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Subject: Advice for anyone considering purchase of an e38 7-series Author: DavidC (moderator) : member since December, 2003 : 11909 posts Posted on: 2004-07-11 02:20:43

These are terrific cars and will last a long time if properly maintained. Mostly, that means regular oil changes and inspections, so the first thing I would look for is service records. If you can't find them or they appear to be incomplete, take the VIN number of the car to your local BMW dealer and ask them to look up the service history. Unless they performed the work, they won't be able to give you much detail, but they can tell you which BMW dealer did it and you can contact them directly.

Also, while you're at the BMW dealer, ask them to check if the car is a CPO (certified pre-owned) vehicle. If so, it will be warranted to 100,000 miles and six years (from the original in-service date). If that's the case, you can get anything that might need attention fixed for free.

I'd recommend checking to see if the radiator has been recently replaced. They have a tendancy to fail after 50k-60k miles. Fortunately, BMW recently lowered the price on the radiators so you can get one for around $120, plus labor.

Listen for any kind of weird noises from the transmission. If its making a whining or whirring sound, particularly in the low gears during acceleration, check the transmission fluid filter to see if it was replaced with an aftermarket filter. The OEM filter is labeled "FILTRAN" on it. Anything else can cause problems. I know because I had this problem recently on my own vehicle.

If the catalytic converters haven't been replaced and the car is nearing 100,000 miles, they'll probably need replacing soon, so brace for that. Aftermarket cats can be had for around $300 but their quality/endurance is an open question. The OEM cats can be had for around $660 (plus labor for installation, about 1/2 an hour). Don't let a dealer sell you a $2,000 catalytic converter deal.

The front cupholder is poorly designed and subject to breaking easily. It costs $100 for the part and around 1.7 hours of labor to replace it. Be sure to keep your wood trim because the new part won't include it. I saw a lady get royally hacked off at a local dealer one day because she threw her broken cupholder away, then had to spend even more money for a new wood trim piece because it's not included. WTH devised a clever repair for the cupholder, too.

The power steering hoses can leak, particularly on the older models. If you get the service records, check to see if they've been replaced. If so, you're in good shape.

The next time you get your oil changed, have the mechanic drop the oil pan and check for loose bolts on the oil pump. The BMW dealer may tell you its not necessary, but it is. Spending the extra $100 or so will be a cheap insurance policy against having a loose bolt get kicked up into your engine and destroying it.

With high-mileage (90,000 or more) vehicles, several front-end components may be due for replacement, including thrust arms and bushings and the center tie rod. Fortunately, these parts aren't terribly expensive. If the seller isn't including them, buy your own parts (ALWAYS get OEM BMW parts) and use a qualified BMW repair shop to do the work and save some money. If the car has mostly highway miles, the shocks will probably be fine.

Other less critical but potentially expensive items to watch for include the commom "missing pixels" issue in the electronic displays (the instrument cluster and radio) and excessive wind noise from the sunroof (make sure all four "lift pads" are present under the car).

There are also a number of links to other BimmerBoard discussions and third-party sites at www.e38.org that you may find useful.

Finally, join the BMW CCA, the BMW car club. The cost is a reasoanble $35/year, which includes a subscription to the Roundel magazine. Just as important is the 10%-20% discount on parts that BMW CCA membership will get you at BMW dealers and many independent repair shops, too. And, once you've been a member for a full year, you'll be eligible for a $500-$1,500 rebate on any new or CPO'd BMW, so its worth maintaining your membership even if you become BMW-less for a while.

Welcome to the family!

David Cecil
'97 740iL, 124k miles
'86 735i, 94k miles
'77 320i, 140k miles
'92 325is (rear-ended on I285, gone but not forgotten)

www.e38.org has links for everything about your BMW 7-series automobile

• Buying a Used 740iL - davidmalek 2004-07-09 13:36:33 (3648 views)
  • Advice for anyone considering purchase of an e38 7-series (url) - DavidC 2004-07-11 02:20:43 (37799 views)
    • Re: Advice for anyone considering purchase of an e38 7-series - jw7615 2004-07-12 16:54:20 (5026 views)
  • Re: Buying a Used 740iL - Claudio 2004-07-10 18:54:43 (4583 views)
  • Re: Buying a Used 740iL - BJames38 2004-07-10 17:41:17 (3655 views)
  • CPO is good, absolutely make sure you have the car checked out. - Magnum 2004-07-10 13:24:34 (3045 views)
  • Re: Buying a Used 740iL - ggbrands 2004-07-09 16:18:04 (4122 views)
  • One small piece of advice...... - sailorsurfer 2004-07-09 16:17:25 (4430 views)
  • My 2cents - mike98 2004-07-09 14:00:50 (3379 views)
    • Repairs & Maint in Cali a little more... - ChicagoE38 2004-07-10 10:10:20 (2991 views)
  • Checkout www.e38.org and please give more details about your car, mileage, - silber98 2004-07-09 13:47:42 (3045 views)
  • click the e38.org link over on the right side of page...its the top link (nt) - Q 2004-07-09 13:44:07 (2325 views)