then you'll save HUGE on labour and can find parts for very cheap. These cars aren't as scary as every says.

It's possible that the A/C system may need refilling and won't be that expensive at all. It's pretty un common for a compressor to just blow up (in a manner of speaking). Usually there is some sort of electrical problem, blown fuse, bad connection before the compressor itself goes retarded.

Before you buy it, I'd recommend that a known good qualified mechanic inspect the car before you buy it. Just because one person says it's mechanically sound, doesn't mean the service items don't need replacing...

http://www.autohausaz.com - very reasonable prices for OEM parts...

The only other things is DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST!

Research clicky (http://forums.roadfly.com/forums/bmw/bmw_7_series_e23/search.php?st=buying+a+735&ps=20&m=natural&o=default)

Until recently I owned a '88 (87 build date )750 il and it was a great, although pricey to maintain, machine. The 3.5 liter Inline six may be the best six cylinder engine BMW ever built as it is very durable, many going over 300,000 miles. The six is relatively easy to maintain but she is aging so expect to replace, unless it has been done , suspension parts, especially upper control arm bushings (a real PITA but they last at least 70,000 miles). As to the AC, I would get her leak checked using a dye injection where dye is put into the low pressure side and then using a black light and UV goggles one can see where, if any, there are leaks. on my machine, I converted her to 134a as the expansion valve and evaporator were leaking and she had to be opened and vacuumed, I then added a new receiver/dryer, seals and kept the supposed non 134a compatible compressor and she put out cold air like crazy. All of this a few years back cost me $700. I would get an independent BMW specialist to check the car out before purchase . Our son has a 1988 735i with a manual transmission and does use it as a daily driver.

As daily drivers, these are excellent machines. I do agree with you, the big sixes are virtually bomb proof, and wouldn't recomend a better engine. I have a 90 750iL and just love driving it.

I would like to eventually convert to 134a...to be honest, I haven't actually checked it to see if it has or not, but judging from a lot of parts that seem to be stock, I'm guessing it's not. I think one of the previous owners just drove the car and sold it when it got to a point where it needed work done. But it hasn't cost me that much so it must have been taken care of somewhere a long the line.

Nice pictures, looks a lot like my '88 (loksilber). I also removed the phone and reversed the holder to gve me that small cubby and I put a burl wood handle on the shifter and then reveres the shifter handle to give me room o put a cup holder on the console.