hai i just had a look at 740i 1997 wich is in a tip ton con'd and i am planing to buy it the only think that worry me is that is this will be my 1st bmw before this i have been using a brand new sonata 2.4 is a good car in it class anyway my ques is?1. am i making the right move 2. my friend told me that i can down grade the engin from 4.0 to 3.0 by just changing the block so the cc will still be 4.0 but in the grand it will be 3.0 so i can still enjoy a 4.0 car and pay a low rod tax is that ture if so where and how much will it cos me to do so ?pls help me as i am very very new to bmw. :dunno:
advice and help pls
- Thread starter azroy
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Lee36328
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Azroy
1. depends on whether you know what you are getting into or not...
sounds like you do not, so my answer would be, NO.
2. this is ILLEGAL, and would not be recommended by this forum, so would suggest you stop pursuing this topic here...
What I would suggest...
1. Do not rush into it
Ask yourself what you are looking for in a car, to see if this particular car is right for you.
(i) the price is attractive - if you are 'very very new to bmw', how do you know this price is attractive? how do you know it is in tip top condition? did you have a workshop do a full Modic test on the car? Did you discover any faults from the Modic test?
(ii) i like the bmw prestige - then shop for a good used example, don't jump into the first car you see
(iii) i enjoy driving and pushing the car - look at the 3-series
(iv) i like a balance between performance and comfort - look at the 5-series
(v) i like comfort, and i have a driver - yes, 7 is right for you
(vi) i don't know what i want, i just like the looks and the price - TAKE YOUR TIME AND SHOP AROUND...
You might find that the 740 is such a bargain to get a high capacity with the bmw brand.... ask yourself, do you know why it is such a bargain? Typical issues include high roadtax and high maintenance, dubious history... if you don't know much about bmw, take an expert along with you when you view the car. and always insist on having a bmw specialist workshop do a full check on the car including Modic...
2. Car history
Why is the car for sale? Who was the previous owner? How and where was it maintained? What parts were changed? (ask for receipts) If the seller can't answer those questions, walk away... you'll be saving yourself A LOT OF MONEY....
3. Decision
Finally, if AFTER you have done all the above, and you still want the 740, this is what you can expect
- find a reliable workshop - believe me, you'll get to know the owner really well, as you'll be financing his entire family, so find one you can trust
- get to know the car intimately - for a bmw, it's never a case of buy and drive (if that's what u want, stick to your Sonata, or get a Camry or Accord), you'll enjoy the ownership experience more if you are really interested in cars and enjoy knowing why certain parts fail, and how to enhance it with after market parts...
- budget RM 30k and upwards for initial maintenance... you'll be surprised how many parts you need to change, even for well-maintained cars...
- budget RM10-20k (could be more, depending on condition) per year on regular maintenance alone
- another budget on fuel consumption; find out the fuel consumption of the 740, multiply by your typical distance covered, and you'll arrive at how much you need to feed the baby just to keep it moving...
Finally, good luck, all the best, and keep us posted on how it goes...
1. depends on whether you know what you are getting into or not...
sounds like you do not, so my answer would be, NO.
2. this is ILLEGAL, and would not be recommended by this forum, so would suggest you stop pursuing this topic here...
What I would suggest...
1. Do not rush into it
Ask yourself what you are looking for in a car, to see if this particular car is right for you.
(i) the price is attractive - if you are 'very very new to bmw', how do you know this price is attractive? how do you know it is in tip top condition? did you have a workshop do a full Modic test on the car? Did you discover any faults from the Modic test?
(ii) i like the bmw prestige - then shop for a good used example, don't jump into the first car you see
(iii) i enjoy driving and pushing the car - look at the 3-series
(iv) i like a balance between performance and comfort - look at the 5-series
(v) i like comfort, and i have a driver - yes, 7 is right for you
(vi) i don't know what i want, i just like the looks and the price - TAKE YOUR TIME AND SHOP AROUND...
You might find that the 740 is such a bargain to get a high capacity with the bmw brand.... ask yourself, do you know why it is such a bargain? Typical issues include high roadtax and high maintenance, dubious history... if you don't know much about bmw, take an expert along with you when you view the car. and always insist on having a bmw specialist workshop do a full check on the car including Modic...
2. Car history
Why is the car for sale? Who was the previous owner? How and where was it maintained? What parts were changed? (ask for receipts) If the seller can't answer those questions, walk away... you'll be saving yourself A LOT OF MONEY....
