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Thread: 160k and pondering...

  1. #1
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    160k and pondering...

    I love driving the e38 with all its supercharger power and the tighter suspension and closer ratio diff. but the time has come where i must decide whether to fix the big item or pass it forward as summer is approaching. We are having our first baby in April and the AC compressor grenaded in the dinan last year. Had the shop remove the compressor in the mean time and drove it all winter long. It was a blast! I'd think about all the fixes and maintenances in the last 35k of owning this car, and how far I have come from an engine full of oil leaks at the gaskets to new carbotech 750 brake pads and new rotors, new control and strut arms, 95'C manual thermostats, fixed the heater valve myself, new seat belt, the obligatory plastic radiator, acc fan, new all leather shift knob, newer style siren, stupid glove box and trunk lock fixes, and of course tires on tires on tires! Yes, I can throw another $2.5k to have complete AC overhual, or even play it fast and loose and only replace the condenser and compressor even though there's metal shavings in the system, says one mechanic...

    It's as if this Dinan was my baby, and I have been caring for him since his infancy; Potty trained the engine not to piss oil everywhere but only during oil changes; got him new shoes and taught him not to dirty it so fast with the ceramic brakes; taught him how to control his temper and not rely on electronics to cool down; moisturized his leather with lexol and my own hands to keep from cracking; And most importantly, gave him the tools to accept its low stance and handle himself with confidence. He had great pedigree, but he needed my nurturing to be where he is today. I gave him unconditional love, and he paid me back with great driving dynamics and great linear torque and power to the redline.

    With the impending arrival of the new baby, I could choose to have them learn to coexist. I know the leather I worked hard to keep soft would be stained, slashed, and doodoo-ed on. I won't be able to take him to regular check ups and keep him from pissing oil or coolant with preventive works. I know I will choose my first child over my mechanical child and may let him sit on the driveway through the summer heat and winter hail. I may even look at other cars with bigger trunk that can haul more asses. I might make it work in the short run, but it may end up with the same fate as my family pet cat, Candy, of 19 years when my sister had her first son. Candy was neglected and passed away of old age. The drive in the last few months was a homage to its greatness and reminder of why I gave him so much attention. Perhaps, it would be best to pass on the torch and let someone else maintain and ride this beast instead of keeping it in my stable.

    Hope it was a treat reading through the ramblings in my mind

    http://sacramento.craigslist.org/cto/6561788310.html
    Last edited by shenofjo; 04-15-2018 at 12:28 PM. Reason: Updating link

  2. #2
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    I wouldn't get rid of it just yet. I can't think of a better car for a rear-facing car seat. That extended wheelbase makes a huge difference. You can always get a cover for the seat to protect the leather.

    In terms of money, you either pay for repairs/parts or you make a car payment. There's really no way to drive a car for free.

    My vote would be to keep the 7 and get mama a minivan.

  3. #3
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    Yeah rear facing child seats take up a lot of room. Sure wish I had an iL when my kids were little but they were too new then and we were poor. I’d fix it and drive it.
    2000 740i Sport | 2004 330xi | 1988 325i Vert | 2003 Z4 2.5 | 1995 Ford F150 | 2018 GTI

  4. #4
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    Got my IL to handle two rear facing seats... E39 was okay for one kid but not two! IL has plenty of room to haul more "asses" as you say. It all depends on your job, time, skill, WIFE, whether or not you can handle the upkeep. It took me almost three months to completely overhaul all engine gaskets, TCGs, valley pan, etc. But I love driving my IL everyday!

    If you are ready to move on, it's your call, go for it! However, once you let her go, how many Dinan 7s will you find, once you realize you miss her?
    Current: 2007 Z4 M Coupe (blue/black)
    Previous: 2001 740iL Sport (black/black), 2000 528i Sport (black/tan), 1995 318is (black/black), 1991 318is (white/black)

  5. #5
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    You’re also going to be very frustrated with the kind of offers you receive as well as the typical Craigslist experience which will make you want it to stop.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  6. #6
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    I’m fortunate enough to have a Audi V10 S8 as well and have passed that to the wife for her while I move to daily a E38 750i, driven F10s F01s F30s, none of them do it for me, the 38 keeps it honest and is just such a damn good drive.
    I can afford to move up and have had long term E61 550 as well, ultimately E38 is just more me.
    My two cents ...

    good luck with your choice

  7. #7
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    thanks for the thoughts, definitely a lot of the same thinking here. my plan was to drive this dinan to the ground and the cost of the fixes are pretty much in line with the cost of monthly paying a new car. wife doesnt seem to understand the concept when it comes the the "numerical value" of the car currently. I also have a TT supra and hard to justify having 2 old and "unreliable" cars in the lot. On the other hand, the uniqueness of the car and the way it drives is unique enough that the value is un-quantifiable. Offers I have got so far are somewhat below asking but not too far off. Will hopefully hold out and keep it going.

