2000 BMW 740iL

[Nickshu]

Casually looking around for a daily driver so I can park my big diesel truck in my storage garage when I don't need to tow or 4x4 (snow).

I wasn't really looking hard but stumbled upon a 2000 740iL that is a one owner car since new, well maintained, all records, 92K on it, and in pretty much pristine cosmetic condition.

Seller had a PPI done, which says it needs an alternator "soon" otherwise they found the car solid. Looks like the alternator is water cooled and in the block, but not an engine-out repair.

Wife is selling the car as husband (owner) passed away.

I know these are old and complicated cars. I am not really afraid of the maintenance, just curious if anyone has owned one and what the major high points I should look for on the car.

TIA.

[KNS]

Beautiful cars, I’d love one of the short wheel base versions.

If it checks out go for it.

[fastfredracing]

Last of the big beautiful BMW's . I think they had nikasil block problems, and lots of electronics . I serviced 2 of them for quite some time , and they were fairly reliable .
I had to do a couple of complicated repairs to the one. Timing chains are a beast of a job . Also had to replace a parking pawl on one

[Nickshu]

Thanks guys.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

[chapo]

Oh Boy! . I bought a 740 il ten years ago from my Porsche mechanic for 5K. It was black and beautiful. Big rims (not my thing) my wife loved it and drove it. Sticker was 80k. I drove it to the Historics at Laguna and it was awesome, triple digit cruiser. I told my Mech buddy it better last 5 years, and it did. Then the wiring issues cam forward. Wouldn't pass smog, CEL on, sniffer test good. Would throw a different code every time. I replaced two cats and all four sensors, didn't matter, new code. Battery wouldn't hold a charge overnight, no idea why. Plug it in. I gave it to my Mech when we hit 2k in repairs with no good results. It sits on the side of his shop to this day. The wiring sucks in these cars, I heard they have over 300 lbs of wiring. He can use the motor for a donor in his wives Range Rover, (I warned him, glutton for punishment). I wouldn't touch one now, but man I had a great time in ours.

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by chapo

Oh Boy! . I bought a 740 il ten years ago from my Porsche mechanic for 5K. It was black and beautiful. Big rims (not my thing) my wife loved it and drove it. Sticker was 80k. I drove it to the Historics at Laguna and it was awesome, triple digit cruiser. I told my Mech buddy it better last 5 years, and it did. Then the wiring issues cam forward. Wouldn't pass smog, CEL on, sniffer test good. Would throw a different code every time. I replaced two cats and all four sensors, didn't matter, new code. Battery wouldn't hold a charge overnight, no idea why. Plug it in. I gave it to my Mech when we hit 2k in repairs with no good results. It sits on the side of his shop to this day. The wiring sucks in these cars, I heard they have over 300 lbs of wiring. He can use the motor for a donor in his wives Range Rover, (I warned him, glutton for punishment). I wouldn't touch one now, but man I had a great time in ours.

Good info thanks.

[fastfredracing]

One of the best road trip cars ever . More than one time , we drove that car all night at 90 + mph, and it was like riding on your living room couch.
It was one of the only cars I ever long distanced and got out feeling refreshed after a 10 hour stint

[RANDY P]

Will need alternator soon? Is it noisy? Should be fine at 92K. I ran my last v8 BMW to 180K on oe alternator, still working.

At 92K the car shouldn't have too many problems. Check blower resistor (porcupine), window regulators, and of course cooling system for cracks.

EDIT: Lower control arm bushings. Slam the brakes- kickback at steering wheel means they're due. About the right time.

[fastfredracing]

The one car I serviced ran to 200k before he got sick of chasing all the little gremlins, the other at 130, was eating oil as fast as it drank gas, and would foul the spark plug on one cylinder every 5k miles from oil consumption . It was setting misfire codes, and plugging up the egr ports , so he could not pass emissions anymore .
Boat anchor at that point

[chapstic2001]

I have been looking at them recently myself. I fell in love with them when I was in college in the mid/late 90's. There were a few rich kids who had them lowered driving around town. Thinking about getting one and doing the same 25-years later.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by fastfredracing

The one car I serviced ran to 200k before he got sick of chasing all the little gremlins, the other at 130, was eating oil as fast as it drank gas, and would foul the spark plug on one cylinder every 5k miles from oil consumption . It was setting misfire codes, and plugging up the egr ports , so he could not pass emissions anymore .
Boat anchor at that point

Exactly why I dumped mine- the interior plastics were all wasted (warped badly) from the sun, except I had zero oil consumption. Cooling system and regulators were a routine PITA.

Little things.

rjp

[Chocaholic]

I think these are a lot like MB’s of that era also. They’re cheap to buy because simple repairs can easily exceed the value of the car. A level of complexity before its time. 300 lbs of wire...that says a lot.

Fantastic cars when all is working...an absolute nightmare when it’s not.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Beautiful cars especially the 740i Sport. One word: wiring.

[RANDY P]

If I bought another one (E39), I would spring for aluminum radiators and puke cans. Period, end of story.

rjp

[Nickshu]

Ok so I am taking the car to my own guy for a thorough PPI. Reading about Nikasil problems with these engines, along with timing chain guides, makes me think it will be $500 well spent.

Seller had their own PPI done but not by a BMW indy shop. Stay tuned.

[jhynesrockmtn]

I worked at a non profit in Seattle in the 2010 time frame. We occasionally had vehicles donated. The Donation manager called me one day and said hey, come down and check out this Beemer we just got. It seemed like it was in really nice overall shape. A 7 series of this vintage. We drove it briefly. Several warning lights on including airbag, abs and check engine. The manager said the donor was just done with it after chasing things and staring at estimates to get it to pass smog and deal with the bigger issues. Repairs were going to be way more than it was worth. We wholesaled it for a couple grand at most. I thought briefly about taking it on at that price but ultimately passed. I had ridden in a few and always was impressed by them.

[RANDY P]

I don't think 2000 has Nikasil issues. Early 90's stuff.

rjp

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Nickshu

Ok so I am taking the car to my own guy for a thorough PPI. Reading about Nikasil problems with these engines, along with timing chain guides, makes me think it will be $500 well spent.

Seller had their own PPI done but not by a BMW indy shop. Stay tuned.

$500 for a PPI on that car?? I'd want them to delve so deeply into it that they would guarantee in writing that certain issues would never come up, or not for a long, specified time. I can't imagine what they are doing for that price...partially disassembling the engine?

[Nickshu]

Originally Posted by jhynesrockmtn

I worked at a non profit in Seattle in the 2010 time frame. We occasionally had vehicles donated. The Donation manager called me one day and said hey, come down and check out this Beemer we just got. It seemed like it was in really nice overall shape. A 7 series of this vintage. We drove it briefly. Several warning lights on including airbag, abs and check engine. The manager said the donor was just done with it after chasing things and staring at estimates to get it to pass smog and deal with the bigger issues. Repairs were going to be way more than it was worth. We wholesaled it for a couple grand at most. I thought briefly about taking it on at that price but ultimately passed. I had ridden in a few and always was impressed by them.

Yeah my impression is that if you get behind on taking care of little things on these cars they snowball very quickly, and if you can't DIY it's cost prohibitive.

[asphaltgambler]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

I don't think 2000 has Nikasil issues. Early 90's stuff.

rjp

Correct^^^^^^