Ask the Car People.SM


BMW 7-Series 2006 and earlier

1317 messages,  Last post on Sep 16, 2012 at 11:07 AM

You are in the BMW 7-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 7 Series

Messages Page 104 of 132

#1027 of 1317 1992 750 by f1buick

Mar 03, 2004 (5:28 pm)

I own a 1993--almost identical car. You are not crazy, but I wouldn't every pay more than $6000. At 140k you'll be getting a complex car with a lot of miles and, potentially, many long-term parts that are due for replacement. 140k, for example, is on the tail end of the tranny lifespan in that car.
 
I think there are 3 types of people who own cars like this:
 
1. Those who lease them new and under warranty
 
2. Those who buy them out of warranty, thinking they are getting a great deal, but who then find out that maintenance can be pricy and try to sell them
 
3. Those hardy souls who do all their own maintenance and repairs, and end up with a world-class auto for cheap.
 
I'm in the latter category. My car actually is pretty darned reliable for an 11 year-old, but when it does falter, it is not easy to work on.
If your a hot-rodder who loves to tinker, these cars are nirvana. If you like Honda Accords just fine and are only considering the 750 because the price sounds low and you're curious about having a BMW, stay away.

#1028 of 1317 by nvbanker

Mar 03, 2004 (8:20 pm)

The S430 just went way up on my list today. At least as nice inside as the 7 - with no I-drive.

#1029 of 1317 Vote now! by pat

Mar 05, 2004 (10:40 am)

Consumers' Most Wanted Vehicles for 2004 Survey is posted and ready for your input!

#1030 of 1317 Is There a Free Lunch With a CPO 7 Series? by blockislandguy

Mar 08, 2004 (6:51 pm)

F1Buick, thanks for the nice three part typology of 7 Series owners (the buy it/lease it/dump it in three years crowd; the guy who gets who in way over his pretentious head on a used Bimmer he can't afford to keep up, and the small coterie of Do It Yourself types).
 
But how about the canny guy who zips in to buy a CPO 7 Series for somewhere in the high 30's (because of the high depreciation) and then dumps it years later at 99,000 miles when the CPO warranty runs out? Didn't he beat the system? Or is the CPO Warranty essentially a come on and not comparable to the new car warranty?

#1031 of 1317 thanks f1buick by michael

Mar 17, 2004 (12:57 pm)

Thanks for the insight. 12 cylinders might be 4 to 6 too many for a guy who drives 6000 miles a year

#1032 of 1317 Should I wait for the "refreshed" BMW 745Li? by designo

Mar 27, 2004 (6:33 pm)

After owning my S430 for a horrifying two years, I want to get rid of it ASAP.
 
My main concern is that I have heard reports that a refreshed 7 Series sedan is comming relatively soon; seen claims from as early as late this year to 2005.
 
I would like to take delivery of a new sedan sometime late this year. Should I wait it out for the 2005 model or just get the '04? (I am worried that because it will be a refreshed model, there will be software/electrical bugs, as opposed to the '04 model, which has been out for two years).
 
Any input would be great! (FYI: Although I enjoy the BMW the most, I am also considering the Audi A8L, Jaguar Vanden-Plas, and Mercedes S430 (hopefully it will be better!)
 
Thanks.

#1033 of 1317 not the host here by MrShift@Edmunds HOST

Mar 30, 2004 (12:45 pm)

Well if that "refreshment" includes styling, I think I would wait, because if it is "cleaned up" and it is popular, then the 04 models will depreciate more rapidly than normal.

#1034 of 1317 745 Depreciation by blockislandguy

Apr 26, 2004 (6:36 pm)

I had a chance to see the huge auto classsified section in the LA Times over the weekend. It beats everything else in the US combined! (E.G., if you combine the used car ads of the Boston Globe, Washington Post, NY Times, etc. you still wouldn't have the LA Times used car lineage.) Anyway, I've long hoped that I could get into a used '02 745 late this fall for around 40K. I may be (slightly) wrong. The 01 7 Series in the LA Times were at 43K or so, asking. The '00 7 Seriese were at 35K or so, asking.
 
Even so, if this is a good guide, it looks like I can pick up a 745 next April for the target price and even get a CPO unit. (How else to buy one of these?). I happen to like the regular wheelbase series (do you really need the iL to carry around a gym bag?). Does anyone think that the iL commands significantly more resale than a non iL or is it a non-issue? Even if one was going to get a set of snow tires on dedicated wheels for winter and make the tire size difference between the two wheelbases a moot point, the larger tire/wheel package on the iL must hydroplane more and less suitable to foul weather?
 
In any case, I figure that with the 30K I saved over MSRP, I could hire a good looking programmer to check me out on I drive for the first week or so.

#1035 of 1317 Looking to buy. by deals

May 05, 2004 (9:59 am)

Hello all,
 
I was wondering if there's anyone here who currently has a 98 BMW 740il to tell me about their experiences with this car. Looking to buy one but its about 100,000 miles and concerned about maintainence on a car with such high mileage. Will it be expensive? Will it require lots of fun$$$$ visits to a mechanic? Does the gas mileage drop significantly? Anything will be useful. Thanks.

#1036 of 1317 Been initiated. by meagvg

May 08, 2004 (4:23 am)

'04 745, less than 8K miles.
Watched this afternoon as it went down the driveway on the bed of a flatbed truck. Headed to the dealer for a 4 day stay - combination light control module dead in the water.
 
Guess I'm part of the club now.

Messages Page 104 of 132

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement