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.
Has receipts? What's the asking price?
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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
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
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
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
...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.
^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!
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