4th Mar 2006, 19:43
I thought buying a car needing premium fuel would break me, but I was wrong. The 20cent difference is not that bad. I drive in Southern California in the LA stop and go traffic and still get decent gas mileage. When I cruise up PCH at 60mph its even better. If I hit over 80 the car uses a little more gas.
5th Mar 2006, 11:13
Having owned many cars that required premium fuel, I just looked at it this way - all the extra money I was spending wasn't really adding up to anything significant, such as a nice dinner.
The only thing I hated, and still do, is that gas stations tend to cheat their premium buyers by making the premium gas even more expensive than it should be. There really should only be a 10 cent difference between grades, but I have seen as high as 50 cents difference at gas stations looking to scam their customers.
8th Mar 2006, 14:26
The bottom line is,
The BMW 750i is two tonnes of luxury car. You can pick one up for 1/10 on the price of a new Ford Focus, but it won't cost you as much to live with. You see, at this stage an 89' BMW 750 with 120k has done all its depreciation. Therefore in a year, provided you keep it maintained, will still fetch the same price. Your 1 year old focus will have lost 2-3 grand (say £2500) and you will have spent £1200 in fuel which comes to £3700. Where as your 5.0 BMW will cost you £2400 in fuel and, on a bad year, £1000 of that in running costs which comes to £3400. So which would you rather have? A new Focus, that is only special till the next new Reg comes along, is reliable yet unexciting and who's only high point must be that it aids converse with the mother-in-law, because she has one.
Or a car with a De-tuned version of the Mclaren F1 engine, that will leave any boy-racer choking in a cloud of blue tyre smoke, peering through a windscreen smattered with peelings of tyre rubber, at a 7 series squat on its haunches, barking through the gears -round a distant corner with 5 passengers laughing hysterically at the poor boy-racer's demise?
Its your call.
10th Mar 2006, 12:36
The E32 really is one of the best cars BMW ever produced. The only thing to worry about when buying used is the maintenance history, especially on the V12 engines, they are much more complicated than the R6 to service and parts are also much costlier for them. An old and neglected car can be a nightmare and make you hate a brand just because you bought a lemon.
If you own or intend to buy one I advise you to search on the internet for service manuals and many more tips on different BMW forums, there are many good ones.
17th Aug 2007, 18:22
I have a 1990 750il and the drivers side rear air pump for the shock is making a whining noise. Does anyone know why or how to fix this problem? By the way I love this car problems or not.
3rd Jan 2008, 01:08
I love my 1990 750il. Question: I bought a new battery. I installed the battery and all the electronics work, but the car will not start. (1) While turning ignition key, engine does not start or even make a sound. (2) The hazards flash and the factory alarm light blinks with out the alarm sounding. Any ideas to start the car?
11th Jan 2009, 11:04
Hi BMW enthusiasts, My first suit & tie car was a 77' 320i. Loved it till I was side swiped by an 18-wheeler on a Dallas freeway. Now I got a chance for a 90' 750il with 56K original on it for $3500. What should I check out on it? Any help or comments are/would be appreciated.
20th Feb 2009, 12:35
I exchanged a truck I wasn't using for a '93 750il in very good condition, and was given a '89 750il they were stripping for spares for free. I decided to repair the car and am very happy with the results. I now have two very smooth, very fast cars with everything you could want in a car.
I am an aircraft mechanic and I imported the Bentley's 7 Series manual from the USA, which is most helpful. I have other more economical cars and pickups to drive, but use every excuse possible to drive one, or the other, of these beautiful machines, especially the '89, which I brought back to life.
At 19 plus years old, this car still handles and performs like a new car.
2nd Aug 2009, 12:49
I bought my 1990 750IL in 1995; one owner, a Doctor, kept it under roof even at his office.
I know someone that has a german car repair business, and when he heard what I bought he said you will be spending a lot of money for repairs, well thankfully that never happened. The first few years I drove it all the time, but after adding 40K miles, I just drove it a few times a month, and now just when I want to enjoy the car, it still looks like new.
When I changed the wheels to a sporty low profile look, the car was reborn.
I am happy to say that I might spend about 7 to 800 dollars a year for repairs and up keep. I have other cars I drive all the time now, but every once in a while I like to drive the 750, that car still kicks A__ and turns heads with its bronze paint and light tan leather.
7th Aug 2010, 21:32
Hello people.
Glad to find a site for BMW LOVERS. Tired of all the complaining the other sites do.
I own a 1989 750IL with 245 and change thousand miles on her.
This is the second I have owned one. These cars are unbelievable.
No leaks, and have not have any issues in the last 3 years.
All I have done is changed the viscous clutch on the fan.
Brake pads and control arms. The only problem I have is my cruise and the seats, but this is common on all BMW's.
The cruise I would like to fix ASAP, before I get a ticket. Ha, Ha.
85 miles an hour is peanuts for this car, let me tell you I have missed exits because the car forgot to turn onto the off ramp, Ha.
She just eats up the road and spits it out of the tailpipe.
I drive many, new cars and test many, since I work at a proving ground in AZ. But when I get into my 750, I am home.
They do not make cars like that any more. I would love to get a 850I 6 speed. Maybe.
I will let you all know how the cruise control fix went.
Please check out this page, sure you have seen it.
http://www.bmwblog.com/2009/11/02/bmws-secret-7-series-model-e32-prototype-with-6-7l-v16-engine/
Cheers.
3rd Mar 2006, 23:36
I am glad to finally find a site where more than one person loves the BMW 750 IL. I recently purchased a 1991 and love it. It is by far a true luxury car. I took it to a BMW mechanic to go over and let me know what needed to be done if anything, mainly looking for major repairs. With 123,000 miles on it, it needed a power steering hose, fuel filter, transmission fluid, a new muffler,2 new tires. The cost for these repairs was less than the 4 tires and shocks on my GM dually truck. When you consider the fact that most American vehicles have many more problems when they reach 100,000 + miles, I think that the BMW is a good investment. Every vehicle after 10+ years and 100,000 miles will need some old parts replaced, I am pleased that my mechanic told me that even though I may need to replace the items listed above, the engine and transmission were strong. I forgot to add new brake discs and pads as the ones on it were the original.