525i or 740i?????

[hdave]

Ready to buy my first BMW

Toss up between a 2002 525i and a 2001 740i

525 has 120km on it and the 740 has 220km. Both are really clean car, no accidents.

Which one might be the more reliable car assuming I keep up with maintenance.

Would appreciate as much feedback as possible, need to make a decision by tomorrow at the latest.

[BimmerBreaker]

A BMW with a V8 and more computers than the space shuttle or a car with a modestly sized I6 and half the mileage... is there really any question which is going to be more expensive to maintain?

Normally I'd just say buy whichever one is in better condition but this is apples to oranges imho.

[Houseboater]

Having owned both, no comparison between the cars. Drive both and make a choice imo.

[shiftmygears]

They're 2 completely different cars... drive and try each

[beshannon]

Ready to buy my first BMW

Toss up between a 2002 525i and a 2001 740i

525 has 120km on it and the 740 has 220km. Both are really clean car, no accidents.

Which one might be the more reliable car assuming I keep up with maintenance.

Would appreciate as much feedback as possible, need to make a decision by tomorrow at the latest.

I know someone who had a 740il that was a complete money pit. I would never consider one of those cars.

[pbonsalb]

The practical choice for maintenance costs and fuel economy is the 525i. If you like it, buy it. The 740i is the more interesting choice.

For a sporty daily driver, I would try to split the difference and find a 530i, preferably with manual trans.

[PSHH]

Maybe a 540i would be just right Size of e39 with power of the e38. With the lack of power in the 525 you might want to look at a higher model if a sportier car is what your looking for?

I have owned both a 540i and 530i and i have not noticed any maintenance cost differences between the two. Its all about the previous owner and how he/she kept the car maintained imo.

[Schonheit]

I have a 740iL and so far the only money I've put into it was by choice (upgrades/cosmetics). So so far, I'd say somewhat reliable for me. I can't give any info on the other because I'm fairly new here. Get what you like!

[pizzaman09]

I have not owned a 6 cylinder BMW, my experiences test driving them all seem to indicate that they always feel like they are lacking torque.

The choice really needs to be up to you. The two cars you are comparing are very different. The 740i is a much more powerful car, and much larger. I own both an e38 740iL and an e39 M5, both cars are excellent in their own right but they are different, on is super fast and sporty, the other is the ultimate highway cruiser.

Just taking a guess, likely the 525i will be the cheaper car to own in the long run. The 7 is much more luxurious.

[pbonsalb]

I have a 740iL and so far the only money I've put into it was by choice (upgrades/cosmetics). So so far, I'd say somewhat reliable for me. I can't give any info on the other because I'm fairly new here. Get what you like!

How many years and miles have you owned it?

[CWY M5]

I have had e39 525, still have e34 525, and a e39 540 e38 740, and e39 m5. All the answers given are right on. They are different. If cost per mile is your goal, no doubt 525, but I venture to say 740 at nearly double the mile doesn't necessarily say it will be less reliable. Most costly to upkeep, yes, not equal to less reliable. My 740 had alternator failed, coolant leaked, but after the overhaul, its like new for another 60k miles maybe. Once you drive the 740, 525 won't feel the same. And do agree, 540 is a good compromise.

[bmwphily]

740iL is more comfortable and E34 525i or E39 525i are both 50/50 distributed, front/rear, and I prefer the 525i if I drive solo, and prefer the 740iL if I drive my wife, or have passengers in the back. I have a 1994 E34 525i since 67K and now has 95K and just bought a 2001 E38, 740iL (sport package, not M-Sport), and just changed all 4 rotors and brake pads and seems like all owners, at least 3 prior owners, never changed the brakes(pads or rotors, pads all have serial numbers), and pads are only paper thin. 2001 E38, 740iL, 139K, and ready to fix the dead pixel on the speedometer cluster. I never installed used tires, and previous 2001 E38 740iL owner had 245/40-18 on all 4 wheels, 18x8 front rims and 18x9.5 rear. He drove 20,000 before he scammed me telling me he replaced the brake pads and pulled out the brake pad sensors. Now 2001 740iL is safe to be on the road again. The 94 525i, I drove from Brooklyn NY to Raleigh, commuting weekly, 17 times, one of the best long distant 500+ mile non-stop commuter, but refer 740i or 740iL if I were to commute 500 miles again.

