Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: JamesV6CDX on 28 October 2013, 22:07:11
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I want to delve into mechanical territory beyond omegas and as such am looking for a cheap but good v8 to LPG convert
I have seen a BMW 740 on eBay in Bristol.
I like it, but I'm wary. The seller says engine is strong and simply won't start because its been stood 18 months.
But he "doesn't have time for viewings"
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-BMW-740i-auto-BLUE-Excellent-condition-/281193009876?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item417868d2d4
If I could go and hear this run (jump start it myself) I would buy it.
What do we think? Have I answered my own question :/
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That said, 225 positive feedback, he maybe just inherited it and wants shot
Instinct is telling me its as described.
Thoughts? :)
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Normally I would say walk away if you can not view, assuming you want to, but for the money is it perhaps worth the risk - only if you can afford to take a financial hit........ :-\ :-\
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That said, 225 positive feedback, he maybe just inherited it and wants shot
Instinct is telling me its as described.
Thoughts? :)
That was my initial thoughts.............. :-\ :y
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You won't know without seeing it, if he won't let you see it, then he can't want to sell it.
Only buy it unseen if you have space to break it imho :-\ though £385 for a non running, mot less car is about it's limit :-\
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Thing is, if I can go armed with a good battery, I can get day cover, and legally drive it to an mot station within reasonable distance. If I can't start it, I have recovery costs, which makes it less viable :( :y
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don't do it!
Lexus LS4x0 is what you want. :y
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so wait, he wants you to buy i before you see it?
Run away!
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You won't know without seeing it, if he won't let you see it, then he can't want to sell it.
Only buy it unseen if you have space to break it imho :-\ though £385 for a non running, mot less car is about it's limit :-\
Cheers al. I reckon it might hit 6/700 pounds though :-/
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don't do it!
Lexus LS4x0 is what you want. :y
Shhh , in my watch list ;D
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You won't know without seeing it, if he won't let you see it, then he can't want to sell it.
Only buy it unseen if you have space to break it imho :-\ though £385 for a non running, mot less car is about it's limit :-\
Cheers al. I reckon it might hit 6/700 pounds though :-/
In that case, not worth it...
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310029075820/sort/default/usedcars/maximum-age/over_10_years_old/engine-size-cars/4l_to_4-9l/model/7_series/make/bmw/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/postcode/rh202dg/page/1/radius/1500?logcode=p (http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201310029075820/sort/default/usedcars/maximum-age/over_10_years_old/engine-size-cars/4l_to_4-9l/model/7_series/make/bmw/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/postcode/rh202dg/page/1/radius/1500?logcode=p)
:y
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Are you feeling lucky James? ::) :-\ :)
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Thing is, if I can go armed with a good battery, I can get day cover, and legally drive it to an mot station within reasonable distance. If I can't start it, I have recovery costs, which makes it less viable :( :y
Would you really want to risk driving it? Surely the brakes will have seized after being stood for so long?
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don't do it!
Lexus LS4x0 is what you want. :y
Shhh , in my watch list ;D
Plenty on ebay ::)
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don't do it!
Lexus LS4x0 is what you want. :y
Shhh , in my watch list ;D
Plenty on ebay ::)
according to http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=ls400 (http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=ls400)
there are 3200 left on the road out of 7400 on the road in 2000 (last year of model)
http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/combined/omega_elite (http://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/combined/omega_elite)
says that there are only 2300 omega elites left out of 11,000 in 2003
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Do quite like the 740, that V8 bay looks quite easy to get around.
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It's not...
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It's not...
Ok fair enough, just looked like lots of space :-\
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It's not...
Ok fair enough, just looked like lots of space :-\
It's more that everything is covered up. Looks neat and tidy but you have to dig for everything :y
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He has replied. Very polite but again says he's not got time for viewings and just wants shot
I guess I will bid accordingly!
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He has replied. Very polite but again says he's not got time for viewings and just wants shot
I guess I will bid accordingly!
So he has no time for viewings!, Hes got the time to take some nice photos and then time to to go to the trouble of deleting the Reg No. on each photo, but didn't have time to Charge the battery or even jump it to see if it will fire up because he just wants shot of it!!.
Walk James!
Even after 18 months of standing, as long its primed with fuel, oil and water in there, most BM's should fire up with the turn of the key with a fully charged battery in there, assuming of course it didn't have issues before hand.
There are plenty of 740's kicking around, some with LPG already fitted for obvious reasons, I think your right, I also reckon it will also go for around the 700 to 800 mark, but without a being able to view it and ideally start it up, and no MOT its a non starter (literally)
Unless I was having a bad day or at least knew the history on a car, I would never buy a car of the bay without an MOT, unless of course it was ad'ed as non runner, spares or repairs, and I wanted it for that reason.
