any thoughts on a 740i? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

240 Ed · #1 06-11-2002, 07:55 AM

I am thinking about a 740i, are they trouble?

#2 06-11-2002, 09:24 AM

What year? I recall some metallurgy problems with early to mid nineties engines. Stay away..........

sbr
'79 450SL
76,000 miles

zachv · #3 06-11-2002, 09:58 AM

Most of them are pretty good and will last a long time. They are a beautiful car and quite sporty. The engine problems were only with the first couple of years when the new 4.0 engine came out. BMW replaced many of them, but there are still a few out there.
Good luck.

dtanesq · #4 06-11-2002, 05:51 PM

Don't know which engines had the nickasil problem and can't adequately describe it for you (cylinder linings reacting poorly to American gas or something) but it was a big problem and maybe that's the metallurgy problem mentioned in another response. Perhaps you should also find out whether there are plastic impellers on the water pump and research the timing belt/timing chain question. Later engines had a timing chain (my M50 engine has a chain, for instance), earlier ones (the M30 that the M50 replaced) used a rubber belt which, of course, breaks.

I've never driven one, but I'm told by other Bimmerheads who own 7s that they are amazingly nimble and "light" for cars as large as they are.

If my memory serves, Steve's is a late model 5-Series which he chose to drive as a test bed to understand their diagnostic systems. In my view, the late-model 5-series are absolutely gorgeous cars. I'm biased.

Good luck and good hunting.

Mr. BILL · #5 06-12-2002, 01:06 AM

Check roadfly.com. There is a good E32 (740) forum there. I'm fairly familiar with these as I looked pretty hard for one , unsuccessfully.

As has been mentioned, from '93-early '96 the blocks had a problem. BMW had a campain to replace if they failed an idle and leak down test. Problem was, early replacements were replaced with the same crappy blocks.

There is a site, it's a 540 site that goes into great detail and gives the serial number for the Alusil (good) block. I used to know but I've forgetten.

The best advise is, don't consider buying one that hasn't had the block replaced with an Alusil one. Most people know about this problem and shy away, so resale could be a problem, even though all Nikaksil blocks don't go bad.

As far as the rest of the car, they are hard on front end parts, radiators go around 100K and valve cover gaskets are poorly designed and leak about every 50K or so. The iL has an air suspension that is expensive to repair so an i may be a better choise. By '93, most of the electrical gremlins were worked out. In some ways, A/C being one, they are more reliable and less expensive to maintain, especially if you are a good DIY.

Most people in the know will recomend a 5 series over a 7. They are a little simpler, have basically the same interior and ride almost as good as a 7. I have two 5's and like them a lot!

I'd suggest finding a really nice '91-'92 735i or as was suggested, step up to a '97. That's a big step since a nice '92 can be had for around $8-11K and a "97 will run more than twice that.

Good luck, check out the road fly forum.

240 Ed · #6 06-12-2002, 08:15 AM

Thank you all for your great input!

I did check out roadfly and there seems to be many problems with this great car (boo hoo). I think I shall stay away for right now. Perhaps gather some more sheckels...