  8. #8
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    So I have given it some thought and got a quote for getting the entire AC overhaul and perhaps along the way get the TCG done. The shop gave me a quote of 4400 for labor and may be looking at 6500 for parts and labor. should i bite the bullet and turn this into my baby carrier? funny thing, I had someone email me interested in upgrading his e46 to this one because he is having his second baby around the same time as mine. perhaps i could just do the TCG and AC and let this beast live on for another 100-200k miles... labor price sounds about right?
    Last edited by shenofjo; 04-11-2018 at 11:31 PM.

  9. #9
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    That is a lot of money.... and by no means is that the end of the expenses for 100k miles.

    you are a young family with baby (s). Here is what we know...

    1. e38 is best suited for an enthusiast who does there own wrenching.

    2. even if doing your own wrenching, the expenses (annually) will surpass a honda/toyota etc.

    3. If you have only 2 cars and need 2 cars you MUST anticipate needing to carpool and/or uber when the e38 is sidelined. It will get sidelined.

    4. Expenses (considered routine for an e38) can run the gambit from $50 to thousands. For example a suspension job. or a transmission.


    Rather than spending $6500 on the e38, you could buy a $6500 accord or camry that will drive and drive and drive. You could keep the e38 as a hobby; drive it when you have time, fix it when you have money.

    If you need bigger because of baby seats and supplies, then look at a mini-van.

    If you are well off financially, ignore my post and do as you please. If you are a struggling (or simply typical) young family use great caution investing substantially in your e38 at this time in your life. You stated something to the effect that your wife didn't understand the e38 cost model - believe me it will eat at her and will be a source of argument (I told you so type thing) when you experience that known and anticipated burden the e38 brings with it.

    We that have the e38 do not do it because it is financially advantageous and we don't do it naively thinking the mechanical repairs (and upgrades which you can relate to Dinan) just don't stop.

    So my opinion, is be very very hesitant. In fact, perhaps go as far as talking with your wife's parent about it. WHAT? you may ask, yep, see what there thoughts are because they will also ride you if later you have life altering issues; expenses and/or inconvenience that effect your wife's happiness.

    anyway, enough from this old man.

    Good luck and at a minimum, be sure your wife is 100% with you on this and do not care about how many people on a forum support you.

    Dan
    1997 740iL; 5/96 build. Purchased 12/04. Off the road build project 2013 - 2021. back on road 3/2021. Became daily driver (only vehicle) 6/12/2021. Still not completed. Stay tuned as the adventure continues.

  10. #10
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    +1 what cyclops2 said. Unless you have the money to throw around, do not spend that much for a repair, which costs more than the car itself at this point (plus, that estimate sounds over inflated!). Read what happened to poor clarkitect and his IL... and he was contemplating on doing TCGs too.
    Current: 2007 Z4 M Coupe (blue/black)
    Previous: 2001 740iL Sport (black/black), 2000 528i Sport (black/tan), 1995 318is (black/black), 1991 318is (white/black)

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by shenofjo View Post
    So I have given it some thought and got a quote for getting the entire AC overhaul and perhaps along the way get the TCG done. The shop gave me a quote of 4400 for labor and may be looking at 6500 for parts and labor. should i bite the bullet and turn this into my baby carrier? funny thing, I had someone email me interested in upgrading his e46 to this one because he is having his second baby around the same time as mine. perhaps i could just do the TCG and AC and let this beast live on for another 100-200k miles... labor price sounds about right?
    Just now reading this post and seeing that you originally posted about a month ago. I actually got my iL because we were at that point 3-deep with kids and car seats. So I carefully searched for a car (not truck, suv,minivan,..) that could fit THREE car seats in the back and give some consideration for when they are out of the car seats and have room to sit WITHOUT kicking the back of my seat. lol! Wife was in agreement about the practicality of the car since I was (reluctantly) getting rid of a much smaller car.

    We actually did the same as gusdog suggested, I got the iL and mama got a honda minivan. Kept them both for almost 10 years. she got an SUV last year. Technically, I had to replace my car 6 years after purchase, in 2013, after it was totaled in a flood; but I got the same car model (silver, 2001 740iL) and still have it. If you make wife happy and get her what she wants, she will likely not have an issue with you keeping the bimmer.

    Funny thing is after I first got the car, I had in mind all these mods I wanted to do to the car over the years as our budget could afford and it seems like you already have those mods done! DUDE! do whatever you can to keep your mechanical baby! (funny story in your first post by the way)

    Best of luck to you with whatever you decide.
    "A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible. There are no prima donnas in engineering." - Freeman Dyson

  12. #12
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    There is plenty of room. There is no safer car for your kids, count the air bags? The back seat will get trashed but can be fixed.

