Help in new purchase 7 series...

[Hearme]

I am wanting to buy a 1997 to 2000 740iL. I am looking for some advice on costs of maintenance and what if any years to stay away from. Plus anything else that I should be aware of. Thanks in advance, Ron

[lincolnmaster80]

Well, first off, you picked a good year to start. The first two years of a design change was a bit rough for any vehicle you buy, so 1997 was two years after the first E38's came out.

What engine you get is ultimately up to you. The V8's were a good engine (740 models) and the V12's were excellent as well (750 models).

Test drive the car. Accelerate as you would normally and feel for any play in steering. Accelerate hard and fast. Take it on the free way and accelerate from 50km/h to 100km/h (about 35mph to 60mph). Decelerate from 100-50km/h. Accelerate back to 100km/h and make a light brake application all the way down to 50km/h. The wheel should not shimmy and this is a good indication that the front suspension is good. Improperly balanced and under inflated tires have been known to cause shimmy problems. Check the balance and ALWAYS fill the tired to 4PSI under the MAX tire pressure. A warped brake rotor isn't always the cause of shimmy on these cars.

Listen for any hesitation in idle. If the car seems underpowered, or lacks adequate acceleration when taking off or flooring it, there's something wrong with ignition, fuel delivery, or fuel pressure regulation (those are the main three). If you aren't cautious, this car can end up being a HUGE money pit, needless to say, no thanks to mechanics 70% of the time.

Listen for any vibrations while driving, whether under slight or heavy acceleration, while taking off or decelerating. This is a sign that there is a problem with the drive train...however, these problems are sometimes a matter of doing it and aren't that costly.

Last but not least, if you are a Do-It-Yourself'er, that comes in handy. Most of the time, mechanics play on the fact that it's a BMW and parts are soooooo expensive. Well, they can be if you don't know where to shop. For instance, http://www.autopartswarehouse.com is a great source for discount OEM parts. All you need to do is use the most power search option there is when looking for parts: GOOGLE!

Keep in mind that not every 7-series ever made will have all the problems listed. I bought a 1990 750iL and she's practially flawless. I've maybe dropped $500 into her over the past 7 months...averages out to roughly $80/month...

Hope this helps and hope to see you back on with a brand new (to you) 7-series!

[Hearme]

Thank you very much for the info. I was almost not going to buy one, as several people who own them have spent small fortunes keeping them running. (At the BMW dealership). It is my dream car and have always loved the 740 and the 750, so thanks again and have a great day!!!! Ron