Owning a E65/66 7 series

[eurolover]

Hi all, Have been reading this 7 series thread from one end to another but could not find another owners writing their experience of owning a E65/66. I tested drove a E65 735iL model last week and fell in love with it as compared to E60 530. I was wondring if some of the forummers here have some experience to share driving and owning it. Looking forward to some sharing here. Thanks.

 

[nazrie]

hi... i use to own an E66 735Li oxford green / beige interior .. with coolbox ..bought in 2002 from cartrade ... when it 1st came out .. lovely lovely lovely car ... most comfy ... just enuf power .. good fuel consumption for long distances ... NOTHING to complain about it ... i had pirelli P zero 20" on it and still VERY comfy and sticks to the road like glue..even in the rain ... committee member YAZID can vouch for that took him on one exciting joyride ... takes corners like a charm ... if u know how to handle it .. really rewarding .. it has precise steering .. ask funferfahrer if he enjoyed it .. my ex - GF asked me why I bought old man's car ... but that all changed when I gave her d keys & told her to drive it n treat it like a sports car .. and she was a professional racer ..she even manage to drift it and was impressed .. but bcoz she said it's old man's car , I dumped her .. Nobody says things like that about my beemers(she said same abt my bikes too ) ... heheh ... basically it is a HUGE sportscar ... a comfy one .. drove to KOTA BHARU using grik-kb road and it was fun twisty roads in the rain but it sticks to the road like glue at speeds above 100kmh and my parents slept all the way comfortably ... the rear seat can be reclined ... with vent fans in 'em . The car gave me confidence to take it to my limit and it didnt disappoint me .... Not false confidence. Never gave me trouble .. big ones at least .. I guess the only gripe I had abt it was the electronics.. driver door window bracket kaput,cant wind ..common problem ..iDrive going haywire at times .. door lock actuators .. electronics again , had 2 use the key physically to open the door .. there is a key inside the keyfob.. but those were minor probs lah compared to the enjoyment i had driving it.. I bought the car when it first came out .. so i was quite prepared to encounter those small gripes especially the electronics since it was a new model that just came out.. all those were under warranty so no biggie ... when the new software version was released .. it solved the probs .. I love the iDrive.. I cant understand what the whole biggie was about .People saying it was cumbersome to use bla bla bla.. for me it was great.

 

[nazrie]

so , if u wanna get one , get one from year 2004 onwards ..most of the problems were addressed then. so that u dont get a lemon since i doubt there's warranty coverage .. unless u r buying new lah ... then i'd say GO FOR IT BRO!! DARN GREAT CAR!! listen to your heart and your body ...if it says the car is comfy or not watch out for the electronics , check if they have latest software update , check the front windows movement(any slight misalignment or not----it's a precursor to failure) .. and check the ABSORBERS .. if it has hit any big holes or anything like that , u cant really feel the damage coz it is so comfy .. until it is jacked up and physically checked .. IT COSTs A BOMB .. maybe u better check how much are the absorbers r now...maybe the price has gone down ... ELECTRONICS bro!!! On this car u can change the damper settings on the fly and it is really great .. u can really feel the difference .. put it into sports mode and just FLYYYY .. comfortably .. Notice the keyword here is everything u do will be in COMFORT! No E 60 can match .. not even the S class W220 can come close .. before this I wud award comfort to MB ... only the current S class W221 can match .. but go inside one , and you can see a lot of similarity with the E65/66 ,even the aircon grills look similar and other setup as well ... As for the engine and tranny , I have no complaints .. if u value big boot space , dont go for the coolbox at the back .. not much use for it anyway.. better the space ..tho it is still big even with the coolbox..
Personally , I like the current new facelift better than the 1 I had .. now most of the reconds out there have been facelifted ,even the 03's... so choose wisely .. my close friend's shop in Kg Baru has a few good ones .. pm me if u wanna see what he has .... he has a lot of them ... I gladly put it a good word for ya'.

I only parted with mine bcoz business suddenly went down and needed the $$$$ lah .. otherwise I'd still be with it ...not everyday is sunny ... now i hv a 530 e60 which is still great but not as awesomely grrrrreat..