    Put in a compressor, filter/dryer and a inline filter in the liquid line before the expansion valve. I did this for years with compressor failures without any problems. Most of the debris will be caught by the condenser and most are multipass then its on the the filter dryer and finally the expansion valve. That's a lot to get through before any debris gets back to your new compressor. "If" your expansion valve or condenser are plugged you can address them later as a separate job. The only advantage is not doing a recovery twice. Once I start recovery I pull ginger bread and by the time I'm ready to open the system the recovery is done.

    The TC guides are another matter. For a shop to do the work quoted the price seems high but fair.

  13. #13
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    Thanks for a more broad perspective from everyone! I just test drove an 2013 X5 xdrive Diesel in red, and I was pretty sold on it myself. talked to wife whether I can do more research and go for it... and she straight up vetoed my ass... she is 39 weeks and has no filter now. she said it sounds like another project car and I have to sell my dinan before even thinking about it! i was gonna say something but i let that hot coffee of frustration cool during dinner before tossing it into the wind. I did eventually say, why not buy an SUV of your choice. Even with the dinan being sold, I dont think I can approach this like a single car transaction without my wife interfering in the decision making. I thought and thought, and my conclusion is having to get 2 sensible / reliable cars at the end of the day(and keep my mk4 supra bpu). An SUV of her choice after selling the dinan, then maybe the acura TL SH AWD 6MT with 300+HP all motor to replace the dull accord!
    I do have 2 potential buyers, 1 is stuck with his own jeep cherokee he is trying to sell before he has the funds to buy mine full price. the other ha cash in hand but wants a better deal. Emailed the second guy, and he basically said he would pick up the car monday if the price is right. shot him my lowest offer and will see what he says.

    That being said, reading the responses today, the whole filter thing is sounding like a great idea! definitely something I can contemplate. I did have my Supra mechanic quote me $1700 for doing the partial AC job and that might be where it would land with this filter set up.

  14. #14
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    Good job. very analytical and level headed. Sounds like your idea is a solid plan AND your wife seems onboard with the idea and that is so important.

    You had a great run with the Dinan, sounds like it has been a great project and experience. So great memories, plus it has served to provide you with a jumping off platform to get something more in line with what your wife feels will be reliable and she'll be confident that she and baby will be safe.

    Sounds like you won't be left empty handed, you'll have a Supra to play with when time and funds permit.

    Perfect.

    Best of luck to you, Momma and baby!

    Dan
    1997 740iL; 5/96 build. Purchased 12/04. Off the road build project 2013 - 2021. back on road 3/2021. Became daily driver (only vehicle) 6/12/2021. Still not completed. Stay tuned as the adventure continues.

  15. #15
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    2001 BMW 740iL
    Me and my son were talking about supercharging (Him seriously, me just to humor him) the 7 today. Well, his first question was if you could Turbo it. I responded that if I was going with Forced Induction I'd choose a supercharger. I already have a Turbo Porsche. I had no idea there really was such a thing!!!! To me full sized cars with V8's or bigger you SC not TC. Out of interest was this a factory thing??

    To YOUR question, seems like the decision to sell has already been made. And if you don't wrench yourself I'd say you made the right choice. In the few weeks I've had my E38 I've spent about $500. If I had taken it to a shop it would have been $3500+ instead. I even do the A/C work myself, just have a shop drain it and leave it empty. So for me, anything short of a cracked block is always "fix" over "sell". I sell cars when I'm tired of them (mostly to salvage yards, I drive em till the wheels fall off).

    I know what a mk4 TT Supra is worth, so I know the money isn't the biggest thing to you. I searched and searched for a rust free Supra and ended up getting my Porsche 951 because I could never find good example for less than serous $$$$$$. Supra's are either rusted out dumpster fires, or worth their weight in gold. With the TT being the top of the gold heap. Have a link to any pics?? I love Supra's.
    2001 740iL "Silver Beauty"
    1986 Porsche 951 "Silver Bullet"
    1987 Porsche 944 NA Auto (rebuilding for my son's first car)
    https://home.doonze.net/filepage.php <- BMW/Porsche doc's and files, work in progress

  16. #16
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    There are multiple companies with supercharger in the aftermarket. Dinan, VF. Mine was fully installed by dinan. While supras are definitely on the rise, my dad bought it new in 93, then i bought it from him in 2011, not ultra balller status here, and that ball and chain around the bank account... heres my Supra linked here. Dont really use wheelwell but its there

    https://www.wheelwell.com/tsung-sizzle/1lrx/1993-toyota-supra?utm_source=vehicle_embed_widget&utm_medium=w eb&utm_campaign=vehicle_detail_page

  17. #17
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    As I have turned my wife around on keeping the car, I NEED MY AC FIXED! now I am seeing $3000 in labor and parts if i want a 1 year 12k warranty, but if i am to go with what ACspecialist says here, then they wont do any warranty for me. So I basically need some assurance before proceeding and hope it doesnt back fire and make my wife lose faith in the dinan 7!

