Later this year (read:December) I'd like to start an E38 740i project as a winter time build. Start with a clean, stock example, then replace the exhaust, add on a new clear coat, new wheels, suspension, etc. From what I've read these cars are super reliable once you take care of the common issues (there's about seven different things, nothing too bad) and they're super comfortable on the road. But my only concern is whether to go with large wheels and thin tires, or thicker sidewalls for a more comfortable ride.
for what goal? i barely remember these when they were new. i kind of remember the jaguars driving better (of the same year). all that stands out in my mind years later is the weird armrest they had
Zachary Green
>for what goal
Just for something slightly unique, comfortable, and powerful for the price. A good example is about $8000 plus another $3000 in replacing various plastic bits like the radiator and timing chain guides and interior bits. Add in $2000 for new tires all around with contemporary suspension and you've got a great car.
Owen Scott
>spending $13,000 to make people think you are too poor for a new 7 series
Top lel
Julian Brooks
>caring about other people Lmfao
Jack Martinez
It's not worth it. Don't ruin a clean e38 with your shitty mods. Keep it stock faggot.
Kevin Ward
>or spending $13000 for a car that's still super comfortable and has a strong engine
Owen Jackson
there are other comfier and faster cars for 13k.
Henry Russell
>I've read these cars are super reliable once you take care of the common issues
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
Leo Gutierrez
> find an unmolested example of arguably one of the most beautiful cars ever made > molest it
Grayson Clark
Such as? Mind you that's $13k after all repairs are done
The parts that commonly break are parts that are made from bad plastic. Replace those with sturdier materials and there's nothing to worry about.
Aiden Brooks
hate to break it to you but the engine isn't made of plastic.
Charles Taylor
Something like this is what I've got as my end goal. Except in white or black and with wheels that are light gray
Plenty of room for suspension travel, simple 5-spoke wheels, and (most importantly) tires/brakes made for daily driving
Jace Parker
That looks like shit. Are you a non-white?
Bentley Murphy
Sounds pretty shit, only sounds good for like a second before shifting up. VEEATES just sound like trash usually.
Jayden Flores
What a shit mindset to have hahahah
If everyone thought like you, there'd only be 10 models of cars bought. Perhaps OP wants an E38 740i?
Mason Morris
no, an XJ8 you know the supercharged one. yeah its more posh than the E38
>replace radiator, fan, and burst hose (all plastic) ($200) >replace PCV valve ($65) >clean up spark plugs or change rocker seal gasket >replace ABS controller ($580) >replace timing chain guides ($900 for a kit and 10-15 hours of labor)
Blake Parker
Ok cool? OP wants an E38.
Saying there are "faster/comfier/better" cars for [price] is a completely stupid argument on a car enthusiast board.
Keyword enthusiast. OP likes E38s, again.
Aaron Morris
op hasnt driven any of them, therefore has no argument until he actually test drives then and learns he actually "likes them" you cant like a car from style alone.
jesus you take this too seriously.
Juan King
I thought about an XJR. And they're great cars when you find the right model (2003 or 2004, 04 is better because aluminum) but they're not specifically better or more well equipped than a 740i.
Lucas Nelson
Get an xjr 100 and keep it stock. Keep the miles low and it'll appreciate in value.
Mercedes s600/55 amg
Jordan Scott
nah you're just a neg bitch lol
Mason Gomez
An AMG is like 3 times the price for insurance. And honestly I don't want forced induction.
Jaxson Perry
why do you think that looks like shit?
Lucas Morgan
A 40-50 sidewall would be good
Jayden Williams
late 90ies and on BMW >strong engine >please inform us on how much every piece of shit thats broken on it costs even if you diy which I doubt.
user, in case you are not retarded, I will give you a tip- any luxury car is for rich people. It doesn't matter if it's 30 years old, if something breaks, and it will, you will be shitting bricks when you get the invoice for parts. Also depends where you live, in europe bmw are usually driven to their limit in a bad way by gypsies and polacks, and european cars are very barbie-like. It's not like american/japanese cars where you change a belt 20k miles later and its ok. You change the oil fucking 1k miles later and thats already minus 20k for the engine.