[FastJohn]

With cars of that age and mileage, a lot of the reliability depends on previous owner care. I'm partial to the E39 myself, it's a midsize with the agility of a much smaller vehicle.

I agree with the others: compromise and get a 540/6. May well be the best vehicle BMW ever made outside of the M series.

[pizzaman09]

With cars of that age and mileage, a lot of the reliability depends on previous owner care. I'm partial to the E39 myself, it's a midsize with the agility of a much smaller vehicle.

I agree with the others: compromise and get a 540/6. May well be the best vehicle BMW ever made outside of the M series.

The e39 is definitely a midsized that drives like a smaller vehicle and the e38 is a full sized that drives like a medium sized vehicle. I will not claim the e38 in stock form handles like an e39, because it doesn't, however it wold put the majority of small cars to shame. The e38 may seem like a big boat, but it goes around a corner way better then you would ever expect.

[BimmerBreaker]

The e39 is definitely a midsized that drives like a smaller vehicle and the e38 is a full sized that drives like a medium sized vehicle. I will not claim the e38 in stock form handles like an e39, because it doesn't, however it wold put the majority of small cars to shame. The e38 may seem like a big boat, but it goes around a corner way better then you would ever expect.

Sorry but, if you believe this then I think you haven't really driven a small/medium sized car... especially not a BMW. E38s are boats, but thats why people love them. Tossable boats that can be made to handle decently well for a 2 ton limo but still boats.

[Houseboater]

Sorry but, if you believe this then I think you haven't really driven a small/medium sized car... especially not a BMW. E38s are boats, but thats why people love them. Tossable boats that can be made to handle decently well for a 2 ton limo but still boats.

I've never said anything but I'll just come out and say it now, I think he is full of ****. The E38 and M5 are his parents cars. He drives an oldsmobile.

The E38 handles GREAT for what it is but it is not a sports car and will never handle like one.

[pizzaman09]

Sorry but, if you believe this then I think you haven't really driven a small/medium sized car... especially not a BMW. E38s are boats, but thats why people love them. Tossable boats that can be made to handle decently well for a 2 ton limo but still boats.

You are correct, I have not driven many small cars. The best small car I have driven would be test driving an 07 Z4 3.0. Go kart like would be the way to describe it.

Of all of the small cars I have driven, almost all of them would be in what you would call "the rental car special" class, I haven't found one that handles decently. Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, Nissan, Cube,... The exception being a Cadillac ATS, the chassis is as brilliant as everyone claims.

I well know I am not going to convince you that the e38 isn't a boat. To most people it is. I spent 5 years daily driving an Oldsmobile 88, that car is a boat. This video of me thrashing it through an autocross circuit should prove that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCZ2Ejjw4EI

I've never said anything but I'll just come out and say it now, I think he is full of ****. The E38 and M5 are his parents cars. He drives an oldsmobile.

The E38 handles GREAT for what it is but it is not a sports car and will never handle like one.

The e38 is my parents car, they have had two different ones for the last 13 years. I have driven both cars considerably, they are wonderful vehicles, my opinion of them is certainly on the fanboy level.

The M5 is mine and my twin brothers, we purchased it last year together after we both started full time as mechanical engineers. We both share the car. On days that we both need a car to go separate places one of us will take the Oldsmobile, of which we got for free from our grandparents back when we were 15. The M5 was more or less our prize for getting through 4 years of engineering school and finally starting to be successful and self sufficient.


I don't mean to be rude or over the top. I am just stating my opinion and experience with the cars I have driven. I will say that I on occasion probably do take the love for the e38 a little over the top.

[BimmerBreaker]

I will say that I on occasion probably do take the love for the e38 a little over the top.

"Well the Bugatti Veyron is great but, I think I'd take a 740i over one any day"

[pizzaman09]

"Well the Bugatti Veyron is great but, I think I'd take a 740i over one any day"

They each have their advantages.

[smolenski]

My wife has a 03 525it and i have a 01 740i sport and I love both for different reasons. I don't think you can go wrong with either.