  18. #18
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    Maybe I’m wrong, but the only moving part in the AC system is the compressor. The system also has an internal filter. I would just replace the compressor and filter screen and go with it for less than $300. If that does not work you can go deeper if you really want to, but the baby will change your priorities pretty quickly and the compressor will be enough.

    02 e39 540i Sport (Son), 01 DINAN 7 (Me), 12 e70 X5 x35i (Mrs), 95 e34 525i (Daughter 2), 01 e46 325Ci vert (Daughter 1)

  19. #19
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    I'd love to hear this! My mechanic says there's debris in the system already though. Think compressor and new filter would work?

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by shenofjo View Post
    I'd love to hear this! My mechanic says there's debris in the system already though. Think compressor and new filter would work?
    A used compressor at the JY will cost about $50; recharging the system another $150 or so. What have you got to lose? I’m wondering if there’s any way to flush the system out without a rebuild also. I’d give it a shot, it’s much less than $3k.

    02 e39 540i Sport (Son), 01 DINAN 7 (Me), 12 e70 X5 x35i (Mrs), 95 e34 525i (Daughter 2), 01 e46 325Ci vert (Daughter 1)

  21. #21
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    True, only thing is worry about premature break from say a pressure surge in the system and then break the compressor soon after. I believe teh compressor was cycling on and off a bunch before it seized completely. Hoping it was the compressor problem only and not the system clogged

  22. #22
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    You can put in a compressor and filter/dryer and give it a go. I also used to install and inline filter in the liquid line.Attachment 630816 I have never flushed a system and most manufactures do not recommend it. Most condensers are multi-pass so a little crud shouldn't cause a problem. The biggest risk is the expansion valve. It's buried under the dash and a tiny bit of debris and screw it up. In over ten years of doing it only a handful needed everything.

    You can and I normally did these repairs step by step. It's a little more of a pain but you only fix what is needed. Most shops these days just replace everything because they have very little understanding of how to troubleshoot and A/C system. When they are done they hand you a bill and it works every time because the whole system is new. Unless you have a new one I would put a fan clutch in.
    01' 750il Chromeline
    95 M3 LS swapped
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    06' M5, Spartan wheels and a 507hp V10
    00' 740il Dinan, CAI, Romulus exhaust, Stage 5 engine and transmission tune, 750 brakes, camber plates, strut tower brace. Sold
    00' 323i wagon for daughter
    03' 525i wagon for the wife, sold
    98' 740i for the daughter, wrecked
    92' 525i with over 200k, wrecked
    02' R1200 CLC, hit by a bus and broken in half. That one made the news!
    It's like herpes there is no cure but if treated properly you can live with it for the rest of your life

  23. #23
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    Since its seized compressor, perhaps replace condenser and conpressor and the filter and call it?where do i get an inline filter like that?

  24. #24
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    It's a Delco part but a web search should find it. I haven't ordered one in years. You install it in the liquid line after the dryer. It will work on several different size lines and is pretty low profile. The condenser is multi-pass and a separate job IMO. You could do it only if needed after the system is running again. I only ever replaced condensers if they were damaged and leaking.
    01' 750il Chromeline
    95 M3 LS swapped
    07 M5 Manual
    06' M5, Spartan wheels and a 507hp V10
    00' 740il Dinan, CAI, Romulus exhaust, Stage 5 engine and transmission tune, 750 brakes, camber plates, strut tower brace. Sold
    00' 323i wagon for daughter
    03' 525i wagon for the wife, sold
    98' 740i for the daughter, wrecked
    92' 525i with over 200k, wrecked
    02' R1200 CLC, hit by a bus and broken in half. That one made the news!
    It's like herpes there is no cure but if treated properly you can live with it for the rest of your life

  25. #25
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    I'm with ACSpec and Kouks on this one. Replace the compressor and filter/dryer (#64538377330) and vacuum it down to 500 microns, lock it down to ensure no leaks, recharge (add PAG100 oil charge is used compressor is installed) and give it a go.
    Flushing the system is not recommended, it can destroy the expansion valve as ACSpec mentioned.
    Most of the debris from an exploding compressor will be caught in the receiver/dryer.
    As Kouks said, worth a shot.

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