2001 740i Sport

[Theo]

Anybody on the board had any seat time in one of these. The very last year of the E38 body with the sport pkg has always intrigued me. It’s such a beautiful car and really nice low mileage examples can be had in the 20's.

Is this car just a pig in the handling dept or is it a very competent long haul cruiser that can still do fairly well in the hills?

God I can't believe I am actually considering an auto. Old age maybe?

Any thoughts?

[SCA]

Anybody on the board had any seat time in one of these. The very last year of the E38 body with the sport pkg has always intrigued me. It’s such a beautiful car and really nice low mileage examples can be had in the 20's.

Is this car just a pig in the handling dept or is it a very competent long haul cruiser that can still do fairly well in the hills?

God I can't believe I am actually considering an auto. Old age maybe?

Any thoughts?


No actual seat time in one, but I have to agree that it is a beautiful car. Classic BMW styling.

[lip277]

I have a 1995 E38 and my Mother has a 2001 as well.

Yes - Fast and elegant. The automatic 'fits' the car from the driving standpoint.
This car is no slouch in the hills or just cruising. You have to remember that the things a bit north of two tons, but... even at that - It is a blast to drive (especially with passengers that don't expect such performance out of a 'large' car)

My sig pic shows the later 'sport' wheels on my car. It has H&R springs with Bilstein shocks sitting ~1.5" lower than otherwise would be stock. It also has UUC BBK in there so... 'stock' ones will look a bit different.

My Mothers car has my wheels (although her's are not chromed)

It has to be my favorite 'long haul' machine of all time. It also does VERY well in the twisties as I just got back from a 12 hour drive in the hills this past weekend (Seattle to Winthrop to Leavenworth and back... The Cascade Loop). I had some relatives in from Denmark and they LOVED going around in this car. Then again - She also loved going around in my new p/u.... :lol:

[Theo]

I have a 1995 E38 and my Mother has a 2001 as well.

Yes - Fast and elegant. The automatic 'fits' the car from the driving standpoint.
This car is no slouch in the hills or just cruising. You have to remember that the things a bit north of two tons, but... even at that - It is a blast to drive (especially with passengers that don't expect such performance out of a 'large' car)

My sig pic shows the later 'sport' wheels on my car. It has H&R springs with Bilstein shocks sitting ~1.5" lower than otherwise would be stock. It also has UUC BBK in there so... 'stock' ones will look a bit different.

My Mothers car has my wheels (although her's are not chromed)

It has to be my favorite 'long haul' machine of all time. It also does VERY well in the twisties as I just got back from a 12 hour drive in the hills this past weekend (Seattle to Winthrop to Leavenworth and back... The Cascade Loop). I had some relatives in from Denmark and they LOVED going around in this car. Then again - She also loved going around in my new p/u.... :lol:

Thanks for the write up lip!! I need to go drive one of these puppies. I am afraid I might like it to much. Whats the color and specs on your Moms car?? i or il? Sport? Color?? Pics?? =)

[Nick M3]

My Dad had a '99. It was an acceptable handler - the real issue was that the susension was too soft, so you were always on the bump stops.

[equ]

Are they comparable in reliability to the 5ers? Why is their resale so low? A friend of mine was thinking about them.

[Theo]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Sport-18s-Widescreen-Nav-Xenon-Shades-Heated-Lther_W0QQitemZ290014175430QQihZ019QQcategoryZ6009 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Drool!!!

One question. Why do some of the i's with the sport pkg come with that UGLY steering wheel. I have seen pictures of some of the 01 sports with the much nicer three spoke sport wheel.

[JST]

Weren't 6speed an option in .de?

How hard could the retrofit be? Now that would be a kick ass car, like the Transporter.

My mechanic does slushie to stick coversion on E36 M3's all the time...


There are a number of those running around. Rob Levinson of UUC fame has a 6 speed manual 750 (V12). Some guy in PA has a 740 manual conversion that he calls Baby; it's been written up in various magazines and competed (IIRC) in the One Lap.

[clyde]

Why is their resale so low?

Compare resale to MB S-class. Compare 5er to E-class. 3er to C-class. Notice anything similar? Look at Lexus through their lineup. Infiniti through theirs and Acura as well.

[lip277]

Thanks for the write up lip!! I need to go drive one of these puppies. I am afraid I might like it to much. Whats the color and specs on your Moms car?? i or il? Sport? Color?? Pics?? =)

Her car was one of the last 2001's sold. My Dad bought it just as the 2002 745's were being introduced and the dealers were told to NOT have a new E38 sitting next to a new E65 in the showroom. I think he got the car for ~$16,000 off MSRP as I recall.

Specs?

2001
740iL
Nav - large screen (they all had it by then)
sunroof (again - they all had it)
sport package (on the iL - only diff is wheels - On the "i", supposedly there were actual suspension differences... I don't know for sure)
pass through from trunk to rear seat (for ski's or such)
heated seats (I think he got the cold weather package)
Xenon lights (Did they all have those by then? Don't know)

The car is truly fast. It is not as 'quick' as mine - but then again - Mine is red after all. hehe

I can take pics in a few weeks as I'll be down in CA on vacation then. Nothing available now.

And - Yes - Comparing an E38 to an E39 is absolutely correct. Other than the body, they are VERY similar in nearly every meaningful respect (engines, transmissions, interior systems and such)
The repair 'schemes' for one are almost always directly transferrable to the other. That goes with 'generic' reliability issues as well. I have found the one way to avoid funny electrical glitches is to use a battery minder (trickle charger) to keep the battery in top shape. The computers in these beasts don't like to get below ~10.5V during start-up. I had a 5 year old battery in mine when I bought mine. I started having funny error messages coming up on occasion when I was driving it. I bought a new battery (and run the charger) and have not had any errors show up since...

