BMW 7 E38 - good idea?

Hey Julia. Sounds like your filter might be clogged to high heaven. Mine was when I bought the car and was fixed by changing it. Also, the AC condensor also operates partly on oil and can stop working over time. I'd get the filter changed first.

Had a wonderful winter with mine after getting the wheel speed sensors fixed. Tie rod center bearing went bad and had to replace the rod for another 300. Then, after only 26k miles, my water pump failed via the spin bearing. It still worked but the belt was stuttering and making a bad noise which would have eventually ended in disaster. Had to replace that again with a better recommended aftermarket brand (graff) for another 90 dollars (they're supposed to last 60-80k). Must have been a bad brand. I think this may have been what has been causing my check coolant light to come on (even though there is no leak). Got that fixed and then the key I loctited together starting coming apart and quit working again. Finally caved and ordered the ak90+ key programmer and two new blanks from Asia. Got them both programmed and they work great. I highly recommend doing this rather than buying the crappy keys that the dealer charges you 400 dollars a piece for. They only last about 4 or 5 years until the battery inside quits. And once you pull it apart, it is almost impossible to put back together and remain intact (due to having the slice them open and reglue). The Asian keys pop right open and shut and the batteries are not soldered in. Total cost was 35 dollars for the programmer with software. 12 dollars a key, and 50 dollars a piece to cut at a specialty locksmith. Total of $194, and whenever I need a new key in the future I can make another.

 

Julia, I cracked a windshield, it was 1500 through safelight with the coating on it.

The E38 should get the vents foamed/cleaned every 7-10 years and it messes with the actuator.

 

Also that quote sounds crazy high. I got an aftermarket through safelite back in 2014 for about 370 dollars. As long as you have the spacers it should be good.

 

The 750iL BMW-brand glass is infrared-reflecting. I believe it was an option on the others, but I'm not sure. The aftermarket one you got may not have been infrared-reflecting.

 

Mine (OEM) was about $1200 a few years ago..I thought the rain sensor "pad" was what drove the OEM price...includes electrical edge connector strip that allows for wiring to the "brain"...

 

That's another part that comes with the OEM glass from the factory and also a factor. You can use non-OEM glass that does not have that part attached, but the installer will always leave air bubbles under it if they try to reattach the old sensor on the new glass. That will interfere with the sensor working properly (edit: sometimes).

Here are part numbers for the windshield options. Retail is $1,200.
51-31-8-261-073

https://parts.germainbmw.com/v-2001-bmw-750il--base--5-4l-v12-gas/body--glass-windshield

This tool is needed for proper installation: https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-bmw-parts/test-gauge/83300495259/

 

I have a $500 deductible and am going with an OEM windshield and molding. The company I chose has a lifetime warranty on the install. Is that tool linked something they will need for the install on an OEM windshield? I'd rather get it right the first time. I'm excited to see if this fixes my wind noise issue. I will be very disappointed if it doesn't.

Brad, what filter are you talking about that needs changing? Where is it located? Can you post a link to the keys you bought?

TestShoot, where do you even go to get the foam cleaning done? Why does it need to be done? What has to be done to fix the actuator afterward?

My AC wasn't on the other day, I was just wanting it to pull cool air in from outside. I had it serviced when I first bought the car and it seems to work...ok. Once the temps get above 90 degrees it can't keep up in my black-on-black car. IDK if something is wrong or if that's just as good as it gets. BMW needs lessons from General Motors on AC.

Someone on another forum suggested the outside temp has to be above the HVAC's set temp in order for it to blow cold air from the defrost and floor vents. I will have to wait a few more days for it to warm up here enough to test that theory.

 

Yes. These people talk about it more in detail: https://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=661730

 

Oh, wow. That doesn't sound complicated at all. I will send these links over to the shop. Thanks, guys!

 

This car keeps popping up on the internet and was apparently sold on Bringatrailer for a boat load of money. What I want to know is, how did he get that interior color change dyed so well? I spoke to a mobile dye specialist who quoted me 1500 dollars but said that if I were to color change, that it would eventually wear off.

 

Wow, Brad, you were correct about my car's hvac recirculation filters being nasty. I'm trying to change them today.

