I am thinking of buying a cheap 1983 735i. I have not owned a BMW before, but often as a passenger have envied the BMW driver. This car sounds good over the phone, clean body, interior, "mechanically A1". But the seller says he knows little about cars "I bought it for my daughter and it's too big," Can anyone give me some hints, what to look out for, when inspecting this car? thanks in advance ,all.
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| Reply » 735i too good to be true? |
A few things that you should look for when buying any older used car are as follows, What is your initial impression of the car. Did the seller take the time to detail the car. Is there any immediately visible rust. Check for rust at the bottom of the doors, at the bottom of the fenders and at panel seams. When the car starts, listen to the starter. Does it grind, and does the car start quickly and easily or does it take repeated revolutions. Look under the hood and see how clean it is. Any 1983 car is going to look dirty under there, but does it look like maintence has been performed on the car. Check the hoses and belts for their condition and to makeshure that they have some life left in them. Check the tires to make shure that the tires are in good shape and properly inflated. Ask if the owner has a maintence record. When you drive the car, does it make any wierd sounds or blow any smoke. Also, does the handling feel excessively loose or are the brakes mushy. These things will tell you a lot about the car, and the maintence performed on it.
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| Reply » 735i too good to be true? |
thanks Hawk for those hints. I was also wondering if there's anything peculiar to the 735i that i should look out for. I read somewhere the timing chain needs replacement at 100,000 kms, anyone know if that's true?
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| Reply » 735i too good to be true? |
Quote: | thanks Hawk for those hints. I was also wondering if there's anything peculiar to the 735i that i should look out for. I read somewhere the timing chain needs replacement at 100,000 kms, anyone know if that's true? | I believe that a used 7 series, while inexpensive to purchase, is VERY expensive to maintain. I recall a letter in Roundel from a guy who was going to buy a 7er for $6k that looks to be mint, and he was told to expect to drop at least that much in the first few months.
Might want to ask in the 7 series forums from those who have one...
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The M30 (engine) has issues with cam lubrication screws loosening and causing faster cam wear.
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I don't even want to tell you how much it used to cost to keep our "mint" (it really was mint, cosmetically) E32 on the road. Then again, the particular model you're looking at came a couple years before the electronically complex E32...
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735i too good to be true?