Time to let it go. BMW 740i sport 87k

[maldoi01]

The time has come to let go of my 2000 BMW 740i sport with 87k. The car is super clean and untouched. The timing guides went out. As soon as check engine light came on I open the hood and my heart dropped when I heard the infamous timing guides rattle, I knew what that meant. I immediately turned off the car and called the tow truck. I'm located in Dfw, mores specifically the city of cedar hill. Buyer is responsible for picking up. The car still starts but i won't allow test drives because that could cause further damage. No service records. Clean title. After money is exchanged by all means feel free to start the car but I wouldn't recommend it. I took these pictures a few months before the guides failed. I'm looking for $3500. I think the mileage is actually 84k.

The car is the actual sport model (high stall converted) and the differential is different from the regular one. Had the wide screen navigation with the DVD MK4 upgrade. rubber mats. Cup holders work! I do have the motorola flip phone with arm rest. Speakers were refoamed and work great. All windows work great . Ac and heater works. headliner is clean. non smoker car. Plenty thread left on tires. Feel free to PM with phone number for more pictures since I can only post 5 per post.

[aom7]

Sorry to hear that maldoi. I thought for a while that my tranny was going to need replacement (still TBD, but seems like it might just have been the speed sensors) and so was thinking of selling or parting it out too. I know how having a big ticket item just changes your desire to keep these cars. I'm not sure 3500 is going to work, but good luck (the low mileage isn't really a factor if the engine is toast).

However, have you considered trying to replace the guides (the engine might still be OK)? Or parting it out? You could probably get 800 just for the MKIV nav and widescreen.

[XAlt]

98% of the time the engine's fine.

[mooll]

^ ya maybe but not worth 3500 with a dead engine and i've heard the " i shut it off to prevent further damage " before lol and it was far from true just sayin

[Reflex]

Get it fixed, then sell it for double your asking or even more since the "chain guide" nightmare of many E38 lovers will already be taken care of and out of the way. Don't get me wrong but at this point you are lucky to get $2K and maybe some change. Because if I was in the market for a E38, probably the first thing that would come to my mind would be; if the chain guides failed at 80K then the car might not have been taken care of and therefore I would pass on it. So if you ask me get it fixed and then sell it for double your asking at the very worst. Good luck.

[mooll]

Get it fixed, then sell it for double your asking or even more since the "chain guide" nightmare of many E38 lovers will already be taken care of and out of the way. Don't get me wrong but at this point you are lucky to get $2K and maybe some change. Because if I was in the market for a E38, probably the first thing that would come to my mind would be; if the chain guides failed at 80K then the car might not have been taken care of and therefore I would pass on it. So if you ask me get it fixed and then sell it for double your asking at the very worst. Good luck.

7k for it if he does the guides? idk about that

[roys740]

I wouldn't give up on that beauty just yet. Can you get the guides fixed. The car should then go for maybe another 120k miles if not more.

[Reflex]

7k for it if he does the guides? idk about that

Easy.

[Sabreslight]

Man, that is one clean car, if I had the space i'd pick it up and do the guides.

[maldoi01]

plan is to fix the guides. I figured I can put it out there first before I invest more time. Thanks for the input everyone!

[TxDarth]

Fix it and probably worth 6K...as is not worth the 3500 for sure...

[Nurburgringer]

clean, sub-100k sport with new guides would do 9k easy on Bringatrailer
http://bringatrailer.com/search/e38/

Or spend $10kish on an S62 swap and you could probably get $30k.
That E39 with an LS V8 hit $35k I think.

sorry about the guides. She's a beaut that definitely deserves fixing.

[shenofjo]

if you spend the 2-3k on the guides, you might just keep it and drive the car for 100k+

[mooll]

Fix it and probably worth 6K...as is not worth the 3500 for sure...

6k sounds more like it....7k....no i dont think so.

[Nurburgringer]

As these continue to age, nice ones will only get more valuable.

[samsonevickis]

Yeah, as a BMW mechanic I can attest to the shut it off and get the guides changed. I have seen this 2 times personally, $3000 in parts and labor later, everything is fine.

Get a quote for the repair before you fire sell it.

[SpeedyE38]

If, IF you change your mind...I could be swayed into taking it off your hands.

[TxDarth]

There used to be a video of a guy that I believe was in Chicago called the mobile mechanic. He was doing replacement TCG in about 8 hours or less and he was charging $800 as I recall. That was just basic guides - anything additional was an extra cost. Someone several years ago actually used him and said he was the real thing. The only thing I remember was the way he locked the cams in place - he used blocks of wood cut to the right length and then blocking the cam.

[SpeedyE38]

There used to be a video of a guy that I believe was in Chicago called the mobile mechanic. He was doing replacement TCG in about 8 hours or less and he was charging $800 as I recall. That was just basic guides - anything additional was an extra cost. Someone several years ago actually used him and said he was the real thing. The only thing I remember was the way he locked the cams in place - he used blocks of wood cut to the right length and then blocking the cam.

For this kind of money, I would hire the guy just for the maintenance aspect (and do some other projects while in there.)

If you ever figure out his name....I am all ears.

[TxDarth]

For this kind of money, I would hire the guy just for the maintenance aspect (and do some other projects while in there.)

If you ever figure out his name....I am all ears.

It was a uTube video search for the mobile mechanic or mobile timing chain guides...

[SpeedyE38]

It was a uTube video search for the mobile mechanic or mobile timing chain guides...

I found him. Good and bad news. If my memory serves, his repair bays are now a car wash. Bummer. I live a few blocks away, too. Still, I will drive by today and see the place to ensure my memory isn't off.

[TxDarth]

I found him. Good and bad news. If my memory serves, his repair bays are now a car wash. Bummer. I live a few blocks away, too. Still, I will drive by today and see the place to ensure my memory isn't off.

The guy I was talking about came to you, he worked out of a minivan if I recall.

[Chris V]

6k sounds more like it....7k....no i dont think so.

Why not? Mine with new guides was asking $8500 and I paid $7500. A clean true Sport should pull $7k easy with under 100k miles and records of new TCGs...

[toomann]

87K and your going to let it go because of chain guides? If I still lived in Dallas I would have helped you change them. Mine failed at 200k - Changed the guides and everything else along the way. That was going on 20k ago. No regrets.

[PiotrC70]

Why not? Mine with new guides was asking $8500 and I paid $7500. A clean true Sport should pull $7k easy with under 100k miles and records of new TCGs...

Because people are judging price based on THEIR local market, not someone elses.... Here in the PNW, a sub 100k well maintained e38 (which is VERY hard to find) would fetch anywhere from 7-9k easily.