Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Eliteman Steve on 01 October 2006, 01:56:15

Title: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Eliteman Steve on 01 October 2006, 01:56:15
Off the Omega track here a bit guys , ::) but I'm thinkin of Buying a BMW 7 series as a weekend cruiser , :o probably a 728/730/735 ,95 -98 . Does anyone out there have experience of them , pro's cons , any inherent problems that I should be looking for? :-?
Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 01 October 2006, 07:27:30
I used to have a 735i, it was about 11 years old before it failed its MOT, for a leaking shock absorber.
Great car.......only thing i didnt like about it and the reason i sold it in the end, was the constant pulling into garages....it used to average 15mpg  :(
Even at 11 years old everything still worked, no rust on it and was a cracking car apart from the fuel consumption......actually tell a lie.....the memory seats had stopped working....but that was all iirc.
It was older than a 95-98 car, so dont really know if build quality was the same for the age your looking at..

Theres a 840i on an M reg (12 years old??) up for sale just round the corner from me if your interested.
Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Markie on 01 October 2006, 09:13:56
totally agree with TD, really depends on what engine and year your going for though.
If its a real old one ie k, l m be prepared for some HUGE bills.

oh and TD sad a private plated ( but i reckon p, r, plated 728sei as a taxi in Glasgow on Friday......strangest taxi ive ever seen.... :o
Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Auto Addict on 01 October 2006, 10:38:30
My neighbours got a 740, 7 years old, 70K on the clock.

Keeps going into limp mode, BMW dealer said it want's a new auto box, £4500!
Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Markjay on 01 October 2006, 11:08:12
Quote
My neighbours got a 740, 7 years old, 70K on the clock.

Keeps going into limp mode, BMW dealer said it want's a new auto box, £4500!

BMW as a prestigious mark will always suggest to replace the whole thing. (http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/4940/image007ve9.gif) (http://imageshack.us)

Vx, being a less-prestigious mark than  BMW, will only change the ECU. (http://img142.imageshack.us/img142/4940/image007ve9.gif) (http://imageshack.us)

But us lot, being stingy sad old misers, will simply change the oil which will fix the problem and get the box going forever…(http://img433.imageshack.us/img433/9427/image015bk4.gif) (http://imageshack.us)

(Whell that's what I am going to do on mine ayway...)






Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Markjay on 01 October 2006, 11:14:02
On a more serious note, beware of mid-90' BMW V8 engines unless their cylinder linings have been replaced by BMW under warranty.

The paragraph below is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikasil :

'Nikasil was very popular in the 1990s. It was used by companies such as BMW, Ferrari, and Jaguar Cars in their new engine families. However, the sulfur found in much of the world's low quality gasoline caused the Nikasil cylinders used by BMW to break down over time, causing costly engine failures. Eventually, the product was abandoned after BMW was forced to replace a number of M60 V8 engines in the USA and the UK. Nikasil or similar coatings under other trademarks are still widely used in racing engines where low quality gasoline isn't a problem, this include F1, ChampCar and NASCAR engines.'


Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 01 October 2006, 17:31:44
Quote
oh and TD sad a private plated ( but i reckon p, r, plated 728sei as a taxi in Glasgow on Friday......strangest taxi ive ever seen.... :o

I wouldnt like the fuel bills in that using as a taxi  :o

Tho my 3.5 was a str8 6 and a mate of mine had a 730i again str8 6 and his did a lot better on fuel consumption.....like nearly another 10mpg av
But his was the basic model and mine was the SE so had all the toys and climate....his didnt even have aircon......maybe the reason for the difference in fuel consumption.

Or it coulda been the fact mine never got serviced, I was a bit naive about maintenance then  ::)
Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 01 October 2006, 17:32:35
Quote
My neighbours got a 740, 7 years old, 70K on the clock.

Keeps going into limp mode, BMW dealer said it want's a new auto box, £4500!

Bet you've told him its the cam sensor  ;D
Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: sounds2k on 01 October 2006, 17:43:34
I seem to remember when I was researching into a 5-series a few months ago, the nikasil bore problem affected early ones of some engine types in those too. 528's come to mind, seeing as a common 7-series appears to be the 728i, I think that uses the same engine ... I'd advise checking into that first !
Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Auto Addict on 01 October 2006, 17:56:11
Quote
Quote
My neighbours got a 740, 7 years old, 70K on the clock.

Keeps going into limp mode, BMW dealer said it want's a new auto box, £4500!

Bet you've told him its the cam sensor  ;D

Why would I do that? It's not an Omega! :o
Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Kev on 01 October 2006, 17:57:48
Quote
Quote
Quote
My neighbours got a 740, 7 years old, 70K on the clock.

Keeps going into limp mode, BMW dealer said it want's a new auto box, £4500!

Bet you've told him its the cam sensor  ;D

Why would I do that? It's not an Omega! :o
;D You're quite nippy sometimes AA.  ;D
Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Timbuk on 01 October 2006, 17:59:04
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
My neighbours got a 740, 7 years old, 70K on the clock.

Keeps going into limp mode, BMW dealer said it want's a new auto box, £4500!

Bet you've told him its the cam sensor  ;D

Why would I do that? It's not an Omega! :o
;D You're quite nippy sometimes AA.  ;D

 ;D ;D
Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 01 October 2006, 19:48:26
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
My neighbours got a 740, 7 years old, 70K on the clock.

Keeps going into limp mode, BMW dealer said it want's a new auto box, £4500!

Bet you've told him its the cam sensor  ;D

Why would I do that? It's not an Omega! :o
;D You're quite nippy sometimes AA.  ;D

Nahhh AA's got a 2.2, like mine, no way can you call those nippy  ;D
Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Martin_1962 on 01 October 2006, 21:54:17
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Quote
oh and TD sad a private plated ( but i reckon p, r, plated 728sei as a taxi in Glasgow on Friday......strangest taxi ive ever seen.... :o

I wouldnt like the fuel bills in that using as a taxi  :o

Tho my 3.5 was a str8 6 and a mate of mine had a 730i again str8 6 and his did a lot better on fuel consumption.....like nearly another 10mpg av
But his was the basic model and mine was the SE so had all the toys and climate....his didnt even have aircon......maybe the reason for the difference in fuel consumption.

Or it coulda been the fact mine never got serviced, I was a bit naive about maintenance then  ::)

The 8s were V engines not straight
Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 02 October 2006, 07:49:29
Quote
Quote
Quote
oh and TD sad a private plated ( but i reckon p, r, plated 728sei as a taxi in Glasgow on Friday......strangest taxi ive ever seen.... :o

I wouldnt like the fuel bills in that using as a taxi  :o

Tho my 3.5 was a str8 6 and a mate of mine had a 730i again str8 6 and his did a lot better on fuel consumption.....like nearly another 10mpg av
But his was the basic model and mine was the SE so had all the toys and climate....his didnt even have aircon......maybe the reason for the difference in fuel consumption.

Or it coulda been the fact mine never got serviced, I was a bit naive about maintenance then  ::)

The 8s were V engines not straight

8 series probably were.....as i believe they were only available as a 4 or 5 litre engine
Title: Re: 2 BMW or not 2 BMW
Post by: bob.dent on 02 October 2006, 11:51:33
My best mate's got an R reg 728i with only about 50k on the clock. I've gotta say it's a really nice motor - comfortable, well kitted out and so far, reliable. To my knowledge he's had no major problems at all, just the normal servicing costs.