Issue

"Jack Does Cars" (jackdoescars)
03/28/2016 at 21:23 • Filed to: e38

I want an E38 7-Series. I can afford most of the E38 7-Series that I see for sale. But all of the E38 7-Series that I see for sale are over a thousand miles away from me. Ugh. What do I do?

DISCUSSION (33)

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Jack Does Cars
03/28/2016 at 21:29

I have this same problem, except I also want a V12. Because one isn't enough

Trunk Impaired 318 > Jack Does Cars
03/28/2016 at 21:29

Wait until you can afford 2 E38s because they can get very expensive very quick.

Or if you like to live on the edge by the cheapest/closest one and pray that nothing terrible happens.

Monkey B > Jack Does Cars
03/28/2016 at 21:32

Take a drive! Nothing beats a road trip as your maiden voyage. Having a good roadside assistance policy is recommended though. I have Allstate and they offer trip interruption benefits with the premium plan (few hundred a year) which is nice to have when driving older cars...especially flagship models.

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Jack Does Cars
03/28/2016 at 21:35

Man I love that color. Old 6 series by me that same color right now, that alone makes it so tempting

Steve in Manhattan > Jack Does Cars
03/28/2016 at 21:42

Fly there, find a mechanic, and have the car checked out. The drive home. The mother of all shakedown cruises.

And make videos!

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Trunk Impaired 318
03/28/2016 at 22:00

I like to live on the edge.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Jack Does Cars
03/28/2016 at 22:07

E38 owner here dont buy the cheapest e38 locally you’ll regret it with the unpredicted costs and upfront maintenance. Get a 7 with around 100 to 150k unless its a facelift model which it will need timing chain guides. Just ask me any question regarding e38s.

Jack Does Cars > Trunk Impaired 318
03/28/2016 at 22:11

The only cheap E38 for sale locally looks to be lowered and had the same dent on both the drivers and passengers doors. $2,500 tho.

Jack Does Cars > Steve in Manhattan
03/28/2016 at 22:13

The one pictured is for sale in Anaheim, CA for $3,995. I know there is no shortage of BMW mechanics in LA. But I am in Raleigh, NC. Should make for a journey.

Trunk Impaired 318 > Jack Does Cars
03/28/2016 at 22:13

That’s a little too cheap for me. And for what its worth Im incapable of taking my own advice when it comes to BMWs, seeing as how I bought the first MINI Cooper S I test drove because I fell in love with it within the first minute of driving it.

Jack Does Cars > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
03/28/2016 at 22:13

Because the E38 750 is notoriously reliable.

Wait...

Jack Does Cars > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
03/28/2016 at 22:14

Why are these the best?

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Jack Does Cars
03/28/2016 at 22:15

Which ones?

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Jack Does Cars
03/28/2016 at 22:24

What’s one V12 German battlecruiser know for its reliability, or lack therof ?

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jack Does Cars
03/28/2016 at 22:34

How good are you at diagnosing issues and fixing complex German problems? Or, conversely, how good is your mechanic and is he willing to work on this? Can you afford another $1500 just in parts within a month or two of buying it?

If you answered any of these questions negatively, don’t buy an old German flagship.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Jack Does Cars
03/28/2016 at 22:38

If you’re referring to the preface lift e38. Theyre the best due to a lesser risk of timing chain failure due to the lack of VANOS and lower operating temperature except the m62b44 its runs too hot.

JGrabowMSt > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
03/28/2016 at 22:44

Well, the W140 S600 certainly isn’t unreliable. The plastic trim may all fall off tomorrow, but mechanically, that thing will get you to the moon and back as smooth as Darren Hayes.

Jack Does Cars > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
03/28/2016 at 22:59

W221 and W222 S-Class’ seem to be holding up well.

Jack Does Cars > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
03/28/2016 at 23:00

I should buy a Corolla

Jack Does Cars > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
03/28/2016 at 23:01

I think a 2000 740IL with the sport pack in the color pictured above is peak E38, even with the issues. It just looks so good.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jack Does Cars
03/28/2016 at 23:22

Well, you can probably find something more fun or reliable or luxurious or prestigious or whatever than a corolla.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > Jack Does Cars
03/28/2016 at 23:25

Very true, though I don't know if I could force myself to sell the W220

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > JGrabowMSt
03/28/2016 at 23:25

I really want w R129 SL600

JGrabowMSt > V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches
03/28/2016 at 23:37

You can’t have mine.

But there are plenty of others on the market. Just get yourself a 97+ car, try for a Sport model if you can, and don’t pay a dime over $10,000 if the hardtop isn’t included.

It’s funny, but I’ve seen people trying to sell pre-96 SL320s for $18.5k, claiming “my mechanic said it’s the best one he’s ever seen.” Didn’t even pay that much for my SL600 Sport, to give you an idea of the real market value.

Seek one that has been driven regularly, and occasionally hard. The most expensive mistake with an SL600 is parking it for a long time.

I very strongly encourage buying one though. If you ever find one and question it, send a link my way and I’ll see if anything raises a red flag to me. The M120s are very reliable, I wont admit to some of the things I’ve gotten away with. Preventative maintenance is super cheap, you will need to find an indy shop that’s confident, and you’ll be spared of MB slaughterhouse labor prices. Not all, but a few of the MB techs I’ve met seem to cringe at the thought of having a V12 on their work order for the day...

If I get the space and money in the future, there are three additional R129 cars I would love to own. SL500 Koenig Special, SL73 and the SL60. I know there’s an SL60 in the US because a friend of mine sent me the link, unfortunately, I thought it was overpriced for where the market is currently so I didn’t really keep an eye on it. The SL500 Koenig and SL73 would have to be imported, and are big money cars. The people who have them are not likely to give them up easily.

Jack Does Cars > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
03/28/2016 at 23:47

I’m looking at a TT, a manual E39 528i wagon, a seafoam green manual X5 3.0i, a SAAB 9-5 wagon, among a few other things at the moment. Basically, I’m trying to live out my 2003 semi-successful attorney dream garage fantasy.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jack Does Cars
03/29/2016 at 00:05

Glutton for punishment. I used to have a similar fantasy.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > JGrabowMSt
03/29/2016 at 01:10

An SL73 would be awesome! I want some sort of a roadster/ convertible for sure

pip bip - choose Corrour > Jack Does Cars
03/29/2016 at 07:01

roadtrip!

Jack Does Cars > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
03/29/2016 at 08:57

LIKE A SEAFOAM GREEN BMW X5 WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHO WOULDN’T WANT THAT

Jack Does Cars > pip bip - choose Corrour
03/29/2016 at 08:59

Yes!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jack Does Cars
03/29/2016 at 10:09

No that’s super cool. But I’d be surprised if it doesn’t have issues. But I6 manual is the most reliable version of an X5 you can get from what I hear.

Jack Does Cars > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
03/29/2016 at 10:48

It’s for sale at a BMW dealer in South Carolina, so I bet they’ve given it a quick once over before putting it on the front line.

I was at BMW of Seattle last year, and I was asking a salesperson about how they do trade-in’s. He went on to explain that they don’t buy all of the cars that come in, and that not all of the cars they do buy they actually sell at the dealer. Then again, he could have been lying.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Jack Does Cars
03/29/2016 at 15:45

Keep in mind that not all dealers operate the same way and the quality of used cars adjust entirely depends on the used car manager as that’s who approves work and decides what cars to auction.