Dingdongler

Well another day and another car I'm thinking of buying.

I really can't make my mind up, a part of me would quite like a nice big luxury car. I was first thinking of something like the S63 AMG, but I've got a bit fed up with huge fuel bills with my current M5.

The 740d M sport may just be the ticket? Big and luxurious, 306 BHP, lots of torque, still has some driver involvement and returns very good mpg.

The 2009 model in M Sport guise looks quite nice as well.

85% of all 7 series are 730d so finding one is tricky but it should cost about £50k (one year old)

Any thoughts?

ps, yes, I accept that if I bought one I am officially 'old'

Turbo2

"7", "d" & "Sport"?

Shouldn't combining those 3 elements be in contravention of the Trades Descriptions' Act?

50k this year, 35k next etc.

zip106

My mate had a 730d and it really was the most unreliable POS he's ever had - and he has a new or different car every year.

Lots and lots of recurring electrical glitches, not always the same problem either.

And he told me it aged him by 20 years (he's 42....)

Dingdongler

Did he have this current model ie 2009 onwards?

Dingdongler

But then any car that's 50k will be 35k the next etc, a 7 series will be worse than some, but no different to a S Class, Audi 8 etc

Trout

iTrader: (1)

A friend got a 730d Sport it was under two years and he paid just over £20k. It has been great and he really enjoys it. He got it through a car search broker. If you are serious I can pass on his details.

Dingdongler

Trouty, is that the current model that came out in very very late 2008? The cheapest I've seen them is about £32k.

Did you mean pass on details of your mate or the broker?

Thanks

Btw, what do people think would depreciate more over three years? A brand new 535d M sport estate (circa £52k specced) or a 12 month old 740d that retailed at about £75k new but bought for circa £50k?

Thanks

john banks

I couldn't seriously imagine paying £50k for either car used, they are still high up their depreciation curve and whilst competent are nothing special compared to your M5. I'd get that fixed properly and keep it, unless you need a change.

zip106

I'm not sure how old it was when he got it but it was a 58 plate.
He went to a 630d after that for 6 months (which behaved itself!) and is now in an R8 V8.

I would think the 7 will depreciate more than the 5.
5's are popular, 7's not particularly so.

ETA - thinking about it no, it wouldn't have been the very new 7.

GC8WRX

at that sort of money could you get a quatrroporte?


they are lovely cars!

might lose money quickly but it would be worth it for the engine alone!

Matteeboy

It's basically the 35d engine slightly tweaked so it's a good un.

Not tried the 740d, but the 750i I tried a while back was an absolute belter of a luxobarge.

Dingdongler

Quattroporte sure does look nice but I'm still not convinced by Maserati reliability and the nearest dealer would probably be miles away.

Mattee, yes the engine gives out 306 BHP when tweaked for the 740d, a remap should see that to 350 BHP?

Matteeboy

A 35d engine can get 350bhp - I imagine a 40d unit can get more.

Seen a fair few 35d units dyno'd at over 300bhp (meant to be 286) as well as 35i units kicking out well over their factory bhp figures - I would expect the 40d unit to be similar.

It's a belter of an engine anyway and the best handling big car I've driven - I hasten to add that I haven't driven many!

Dingdongler

Must say that as I don't know what to do next to fix my M5 I might just go for one of these. If I take the M5 to a main dealer I know they'll fleece me for thousands.

If the 35d goes from 286 to 350 then the 40d should go from 306 to circa 370 BHP? 370 BHP and 500 torques must feel quite fast on the road shouldn't it? Off the lights and overtaking should be brisk, even though I accept when really gunning it it obviously won't be as fast as a 500 BHP M5. To me the psychology will probably be the biggest thing.

What I mean by that is 95% of the time I don't really rag the M5 especially as the kids are in the car. I do get a childish satisfaction though from knowing that IF I wanted to I could cane all but a few exotica on the road. There is no hot hatch, vanilla Porsche or 'normal' rice rocket that could out do me.
I realise the immaturity of this statement, especially since as I've got older I drive far more sensibly on the road so I wouldn't race anyone anyway.

