BMW v8 barges. *UPDATE* I haven't, have I?

I have owned a 740i 4.4 LPG for the past 15 years, it's been laid up for the past 3 years though when purchased a newer 7.

Loved it to bits, there can be some electrical gremlins but I never had anything major. The biggest failure electronically from a cost perspective would have been was the dashboard pixels but that was a recall so replaced for free at 8 years old. Does have the odd sensor fail, in my case the cam sensor twice over the course of 10 years and the thermostat once which melted part of the loom.

Mechanically it was pretty solid, mine was up to over 200k and smooth as new with no smoke whatsoever. Weakest mechanical area in my experience was the front suspension arms which seemed to last about 40k per set causing steering vibration, judder and knocks\rattles. Can get some smoking at idle which is usually caused by the oil separator valve at the back of the inlet manifold, not hugely expensive but bit of a git to remove due to access. Can get water leaks under the inlet but I never had that issue. Avoid the earlier V8's (4.0 and 3.0 between roughly 94-97) unless they have had a revised engine block fitted as they had issues with bore wear due to nikasil liners.

Rust wise the back of the rear arches above the bumper rusts a little and the lower part of the doors by the little trim piece. Also had part of the exposed rear brake lines replaced due to corrosion. Plastic rad necks can also snap off when they get brittle but you won't see much if any sign of that until it suddenly snaps off.

I'm sure there are some that are falling to pieces but you should be able to find a decent one if the owner has looked after it.

Have a good google but as usual you will only see horror stories most of the time when there are likely many that have been fine.

Good luck.

Cheers,
Mike

Hi mate

get your hands on a well maintained car and you will love it for a long time even with a small passenger in the back....
I have had a few V8's ( Chrysler, Valiant, BMW, Disco etc) and still have a v8 (Jeep Grand Cherokee) and I still believe that a V8 is not as expensive as most will try to make you believe. Look after them, keep the service up and you will be right.

I can't offer much in the way of info but there is one that goes past my house with a non standard exhaust. Sounds very nice.

I scratched my itch with a W140 CL500 Merc and yet, like you, I was a Beemer guy.... Best car I've ever had or driven! Would had another in a heart beat!Don't discount one whatever you do! Bullet proof and will hold its value

Main points are discussed, but not accurate.

First point of contact for rust is the fuel tank. It rusts along the seams but you cannot tell for sure without dropping it down. Replacement is around 300 secondhand, double that refurbed, triple that new from bmw.

Then the usual spots around rear arches, bootlid, etc but these are generally very good at not rusting and most won't be too bad.

Dash pixels do fail but can be repaired, ignored or replaced for 20 to 50 quid for a new set.

Big heavy car so they wear out bushes fast ish, every two to three years or 25 to 40k.

Auto boxes are weak as mentioned. Replacement v8 box is about 250 secondhand. No way of knowing and a oil change doesn't make it any better so just ignore it until it goes bang.

The later facelift cars are vanos v8 models. Vanos gives bother, chain tensioner too, alternators are water cooled and fail, ecu can fail but uncommon, oil separator as mentioned, rocker gaskets leak, easy job to change.
Ignore talk of nikasil, doesn't apply to the ones you're looking at and any that have survived till now are fine anyway.
The v8 engines do not like too many short trips or being started to move a few feet all the time. Regular long drives is what they like, getting up to temperature.

I've come across diffs going in the facelift but 50 quid to replace.

Electrics are mostly bulletproof.

Edc shocks can go and are expensive but unlikely to be fitted to a v8 model. Can just replace with lower spec ordinary coil springs and struts.

Abs pumps are the ropey type and they can fail at any time, 150 to 300 for refurb or 100 quid for secondhand.

Everything else should be grand.

Overall an exceptionally reliable car and really well built.

I had a 728i shadowline sport for a brief 4 month period. It was a bit of a nightmare electrically so the stereo and indicators would work and sometimes they wouldn't. Also it wouldn't start if it was less than 3 degrees outside which was annoying if the temperature dropped after work. It was always a case of everything worked or nothing.

One day though it had enough and the bonnet opened at 70mph and smashed the windscreen and kinked the roof.

I still have a brand new black chrome grill in its box waiting for another one. I liked it most of the time when i didn't hate it.

I do prefer my w140 though.

Part of me wishes I hadn't sold it as it was by far the best value car I've bought!

Mine had had tank replacements, which has just reminded me its a good idea to check/clean out the tank vents as mine did make a 'popping' sound occasionally after a long drive

Had an E38. Liked it alot. At the moment I have a S55 AMG with a supercharged V8 in it. Would recommend both, but if pushed, the BM. The Merc of the same era rust very well.

Be warned, BMW V8's are addictive! I've never owned an e38 but am on my third V8 e39. There's some good advice above by the way.