Walk mate, and find something else, there's plenty of choices out there at the moment with our current high running petrol costs ;)
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Cheers for the sage advice mate
Wise words. If it wasn't the combination I wanted, eg colour, interior, and 4.4 v8, I wouldn't even be questioning it :(
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Cheers for the sage advice mate
Wise words. If it wasn't the combination I wanted, eg colour, interior, and 4.4 v8, I wouldn't even be questioning it :(
As is the one I linked to... Only a grand and probably open to haggling as well :y at least it has an Mot if nowt else ::)
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Cheers for the sage advice mate
Wise words. If it wasn't the combination I wanted, eg colour, interior, and 4.4 v8, I wouldn't even be questioning it :(
As is the one I linked to... Only a grand and probably open to haggling as well :y at least it has an Mot if nowt else ::)
Think your link was the 4.0 mate opposed to the 4.4?
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He has replied. Very polite but again says he's not got time for viewings and just wants shot
I think he should keep it. Sounds like he'd make a great BMW driver. ;)
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Cheers for the sage advice mate
Wise words. If it wasn't the combination I wanted, eg colour, interior, and 4.4 v8, I wouldn't even be questioning it :(
As is the one I linked to... Only a grand and probably open to haggling as well :y at least it has an Mot if nowt else ::)
Think your link was the 4.0 mate opposed to the 4.4?
What practical difference, same bhp and virtually same torque :-\ Nikasil no longer an issue, as any cars not rectified will have long since been recycled...
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Ffs, despite full no claims, no points, the ins co won't cover me on it until I'm 30!!!
Thankfully I only have to wait till January!!!
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Ffs, despite full no claims, no points, the ins co won't cover me on it until I'm 30!!!
Thankfully I only have to wait till January!!!
Have you thought about Traders Insurance? for all your needs
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Im sure there will be a company that will cover you - at a price. ;)
I bought one of these in 1979,when I was 19. I then set about sorting out insurance,as you do when your 19. After a few small fibs and a bit of jiggery pokery,I got cover for third party only,for the small sum of..................£636. Which was a pretty tidy sum in 1979. ;D
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200980566313?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
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Im sure there will be a company that will cover you - at a price. ;)
I bought one of these in 1979,when I was 19.
Will probably just park it up and get it ready / LPG it so on my 30th I'm good to go!
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James - if you haven't done so already do a MOT History check online (details in the answered questions at the bottom of the listing), the seller states in the advert that the last MOT had no advisories BUT the history says different - last MOT on 2011 had several,
"Offside Outer Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Brake pipes on o/s/r slightly corroded
Fuel pipe/s corroded
Oil leak"
The corroded Fuel pipes maybe why he can't start it - and corrosion seems to be on every MOT as an advisory or fail.
He has cleverly worded the advert to sound like the car could be started with a new battery but he won't let anyone come round and give it a try.
I personally would give it a miss and get a range rover P38 4.6 V8 :)
Darren
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James - if you haven't done so already do a MOT History check online (details in the answered questions at the bottom of the listing), the seller states in the advert that the last MOT had no advisories BUT the history says different - last MOT on 2011 had several,
"Offside Outer Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Brake pipes on o/s/r slightly corroded
Fuel pipe/s corroded
Oil leak"
The corroded Fuel pipes maybe why he can't start it - and corrosion seems to be on every MOT as an advisory or fail.
He has cleverly worded the advert to sound like the car could be started with a new battery but he won't let anyone come round and give it a try.
I personally would give it a miss and get a range rover P38 4.6 V8 :)
Darren
Thanks Darren :y
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advisories - last MOT on 2011 had several,
"Offside Outer Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Brake pipes on o/s/r slightly corroded
Fuel pipe/s corroded
Oil leak"
The corroded Fuel pipes maybe why he can't start it - and corrosion seems to be on every MOT as an advisory or fail.
Thanks Darren :y
as an addendum:
Run away!
oil leak
which quite possibly caused the engine (or gearbox) to seize last time it was turned over
At the very least, money pit.
At worst, scrapper - which might still be worth it - if you're gonna buy one anyway, you might as well get one for spares ;)
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He's now updated the ad to include the MOT advisories, with some mention of the repairs..
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buyer beware >:( >:( >:( >:(
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Fuel tanks are the usual problem on these and cost between £400-700,fantastic cars to drive though.
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£531! Someone might have got a bargain there...... :-\ ::) :)
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£531! Someone might have got a bargain there...... :-\ ::) :)
I bid 513!
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£531! Someone might have got a bargain there...... :-\ ::) :)
I bid 513!
Ooooo nearly!! ::) It was bound to be a heap of crap in that case!! ;D
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£531! Someone might have got a bargain there...... :-\ ::) :)
I bid 513!
Silly boy ::)
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£531! Someone might have got a bargain there...... :-\ ::) :)
I bid 513!
Silly boy ::)
Lucky boy ;D
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That too ;D