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Thread: Things to know before buying a 98 740il with 200,000 miles

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
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    Binghamton
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    1998 740il

    Things to know before buying a 98 740il with 200,000 miles

    So when February come in close, I'm looking forward to buying a new car and for the longest time I've always wanted and E38 ever since my friend in high school had one. The one I got my eyes set on its a 1998 740il that's about to hit 200000 miles. I know these E38 are common to have timing chain failures but is there anything else I should know before purchasing this car? The owner claims to never have had any problems with the motor or transmission and that it is in fine working condition. As stated above I plan on buying this car next month February 2019, and in the spring of this year I looked to take it on a road trip if all works out and I end up with the car which leads me to another question... Could I trust this car to go New York to Florida which is about 1100 miles each way?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    NYC
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    9,573
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    99 IL/13 SXT/04 Audi A4
    Quote Originally Posted by d9m27w93 View Post
    So when February come in close, I'm looking forward to buying a new car and for the longest time I've always wanted and E38 ever since my friend in high school had one. The one I got my eyes set on its a 1998 740il that's about to hit 200000 miles. I know these E38 are common to have timing chain failures but is there anything else I should know before purchasing this car? The owner claims to never have had any problems with the motor or transmission and that it is in fine working condition. As stated above I plan on buying this car next month February 2019, and in the spring of this year I looked to take it on a road trip if all works out and I end up with the car which leads me to another question... Could I trust this car to go New York to Florida which is about 1100 miles each way?
    good luck 200,000 wow i sell you mine its a 99 with 130k on the clock and have done the timing chain on mine.
    El Cid 1999 IL
    DUDMD Tune/DINAN CAI/19 in Style 95 Rims/Bilstein's Shocks/Eibach Lowering Springs/OEM Folding Mirrors/Custom Cupholder/Custom Wood Sunshade/Sport Steering Wheel/Euro Center Console/Leather Shifter/Rearview Camera /Luke Custom 10 in Sub Box/Cross Drilled Rotors/Rear view Camera/BMW OEM Monitors/BMW E38 Picnic Tables/Vanity Headrests/OEM Roof Rack/Strut Bar/Dinan MAF and Dinan Throttle Body and Dinan tunning /BM53 Radio upgrade /Custom Innovadrive NXG39 modify and Alpine ILX-W650 touch screen radio.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
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    KC North, MO, USA
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    11,153
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    1996 740iL
    200k with original guides? I wouldn't buy it even if I had franco's money.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Ft. Lauderdale, FL
    Posts
    5,083
    My Cars
    98 740il, 00 540i,04 ZHP
    If you buy it, you should do the guides. I meticulously maintain mine (237k miles) and would drive it anywhere. If I had just bought one and didn't have much of a maintenance history, I wouldn't drive it anywhere far.
    '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


  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Rutland, Vermont
    Posts
    4,398
    My Cars
    E30 E38 E46 E85 F150 GTI
    When people say “the car is great I never had to do anything to it” it means “hello deferred maintenance”. Car might be just fine but something like the guides or cooling system could fail suddenly and you’d be stuck. Are you a gambling man?
    2000 740i Sport | 2004 330xi | 1988 325i Vert | 2003 Z4 2.5 | 1995 Ford F150 | 2018 GTI

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Ca
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    6,981
    My Cars
    2001 525it
    To many miles on on it, keep looking. First never trust the owner unless they service records, then get a pre purchase inspection, but it has to many miles on it. Are you moving to Florida or just going on a road trip and will return. Get a rental car.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Binghamton
    Posts
    10
    My Cars
    1998 740il
    Not finding much local for any e38 under 180,000. However i am finding alot of 745li amd 750lis with right around 100,000 for around $3-5,000. They are not as good looking as the e38 tho.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Location
    Upstate NY
    Posts
    237
    My Cars
    2001 740i
    Quote Originally Posted by d9m27w93 View Post
    Not finding much local for any e38 under 180,000. However i am finding alot of 745li amd 750lis with right around 100,000 for around $3-5,000. They are not as good looking as the e38 tho.
    Those are complete junk and you should stay far away. I have one sitting in my driveway, doesnt start. still not sure what to do with it. Thinking of scrapping it soon. They are known junk.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2019
    Location
    Binghamton
    Posts
    10
    My Cars
    1998 740il
    Quote Originally Posted by Narlift View Post
    Those are complete junk and you should stay far away. I have one sitting in my driveway, doesnt start. still not sure what to do with it. Thinking of scrapping it soon. They are known junk.
    Thats what ive been hearing and why ive been looking at e38s.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Posts
    20
    My Cars
    2005 x3, 1998 e38
    If I'm not mistaken the 1998 model was pre VANOS and didn't suffer from the dreaded plastic timing chain guides problem. No?

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    KC North, MO, USA
    Posts
    11,153
    My Cars
    1996 740iL
    Yes. It is pre VANOS but they are not immune from the guides falling apart. I've parted 4 of these cars. Three '96 and one '98. Got them all dirt cheap because they were driven after the guides disintegrated.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    PA
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    1,522
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    1992 525
    E38s are common enough, pass on this one and find a more suitable candidate. How much are you looking to spend to get into one? Whenever I buy a "classic" bmw I always figure I am going to spend the purchase price on parts (i do ALL the work myself) since I get most of them pretty cheap. Something to consider if you aren't handy with a wrench. A garage bill with these could swallow you whole.
    "Helicopters: 10,0000 pieces of metal fatigue rotating around an oil leak."


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