OH .. and i have heard some '02 and 03 models DO have tranny problems .. U dont want that.. IT WILL COST AN ARM AND A LEG ... so choose wisely bro ... PM me if u want to know anything more .. glad to be of service ..

Cheers...

 

[nazrie]

oh .. and dont let the size fool you .. it is an agile car ...and dont let anyone tell u otherwise.. once u r inside , u wont fell it is that large ... dont care what other people say if your heart and body likes it .. it has good power .. mine was a longwheelbase version and stilll it was great.. if that person has driven it for a few years , then maybe you can heed the advice and gripes they have ... like i said ..it is a huge sportscar .. go whack it and see ... it aint no gramps ride ... did u see the movie TAXI the ones with the E65 and the E46 M3 .. cool movie .. see how it performed ... mind u , i drove like a bat out of hell and my parents were still sound asleep at the back .. nuff said .. cheerio :top:

 

[eurolover]

oh .. and dont let the size fool you .. it is an agile car ...and dont let anyone tell u otherwise.. once u r inside , u wont fell it is that large ... dont care what other people say if your heart and body likes it .. it has good power .. mine was a longwheelbase version and stilll it was great.. if that person has driven it for a few years , then maybe you can heed the advice and gripes they have ... like i said ..it is a huge sportscar .. go whack it and see ... it aint no gramps ride ... did u see the movie TAXI the ones with the E65 and the E46 M3 .. cool movie .. see how it performed ... mind u , i drove like a bat out of hell and my parents were still sound asleep at the back .. nuff said .. cheerio :top:

Hi Samaritan Nazrie,

Thank you so much for your kind insights and experiences. The car i tested the other day was 2002 model and I did a check and obviously your experience speaks right on the dot. Main issue was mainly software which was then solve using the lastest software version (suddenly makes me feel like living in a Microsoft world once again!).

And yes, i have been advised to buy 2004 model or newer models which could save alot of old hassles. Are you driving the iL model? the one i tested is a iL model and it feels like a real big sports car. When i press the pedal, it feels like an aeroplane taking off - and its just a 735....i wonder how it feels with a 745!

And yes again, after tested drive the 735, i test drove the S320 W220 and suddenly its very clear which one i love. The choice is just too easy....i did not have a choice.

I would notify once i really found my new love....still looking for one now.

Btw, a 04 E60 530 and 04 E65 730i are almost same price now. Unreg cars from Japan.

Cheers,

 

[nazrie]

yep , mine was the longwheelbase version ..and it still fliesssss... the shotwheelbase should be more nimble .. yeah , price now about the same ..so might as well go for it ..remember to check the shockers properly ...

 

[nazrie]

yeah , as I advised earlier ..try to look for 04 OR later models .. & only the Li version(E66) rear seats can be reclined .. Check your PM .. cheers bro ..happpyy hunting...

 

[j0shua]

Hi all,

Have been reading this 7 series thread from one end to another but could not find another owners writing their experience of owning a E65/66. I tested drove a E65 735iL model last week and fell in love with it as compared to E60 530. I was wondring if some of the forummers here have some experience to share driving and owning it.

Looking forward to some sharing here.

Thanks.

I have an E66 750Li and a E60 530i, so maybe I can give you some insights.

I hate driving the E66, it's like a truck. A fast truck, though Sometimes I don't realise that I'm moseying along at 180km/h until I look down 0.o

The drive is not that involving, although it takes turns like it was glued to the road. The Dynamic Drive and sports setting on the EDC does the job, with minimum body roll and a surprisingly quick turn-in. But it's still almost two tons, and even when you've hit the kickdown, it doesn't sound or feel like you're moving that fast. You're just too cosseted in leather and surround sound and vented seats, sitting in your own climate controlled bubble. So it's kinda hard to really feel when the car hits the limit of its traction, and therefore it's not something I'd readily chuck into a corner.

It's absolutely brilliant for falling asleep in the back seat after lunch, being driven around while outside is scorching hot and you've got comfort seats at the back with the roof aircond on max, and no-one can see you cos the blinds are up. The iDrive is a bit of a pain, cos the E60 system is so much more simpler. I guess I'm fairly used to is now, but the main things I use is the entertainment section and the settings>EDC>sports. And to check the yellow/red warning lights that never seem to go away. Dynamic Drive issues mainly, there is a naughty sensor in the rear right, I think. I still can't get over the gearstick, it feels like I'm driving a MPV. Same goes for the gearchange buttons. Buttons? And the boot? The two compartments take up so much space on the left/right, and it can't fit more than one full set of golf clubs...