3. Decision
Finally, if AFTER you have done all the above, and you still want the 740, this is what you can expect
- find a reliable workshop - believe me, you'll get to know the owner really well, as you'll be financing his entire family, so find one you can trust
- get to know the car intimately - for a bmw, it's never a case of buy and drive (if that's what u want, stick to your Sonata, or get a Camry or Accord), you'll enjoy the ownership experience more if you are really interested in cars and enjoy knowing why certain parts fail, and how to enhance it with after market parts...
- budget RM 30k and upwards for initial maintenance... you'll be surprised how many parts you need to change, even for well-maintained cars...
- budget RM10-20k (could be more, depending on condition) per year on regular maintenance alone
- another budget on fuel consumption; find out the fuel consumption of the 740, multiply by your typical distance covered, and you'll arrive at how much you need to feed the baby just to keep it moving...
Finally, good luck, all the best, and keep us posted on how it goes...
Not all 7 series owners have drivers..there's nothing wrong in driving it yourself..the e38 7 is an awesome car to drive why let a driver drive it?
if you're worried about the roadtax - it downsizing the engine capacity, why not look at a 728i. they're more responsive and agile than a 730i V8.
if you're worried about the roadtax - it downsizing the engine capacity, why not look at a 728i. they're more responsive and agile than a 730i V8.
OSFlanker
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Prices of E38 740i is around RM100-RM120 region (1996-1997), whereas 728i is around RM160k onwards! Of course, you won't be getting a V8.........think of the road tax as instalment payments lor, coz the price difference is huge, enough to allow you maintain the 740i for 6-7 years!
Lee36328
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yeah, not all 7 series owners got driver, but i was simplifying matters (after all newbie) to make a point... no offence intended....
but if there's no driver, and purely for driving enjoyment, why look at 7 series only? see my point?
tried the 728 before... soooo nice and smoooothh..... seriously thought of getting it..... maybe later and higher station in life.... wud look at it again....
but if there's no driver, and purely for driving enjoyment, why look at 7 series only? see my point?
tried the 728 before... soooo nice and smoooothh..... seriously thought of getting it..... maybe later and higher station in life.... wud look at it again....
Juan Powerblow
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My friend used to drive an E38 728i and never felt it was underpowered despite being a real speedster with other accomplished racers in his garage. I think at RM150K, it is still a lot of car for the money and it's better value than the 740i.
azroy,
i agree with the majority here, go for the 728i. u'll never regret it. it is much cheaper to maintain and the straight six is very much lesser hassle to maintain compared to the 4.0 V8.
the 740i is a rm400k when new, and it is still rm400k car when it comes to maintainence....
anyway, shop around before you make decision.
regards,
badrul
i agree with the majority here, go for the 728i. u'll never regret it. it is much cheaper to maintain and the straight six is very much lesser hassle to maintain compared to the 4.0 V8.
the 740i is a rm400k when new, and it is still rm400k car when it comes to maintainence....
anyway, shop around before you make decision.
regards,
badrul
well guys thank you for you advice's
the car belong to pan malaysia pools sdn bhd with full service report from auto bavaria
yet i am get it to do test at auto bavaria to find out more about the car later in the day so hope the car is in a very good cond
anything i will keep posting about it
thank's guys
u all have been very helpfull
the car belong to pan malaysia pools sdn bhd with full service report from auto bavaria
yet i am get it to do test at auto bavaria to find out more about the car later in the day so hope the car is in a very good cond
anything i will keep posting about it
thank's guys
u all have been very helpfull
also if you do buy one of these babies, get the gearbox oil flushed, changed the filter & gasket..my uncles oil wasn't oil anymore when he's gears started playing up...life time fluid - my foot! if he left it any longer, a definate gearbox rebuilt or a new one..
beemaro
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Thought that 728i only started in year 2000 onwards. before that is 730i/740i era (1995-1999)
anyway, wud advise against V8 prior to 2000. The 2000 onwards 728 i actually quite trouble free from I can see around (lots of improvement from prior year 2000).
Anyway, its a good ride esp in highway
anyway, wud advise against V8 prior to 2000. The 2000 onwards 728 i actually quite trouble free from I can see around (lots of improvement from prior year 2000).
Anyway, its a good ride esp in highway