Robert Jenkins
I imagine he is a slav/eastern european.
Connor Jenkins
there's so much information on how to repair these things and how to find parts, it makes these things brainless to own as long as you're willing to part ways with some cash
i'm a white american
Jace Lee
If you are willing, go ahead. My bad it's just a slav thing to do to old mercs and bimmers in europe, to go for the 90ies modern look instead of retro. E.g. white turnsignals on a w124 merc, e32-34 bmw, or even BLACK ONES.
Xavier Howard
New tranny is 7k.
Colton Brown
T. Doesn't know what he's talking about If your tranny goes out then you'd just replace it with an e39 6 speed, and improve the shit out of the car. That would cost at most 2k, for the entire swap. A new (pre owned) e38 transmission is only like 500-1000 anyways
Carson Ramirez
My friends mother bought one new. Dealer serviced, granny driven, etc. Perfect condition, but sold it at 110k because it's too expensive once shit breaks. I don't know why you would buy a used tranny either, it won't last for shit either. Basically this.
Charles Roberts
Buy used and get it refurbished
Grayson Cruz
read >when shit breaks is like $500-1000 for most people. the most expensive thing is that the engine could grenade if you don't watch out for the timing guides
Ryan Jones
Super, buy a 20ish year old car and enjoy replacing literally everything 500-1k at a time. They are cheap for a reason.
Nathan Russell
Jags of the era have horrible reliability. If you think an old 7 series is bad a Jag will be fucking awful.
Jeremiah Rivera
Except not fucking everything is going to break at one time you retard. Why are you even commenting in this thread if you have no idea what you're talking about? What fucking getrag 420g has grenaded anywhere below 300k? If you knew what you were talking about you'd know that so many of the maintenance costs were because of shitty plastic oem parts by bmw, and OP plans to replace those (and so do literally any other bmw enthusiast) just fuck off dude, you're a fucking fool
Levi Evans
>XJ8 potentially-expensive time bomb
Jordan Roberts
e38 looks way better
Luke Campbell
The common issues are pretty well sorted. Not to mention it has a timing chain, mechanical suspension, etc. Really the only things that can go wrong are with the cooling and a select few other bits. I posted above the problems that need to be addressed as preventative maintenance...but obviously you're an E38 expert who knows of other -specific- problems
Robert Barnes
Go ahead it's your $17k
Liam Morgan
ruined, it looks like a turkmobile if you also make the exhaust louder you have removed everything that makes the 7series a 7series from this car. at least you are not ruining an e32
Jayden Williams
Oh how sacrilegious. I'll shed a single tear for you
Nathaniel Adams
but bmw is bad because of the memes
Jacob Foster
$9k for a clean example $1k for tires $800 for the timing guide $300 for ABS controller $40 for PCV $400 to rebuild the front suspension
It's a lot cheaper than people think. But to take a used model and renovate it is just time consuming.
Aiden Moore
He wants a new tranny, paint, exhaust, tires, and rims. And new front struts alone are $200 each, you are way underestimate prices, f a m.
Grayson Murphy
Veeky Forums in a nutshell
Xavier Richardson
Who wants a new tranny? Some random guy on Veeky Forums?
Jonathan Richardson
And I'm the OP. Wheels are $2k, exhaust is $1k, and suspension is $1.5k for all four corners
Anthony Ramirez
>add on a new clear coat Nigga what It doesn't sound like you know what you're talking about. Drive a shitbox for a few years and then think about a e38
Juan Barnes
Go away. Don't you guys have gtrs and corvettes to argue about.
Christian Collins
>super reliable once you take care of the common issues reliable cars are the ones that don't have "common issues"