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Subject: Re: what to look for? Author: DavidC (moderator) : member since December, 2003 : 11918 posts Posted on: 2005-05-05 13:34:06

Chris's reply reminded me that it's time for me to copy my post to here on BimmerBoard so that he won't have to link to 'the site that remains nameless' ...

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. Anyting else can cause problems. I know because I had this problem recently on my own vehicle.

If the catalytic converters haven't been replaced, 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). 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.

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 the miles you mentioned, 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, your 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).

Welcome to the family!

David Cecil, KI4GZR
'97 740iL, 129k miles
'92 750iL, 78k miles
'86 735i, 97k miles

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

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