What To Do With My $1,000 BWM 740il

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Donate and take the donation off your taxes.

Do they still do that???

[speeder]

Hell yes, and it can really work out if the book value is high enough in relation to the cash value.

[Hugh R]

I drove my Aston Martin DB4 for two winters in Boston, and then moved to LA. I found corrosion that keeps on giving. The salt would get between the steel tubular frame and the aluminum and continue to eat at the car whenever it got wet out here. The amount of corrosion it got from two winters and springs in Boston was incredible. Repaired a lot of it, and in the end sold it to the Prime Minister of Kuwait sight unseen and no PPI; for a boat load of money.

[kaisen]

Originally Posted by speeder

...look into drying-out the car really well. If someone in AZ. or NM bought it and just left it outside for a couple weeks, it'd probably be well on its way to fixed.

http://tucson.craigslist.org/cto/1239540507.html
98 BMW 740iL - $2000 (Tucson Az 85747)

98 BMW 740iL for sale...electronics are fried...runs once in a while...water damage during monsoon season....good body, engine, and transmission. Looking to get rid of it need to buy another car. ASAP Callxxxx

This happens a lot more than you think. The e38 is a very complex car with many computers and relays.

I'll buy it. There are several smashed-up cars that could donate their harnesses, computers, and guts to help this car live another day..

E

[Mrmerlin]

I would get another opinion at a BMW non dealer shop. I cant see this car only being worth 1K it sounds like the trader might have thought he had another sucker on the line.
Clean the grounds and the CE panel let the car sit in the sun with the windows down for a few days

[RANDY P]

It's gotta be something simple affecting everything...Don't give up.

[piscator]

Thanks very much guys! I really appreciate your help and encouragement!

Langers, Svandamme,

I'm not far from the water, so I'll have to confess that a few Seagull poops may be a factor ;-)

Aurel,

It's not really a 'junker' but in economic terms, it's essentially "totaled". It needs to be sold privately and I just haven't taken the time to do that.

Azasadny, T77911s, Scuba Steve, Onewhipped, NickG,

Thanks, it makes me feel better to know others love this car as much as I do. It really needs a better home and you're all 'on the list' :-)

Chris Martin, Stomachmonkey,

Good suggestions! I haven't sold a car privately in a very long time, but that's probably the thing to do.

Sammyg2,

I did give up on it "waaaaaaaay too easily" and probably developed a bad attitude. I'll give it another shot.

Max Von,

Thank you! That's a very nice offer! I'll poke around a bit and contact you if I need a hand.

Speeder,

Auto-electric is not my forte, but I'd say grounds are a likely culprit. I live 1/2 mile from salt walter and nothing is ever really dry!

LWJ, Racerbvd

Donation is an excellent suggestion, but then it would still be sold for salvage. Nothing wrong with that, but I'd be happier finding it a good home.

MrMerlin,

$1,000 is simply what it's worth to the salvage company. The owner told me they have less demand for 7 series parts than 5 series -- ergo, lower price.

Randy P,

I really appreciate the encouragement. I'm going give it another try, if only to satisfy my curiousity.

Thanks again -- you've all been a great help!

piscator

[onewhippedpuppy]

If it were me, I'd be checking wiring diagrams for a shared ground for those systems. For such a variety of problems, that's a likely culprit.

[MatthewBrum]

I'm in CT but moving to southcoast MA. I may be interested if you are selling it. Do you have any pics? I have not read the whole thread si if you said somewhere it is not for-sale I apologize

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by piscator

I'd really appreciate some advice on what to do with my BMW 740il. The car needs non-engine related electrical repairs that are estimated to cost more than the car is worth. A local salvage yard offered $1,000.

I bought the 740 new and always had it dealer serviced. It was never hit and never abused, but since this was my 'work ride' it shows the wear you'd expect from 76,000 miles of shuttling customers around.

Six years ago I got hit with health problems and stuck the 740 in a neighbor's garage. He needed the garage back, so the last couple of years it's been sitting out in our New England weather. Yes, I neglected it.

When a friend needed a car, we threw a battery in the 740, checked the fluids and he headed off to Boston. That's how we discovered the electrical failures that had never surfaced previously. It's as if 'gremlins' invaded this car -- door locks, trunk locks, wipers, ventilation blower, stopped working, sunroof and windows became intermittent, etc. etc. etc.

So what should I do with this car? Now that I'm 'back on my feet' I drive our 911 for fun and use my truck as the "Mr. Mom" vehicle. My wife loves her car and we don't really need the 740. Still it seems a shame to 'junk it' for $1,000.

AND on July 1st this 740 will suddenly be worth $4,500 -- when Congress passes the "Cash for Junkers" bill -- $4,500 if I trade it in on a new vehicle that gets 5mpg better gas mileage. I don't really need a new car either and unfortunately a new truck won't quailify.

That's my dilemna, as I see it the choices are:

Part it out myself -- (anyone know how much that would bring?)
Junk it -- (only offered $1,000)
Trade it in under the "cash for junkers" program (just because it's available)

Sorry for the long post, but I really could use your thoughts and advice!

piscator

Your car is worth FAR more than $1000.

[gtc]

Not sure if this has been posted yet:
"Sell" it to a buddy and build a car for the 24hrs of LeMons!

[IXXI_carrera]

Trade it in under the new Cash for Clunkers law.

[m21sniper]

The engine is probably worth $4k. And the trans another $2k.

That car is a gold mine if parted out.

[speeder]

Parting a car is a PIA unless you have a shop w/ a hoist, etc..

I'm trying to sell an FJ62 landcruiser for parts right now, it's actually fixable but only worth it to someone in a rusty place where it's a little more special. Everyone wants to buy parts off it but no room to do that. Belongs to a close friend. Salvage title, runs, all major components good but lots of miles. (280k). These things run foooooorever...

If anyone wants it, $1500.00 and it's yours. I can deliver anywhere for a modest fee.

[RANDY P]

Check the charging voltage while it's running. My E39 would start having brownouts- (headlights dimming wipers act weird) if left idling too long, and everything on that car was in spec. Found that out while stuck in a snowstorm creeping down the road for 3 hours straight.

Probably something dumb like that. Whenever you have THAT much going affected at once it's something that should be pretty easy to trace. You just might not have enough voltage through the car to run those items..

[piscator]

Randy P,

Thanks for the lead! Your experience of "brownouts" does sound similar to the behavior of this car. Wipers 'acting weird' was the first thing I noticed, then windows, then sunroof, and then the problem seemed to spread to EVERYTHING. I'll check the voltage as you suggest.

Speeder,

I agree, parting a vehicle is a PIA if you don't have the facilities. I lost my large basement and garage space when we moved to a small house so we could be near the water. My hoist, Bridgeport, Lathe and other large pieces of equipment are farmed out to friends. I'd love to get it all back together again.

M21Sniper,

I don't know if it's worth $4,000 but the motor is very strong. I even considered using the engine in a boat repower project. Over the last decade most of my 'wrench turning' has been marine related and I've had some crazy ideas for that Bimmer motor. If anybody's seen a BMW motor (or Porsche motor, or any European automotive engine) used in a marine application I'd love to hear about it -- if only for curiousity sake.

IXXI Carrera,

That 'cash for clunkers' deal is the smart option, financially. I'd love to get a new truck, but the mileage improvement for a Sierra 1500 isn't enough to qualify. The 911 is my 'fun ride' and I don't really need a sedan. I've owned seven BMW's over the years, but if I were in need of a car, the new Caddilac would tempt me. Am I allowed to admit that on this board?

GTC,

I apologize, but I think I'm missing the joke.

Thanks again for all the encouragement!

piscator