Anybody have some insight into the BMW 740iL........'98-'01 models?

I am taken with the look of this vehicle when compared to the fugly W-140. The cost is about the same and I'd seriously consider it unless it turns into a maintenance nightmare.

The Swedes got one....

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

I've just heard a lot of stories about many electrical problems. No personal experience with them, though. I love the way they look, too.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Seems like I see a ton of them on the road...they couldn't be too horribly unreliable.

But then again, I also see tons of Jag XJS's driving around... :\

And hey, watch what you say about the W140!

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

Thats my favorite.... the 750iL.




I talked to some peeps around my work, and ones had a 99 740iL. It was a good car, but said it had its share of electrical gremlins...

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

i have a 96 740il.main issues are:around 100k you will be looking at p.s. hoses,valley pan,valve cover gaskets,and possibly an auxilary water pump and the assorted hoses that connect to it,also some steering parts like a center link and torque arms.i bought mine for 2800 and with all the parts i have replaced which consist of pretty much everything i mentioned i have another 1000 in it.i took it out to the l.a. area of california in june and put on 4500 miles.my average mpg's were 24.5,my best tank yielded over 28,and that was doing 85-90 across nebraska with the a/c on.they advertise them as the ultimate driving machine and i would somewhat tend to agree.i could drive this thing 24 hrs a day,and it handles like it is on rails,il's also have the full rear seat sunshades.

Before the X5, I drove a 2001 740i for a few months. The are simply fantastic cars. I've said it before on this forum: I would rather have a 2001 740I than anything they have put out since, unless it has an M badge.

I personally favor the short wheel base "I" over the long wheelbase "IL". The short wheelbase doesn't have the cladding along the bottom and looks more proportionate.

As for their quality, they are the last of the great pre-bangle BMWs. There are a few common electrical issues (of course) but overall they hold up well.

750's are another story. Stay away from those.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Photo illustration of my point that 740i's look much better than 740ils. You're driving these cars anyway so why have more rear leg room.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

I also like the E38 body, but really prefer the predecessor, the E32. I had a 735iL, inline six, long wheel base monster that actually did OK on gas. Neat cars, not as tank-solid as a big Mercedes but very nice. In the E32 at least, the short wheelbase cars had spring rear suspension, the long wheelbase cars had the SLS system that is prone to problems as it ages.

The 12 cylinder is an abomination, and is best avoided unless you have buckets of money to throw at its care and feeding. As I understand it, instead of building an engine management computer, they used existing components, one for each bank of cylinders, and a third to make the other 2 talk to each other...nightmare in the making!

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2002 Ford ZX2
2 x 2013 Honda Civics

I just love the longer wheelbase..........makes the car look more proportional..........but, that's just me.

I suppose if you like long SDLs you would like long IL s.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Pull the trigger.... They look sooo good with the M Parellal Wheels!!!


(Wait, where is this BMW knowledge coming from.... )




If its anything like my E30, it takes a pretty thorough beating, and keeps on ticking.

__________________
-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

That seals the deal for me right there..........the S-320 can't touch this figure.

At about 28 mpg for the diesels, the cost of fuel will be about the same or slightly less for the BMW.

I can't even touch 24.5 with the X5 4.4i. I average more like 16.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

in my humble opinion the 740I is the best looking 4 door sedan from the nineties, so much better looking than a 5 or 3 series from that same period. Black with tinted windows, lowered with some nice rims...

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).