A friend of mine owns a BMW over here in the UK, and if something does go wrong its generally the BMW dealer's labour charge that's the big thing... somewhere like £100/hour...

generally reliable well built cars, comfortable and fun to drive...but....you do get the odd lemon, and once they get to a certain age they can be troublesome, and expensive, unless your good with spanners.
having said that though, enjoy it! 

I'm about to step up to a 97 Bimmer 3 series myself. I know a person who owns a great BMW garage that knocks out racing BMWs.

Having said that, that is one lovely looking ride you got there. Being 4 litre I bet that thing goes like a complete rocket.

I've got a 15yr old 5 series - my mum & dads car however (a Mitsubishi) is 10 years younger - having driven both - i'd take the BMW anyday, for any journey.

I did 700 miles in it last weekend & was still amazed at how well it eats up the long journeys - it was effortless, a real joy.

I've had a few things that have needed doing, but most of the parts (direct from BMW) have been suprisingly cheap, but like Charlie said, labour is the expensive thing - although it is still serviced by the local BMW dealer, as the service costs there aren't huge & I get a brand spanking new courtesy car

That 7 series you got there SaVas looks like a real gem, the 4ltr engine may guzzle the fuel, but i'm sure it will be one sweet ride.

basically, your options are:

A) Keep it.

B) Give it to me.



Cheers,

TSC.

they look good, but tend to attract anti-social drivers.
Reliability is getting worse the last years

In holland the following is said about the three top class carmakers

Mercedes: driven by slightly older businessmen that already made a career. Most drive normally but if it has blue plates (taxi) give him plenty of room.

Audi: driven by middle level managers. Driving style depends on type. All with S prefix tend to fly at 130+

BMW: Driven by the people that want a classy and sporty vehicle. drives faster than any of the others except the 'S' audis. And if you are from the mediterranean or middle east you don't exist if you don't have one...

I've had my e38 728i Sport since August last year, its a superb car.

If yours is a weekend driver, your laughing, you can enjoy it without the day to day running costs!

That said, my 728i is good on fuel, excellent to drive (it has a semi-automatic gearbox which I like)

I'd definately have another.

www.e38.org is an excellent resource on all things related to the e38 7 Series.


8)

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I've noticed the "Target" thing also SaVas, I put it down to jealous types who like my car too much!

Ironic that I drive articulated trucks over here in the UK! I'm happy to say UK truckers seem to leave me & my 7 alone...

Theres something very "Gangster / Drug dealer" about a Black BMW 7 series in many peoples eyes, I try to maintain the image.... 

I have to say I did get "the finger" a lot more when I was driving the Beamer than my beloved Triumph Dolomite Sprint. And I drove both of them sideways on all available roundabouts/corners Nothing beats a Ford Capri for tail-slides however...
That said as a biker I had more BMW/Mercs/Volvos try and kill me than all the other manufacturers put together. Alas if you have these sort of cars you instantly get a "reputation" deserved or otherwise.
That said the twonk in the 5 series who nearly knocked me off my bike on the M1 going to Brum for the NEC Bike Show (and to give the girlfriend a good err cuddle (new word for it eh?) ) and then I saw him 8 miles later down the motorway on the hard shoulder with smoke pouring out of the bonnet got NO sympathy. His wing mirror missed my handlebars by maybe an inch.... and I was doing a ton! Scared me so bad I had to empty my leathers with a shovel

Thats why I have mine under a car cover since I have no garage. I drive my Maxima on weekdays or inclement weather. Black is definitely a royal pain to keep clean.

I didnt realize that they made the 7 series with a 6 cylinder for Europe.

I have a hefty V-8 lol.

Dirty or clean its still a great looking car!

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I thought BMW meant Beat My Wife or Break My Windows?

Seriously though I knew they made all didfferent sized engines, just thought that the 7 series was a V8 or the V12. Must be a USA thing to have power in the form of gas gulpage

Oh I would love to have an 850CI. They are as close to an M badged 8 series. Even a 1995 over here with low mileage sells for $50k to 65k USD.

it isnt made for 0-60 but maintaining 150 mph for long durations lol. it isnt how fast you can get there but how long you can keep it there

Ahh yes, I have the M52 2.8 in-line 6 and what a gem of an engine it is!

I can balance a 50 pence piece on the engine with it running and it won't fall over!  8)



I opted for the 728 over the 740 mainly due to the UK's fuel prices and, my slightly heavy right foot. The 728i for me averages 27miles per (UK) gallon and it'll do 35+mpg on a long cruise!

The 740i has a big power advantage (286bhp compared to my 197bhp) but my 728i can crack 140MPH which is good enough for me!!!

The V8 & V12's are limited to 155MPH, I'd love a 740i / 750i one day, but I would'nt be able to afford the fuel over here.

PS Talking of the 8 Series V12, look at this.

http://www.e31.net/english.html

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getting back to gas guzzling, the 1998 850ci got the worst fuel economy out of any production car sold in the United States (8mpg city, 11 mpg highway)

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By my standards of driving that is quite reasonable... mind you I tend to wear an old-fashioned divers welly on my right foot

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Savas... move your ass over to Belgium and be dazzled just how much the Belgian state loves cars like yours! HUGE taxes on the engine, A heap of money to enlist it, and don't even get me started on the insurrance. Not to forget the lovely high gasprices... makes our country a paradise for real cars...  

In fact, importers sometimes squeez engines down HP-wise to avoid the high taxes.


The SUV-market overhere lost over 25% in sales after they stopped looking at cars like a Porsche Cayenne as a "utility vehicle - light truck". Suddenly they were taxed on the engines... big scare for the owners... 5.000 Euro extra all of the sudden...  

Strange ... In Belgium we only have 95+ Octane and 98+ Octane... gimme me my diesel anyday... much cheaper... 

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it is a different octane rating system in Europe.

My dad ownes a BMW 523i (2.5 litre engine.) We have done various mods on the engine: Group N Racing Air filter, New ECU which has been tuned to high end accelaration, and it's awaiting a Garret T3 Turbo.








My dad also says it's the best car he's ever had, and trust me he's had alot! He also used to own a rare shark-nosed 6 series (635) and my mum owns a 318i with M-Tech Body-kit which is NOT a great car.

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seems like the gas pedal is not connected to the engine 

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A very nice car, but why on earth go to such expense modding a 523i to go like a V8 when theres the simple option of the 540i ?

I'd sell the 523i and start playing about with a 540i if you really want some results from your investment.

The 540i is in 95% of road situations, right up there with its bigger brother, the M5.

If I were to modify an e39 5 series, I'd start with the 540i and get some M5 add ons for it, both cars are V8's and a surprising amount of tuning parts for the M5 bolt straight onto the 540.

The 523i was never designed to be a tyre burner, so why on earth try to re-engineer it when such a similar but superior platform is sitting in your local car lot, waiting for you to sell your existing car - which in its condition, I'm sure would fetch good money, and add what you would have spent on the turbo conversion to the pot, then go find a 540i, leave some change to modify that if you wanted, but, I'd be surprised if you wanted more performance for a while with it.

Extremely capable and fast motors, I'd consider one when I eventually sell my e38.

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An absolute beauty. I'm sometimes suprised that there's an engine in there at all.

Bowel Movement Withheld?

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you have never seen a Dinan supercharged e39 M5 (~620 whp)!