Still, nothing beats the comfort in that thing. Or the fact that I can intercom the front telephone from the rear seat telephone. Or that I can keep my iced mochaccino at a peachy temp in the coolbox. Great details, like the flashlight in the glove compartment, or the force-feedback in the iDrive effectively counter the useless things in the car like heated seats and how the rear headrests keep coming up every time you get in and sit in the rear. It's a car to be driven in.

Now I like my 530i. I like that it's quite fast, although I'd prefer the M-suspension and the 270+hp the new 530i has. I like driving it, I like the way it turns (takes a while to get accustomed to the Adaptive Steering). I like how easy it is to kick the back end out. I like that I can hear what's going on in front when I step on it. I like the comfort seats, the easy iDrive, the size of the boot and the docility in city driving. I cannot stand the rear seat though, it's pretty much the most uncomfortable place on earth, with crappy legroom and a seat back that my spine cannot find comfortable. It's also got the worst middle armrest console in the world in the back seat.

So. A 7 for the pleasure of being driven, a 5 for the pleasure of driving. Simple as that.

Mind you, an E60 has still got a year or so before it's replaced by the F10. The E66 doesn't have that luxury. That being said, as soon as my F01 is delivered I'll give a review.

 

[funfer_fahrer]

... if u know how to handle it .. really rewarding .. it has precise steering .. ask funferfahrer if he enjoyed it ...

Driving the 5 series is like being in Business Class. The 7 is defininitely First Class travel. In terms of looks, this is one of Bangle's design that really caught my attention. I didn't expect him to go overboard with the E60 that made him looked like a satan worshipper or at least a great friend of Lucifer. Everything seemed to be inspired by fire and flames. Probably, BMW gave him a stern warning not to mess around with this flagship model. Or, he must have got it right the first time:top:. The feel from the cockpit didn't make me feel like driving a 2-tonne car. Everything was within reach. The park brake though seemed a bit complicated for someone who is used to driving the E39. I heard that one has to go for a course on how to operate this car and the manual is almost equivalent to an airplane's manual. A bit complicated but I liked it. The 735i was powered by a six cylinder V6 engine. Very quiet inside the cabin even when the car was pushed really hard. Because of its sheer size, one must not forget the laws of physics - that is momentum. The car is not as nimble as Perodua Viva. But having said this, when it comes to stopping if defies the law of physics. It's magical! At one point we took the car past 240km/hr mark near Dengkil R&R heading southwards and the car just went airborne for at least 2 feet. We landed with the right rear wheel first, followed by the left and finally the both front wheels. Guess what? No big drama! The car could still maintain its present track and we thought of going faster and faster! If only those people at ELITE built the highway just like the runway. What I am trying to tell you is that the car can do almost everything and it will never dissapoint you. Any of you guys watched the movie 'The Transporter'? Let me tell you this, the movie doesn't lie. Period. The seats were perforated. Not for cosmetics purposes but for a reason - those are for the air-cond to cool your back in case you caught in the heat of Malaya. Very cool indeed. Next, the maintenance part. If you don't get yourself into big trouble I would say anyone who can afford to maintain an E60 should not have any problems maintaining the E65/66. Big trouble means if you accidentally hit a huge pothole, the amount you are going to pay is around RM40K for the whole suspension setup (one side only). Now the price of a decent looking E66 has dropped below RM300K, I am a bit surprised why none of our forummers want to consider this car. Shy maybe? Or probably they don'y want to be called a 'driver'. If you ask me personally, I don't give a damn. Mind you, the price of the car was RM850K when it was first launched. Damn good buy.:top:

 

[IsaacVky]

735i is 3.6L V8!

 

[funfer_fahrer]

735i is 3.6L V8!

It 's really worth buying then. Sub RM300K for a V8.:top:



Any takers?

