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BMW 7-Series Maintenance and Repair

831 messages,  Last post on Feb 17, 2013 at 11:00 AM

You are in the BMW 7-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 7 Series, Electrical, Engine, Sedan

Messages Page 71 of 84

#698 of 831 Re: Help me analyze the options here [Mr_Shiftright] by pfreak76

Jul 02, 2009 (12:22 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jun 25, 2009 11:26 am)
Okay - I am going to checkout the 2007 I mentioned above. Thanks for all the tips so far.
 
BTW - is the 750Li really as bad as some people refer to? I see sharply contrasting responses from people. It seems like some peope have had no issues, while others see frequent transmission/engine problems. I wonder why this car would have so many more issues compared to a high end 5-series with the same engine? I know electrical complexity is higher due to iDrive and in general rule of thumb is that the more complex system you develop poorer the reliability expected, since you now have more parts that could potentially fail.
 
I know that the 2002 745's had major issues - a friend told me that he owned it and had issues. But I also hear BMW fixed these in upcoming models.
 
Since you're the expert, it would be great to hear your perspective.
 
Thanks

#699 of 831 Re: Help me analyze the options here [pfreak76] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 02, 2009 (7:08 am)

Replying to: pfreak76 (Jul 02, 2009 12:22 am)
I hate to blanket a car with a bad reputation, because things change year to year.
 
What I can say with assurance is that earlier 750s have been problem-ridden and sometimes make it to the "worst used cars" lists. Part of this came from the V-12 engine, which now of course is a 760 option, not a 750 option.
 
How much of all the earlier issues BMW has squared away by 2007, I have no idea. The reliability ratings for the newer cars seem quite improved--but there are still issues.
 
People "love" them because they are GREAT cars to drive, not necessarily because they are dead-reliable or cheap to own. Also depreciation rates are higher than normal.
 

#700 of 831 1998 BMW 740li stalls intermittently by dougmc

Jul 02, 2009 (8:30 pm)

My 1998 BMW 740il has 198k miles on it, and will stall intermittently. You never know when it will happen. Could be when I start it,and it acts like it's flooded, could happen at a stop light or when I'm driving it. When I restart it, I have to rev it up. But never dies totally when it is being driven. The mechanic thought it needed a new crankshaft sensor, but that hasn't helped. Otherwise, it runs great. I would appreciate any ideas. Thanks in advance.

#701 of 831 Re: Help me analyze the options here [Mr_Shiftright] by pfreak76

Jul 05, 2009 (9:35 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 02, 2009 7:08 am)
Would you know how much a maintainence plan would run to cover the BMW 750Li, past the 4yrs/50K miles? I talked to a dealer and he was offering it for 3K and I thought that sounded excessive.
 
I have heard different numbers... When is it best to buy the maintainence plan? The car I am looking at has 18K miles left on it and about 20months of the original warranty, after which the extended warranty kicks in (valid through 2013).

#702 of 831 Re: Help me analyze the options here [pfreak76] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 05, 2009 (11:25 am)

Replying to: pfreak76 (Jul 05, 2009 9:35 am)
Maintenance plans are a profit item for the dealers so some may mark them up more than others. if you have more than one dealer, shop around. The problem with maintenance plans is that they are sometimes hard to compare, as they include and exclude different items. You have to read them over very carefully. Also deductibles will vary as well, and rules for deductibles also vary.But by all means, get something.

#703 of 831 Re: Help me analyze the options here [Mr_Shiftright] by pfreak76

Jul 07, 2009 (7:58 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 05, 2009 11:25 am)
ok. so the maintenance plans are different than extended warranty - right? The car comes with a certified pre-owned warranty valid until 2013. The maintenance expires at 50K miles or mid-2011.
 
I'll send out requests to multiple dealers. Is it advisable to buy this as soon as possible or should I wait until I get closer to expiration?

#704 of 831 Re: Help me analyze the options here [pfreak76] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 08, 2009 (5:16 pm)

Replying to: pfreak76 (Jul 07, 2009 7:58 am)
Can you post what they are giving you and how much it costs? It's kind of hard for me to know what the maintenance plan involves. If it has a lot of "packing" in it, I might say no. I'm really not familiar with this plan so I hesitate to influence you too much.
 
so you have a CPO warranty until 2013, right? (GOOD!) And I presume you'll keep the car until then....so we need to figure out (seems to me) the cost of about 4 years of maintenance with NO plan at an independent BMW shop vs. 4 years of maintenance at dealership prices.
 
Much as I hate to say it, you may find that not a lot of independent BMW shops are not that comfortable with a 7 series car.

#705 of 831 Re: Help me analyze the options here [Mr_Shiftright] by pfreak76

Jul 08, 2009 (9:11 pm)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 08, 2009 5:16 pm)
Hi -
 
I have asked for the breakup of the maintainence plan - its called "BMW Ultimate or Elite". Now I do have this maintainence plan until mid-2011 since the original warranty does not expire until then (this is a 2007 750Li). The pre-owned warranty kicks in after 2011 but the maintainence plan expires mid-2011 and will need to be bought for the period 2011 to 2013 (2013 is when the pre-owned warranty expires). Depending on how this car works out I plan to keep it - but first pass want to see how it runs through atleast the warranty period.
 
Now this car also happens to be a demo car - and the basic warranty is available until 55K miles (it has 33K miles on it right now). But maintainence still expires at 50K.
 
This is one of the two cars that this dealer had on their lot for 113 days and they lowered the prices down almost 10K to clear out their inventory. So I think I have a pretty decent deal and would hence not mind paying a little bit more for the maintainence plan from BMW. I do hear that third party options are pretty unreliable.

#706 of 831 Re: Help me analyze the options here [pfreak76] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 09, 2009 (8:40 am)

Replying to: pfreak76 (Jul 08, 2009 9:11 pm)
Well what if we do this---let's estimate that to maintain a 750, not REPAIR it necessarily, but maintain it...might cost $150 a month. How does that square up with the cost of the extended maintenance plan?

#707 of 831 740iL likes to stall by dougmc

Jul 09, 2009 (9:27 am)

I am still hoping someone will help me with this 1998 BMW 740il and it's stalling problem, as originally described above. Thanks.

Messages Page 71 of 84

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