Subject: Nope - one stranding in 4 years (WP) - and the car cost me 7% of new price. Author: RobinK : member since July, 2005 : 3634 posts Posted on: 2008-11-12 15:18:33

New 7 = €130,000 Euro. My car 4 years ago = 7% of that = €8,500

Yeah, I got stranded once. But WTF, €121,500 saving covers a taxi ride and €130 a year AA membership covers the towing. ;-)

So, I bought it cheap but in excellent condition. It was 10 years old though - and the coolant loss issues were coming up, PDC had a fault etc, VC gasket was leaking slightly.

I did what e38.org and my bimmerboard buddies recommend and spent money getting all the preventative maintenance done. I only had 47K miles on the car when I bought it - but I decided to treat it like 70-100K miles because age of some components (rubber and plastic) counts. I said when I bought it that I should reckon on adding 3.5 - 4K of $$$ in to it. And I did. And I had 3 years daily driving out of it without a problem.



If I hadn't spent there recommended maintenance money- I would have been stranded 4x by the cooling system. I'm sure. Hell - the e38 has cost far less to keep tip top than any of my buddies younger MB S & E classes.



1995 e38, 730i, V8 M60B30, DB48142 BATCH GF22, 14/11/94 BUILD
ORIENT BLUE ON CLUB/TITAN GREY, A5S 310Z TRANS
BUGGER ALL MODS BAR THE 01 TAILS, WICKLOW IRELAND

