Results 1 to 20 of 20

Thread: Potential New Purchase

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    florida
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    2015 328i

    Potential New Purchase

    Guys,

    I have always loved these cars and the presence they have on the road. Im looking for a new cruiser/ project

    I have been trying to do as much research as possible, i have the buying guide. ive been reading as many different threads. I understand these cars can be wonderful, and a headache at the same time. My only questions really is there any way other than dropping the pan and looking for plastic to tell if the guides are bad? will there be rattle from the chain?

    The car in questions is a 98 Artic silver 740il with 145k, interior and exterior are immaculate , all electronics work on the inside/outside. ran the car fax and seems it was regularly serviced for most of its life.( called the dealer to ask for service records but they have not gotten back to me)
    Current owner has given me this list of recent work.. But he has not done guides and cant confirm if previous owner had
    1 New Air Compressor (ice cold air).
    2. New Alternator
    3. New AGM Bosch Battery
    4. New Transmission Computer
    5. New DME (Computer)
    6. New Power Steering Hoses
    7. New OEM Waterpump
    8. New Thermostat
    9. New PCV Valve
    10. Full Injector removal and cleaning and replacement
    11. New rear lenses and rear lights
    12. New Steering Wishbone Support Rods with Bushings
    13. New Rotors and Pads
    14. Has New Tires (now)
    15. New Front Windshield
    16 . New Windshield Rubber Gasket
    17. New Windshield Cowling
    18. New Starter
    19. New Rear Bearings
    20. Brand New OEM Headliner
    21. valve cover gaskets


    Other than the guides i think the major concerns of this car have been covered, going to look at it on monday.. but any helpful insight would be appreciated
    Last edited by mylesq; 09-15-2018 at 11:39 AM.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Location
    Upstate NY
    Posts
    237
    My Cars
    2001 740i
    Has receipts? What's the asking price?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    florida
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    2015 328i
    Quote Originally Posted by Narlift View Post
    Has receipts? What's the asking price?

    asking 2400- hoping to get it for 1800.. hes had it for sale for over a month .. waiting to hear back on receipts for all parts he listed..

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Wayne,PA
    Posts
    1,511
    My Cars
    740iL (E38 '01)
    Quote Originally Posted by mylesq View Post
    asking 2400- hoping to get it for 1800.. hes had it for sale for over a month .. waiting to hear back on receipts for all parts he listed..
    Looks like a bargain, assuming repairs all true and recent. Just the OEM headliner cost probably close to $2,000 alone. New DME is around $1,500... the price of the parts you listed could be around $5K+ easily.

    Run some BMW scanner on all modules (not only DME and transmission), that could tell a lot.
    Last edited by georgebest; 09-15-2018 at 01:58 PM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    florida
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    2015 328i
    Quote Originally Posted by georgebest View Post
    Looks like a bargain, assuming repairs all true and recent. Just the OEM headliner cost probably close to $2,000 alone. New DME is around $1,500... the price of the parts you listed could be around $5K+ easily.

    Run some BMW scanner on all modules (not only DME and transmission), that could tell a lot.

    i dont own a scan tool, i may pick up one before hand any cheaper suggestions?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Wayne,PA
    Posts
    1,511
    My Cars
    740iL (E38 '01)
    The easiest and cheapest to scan all modules with one click is BMW Scanner 1.4 (PA Soft): https://www.ebay.com/itm/V1-4-Diagno...YAAOSw5W5a8UJG
    But any German car specialized shop should be able to do it. Obviously engine & transmission modules matters the most, but I would definitely check everything else before buying it.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    187
    My Cars
    1998 740il
    Buy it. Don’t worry about the guides... The Non-Vanos M62 motors seem to be a bit better in terms of guide durability. They are not bulletproof like the M60 used in the early 7’s... but they have a better track record than the 99-01 cars.

    1998 BMW E38 740il - Vermont Grün Metallic, 150k miles, all stock. 11/98 build.
    2011 Range Rover Supercharged - Rimini Red, Jet/Jet Interior.
    2018 Mercedes GLE 350 - Diamond White, Soccer Mom kid-hauler.
    1970 Chevy Chevelle - Pro-touring, 496ci BBC, custom everything.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Lancaster CA
    Posts
    5,051
    My Cars
    e34,e38,e39,e46,e70,e90
    If its in great condition and 145k miles then about 2000 is fine. I have a 98 and chain guides went out at 139k miles, so the M62 is just as bad as the TU. If the car was well taken care of, the guides will be just fine.

    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)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    florida
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    2015 328i
    Quote Originally Posted by kouks View Post
    If its in great condition and 145k miles then about 2000 is fine. I have a 98 and chain guides went out at 139k miles, so the M62 is just as bad as the TU. If the car was well taken care of, the guides will be just fine.

    will find out tomorrow, i bought a creator 310 with 20 pin connect , i believe that will work ?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    187
    My Cars
    1998 740il
    I would stick with the PASoft BMW scanner as suggested earlier. To read all the codes on the E38 you will need to use the “Pac-Man” connector under the hood. The OBD port in the dash won’t give you nearly the same level of detail. OBD port will only give you codes that trigger dash lights. There are whole slew of other modules that can only be read via the Underhood port and software lIke BMWScanner or the factory BMW tools like INPA and NCS

