I want a 740 BAD!

[geppiph2]

I am ready to purchase a 740 but I am seeing a lot of bad pub. about
transmission problems. I would like used under $20k. What do I buy and
what do I stay away from?

[lincolnmaster80]

Well, I am on about three other forums, and I don't see a whole lot of posts about people having tranny problems or the infamous "TRANS PROG" c/c message.

In fact, I'm almost willing to bet money that this bad publicity you are seeing is from people who had a friend who had a friend who had a friend who's friend was really high up in the government who owned a BMW a very long time ago.

The only thing I can't stress enough when looking to buy these cars is DO YOUR RESEARCH. There really isn't a good or bad year with BMW...these cars were built and were built right! They didn't give themselves the title of Ultimate Driving Machine for nothing.

Look around. And keep looking. Don't buy the first one you see especially if this will be your first 7-series. Get to know what these cars have, don't have, what you want out of them? Know what the differences between them are, test drive them, listen to their engines, how they sound? check the oil as it's a good indication of how well these cars were maintained, how does it idle? is the idle smooth? How does it drive? Is it nice and tight? At cruising speeds of about 50-60 miles/hour is there any shimmy in the steering wheel? If there is, that's an indication that the upper control arm bushings, tie rods, strut mounts, or a few other parts might need to be replaced (main culprit is control arm bushing though). Is there bad vibration when accelerating? Driveshaft center bearing is a pig to replace. Hows the interior look? Is the leather in good shape? If it's equiped with sat-nav (gps navigation) does it get a signal? Does the TV work?

If there's service history with the car, that's a bonus for you, as you know it's been looked after somewhat. If it stops short of a few years, i'd be careful on who maintained it and how it was maintained. Just because someone says they do all their own work doesn't mean they are any good at it. I do my own work, but I like to make sure I have the process understood before, during, and after I replace anything. I also keep the receipts of things I replace and write the milage at which they were replaced at on the receipt. My car didn't come with history, but by the time 8 months came around, I knew a fair amount about what I was looking at.

Go through absolutley everything you can see and think of and make sure it works. If it doesn't, ask the salesman about it. If he starts to make excuses, run away and move onto the next 740. It took me about 8 months before I finally found my 1990 750iL. And she needs next to nothing in the way of work.

All in all, these are great cars! It's a drive it for yourself thing to understand how great they are.

Hope this helps.