Latest in my long line of "what impractical car" advice.

Start here:

Bottom line, yes these are an excellent buy if you're not too worried about thirst. There have been quite a few issues with the 3.0L and 4.0L M60 V8s though, namely nikasil bore problems (also a problem with early 2.8 M52 engines) and loose oil pump bolts (M60) to name just two. Amazing handling for the size of motor though.

JB

Diesels plenty : 725 TDS, 730D, 740D.

To the other questions: they are BMW's so no rust, all parts supported etc

No, they are diesels, 8-12 l/100 km depending on your right foot.

Very very good cars but only if serviced according to BMW standards.

Achilles talon: service and parts, which even at the so-called grey garages, can become very expensif. Things like computers, electrical toys: they last but if they go, you are in for a mayor cash deposit.

A friend bought a very tidy, dealer maintained, 6 years old BMW 730d of a client for 6.000 UKP. 30.000 km later at MOT the steering rack was found to have too much play, that and 4 tires/disks and brakes set him back for around 5.000 UKP.

He (a year later) has moved to Algery for work: his 730d was close to unsellable and went in auction for 1200 UKP (this because in Belgium very high taxes are applied to big diesel engines (everything above 2l))

I suppose his 730d is now also in Black-Africa. Strange: he could not import the 730d nor his land Rover into Algery.

Tom De Moor

Thanks. Looks like a good site. Looking at it, maybe a late E32 might be a better deal even if they are

6 and 12 cylinder models and not V8s.

Other thought being a similar age band E class. or a small "truck" with a diesel lump and part-time 4wd.

Excellent.

OK, that might be the killer. I know BMW like to charge and arm and a leg for proper servicing. I wonder if there is a prefered network of independants like there are with other Marques, who will do the required level of work, without wanting the silly money for screen wash and 3 figure per hour labour charges.

Looking, it might be a later E32 rather than E38 I will be looking at, so similar things apply.

Of course this all depends on me needing a large comfy diesel car for long commutes, based on the Job I was interviewed for in October, that I accepted in November, that I was supposed to start at beginning of December, that was put off until 2nd January, and now hasn't started yet but he apparently wants to meet in Manchester today to discuss where things are, but hasn't actually told me when and where, actually beginning and me needing to do an 80 mile round trip daily.

I'm almost certain we didn't get the diesels in the UK.

Bugger. It was almost the most sensible for a cheap hauler I've suggested.

A late E32 735iSE would be the best. The old M30 engine is *bombproof*. I know of (and have owned) several with well over 500k miles on them. V12s are cheap to buy, but not cheap to run or maintain. They are however the smoothest thing ever.

Just say Nooooooo! If you are not doing major miles, just get an E34 535i Even better handling than the '7', very cheap to buy now, and a total piece of piss to work on/maintain.

JB

What he needs is a 525TDS if he wants BMW diesel power.

JB

Seconded, that car/engine-comibination has proven not only to be good but to be excellent.

A friend (sales rep) notched up 400.000 km in 5 years in a 525TDS Estate. I've been in it: in and out a very solid and tidy car. The leather interior unmarked (and this for a 400.000 km car!)

As the lease-contract ended, he received a new 330D. Quite a bit faster, as well build but the hauling capacity (he sells computers and stuff) and the rear seat space are far less. His normal speeding tickets with the 5 were around 160 kph, now there are 2 tickets burning a hole in his desk, flashed around 200 kph :-)

I called for his "old" car as it was quite a nice one and good if you have to pick 4-5 people up. It was sold -didn't ask the price- 30 minutes after he handed it in.

Tom De Moor

Sounds good. What are they like for comfort. I'm worried about my old back troubles flaring up. The very thing that stopped me using standard off the shelf bucket seats.

If I do a long journey, or end up sat stationionary in traffic, I have real trouble straightening up properly for a few minutes after get out, without any pain.

Autocar's editor ran an E38 2.8 petrol auto for a year when new and raved about it - seemed the performance wasn't as poor as you'd first think with such a large car.

In my experience an arm and a leg for shoddy and dishonest work. Three different dealers too. Not being incredibly picky like marking things and checking afterwards they've been changed etc but little things like putting it in for an oil service where they didn't change the oil or filter. Cleaned the car, though. It never had one service without an obvious thing not being done properly - so gawd knows about the hidden bits.

I have one within walking distance. AMC in Garratt Lane, Tooting. Their labour rate is less than half that of the local main dealer and they quite simply offer better quality work and a more honest approach. They are always at near maximum capacity too.

Sounds like some of the scare stories I had heard about.

So they do exist in the Bimmer world. Excellent. Just need to find out who all the older model drivers locally to me recommend.

You'll have no problems at all with an E34 seats. I did over 16 hours of almost continuous driving in one 24hr period once in my old E34 520i Touring and apart from the boredom (and cost of juice!) it was totally painless.

JB

There's an independent BMW specialist on Dover Road in Latchford - go and have a chat with them.

Cheers.

Oh I didn't know that. Will pop in and talk I think, Cheers.

I have similar problems and found the all singing and dancing electric memory front seats on my E39 poor. However, a 'sausage' from Halfords provided the necessary lumbar support for pennies. Models with the sports package have different seats, but not driven one for long enough to know if they're ok.

John Burn's BMW site has some information on this sort of thing.