older 735i - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

ned2683 · #1 12-06-2004, 01:29 AM

my relatives has one. they have a lot of MB's and BMW's. but this is an older year (2 generations ago). so mid 90's or late 80's. it is sitting because they have a problem with a ball joint which shakes the car when they brake. they also had a bad ignition tumbler. but they got several new cars so they just parked this one.

ofcourse i had my eye on it and was wondering how good are these cars? any problem spots on them? i mean engine, wiring harness, drivetrain kinda things. i think they rebuilt the engine a little bit after they got it.

and lastly how much are these worth? it was pretty decent condition i think. I jsut get so greedy and want something with a lil more power than my 300SD

Hatterasguy · #2 12-06-2004, 01:06 PM

One of my friends back in highschool had a 1993 735I. That was a champ of a car, the only problem he had with it was the belt came apart and took a chunk out of the radiator.

He had the new one in the trunk.

A little JB weld patched it up, but then he got lucky and someone hit it in a parking lot. They managed to take out the radiator and he got a whole bunch of other new parts and some new paint.

I really liked that car the six was seeet and with the right set of wheels it looked so nice. It was green on tan.

rickg · #3 12-06-2004, 01:51 PM

May want to read thru this site. Not 735's, but 750's. But alot still may apply.
http://www.my750.com/

rickg · #4 12-06-2004, 02:34 PM

And a wise choice it was

rickg · #5 12-06-2004, 03:02 PM

As with any Benz built after 1991 or so, I wouldn't touch it without a good used car warrenty attached.

rickg · #6 12-06-2004, 03:09 PM

Ya, well, that too

blackmercedes · #7 12-06-2004, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 123c

There's a 1994 540i that's been sitting on the lot at a local dealer since last April, I wonder if there is a reason

No kidding! That's a money pit waiting to be dug, unless the V-8 has been replaced with the newer version.

The 3.5L inline six in the earlier 535 and 735's is an AWESOME engine. But, be careful. They are tough, but melt down if someone goes to Lubex and has 5-20 put in the crank. They need heavy oil. If the engine needs work, they are tres expensive.

The Getrag manny-tranny is indestructible but was replaced with a weaker ZF, but I can't recall when. Around 93 or so if memory serves. The ZF automatic is garbage, but not as weak as the units behind the V-12.

The 1998- cars are not as reliable electonics-wise than earlier cars, but they drive better and have more luxury features. Ignore the V-8 and V12 cars and go with the older 3.5L six. If a manny-tranny version, you've got a great car.

rickg · #8 12-06-2004, 04:19 PM

Sounds like the "Vega" syndrome

rickg · #9 12-06-2004, 04:30 PM

I knew it....recycled beer cans. (reynolds aluminum)

blackmercedes · #10 12-06-2004, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulC

1988 was the last year that a manual trans equipped 735 was available in the U.S. The last year for an Ameri-spec 735 was 1992.

I wonder if Canada got manny-tranny cars? I know that the 535 was popular in the self-shifter version, but I hadn't paid much attention to the 7-series.

A 1990-ish 535i with the five speed manual is a nice car if it's in good shape. The exterior is one of the best looking sedans ever penned, and in many ways I like it better than the newest ones. Second only to the 1997- E39 in my books, for BMW's.

The other day I saw a very cherry black 1991 560SEL, and it looked awesome. Another car that looks great to this day. It had eight hole wheels and that was the only mod.