Teach me about E38s: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

May 5, 2011 10:04 a.m. curtis73 Dork

My uncle is very unfortunately not long for this world. Sucky brain cancer. He's selling his 01 740iL sport. From what I understand, it was the only year you could get the sport package on the long wheelbase.

I've been doing some reading and I already know that they have radiator problems, catalytic converter problems, and (having run several transmission shops) also know that the transmissions tend to suck large hairy bob costas balls.

So, since I'm the nephew I think he'll make it affordable to me, but my concern is that on my Hamburger income, the Bimmer might require Sirloin maintenance/repair. I've owned an E30 before and was pleasantly surprised at cheap parts and reliability, but that was an 87... this is an 01.

Thoughts? Other problem areas?
May 5, 2011 10:24 a.m. WilberM3 HalfDork

if youre going to repair stuff yourself, aside from the big chunks like engine/trans, theyre still more expensive than smaller bmws because the parts cost more generally but not super horribly so.

i'd replace any v8 bmw's cooling system immediately especially the radiator and closely inspect the motor/trans mounts as excessive movement tugs on the cooling hoses and breaks old ones.

water pump job should be a big job, as by the time it needs to be done (quite likely never done before on an 01) you should do all the other stuff in the area, so that means new coolant tube o-rings, tstat, intake manifold gaskets, valley pan gasket, i'd change the often faulty by then oil-seperator valve at the back of the intake, and replace any rubber hose on the front of the engine that has a plastic molded end.

the rear suspension is basically the same as a same year 5, so there's lower rear balljoints to go bad and wear the crap out of tires (not a hard or expensive fix with the right tools, but there is a special tool for it, rentable though)

if it has the water cooled alternator it's expensive to replace.

easy fix, but if you smell oil burning its often the valve cover gaskets dripping on the headers at the back corners

also the front suspension's thrust arm bushings can cause vibes and bad wear, not hard or expensive either, just somewhat common on old rubber.

my mom had a 96 740iL and i really really loved that thing, even went looking at late year e38 7s a while ago because they just drive oh so nicely.
May 5, 2011 10:47 a.m. curtis73 Dork

I might be OK for a while with his... it only has about 80k on it and he's the only guy I know of who is pickier about his cars than I am.
May 5, 2011 10:47 a.m. curtis73 Dork

... at least I hope.

Thanks for the great writeup.
May 5, 2011 10:52 a.m. njansenv HalfDork

Good cars - COMPLEX, but good. I think most of the cat problems you read about are from owners who ran with bad o2's for too long.
May 5, 2011 10:55 a.m. Strike_Zero HalfDork

In reply to WilberM3:

Excellent write up!!
May 5, 2011 12:04 p.m. bluesideup Reader

When I see them on the road with the sport package M-wheels those cars give me visions of the James Bond 750iL sport model doing burn outs.

Looks like that car was an earlier 1997 James Bond E38e38 750iL
May 5, 2011 2:19 p.m. Scott Dork

I love BMWs. I really do. But I don't think I'd own a 7-series. In general, they are one of the most complex, unreliable, expensive to own late model cars you can buy. They have all the other expensive BMW problems with the cooling system and suspension. But it is more than likely that electrical problems will ultimately massacre your wallet.
May 5, 2011 3:01 p.m. pigeon Dork

I love my E66 750Li, but I know I'm living on borrowed time since the CPO warranty ran out 3k miles ago. I've owned the car 3 years and about 55k miles. In that time under the CPO warranty BMW has paid about $11,000 in repairs. One of these days I'll pull out all the service records and make a list. Still, having owned this car I'm going to have a very hard time going to any "lesser" car - the combination of comfort, convenience, speed, style, ride and handling is just about perfect.

edit - forgot to mention, the suspension (except one tie rod end) and cooling system (except for both water pumps) are original at 103k miles - nearly all the repairs have been electrical/convenience stuff, like the soft-close doors and power trunk lid.
May 5, 2011 3:42 p.m. AngryCorvair SuperDork

ChrisV has one and he loves it. I want one badly but am on a helper budget ie i can't afford the hamburger.
May 5, 2011 5:07 p.m. aussiesmg SuperDork

Awwww, I was thinking this one