FS: not affiliated - 2000 BMW 740i Sport Anthracite/Black needs work but saveable

[Chamberlin]

Putting this car out there for anyone looking for a great project car... I drove 200 miles round trip to look at this car (with trailer in tow), but I passed on it in the end. I've just got too many BMWs right now and just couldn't take on another E38 (I have two sport shorties already which I'm prepping for sale now).

VIN: WBAGG8343YDN77145

This car can be had for $1500, and here is the C.L. ad from the seller: https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/c...413207362.html

Car runs strong, but has two major issues that I wasn't willing to deal with. The transmission and the front bumper.

The tranny was just overhauled (new yellow painted torque converter visible through inspection cover) at a supposed cost of $2500. However, the car won't come out of trans fail safe. A second tranny computer was purchased but did not fix the problem. My guess, is that the valve body wasn't put back together correctly, and that's all it might need ($650-$810 if you install it yourself). But if the people who charged $2500 didn't do that right, they might have messed up the clutch packs or something else on the top end of the tranny too... I do not know why the seller hasn't got the tranny shop to warranty the work...

The car was supposedly in a parking lot hit and run, damaging the front bumper, right fog light and more... A complete new front bumper assembly should take care of it. A little dent in the aluminum sub structure, but seems to have been a fairly low speed incident (car was parked when hit, and owner came back to the car with damage already been done).

The paint on this car seems to be all original, and overall it appears to be quite nice (although the car is currently covered in dust and grime from being at a BMW repair shop for the last 7 months). The interior is in excellent shape, with original cell phone still connected, headliner intact, and only a heavy scratch on the rear pass. seat side bolster to note. The current owner limo tinted the windows. Wheels are all in pretty nice shape with an original spare in the trunk, with a 2000 dated tire, used maybe once. Front tires are shot, rears are good.

The car was broken into while being stored at the shop, but only the driver's window will need replacement. Nothing was actually stolen according to the shop owners. The rear plastic fascia is pulled up slightly near the keyhole, not sure if that is related to the break in. Should pop back during restoration.

Started right up with a jump pack (battery had been sitting for a long time). Typical power steering ooze everywhere, the usual M62TU leaks. But nearly no VANOS rattle on start up, and idles very smoothly. No underpanels present, no engine cover, and no trim piece that sits on the hood near the window sprayers.

A few dings and scratches, but again, the car seems quite straight and worth saving (I love Anthracite E38s). Seems to be an early production sport (6/99 I think?) with a 4 spoke wheel, and of course 4:3 NAV. Overall I'd say the car hasn't been well taken care of, but at least it didn't seem modified or molested either. It's what I'd call a running parts car, with the potential to be a fine driver with about $2500-$3000 in effort. I think there was something like 130-140k miles on it. All dash pixels are working, but I don't remember what the ODO said.

But no rust, or any damage underneath...definitely appears to be an Arizona/California type car... No corrosion on the tow hook in the tool kit (which was complete BTW). Car is equipped with original IR windshield, but there are some rock chips within driver's view sadly... If it had a perfect IR windshield, it might have tipped me over to buy the car!

Feel free to PM me if you want additional info etc... Again, just trying to get the word out there to anyone looking for a great parts car or project car... I am not affiliated with the shop nor the seller.

Here are some of my crappy pics from the dark garage lighting (i.e. no lighting). I didn't have my camera handy for when they had it lifted on the rack unfortunately.

[rgao007]

You're an awesome dude for writing all that out and including all those pictures. Props to you.

Just checked your signature. Any pics of those Sahara Beige 740i Sports? And why two in that same rare color, haha?

[Chamberlin]

You're an awesome dude for writing all that out and including all those pictures. Props to you.

Just checked your signature. Any pics of those Sahara Beige 740i Sports? And why two in that same rare color, haha?

Thanks for the good words man! Just trying to rescue another 740i sport shorty, I hate seeing these cars end up with people who have no business being stewards of such fine classics!

There's a local Oxford Green that I'd love to have (I'm actively pursuing a collector grade Oxford if I can find one) but the seller is a car flipper who half assed repainted the car among other atrocities. Just drives me crazy. I guess we can't all be fanatics!

Regarding the two Sahara beige sports I have, I bought the 2001 a few months ago for my dad in the hopes he'd want to start going to our local BMWCCA meets and have a 'collector' car to go along with his X3 daily driver. I had a 2000 silver sport a few months earlier which he really liked. However, my dad being 80 years old on a fixed income, he got scared once I started laying out the cost to refresh the suspension, redo the headliner, and just general maintenance items. So we've decided to sell the car asap. But to continue the story, around the same week we bought the '01, I found another Sahara beige sport just 30 miles away from the first one; being such a rare E38 color as you know, I had to buy this one too - a matching father/son pair. I actually originally bought it as a parts car for my dad's car, as it had a serious transmission problem. As it turns out though, it was a fairly nice Canadian market car just about fully loaded. I managed to nurse the tranny back to operation, and I'm going to do a second flush and pressure regulator replacement here soon, hoping that will be the end of the driveline problem. I may even keep the car for myself as it runs very smooth and strong. It's got about 181k on it but there's been some good service records with the car, and it's just a neat car. The 2001 is almost ready for sale (I think it has about 138k on it) and I just did its tranny pressure regulator and fluid/filter change the other day. Also did an oil change, as well as purchased a new 9.5 rear wheel and two new rear tires (car came with 8's all around with one 9.5 as a spare). Also rebuilt the center arm rest where the phone used to be, purchasing the needed trays and holder mount new. Just installed new trunk struts yesterday.

[arthbkins]

Your sport shorties look great! I wish I had been patient enough to buy one from an enthusiast like you instead of buying one locally on Craigslist. Maybe the next one I get.