Here are a bunch of links for your enjoyment.....
(You probably know some but I have a complete list saved - so here we go...)

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/e38/
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=47http://tridem.han-solo.net/auto/erich/auto.htm
http://www.baso.no/load.asp?id=85
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e39/stereo/e39_dsp_stereo_posts.html
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/289595 (This is actually my car - the site is from the PO)
http://www.bmwtips.com/
http://www.e38.org/
http://www.jie.com/
http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main.htm (I have this as my car has the OBD I M60 engine, not the OBD II M62 on '96+ cars)
http://www.bmwe38bluetooth.com/

The two I have in bold in the middle are worth their weight in GOLD.... If they weighed anything.. hehe
Actually - There is quite a bit of info available on the web for DIY and general hints for things. I have been pleasently surprised.

My car has ~105,000 miles and is running GREAT. It did have the Nikasil block issue (new engine at ~25k covered under warranty) but the remainder of the car has been (to me) trouble free.

The 'only' thing that I've had to work on has been the stereo. I had to replace the DSP Amplifier (Philips). That is one of the weak spots.

Good luck and let me know if you have any specific questions...

Cheers!!

[Theo]

Her car was one of the last 2001's sold. My Dad bought it just as the 2002 745's were being introduced and the dealers were told to NOT have a new E38 sitting next to a new E65 in the showroom. I think he got the car for ~$16,000 off MSRP as I recall.

Specs?

2001
740iL
Nav - large screen (they all had it by then)
sunroof (again - they all had it)
sport package (on the iL - only diff is wheels - On the "i", supposedly there were actual suspension differences... I don't know for sure)
pass through from trunk to rear seat (for ski's or such)
heated seats (I think he got the cold weather package)
Xenon lights (Did they all have those by then? Don't know)

The car is truly fast. It is not as 'quick' as mine - but then again - Mine is red after all. hehe

I can take pics in a few weeks as I'll be down in CA on vacation then. Nothing available now.

And - Yes - Comparing an E38 to an E39 is absolutely correct. Other than the body, they are VERY similar in nearly every meaningful respect (engines, transmissions, interior systems and such)
The repair 'schemes' for one are almost always directly transferrable to the other. That goes with 'generic' reliability issues as well. I have found the one way to avoid funny electrical glitches is to use a battery minder (trickle charger) to keep the battery in top shape. The computers in these beasts don't like to get below ~10.5V during start-up. I had a 5 year old battery in mine when I bought mine. I started having funny error messages coming up on occasion when I was driving it. I bought a new battery (and run the charger) and have not had any errors show up since...

Here are a bunch of links for your enjoyment.....
(You probably know some but I have a complete list saved - so here we go...)

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/e38/
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=47http://tridem.han-solo.net/auto/erich/auto.htm
http://www.baso.no/load.asp?id=85
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e39/stereo/e39_dsp_stereo_posts.html
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/289595 (This is actually my car - the site is from the PO)
http://www.bmwtips.com/
http://www.e38.org/
http://www.jie.com/
http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main.htm (I have this as my car has the OBD I M60 engine, not the OBD II M62 on '96+ cars)
http://www.bmwe38bluetooth.com/

The two I have in bold in the middle are worth their weight in GOLD.... If they weighed anything.. hehe
Actually - There is quite a bit of info available on the web for DIY and general hints for things. I have been pleasently surprised.

My car has ~105,000 miles and is running GREAT. It did have the Nikasil block issue (new engine at ~25k covered under warranty) but the remainder of the car has been (to me) trouble free.

The 'only' thing that I've had to work on has been the stereo. I had to replace the DSP Amplifier (Philips). That is one of the weak spots.

Good luck and let me know if you have any specific questions...

Cheers!!

Good God Man, you rock!! Thanks!!

[lip277]

Actually, on my way back from the bay area from picking up the GT2, we ran into a 740i sport with no sunroof, it was a red one.



Must have been a euro delivery (special order) then. I remember my Dad saying he was told all 'stock' dealer cars had sunroofs.... Then again - that could be for California cars.... and for 2000 and 2001 MY's....

I'd actually prefer no sunroof myself, but... oh well....

[Theo]

Wow just wow. So nice, exactly what I would want in options and only 26K miles!!!!

I usually dont like silver because everything german comes in silver it seems. But on this car it seems to keep it looking fresh.

If I were closer I might bid today.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/740i-Beautiful-Extremely-Low-Mileage-Sport-Package_W0QQitemZ190022806887QQihZ009QQcategoryZ60 09QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Melissa]

If I were closer I might bid today.
Ummm...helloooo! :rolleyes: Road trip?!?! ;)

[hfh330i]

My parents had one, loved it. For its size, it was a fantastic car.

Here is a nice one here for under $20k w/ 89,000 miles:

http://www.corvettecountry.com/?op=autos&y=bmw

[Theo]

Ummm...helloooo! :rolleyes: Road trip?!?! ;)

Good God, thats cross contry for me.

[lip277]

I usually dont like silver because everything german comes in silver it seems.

Or Black or grey..... at least in the bigger BMW's

I have received several very positive comments from folks that are not used to seeing a 7 series in red like mine is.

I have never really been that positive on red cars. After this one... I am much more inclined that way now than I used to be.

[Melissa]

Good God, thats cross contry for me.

Exactly! How fun!