 

Yeah those are a ***** to get to apparently. My mechanic changed them when I did the big service right after I bought it which was about $2k. Most cars you can usually access it through the glove box, I know it's far more difficult. Just replaced both of my front splash guards and had to order another wheel arch liner last week. We had a surprise snow storm about 2 weeks ago and there were ice mounds all over the road the next day that tore through them both and cracked my wheel liner. 20 year old car, they were already in terrible shape. Another 200 dollars down the drain LOL, Never ends. Check out this guy who thought he got a great deal on BAT (read comments). That should be a lesson to every potential buyer out there, never buy a cream puff E38 if you plan on driving it. And it better have paper work! That car is going to cost that buyer 18 grand before the first year is even over. This was a 2500 dollar car he just payed 10k for simply because it was waxed up and placed on bring a trailer. Oooohhhh ahhhhhhhh!

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2001-bmw-740i-26/

"valve covers were leaking so badly that you could smell burning oil inside the cabin within 10 seconds of starting the car. There’s a laundry list of deficiencies including a missing key (the description detailed 2 keys), inoperable rear window (the description detailed a new regulator, maybe there is and this one isn’t working in addition to that), blown front struts, and other stuff which totals a bit more than $5,000."

And he hasn't even driven it a mile yet. Wait till he puts about 2-3k miles on it, that was just the opening act! LOL.

 

Old vs. new:

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The next time these need changed - I'm paying someone to do it. The passenger side wasn't awful, but the driver side was done mostly by feel.

 

Mine were filthy to the point that the air was BARELY flowing through into the cabin.

 

Well another year went by and the car didn't disappoint! LOL . So at the end of last summer my blower motor went out. I was able to do it myself and replaced it with a new one for 300 dollars. And I replaced those filters again Julia. They were nasty. I ended up just opening them up and replacing the filter material. Way easier and less expensive. Then fast forward a year, 4 lug nuts snap off of the rotor while trying to remove the wheel, new wheel hub had to be put in. 500 dollars. New front tires $400 (every 3 years it needs a new pair front or rear). And then today I'm running errands, minding my own business, SMACK. A crow hits my passenger side mirror, breaking my assembly. I swear, I have terrible luck with this thing LOL

 

Sorry Brad, that is some bad luck.

 

Damn, that is rough @Bradwilliams

 

I couldn't stay away - now on my 4th e38 after a few years away. I've had an '01 740il, '00 740i sport and '01 740il sport. This one is a final year '01 750il with sport package - basically the ultimate e38 (outside of Alpina models) imo. Has pretty much every option (standard on 750's in '01) with the '01 only sport package, which unlike other models is mostly cosmetic due to it already having steptronic, s-edc and the like standard. It's in good shape but needs a few things to be perfect. My favorite part might be the flag inlayed wood trim.
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Very nice example. That v12 is a damn good engine, but oil leaks can be a massive bugger. Enjoy it!

 

As beautiful a sedan as you'll ever see.

 

So nice

 

Wow, nice! How many miles? I have the same spec car, late May '01 build.

I just put new taillights on mine:

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Here's a list of things done to my car since my last post in fall 2020.

I bought two volkswagen Phaetons last fall (one v8 one W12). The V8 is completely sorted and turnkey so I drove it late fall through the spring. A Fabulous winter car as it has quattro and is heavier than hell. W12 is more of a project car.

I drove the E38 down to The gulf side of Florida and left it there all winter. It was nice to have it down there whenever I was in town. I'm at almost 247k miles now and still haven't done the valve cover gaskets. Put a new battery in it while I was down there. It's hard to get more than 6-7 years out of a battery as the alternator in these cars is a joke. I replaced the cd changer which broke on the trip down and noticed that my speakers are on their way out. I finally caved and bought the Bavsound speaker upgrade for around 400 dollars to replace all of the door speakers. I replaced the rear deck speakers a year ago. It was pretty easy except for the front doors which did need to be dremeled a little bit to get the tweeters to fit flush.

The Bavsound speakers are pretty good and after researching it, I found out that they are audiophile quality and are worth the price. The door speakers have a complicated vacuum tube fixture for the midrange and I was not even going to bother having to try to modify that and end up with rattles.

Oh yeah, and while there were no crows hitting my mirrors this year, I was driving on the highway a few months ago, bang, a piece of blown tire shred flies up and hits the center nose of the car. Broke my grille piece that i had JUST REPLACED a month before.

 

BAVsound's trunk subwoofer was pretty damned good in my e38

 

Can you send me a link to it? I couldnt find it last time. How did it sound? I'd really like to find one small enough that I can hide it in the car somewhere. My fear is that it will sound ghetto in the trunk.

Here she is on the gulf
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