 

[nazrie]

yeah ... we had fun in that ol' sports truck , didnt we funferfahrer? DRIVE it like u just STOLE it & u 'll know what I mean but still, nothing beats my K1200s lah ...heheheh ... took it on the sepang track the other day and really enjoyed it bro... imagine taking the 7 on the track .. it wud be doing it in COMFORT ... but the raw feeling n driving on the seat of the pants cant beat a sportscar laaa.. the 7 wasnt meant to be a sportscaresque machine but for daily use and occassional bursts for enjoyment , it shud do the job very well .. yeah like funferfahrer said it , mana mau cari V8 below 300k ... except for X5 4.4 lah ..

 

[funfer_fahrer]

Hi all,

Have been reading this 7 series thread from one end to another but could not find another owners writing their experience of owning a E65/66. I tested drove a E65 735iL model last week and fell in love with it as compared to E60 530. I was wondring if some of the forummers here have some experience to share driving and owning it.

Looking forward to some sharing here.

Thanks.

Eurolover,

What are you waiting for? Tell me what's wrong with the E66? Too big? Not comfortable? Not so popular? Let us make it popular.

 

[phas3r]

what's the price tag of new 760Li V12? im guessing around 1-1.3 mil ... and its depreciation its ridiculous.. 2004 760 is only around 400-500k if im not mistaken
who on earth are going to buy a 08 760li when a new F01 7er is coming out? imagine whats its price tag after only 5 years ?
owns both 750 and 530 and going to order the f01? damn rich la .. share some pics of your ride

u only need less than 30k for a v8, '94 740iL

 

[eurolover]

Eurolover,

What are you waiting for? Tell me what's wrong with the E66? Too big? Not comfortable? Not so popular? Let us make it popular.

Guys, market not so good la....delay sekejap la, wait n see lor....:sleep:

 

[beemaro]

ya after u had taken first class/business class, u wont want to go for economy class

 

[ozzy888]

thanks for the review. i just placed order for the 2004 uk spec 735. should get the car by next week while waiting for the banks to sort out the financng details. i dumped my W220 last month after 4 years of driving in this car. spent 30k on repairs of all kinds on the w220.
I heard so much about this E65 that propelled me to buy this car. anyway iheard the owner's manual is really thick to read , has anyone got a copy of it ? i doubt my car has it.
anyway this will be the first time that i will own and drive a BMW .

 

[Eggie86]

thanks for the review. i just placed order for the 2004 uk spec 735. should get the car by next week while waiting for the banks to sort out the financng details. i dumped my W220 last month after 4 years of driving in this car. spent 30k on repairs of all kinds on the w220.
I heard so much about this E65 that propelled me to buy this car. anyway iheard the owner's manual is really thick to read , has anyone got a copy of it ? i doubt my car has it.
anyway this will be the first time that i will own and drive a BMW .

Hope you'll have a great time with your new Bimmer. Well, I believe after a long love-hate affair with your Merc S Class, the jump to the Bimmer may bring about its own set of love-hate issues, but that's what makes owning a car memorable, no?

Repair-wise, RM 30K on the W220 may seem a bit on the high side, but then again, most of the parts may have been imported from Germany if you serviced the Merc at C&C. Anyhow, I really salute you for having the time and initiative to read up on the car's technicalities before enjoying it to the fullest. I can't even remember whether my E32 came with the manual when dad purchased it [used] back in 2005.

Then again, I suppose the older Bimmers doesn't really have much electronics, so it wouldn't hurt not reading the manual now and again.

Have fun with your E65. Do share with us your experiences behind the wheel of the ultimate luxo-barge!

 

[ozzy888]

For the record - S class .
changed the air suspensions all 4 of them - 5k for the front 2, 4k for the back 2
engine overhaul (piston connecting rod deformed) - 12k
lower arm, upper arm, ball joints, steering assemble changed - 8 k
mini minor things that costs 500 to 1 k .... etc
over a period of 4 years...

i hope my E65 would not face such problems soon ....

 

[funfer_fahrer]

For the record - S class .
changed the air suspensions all 4 of them - 5k for the front 2, 4k for the back 2
engine overhaul (piston connecting rod deformed) - 12k
lower arm, upper arm, ball joints, steering assemble changed - 8 k
mini minor things that costs 500 to 1 k .... etc
over a period of 4 years...

i hope my E65 would not face such problems soon ....

For your info, the suspension for the E65/66 is RM40K each. I hope I don't scare you.