Pre-owned BMW 7 series...R they any good?

I had a 745i and 745Li in the past...I can't weigh in on the price because I haven't been following their value but I never had an issue with either car. They ran perfectly. I did give them back after my lease was up...but during their time with me I enjoyed them both.

 

Get a warranty.

The long wheelbase handles, well, like a longer wheelbase. It is noticeable. Not in a negative way, just noticeable.

 

Yes, all added to the back seats for more legroom. It's a lot more space back there and the 7-series just looks strange in short wheel base model. IMO, it's a waste to get a short wheel base large sedan. If you want a well-handling BMW, go for an M5 for something. I prefer the 7 over any BMW honestly.

 

I've had a few 745Li's and currently have a 08 750LI know with 29k. The 745's were costly out of warranty, oil leaks, stereo amps, tranmission flush's etc.

Your 07 will be under warranty till sometime in 2011, maybe you will trade by then. If not, I'd get a extended warranty if you are gonna put some miles on it. (The amp is $600 and the car has 1 million computers) One claim will pay for the warranty, its just a gamble, who knows you might not ever use it.

+1 on getting the LI the I looks weird and doesn't resell as good.

Good luck. BTW, let me know how long it takes you to set the radio presets..

 

Never, ever, ever, buy a 7 with the v12. Mine was in the shop more often than I care to inform you. Any of the 7 series with a V8 go for it.

 

Disagree with the V12 statement...based on over 10 years of experience with BMW 12s.

 

I have a 01' 740 w/ 143,000 miles....haven't spent but $1300 on it in repairs since it broke 100K miles.

Had a 06 745 and ran it from 42K miles to 100K miles and sold it to get an 09' M3....didn't spend hardly anything on the 745 as it was cert pre owned w/ warranty. I did not care for the i-drive...it was truly my wifes car and she piled the miles on, but it never left her on the side of the road.

Have a 93' 850Ci V12. 145K miles on it, and runs like a top W/O problems. Best A/C in a car bar none. I have spent some serious money upgrading suspension, drivetrain, brakes and exhaust, because I happen to love that car. I take really good care of it, too.

97' Ferrari 550 - only 19000 miles on it, but I am putting on the miles now that I own it. I have spent about $7K in Maintenance and repairs (did a 15K service on it) since picking it up with 15,700 miles on it. Well worth every cent!

 

Nice to see a fellow combo E38 7 & E31 8 series owner as well!

 

I have owned about 20 BMW's including a few 7's, all but one 7 were great cars though I would not but a used one without a CPO. Based on that price I assume you are not buying the car from a BMW dealer with a CPO.

 

The upfront or financed cost of the warranty will easily be covered (and perhaps more so) in the next 3 years IMHO by the eventual repairs you will experience........there is far too much electrical stuff in today's cars, and as there is no way to test when an ECU or anything else like that will fail, you have no way to protect yourself. You can do a compression test on an engine and tell when it is going to fail, for example, whereas a $3,000 computer hidden under the dash has no such ability to be so diagnosed. The engines are really solid......it is all the black boxes and associated crap that will get you.

I have personally sold high end German cars for 20+ years........over 1,500 of them......and seen a number 10 X that amount in the shop of the various BMW/MB/Porsche dealers I have worked at. Trust me........

Get the BMW NA CPO coverage........and service the car at the selling dealer........become friends, or just get to know whoever is one of the most senior service writers working there on a cordial first name basis.

I am from Canada and married a Carioca in 2001.......we have a flat in Copacabana as well as Calgary. We will be semi-retired there within 5 +/- more years. I see you are a metallurgist. Do you work for Gerdau ?

Mais uma coisa................MMMMEEENNNNGGGGOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!