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[Chamberlin]

Your sport shorties look great! I wish I had been patient enough to buy one from an enthusiast like you instead of buying one locally on Craigslist. Maybe the next one I get.

Yea, I know what you mean - I've also got the 'Craigslist 740i Sport addiction' for sure... However, *NOBODY* I've talked to about the various ones for sale (purchased 3 of them, looked at 4 others) knew *ANYTHING* about these cars, and really all but one of them had any business owning one in the first place... I'm not saying I'm the end-all-be-all E38 expert, or master refurbisher!!! I'm actually quite an E38 newb. But I do care enough for these classic BMWs to buy the right parts and address the important things when possible, and most importantly, research research research!

I know that sounds harsh, but there are just a lot of people out there that see 'BMW 7 series for $3000' and say to themselves "Wow, I could be a baller too!" having no idea what they're getting into, and the car takes another step(s) closer to the 'unsaveable' status. All you can hope for is to snatch one up before it's gotten into the hands of one of these types of owners. And then to find one in the color you want, in a reasonably close location.... it's a pretty tall task.

Here are some of the ones I've looked at and the first one I bought (silver).



My paint correction guy doing his magic.... The E38 paint is very durable and takes EXTREMELY well to a proper paint correction.



Off to its new owner!



Royal Red - I'd love to buy this one... Currently for sale for $5500 in Phoenix. If I could sell both my Sahara's right now, I'd go grab this one immediately.




The very first sport shorty I looked at a couple years ago.... One of my favorite colors (Anthrazit), but it needed LOTS of TLC, and he wanted like $5000 for it. My dad and I ran away from this one.







A super rare 111K mile Slate Green that I *really* wanted to buy, but again, the owner knew nothing about these cars, and bought it at an auction...some dents and other issues (note the chrome replacement side trim LOL!), but still saveable if you wanted to put the money into the car.







This is the most heartbreaking one for me, a 2001 Oxford green in my home town... looks good from 15' away... but has all kinds of issues, and most importantly was re-painted by somebody looking to flip the car. They did not re-paint the whole car, just portions of it! This one is still for sale at $5000. This to me was the worst case example of "has no business mucking around with one of these cars".




And finally, some lucky bastard got my dream E38, an all original (unmolested!) Oxford that sold in NorCal not too long ago for around $11,500. I frantically contacted the seller when I found the ad, but he had already sold it a couple of weeks earlier and forgot to take down the ad! Arrrggg! 75K mile car.

[bigperm206]

Yea, I know what you mean - I've also got the 'Craigslist 740i Sport addiction' for sure... However, *NOBODY* I've talked to about the various ones for sale (purchased 3 of them, looked at 4 others) knew *ANYTHING* about these cars, and really all but one of them had any business owning one in the first place... I'm not saying I'm the end-all-be-all E38 expert, or master refurbisher!!! I'm actually quite an E38 newb. But I do care enough for these classic BMWs to buy the right parts and address the important things when possible, and most importantly, research research research!

I know that sounds harsh, but there are just a lot of people out there that see 'BMW 7 series for $3000' and say to themselves "Wow, I could be a baller too!" having no idea what they're getting into, and the car takes another step(s) closer to the 'unsaveable' status. All you can hope for is to snatch one up before it's gotten into the hands of one of these types of owners. And then to find one in the color you want, in a reasonably close location.... it's a pretty tall task.

Here are some of the ones I've looked at and the first one I bought (silver).



My paint correction guy doing his magic.... The E38 paint is very durable and takes EXTREMELY well to a proper paint correction.



Off to its new owner!



Royal Red - I'd love to buy this one... Currently for sale for $5500 in Phoenix. If I could sell both my Sahara's right now, I'd go grab this one immediately.




The very first sport shorty I looked at a couple years ago.... One of my favorite colors (Anthrazit), but it needed LOTS of TLC, and he wanted like $5000 for it. My dad and I ran away from this one.







A super rare 111K mile Slate Green that I *really* wanted to buy, but again, the owner knew nothing about these cars, and bought it at an auction...some dents and other issues (note the chrome replacement side trim LOL!), but still saveable if you wanted to put the money into the car.







This is the most heartbreaking one for me, a 2001 Oxford green in my home town... looks good from 15' away... but has all kinds of issues, and most importantly was re-painted by somebody looking to flip the car. They did not re-paint the whole car, just portions of it! This one is still for sale at $5000. This to me was the worst case example of "has no business mucking around with one of these cars".




And finally, some lucky bastard got my dream E38, an all original (unmolested!) Oxford that sold in NorCal not too long ago for around $11,500. I frantically contacted the seller when I found the ad, but he had already sold it a couple of weeks earlier and forgot to take down the ad! Arrrggg! 75K mile car.

+1 on the Sierra Beige. I found a sport iL in Montana with recently done guides and had it shipped over to me in Kirkland.

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[rgao007]

Chamberlin - those are some nice finds. I'd have snapped that Slate Green one up.

+1 on the Sierra Beige. I found a sport iL in Montana with recently done guides and had it shipped over to me in Kirkland.

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Was that the one listed for $3200 (if memory serves correctly)? Relatively low miles, too.

[bigperm206]

Chamberlin - those are some nice finds. I'd have snapped that Slate Green one up.



Was that the one listed for $3200 (if memory serves correctly)? Relatively low miles, too.

rgao007, you're correct although when I first came across it I think he wanted 3800 because of the guides being done. The mileage was about 139k. IR windshield had a nice crack in it and the hood has a little kiss on the front. Cup holder works and all rear shades were functional. He said the windshield could be replaced for a couple of hundred bucks lol. He was off by about $1100. I've got several mods planned.

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