    1998 BMW E38 740il - Vermont Grün Metallic, 150k miles, all stock. 11/98 build.
    2011 Range Rover Supercharged - Rimini Red, Jet/Jet Interior.
    2018 Mercedes GLE 350 - Diamond White, Soccer Mom kid-hauler.
    1970 Chevy Chevelle - Pro-touring, 496ci BBC, custom everything.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    florida
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    2015 328i
    Quote Originally Posted by BillConn View Post
    I would stick with the PASoft BMW scanner as suggested earlier. To read all the codes on the E38 you will need to use the “Pac-Man” connector under the hood. The OBD port in the dash won’t give you nearly the same level of detail. OBD port will only give you codes that trigger dash lights. There are whole slew of other modules that can only be read via the Underhood port and software lIke BMWScanner or the factory BMW tools like INPA and NCS
    I was under the impression the the i310 with the 20 pin could read the under hood port? can anyone confirm?

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    2,665
    My Cars
    750IL/540iT/R53/E46Vert
    If you have the 20 pin to OBD port adaptor, you are set. If there are no codes setting the SES light, you are off to a good start

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Wayne,PA
    Posts
    1,511
    My Cars
    740iL (E38 '01)
    Quote Originally Posted by mylesq View Post
    I was under the impression the the i310 with the 20 pin could read the under hood port? can anyone confirm?
    Yes, it can. That's a great little tool, I have that one too. You need to go module by module, but it can read all of them. BMW Scanner is easier cause you press a button and it scans all modules at once, but outcome is same.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Ft. Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    5,083
    My Cars
    98 740il, 00 540i,04 ZHP
    Are you in the Tampa area? I think I know the car you're talking about if it's the one listed on CL. I was thinking that was a good deal, but I am always skeptical when someone has done all that work and then goes to sell saying the only thing it needs is a front ABS sensor.

    It looks like a clean car. I wonder if it has the ABS lights on and stuff due to "the sensor".
    Last edited by racer2086; 09-18-2018 at 02:47 PM.
    '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


  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    florida
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    2015 328i
    Quote Originally Posted by racer2086 View Post
    Are you in the Tampa area? I think I know the car you're talking about if it's the one listed on CL. I was thinking that was a good deal, but I am always skeptical when someone has done all that work and then goes to sell saying the only thing it needs is a front ABS sensor.

    It looks like a clean car. I wonder if it has the ABS lights on and stuff due to "the sensor".

    i hear ya hes an older guy so i guess it makes me feel a little bit bettrer, not being some kid .. apparently all that work was not done by him, some of it by the previous owner.. im trying to link up with him tomorrow to take a look at it.. if you watched the video the speedo wasn't working so it made me think it was the module but he said speedo has since been fixed so i think it could just be abs sensor

    Still so weary of these cars bc the timing guides.. dont feel like buying a car and not being able to use it immediately because i need to do a 2-4k timing job

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Ft. Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    5,083
    My Cars
    98 740il, 00 540i,04 ZHP
    I responded to your PM. It's all up to how it was maintained. I did my guides myself at ~195k miles just to be safe. They weren't broken, but they crumbled in my hands when I took them out. You are going to have to do them at some point.
    '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


  17. #17
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Wayne,PA
    Posts
    1,511
    My Cars
    740iL (E38 '01)
    ...and my guides came into pieces at only 89K in the engine. So you never know.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    florida
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    2015 328i
    Quote Originally Posted by georgebest View Post
    ...and my guides came into pieces at only 89K in the engine. So you never know.
    Went and checked out the car, engine felt and sounded great however body and interior were a little rougher than I expected the “new headliner” is coming off. typical pieces are broken glove box , cupholder.

    Guess I need to update the c310 bc it wouldn’t connect to the car at either port .. kept saying try mode 3 then try mode 3

    on on my way to check out another one this one being a 97
    Last edited by mylesq; 09-20-2018 at 01:10 PM.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Location
    Upstate NY
    Posts
    237
    My Cars
    2001 740i
    ^knew it
    Exactly why I asked if there was receipts because he could have easily been making half that list up and apparently he probably was.
    Good luck on your search!

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Wayne,PA
    Posts
    1,511
    My Cars
    740iL (E38 '01)
    Quote Originally Posted by mylesq View Post
    Went and checked out the car, engine felt and sounded great however body and interior were a little rougher than I expected the “new headliner” is coming off. typical pieces are broken glove box , cupholder.

    Guess I need to update the c310 bc it wouldn’t connect to the car at either port .. kept saying try mode 3 then try mode 3

    Should work when in Mode 3, the ports are a bit tricky. You need the cap to be screwed on on the round one to have the cabine ODB port working. Anyway, you should always use the round one.

Similar Threads

  1. Potential New Owner Looking For Advice on a New Purchase
    By speedemmon in forum 2006 - 2012 (E90, E91, E92, E93)
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 12-15-2013, 04:47 PM
  2. My new purchase (my M3 on Rg-rs)
    By JB///M3 in forum BMW Rides & Events
    Replies: 39
    Last Post: 01-06-2004, 04:39 AM
  3. new purchase, cant identify aftermarket exhaust
    By brandon in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 02-03-2003, 08:54 AM
  4. Need advice regarding potential M3 purchase (more)...
    By SilverM3 in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 07-02-2001, 11:26 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •