E32 750iL horror story...

[CharlesAFerg]

http://my750.com/mystory.htm

[shogun]

Oh yeah, Axel and his famous website.
In my opinion he was not the right person to drive a 750 and did not know anything and maybe was even ripped off in Hollywood.

[Omega]

Where does he get the figure of $9500 from?.......

Starter - $1100
Air Con - $2500
Coolant Leak - $2500


$6600!!!! He is making this **** up!! Coolant leak for $2.5k... Pour in some Bars Leaks, cost £1.50. Fixed. Air Con for $2.5k. Open a window - free.

I agree with Shogun, he doesn't deserve to own a 750. Will someone please buy this poor sap a Ford.......

[CharlesAFerg]

I noticed that, and he also added a lot of things that weren't the problem... Sounds like he was ripped off many times.

How much do you guys, as experts, think he SHOULD have spent... That is, of course, assuming he drove it in a civilized manner and was taken care of before he bought it. (bought only after seeing there were no observable problems)

[shogun]

I would have bought the car, because it was probably in a perfect condition and "over-maintained".
But I remember, when he sold the car it was several times offered on Ebay and he could not sell it for the price he wanted.
Difficult to say what he should have spent.
Anyway, that website was subject to many discussions.
Just check on roadfly E32 board with the name Axel.
"Axel strikes again...
Message: Axel is a self made victim. His problems were mostly caused by himself and probably a unscrupulous dealer. Axel is one extreme. "

http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e32/search.php?st=axel&dosearch=Search%21&ps=20&m=natural&o=default

[CharlesAFerg]

I would have bought the car, because it was probably in a perfect condition and "over-maintained".
But I remember, when he sold the car it was several times offered on Ebay and he could not sell it for the price he wanted.
Difficult to say what he should have spent.
Anyway, that website was subject to many discussions.
Just check on roadfly E32 board with the name Axel.
"Axel strikes again...
Message: Axel is a self made victim. His problems were mostly caused by himself and probably a unscrupulous dealer. Axel is one extreme. "

http://bimmer.roadfly.com/bmw/forums/e32/search.php?st=axel&dosearch=Search%21&ps=20&m=natural&o=default


Wow thanks Erich that was very informative!

[Ross]

Alex, if you are out there I'll relieve you of this burden. The amount you pay me can be negotiated.
Get a grip guy, if the car is such a toilet why do you keep dumping money in it?
Do you really think anyone at BM gives a rat's ass about your elderly car that you bought on the secondary market? You whine like a girl.

[Ross]

After reading more I see this clown is a TWO time 750 owner.
Doesn't anyone understand this is a WEALTHY mans car. A tune up costs the same for the guy who coughed up 80 large as the bums like me who pay 5 grand 15 years hence. There is no cheap way to own one unless you fix it yourself AND have good parts sources.
This guy ought to buy a seventies Roller next, then he could really cry.
Geez

[e39dream]

sounds like he got a bunk deal, lol.

Seriously though- it's a damn 1989 7 series v12 BMW. what do you expect to happen?

If you don't plan on spending money keeping a car going a vintage BMW is not for you at all, get a civic.

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

Totally agree with answers,if you cannot take a joke dont buy it.Bought one at Christmas in good condition, sold the air con pump and condenser for cost, pulled engine and ECU,threw the rest in bin,now quits financially but wondering what to do with lovely V12??! No,it will not fit an E34,but it is what Mclaren used,hummmm.

[CharlesAFerg]

Totally agree with answers,if you cannot take a joke dont buy it.Bought one at Christmas in good condition, sold the air con pump and condenser for cost, pulled engine and ECU,threw the rest in bin,now quits financially but wondering what to do with lovely V12??! No,it will not fit an E34,but it is what Mclaren used,hummmm.

lol, you paid for what you spent by selling the aircon?

[grave77]

I do agree, I have a friend bought an E39 540i then sold it with huge loss then bought a E38 740i and sold it with more loss and now he got another E39 540i and he's not gaining any new knowledge about how to drive a BMW. I guess these cars are made to be driven by people who knows what's going on with their cars and know something about BMW maintenance.

[Barney Paull-Edwards]

Got £1200 for air-con bits which is what I paid for car. Thats all they are worth here.Found a manual box for it, all i need now is a flywheel. In future i can post cars for bits in south England if anybody wants bits,7 series go for peanuts, as do E321s.

[rob101]

I do agree, I have a friend bought an E39 540i then sold it with huge loss then bought a E38 740i and sold it with more loss and now he got another E39 540i and he's not gaining any new knowledge about how to drive a BMW. I guess these cars are made to be driven by people who knows what's going on with their cars and know something about BMW maintenance.
lesson is don't buy a 2nd hand 5 or 7 whilst they are in freefall depreciation mode. lesson 1: e32 750iL is less than the price of my e34 525i, but i would suspect considering the competition in used car price bracket there prices will remain relatively steady. I wouldn't mind one myself but I decided to fix up my 525i a bit instead, its big enough for me and I love the way it drives.
After reading some informed opinions from Shogun, Bill and winfred. I think this axel dude is obviously not a car person, there are two types of people in the world I think:
People who talk it up like they have a clue but when there is a problem they go running with a $100 note in their hand to the nearest mechanic and even if they don't maintain the car at all its always the car's fault for breaking. And people who actually fix things themself and take the time to research before blaming the car.
Hell everytime i see a dealer over here trying to sell a BMW with little or no service history i laugh. I laugh often because it tends to be those cars that never get sold privately. I would expect worse problems from those cars regardless of the model.

[Ferret]

What the ****ing ******* hell is this guy on?

"THIS IS THE 18th TIME IT'S HAD A COOLANT PROBLEM!"

ffs, first thing I do with a new car is check all the coolant hoses and change over anything that looks even remotely dodgy... they're one of the most common causes of breakdown ever.

He's bitching about clogged washer nozzles?

Fuel hoses?

"Battery Replaced" for $280 - this guy's a hoot!

Some people are just not fit to own a car methinks, this guy should have gone for something other than a car that needs constant small bits of maintennance.

What an idiot.

[grave77]

well ... BMW cars needs BMW owner ... right? this guy wants a Nissan Sunny to drive at most :P

[shogun]

and therefore it is on my website under 'before you buy':

Philly Bob's famous write-up on this

But, since you asked.. an 89 750 suffers from all the common e32 maladies as well as a few that are particularly its own..

Starting at the front..

Front suspension is a problem area.. Drive at all speeds including highway and feel for shimmies or wobbles. An entire front end rebuild can set you back a thousand real quick. 750's are heavier and more powerful and therefore harder on the suspension. Look for uneven tire wear, especially cupping or scalloping. Its typical for the inside of front tires to wear first an all these cars. Its the factory camber setting.

Engine should start instantly, run very smoothly and quietly. long cranking and rough idle can be intake manifold leaks and/or fuel pump or injector problems. These engines are very complex and will cost you surprisingly more to fix than a six or even a v8 and not just any mechanic will be up to the task of a drive by wire v12 with more electronics than the space shuttle. The valves are hydraulic so don't let somebody tell you they need adjusted to reduce valve noise like you can the 6 cyl.
A Motor rebuild will easilly cost you more than the purchase price of the car. Fuel pumps.. (Yes Virginia, there are two) should be replaced by 150K if they have not gone out already. That'll be $600 in parts please.. What? Ohhh! You want them INSTALLED??

Make sure all lights, accessories and power functions work properly. Seat back twist is very common on a car this old. Seat function motors can also go out. The LKM module is a frequent casualty as is the CCM module. On Board computer is a frequent failure, and instrument cluster bulbs require dropping the steering column or removing the air bag/steering wheel and there are something like 24 bulbs.. my dealer charged me 5$ a piece for the bulbs.

Under the car, motor mounts, trans mounts, trans and rear end seals and drive shaft center bearing and U-joints are all likely failures. The drive shaft is not
rebuildable and will set you back close to a grand if you are not careful.

The trans should have no leaks and shift very smoothly and flawlessly. The trans can cost up to $5K to replace so pay careful attention. Fluid should be clear (red) and clean and if is smells burnt, then thats what you will be if you buy it!

Rear swingarm bushings can wear, causing rear squirming when goosing the throttle in manual shift mode. Clunking in the rear end can be loose suspension mounts or broken bolts on the carrier.

The 750's are iL's and most have hydraulic load leveling (LAD). This system can develop leaks and is complex and expensive to repair. Also makes strut
replacement more costly.

A car this old will likely need struts, maybe all 4, if not also springs. And exhaust, Ahh yes the lovely exhaust.. That system is VERY expensive to replace and I have seen quotes for a thousand just for the parts not including installation.

Interior, look for wear, and cracking in the leather, especially in the drivers seat and arm rest. BMW wants $900 for a new leather cover for one seat.. Then it needs to be installed. I just had a phone quote from an upholstery shop for $2000 to replace just the seating areas on two front seats.

The Heat and AC needs to work perfectly. The controller is a notorious problem in these cars and if the AC doesn't work, don't believe him that it just needs charged.. The heater cores/pipes develop leaks, (leaking coolant sometimes into the drain there, but sometimes onto your carpet) especially in older e32's (like an 89!). This is a BEAR of a job and requires the nearly complete disassembly of most of the interior and dash just to get to it! MUCHO Labor costs!

As always, a mechanic along is good, but you would be MUCH better off leaving a deposit and taking the car to a BMW dealer for a complete inspection. These cars are very complicated and unique and it will be WELL worth the money to get a thorough inspection so you know where ALL the problems are and can consider that in your purchase decision.

Remember, this was a $70K car 13 years ago and the maintenance and repair costs will be commensurately far and above your basic Chevy or Buick! These cars in
their "mature" years are not for the faint of heart or light of wallet! And I am sure I have left a few things out.

Most important of all is how and where the car was maintained. If was dealer maintained till the day you bought it and all records are available, then thats best. If Ronnie Ramjet had it and thought it was cool to drag race Chevelles with his V-12 but never changed the oil for 2 years, Run don't walk away and keep looking! You would probably spend more than the purchase price in maintainence the first year! Buy with your head and your calculator, not with your heart. The purchase price is just the beginning. Now you have to repair it if it breaks. These cars are addictive (ask any one of us) but sometimes love hurts!

Sooo If you "Ain't Skeered" yet... Good Speed and good luck! And welcome to the world of the e32 7's. These cars are like a certain woman I know (who will remain un-named). A true thing of beauty, but very high maintenance and demanding of a lot of attention... But she can perform like no other, and OOOOHHHHHH BABY!!! what she can do for you when you two are alone!!!

Philly Bob
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