It's a throwback from years of always driving fast cars as a young man and wanting to be 'fast and furious'

So to me it would be a psychological step from going from one of the fastest (within reason, I know there are plenty of exotica faster) cars on the road to one that is just brisk, but no faster than a 20 year old in a hot hatch

Matteeboy

Struggling to find direct comparisons but for the slightly lighter 335d Touring:

I can't remember another car that accelerates as cleanly and quickly from low revs, and with such long gearing, in recent times. I include the Audi RS4 and the outgoing M3 in that statement; you have to pedal those cars hard to sustain the kind of pace the 335d does at ease

So chip a 740d to 360ish (not sure if the 40d unit has been "cracked" yet though?) and you have a seriously nippy motor.

No hot hatch, except maybe a new STI, will keep up with a 740d even unchipped. Chip it (if you can) and not a lot will keep up. Then when you don't want to drive it quickly, bask in the luxurious interior. Ideal.

A mate has got a flat 13s 1/4 in a chipped 335d and 13.9 in a standard one. 100 in 13.3 and 60 has been timed at 5.7s - not pants on fire quick but certainly nippy. And it's the mid range shove that really scares off many so called "performance" cars covered in tarty bodywork and silly alloys.

Dingdongler

Ah yes. I've searched on the web and can't find quotes for a chipped 740d. I just assumed it was basically the same engine as the 35d and so could be chipped

zip106

The 40d is an all aluminium engine whereas the 35d is an iron block, so no, not quite the same.

Looks a nice car in pictures and gets some very positive reviews.

Oh, and you'll need one of these...
http://cdn3.ioffer.com/img/item/749/897/16/5193_1.JPG

Matteeboy

Ding - I have a feeling that there might be something about the new ECU/engine that is "uncrackable" - Evolve and DMS have nothing on the 40d unit and they usually crack BMW engines pretty quickly.

181g/km for an engine with 302bhp and 448lbs-ft - not bad!

rookymatt

iTrader: (15)

The F01 sevens are seriously smart cars, and generally have more processing power than your local branch of pc world.
The 740d is actually a vehicle that i haven't seen (London dealer) They are very rare machines.
Ding...what happened with the M5?? I take it the solenoids didn't fix it??
I can do a bit of research on the 740d "map" as one of my closest friends works for a company called autologic.
These guys are constantly cracking BMW's best software and creating new maps and diagnostic/programming software.
If you are looking for economy, i'd plum for a chipped 535d touring or 535d saloon.
These cars are seriously fast for what they are....and the torque.....ooooh!
The 740d is designed for comfort, luxury, cabin silence @ speed, and mostly a very pleasant passenger experience.
7's are intended as BMW's flagship cars. So they generally have the latest software, kit, and gizmos available.
All of this is lovely, however they generally will always get a "software update" when visiting a dealer. This means that the "map" you get installed on the car's DDE unit, will be wiped if a dealer update your car!

Dingdongler

Thanks. The DMS website says 'please phone regarding new 7 series'

Can't see how it could be uncrackable when no other car from Porsche to GTR has been.

Rooky. Solenoid valves have not cured problem I'm afraid. Not interested in the E60 535d, even though it's a great car it's too old for me to 'upgrade' to if you see what I mean having already owned an E60 M5.

rookymatt

iTrader: (15)

Seriously mate, i'd be getting the oil pressure to the vanos units checked correctly.
Hmmm, i'll do a little bit of research for you on monday regarding the 740d.
Another possible alternative is the VW Phaeton with it's big cc diesel engine. Look it up.

Dingdongler

Rooky are you able to confirm that you can have a Vanos problem without ANY sort of error messages on the diagnostic?

thanks

rookymatt

iTrader: (15)

It will normally put a vanos function fault in mate. The car suffers from noise and throttle response right?
PM me if you want ding.