Faults:

The lights kept randomly turning off.

Onboard computer backlighting broke.

Vehicle "shimmys" at 90km/h.

Air con not working.

General Comments:

The headlights and tail lights thing is a well-known problem and easy to fix on your own, or you could pay an auto-sparky - it's a 15 minute job resoldering some connections. I also cleaned the headlights out and got far better light - they fill with dust - being good Hella units they can be stripped and cleaned with little fuss.

The OBC backlighting is just a bulb I believe - but its hard to get at because someone previous installed an aftermarket stereo that's a pig to get out...

The shimmy is also a well-known worn bush fault and is about $300 to get fixed with after-market bushes, or about $450 using genuine BMW parts.

The Air Con was going to cost over $1000 to fix due to a valve in under the dash that needs fixing - hell, I have a sunroof and windows to wind down :)

Overall tho its pretty reliable for its age, and a dream to drive. Its not the most economical car to drive, but if I wanted a Mazda 121 I would buy one (then I'd shoot myself :)

Faults:

Very slight weep at top of radiator. Only shows when engine is cold. Have not had to top up radiator since purchase, that's how small it is.

Will need front brake pads very soon.

General Comments:

Runs like a dream. Runs perfectly well on standard 91 petrol unleaded, which is an added bonus.

Found a terrific leather cleaner and conditioner called "Oakwood",made in australia and used on racing saddles on horses. Soaks well into the leather and brings it up like new. Conditioner only $6-50 and will last forever. Or buy the pack for $35-00.

Faults:

Electrics: Air conditioner not functional, dials non-functional, power windows flaky, alternator condenser rotten, battery badly rewired

Auto transmission slipping

Engine leaking oil, bent valve, eventual blown head

Cloth trim in average condition

Drivers side rear door latch sticky

Paint re-sprayed after oxidising

Fuel sender at top of tank leaking.

General Comments:

I bought my 733i for $1600 at a cheap car dealer in Brisbane. In short, it was probably worth $800, if that much, but it was still a superb car shining through the years of neglect of previous owners.

It rode like it was on rails, not bad for a 21 year old (at the time) car. Its steering was fantastic, not a millimetre of play, and no leaks in the power steering box. Sump gasket, rocker cover gasket leaks probably extent of oil leaks. Engine ran ok, but an idiotic rewiring job in the past made the electrics a nightmare.

Learned: buy appropriate filters, oils, vacuum lines etc; will save you in the long run.

Suspension was great, the car still rode excellently, and combined with the massive room inside was a truly luxurious machine. Braking was commendable for such an old car, but worth keeping well maintained as it's $$ to remanufacture a master cylinder.

I bought it as a project (naturally) so the extensive list of problems should not be seen as indicative of cars its age, just as things to look out for. I suspect it had done in excess of 300,000 km, because the tachometer did not turn over, but it could have done many more km's.

I could have sunk a new engine into it easily, with a respray and a new interior and it would have been great. No rust to speak of, and style oozing out of it. Truly it was built like a tank!

Having to move interstate necessitated relinquishing it, but it sold me on BMW's and I'll be buying a much younger one to satiate my lusts!