Hello all, I'm new to the forum and have never owned a BMW before. I just got this 2001 750il for $800 and I'm looking for some mechanical help. My plan is to get it to a better condition and resell it to fund my Jeep Comanche project. Any advice is appreciated!
Major problems:
Service engine light is on steady
DSC malfunction light is on steady
Brake and ABS lights are on steady
Speedometer does not work at all.
I'm assuming all of those problems are related to the speed sensors but I'm looking for some help on running diagnostics and pulling codes. I can do my own maintenance but this is proving to be a very advanced car that I'm not used to.
Minor issues I want fixed before I sell:
Nav display screen does not work, however, the radio, and tape deck work
Various interior wear and tear / electrical motors / missing trim
New tires
That's it though! Otherwise it runs and drives smooth, shifts smooths, holds all its fluids well, and seems mechanically sound. Not much to do and I think I can turn a good profit. I will continue my research on this site but if any of these problems are jumping out at you it would save me some time, thanks again and here are some pics!
Last edited by Gumbytex; 07-07-2018 at 11:05 PM.
Although the car is quite complicated - it doesn't sound like your problem is! It is very likely you have an ABS wheel sensor failure and that's much the same on any car. INPA diagnostics works well with these cars and is available on Ebay along with the leads for a few dollars, all you need is a laptop with a USB socket and you will be ready.
I'm diagnosing an E31 here - but the plan is exactly the same:
Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i
My BMW Repair YouTube Channel
My Current 840ci Sport Individual
My Current 650ci Sport Individual
My E31 Repair and Information Website
My E38 Repair and Information Website
My E63/E64 Repair and Information Website
Chase - Heroes to a generation
How about a quick flip,
and I take it off your hands for $1000?
You could possibly just made a quick $200!
Thanks lol but I'm trying to get it to a point where I can list it for $3500
Just taking a shot at it,
but seriously listen to Timm, he is the expert on this vehicle,
maybe more vehicles, than I'm aware of!
Wouldnt the service engine light mean something more serious?
Yes, there are several issues, but always best to start with the simple stuff first otherwise it all gets a bit overwhelming!
Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i
My BMW Repair YouTube Channel
My Current 840ci Sport Individual
My Current 650ci Sport Individual
My E31 Repair and Information Website
My E38 Repair and Information Website
My E63/E64 Repair and Information Website
Chase - Heroes to a generation
Bought an ABS/wheel speed sensor for the drivers side rear wheel, hopefully that will fix alot of the speedo/DSC/ABS/brake light issues. The service engine light says it is due for an oil change on start up but i'm not sure if there is more to that or not, I will be pulling codes soon.
I replaced the rear drivers side wheel speed sensor and now my speedometer works! The ABS, brake, and DSC lights come on after driving a few 100ft so i'm sure there is still an issue but it doesn't affect driving so I would call that a small victory. The oil service light I reset and isn't showing any more after an oil change. The service engine light is still on. We tried pulling codes for it at the shop but the reader said the car was putting out too low voltage to read.
Also got some wheels from a 2014 7 series with ok tires but much better than what was on it. I think I am pretty close to the point where I want to sell it. With the maintenance issues I am seeing and the general condition it is in what do you all think would be a good price? I'm leaning to starting at $4000 and hoping for $3500
Hard to say without even seeing the car or knowing the mileage. But with the warning lights on you won’t get $3 or $4k unless the car has some crazy low miles and is in otherwise mint condition. These cars are desireable to a select few.
^yeah. There is no such thing as flipping an e38 imo unless it was like...free~ you flip civics , not e38s. Worse car to flip
If you turn a good profit let us know!
- - - Updated - - -
Oh and welcome!
Fair enough. I just got the blower motor to work when I was messing with the radio so I'm gonna try and not drive it much anymore so that the motor is working when I sell it. Otherwise here is what my add would look like.
2001 BMW 750il V12, 170000mi, Clean title in my name
The Good:
Runs, drives, shifts smooth.
Wheels and tires off 2014 BMW 7 series
Electric seats front and rear, tilt wheel, sunroof, A/C, windows, door locks, and radio/speakers all work
The Bad:
Service engine, DSC, ABS lights on but cannot tell any affect on drive-ability
Navigation screen does not work
Missing trim pieces, interior running boards and drivers side B-Pillar
Broken cupholders
Various other cosmetic marks and tears
Right now I have $1000 invested on top of purchase price so as long as I can pull $2000 I'll break even pretty well. Thanks for the help everyone! This is a very welcoming forum. The mustang and comanche forums I am also on are pretty good too.
Yeah, what a couple of people above said. Best of luck, but 'flipping' E38s is a losing proposition save for very, very specific cases. You will have to decide when to stop throwing money at it.
Listed! We will see what happens but hopefully it goes well. I was as honest in the add as I can be.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2001-BMW-7-Series/223052233095
Actually looks pretty decent in the listing. You won’t lose money. GLWS.
I'd look into changing the the blower motor resistor (assuming that is the problem) before you try to sell it in Florida in the summer. Otherwise what Clakkitect says. GLWS. Grady
Last edited by Narlift; 07-09-2018 at 01:23 AM.
Thanks everyone! I'm pretty sure it's the brushes in the motor. Banging on the dash can get it on and I don't want to dig into the dash or pay for a new motor.
Reserve is $3000 but that's a secret lol
Sad thing is I did clean the engine bay and trunk. They were just that filthy and I'm frankly tired of cleaning. The trim pieces both inside and out I tracked down a potential donor but they never messaged me back. All and all a quick flip for a few hundred less is better than throwing more money and time at it.
I would possibly be interested in it. Is the outside dark blue or black? Maybe my monitor is playing tricks on me.
I'm not too far from you. What code comes out for the SES light?
'98 740il | 9/97 build | schwarz 2 | sandbeige | 5AT | 270k
'04 330i ZHP sedan | Mystic blue | Alcantara | 6MT | 120k
'00 540i sport | Titanium silver | Black | 5AT | 152k
'85 Mustang GT convertible | Medium charcoal metallic | Gray | 5MT | 216k | one owner, all original
mods: m-pars | Bilsteins & B&G springs | ValentineOne | StealthOne
retrofits: full nav | MKIV | bluetooth TCU | BM53 w/ AUX input | video module w/ AV input & backup cam | oem sirius xm | xenon | shades | PDC | rain sensor | BMW DWS TPMS | lighted door handles | front seat heaters | heated steering wheel | euro rear fog lights | ski pass | folding mirrors
It is black. Also i couldn't pull the codes for the SES. I dont have the right system to read the codes. Feel free to call or text me if you are interested, im having trouble messaging on this site. 8283358935
My mistake, i didn't see the reserve.GLWS.
Edit: I see you decided to lower the reserve, good call there. And again GLWS.
Last edited by Narlift; 07-14-2018 at 07:32 PM.
Sold for $2500 locally to a guy who owned 2 other e38 740il. They looked pretty clean so I hope he is happy with his first 750il!
Well done.
Damn I would have bought it.
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