• E38 left me stranded again-Do you ever lust after a newer car when this happens? - Steve R 2008-11-11 01:26:50 (216 views)
  • Nope - one stranding in 4 years (WP) - and the car cost me 7% of new price. - RobinK 2008-11-12 15:18:33 (15 views)
    • ... and since BMW cancelled the Concept CS - I see nothing to lust after ;-) - RobinK 2008-11-12 15:20:57 (8 views)
  • mine shut off...on the highway...my wife driving with less than 60k miles - reluctantmechanic 2008-11-12 00:04:25 (29 views)
  • Yikes! ... time for me to get the 356c tuned ... lol ... I wish I had the time - aaron00740il 2008-11-11 23:45:11 (8 views)
  • I had enough over this summer. - ian 2008-11-11 23:19:39 (37 views)
  • 1. That hose is not hard to get to 2. How many posts of that hose blowing? It - zapperjoe 2008-11-11 21:57:58 (27 views)
    • I wish my indie had done it too! It's probably time to switch shops, but I'm no - Steve R 2008-11-11 22:02:48 (11 views)
  • Just did complete cooling system rebuilt 4 months ago - and now leaking... - Lurcher 2008-11-11 19:31:39 (25 views)
    • Got the bill today:'R&R hose from cyl head cross over tube to heater control val - Steve R 2008-11-11 20:35:59 (41 views)
  • I empathize- here's my luck so far - beatlesboy1963 2008-11-11 15:49:22 (43 views)
    • Dang, that sucks! Sorry to hear this is your last bimmer... - Steve R 2008-11-11 20:38:19 (10 views)
  • I'd keep it. - 740ilDuke 2008-11-11 13:30:48 (31 views)
    • Very sage advice you offer, but the drama of getting stranded 2X a year hurts - Steve R 2008-11-11 20:42:01 (7 views)
      • We certainly hope not, we're here to help! - 740ilDuke 2008-11-11 20:59:03 (7 views)
  • keywors: 'Preventive maintenance and DIY'. - Mario 2008-11-11 13:01:06 (31 views)
    • 'I know a lot of us don't have the time for DIY' - unfortunately that's me! :o) - Steve R 2008-11-11 20:53:45 (13 views)
  • new cars can break, too, That's why there are dealer service bays. - merc63 2008-11-11 11:51:16 (17 views)
    • New Japanese cars though rarely break down! Wish I could DIY like you though... - Steve R 2008-11-11 20:56:05 (9 views)
  • What year is your 911? E38 and 911 is the perfect pair. (nt) - 01sport 2008-11-11 10:47:55 (10 views)
    • Yeah, E38 is for daily driver and 911 is weekend car when the E38 is in the - bmw635 2008-11-11 10:49:32 (8 views)
      • So true. The 911 is a 96 by the way... (993 C4S). They both break down on occas - Steve R 2008-11-11 21:41:24 (5 views)
  • The key to avoid getting stranded is knowing what will go and when so you fix it - bmw635 2008-11-11 10:43:20 (28 views)
    • My indie is pretty good, it's just bad luck on some of these breakdowns.. (nt) - Steve R 2008-11-11 21:43:58 (5 views)
  • I feel your pain. Or, I felt your pain... - Lawguy 2008-11-11 10:24:44 (24 views)
    • hahaha I do the ebay browse too!!! we should start a club (nt) - manithemoneyman 2008-11-14 01:42:33 (4 views)
    • We are alot alike, minus the job :o). I'd kill for an S55 but I really don't wa - Steve R 2008-11-11 21:46:44 (10 views)
  • I've had my E38 almost 4 years....and I still lust after it. In 130,000 km - Peter 2008-11-11 10:16:02 (19 views)
    • Your one of the lucky ones, then. I hear ya on the fun factor though.. - Steve R 2008-11-11 21:49:17 (4 views)
  • Don't blame the car for a lousy mechanic!! (nt) - JoeC 98 740il & 750il 2008-11-11 09:24:50 (7 views)
  • Not me, but an E38 has only partially stranded me in 8 yrs and 130K miles - Brian 2008-11-11 08:57:14 (25 views)
    • Your lucky #2! My alternator got and my radiator got my this year... AND - Steve R 2008-11-11 21:52:16 (6 views)
  • I do not know how many miles you have but - Sean 2008-11-11 08:48:27 (10 views)
    • I don't know either, but these are really hard to get to hoses near the rear par - Steve R 2008-11-11 21:54:18 (7 views)
  • Actually, I'm with you. I'm starting to get thoughts of selling the Imola... (pic) - Imolatony 2008-11-11 08:47:08 (133 views)
    • My thoughts exactly. Get upset, fix stuff, think about selling, then drive it so - Steve R 2008-11-11 21:56:51 (5 views)
    • + billion w Peter. VCGs are next for me too. You going to paint them? - Ed 2008-11-11 12:59:10 (17 views)
      • Getting them blasted and powder coated... - Imolatony 2008-11-11 15:31:23 (9 views)
    • That is the most marvelous picture of an E38 ever! (nt) - Lawguy 2008-11-11 10:26:03 (13 views)
  • Re: E38 left me stranded again-Do you ever lust after a newer car when this happens? - ksmith38a 2008-11-11 08:42:51 (22 views)
    • I love your response and I certainly feel that way most of the time... - Steve R 2008-11-11 22:00:27 (4 views)
    • +1 - 740ilDuke 2008-11-11 13:24:57 (7 views)
  • Keep in mind the car is 7-8 years old, so in time stuff brakes it's just a small - Edwin™ 2008-11-11 04:29:24 (14 views)
    • A 8 year old Acura never breaks down. I know, I don't drive an Acura! :o) (nt) - Steve R 2008-11-11 22:03:47 (5 views)
  • not at all. - IBEW 595-Kevin 2008-11-11 02:14:35 (10 views)
  • Re: E38 left me stranded again-Do you ever lust after a newer car when this happens? - kingdom7 2008-11-11 02:03:42 (20 views)
    • Yes, my wife has an 07 and thinks I should get one too due to maintenance expens - Steve R 2008-11-11 22:05:17 (4 views)
  • Yeah, there are other cars that are much more reliable than our 7s.... - sealbeach740 2008-11-11 01:44:00 (21 views)
    • Damn I needed to read this. Sometimes getting stranded makes one think crazy th - Steve R 2008-11-11 22:06:57 (7 views)
  • I don't think I'll be getting rid of the e38 ever. My bro keeps telling me - mahmudb 2008-11-11 01:41:53 (18 views)
  • If you ever do want to sell let me know! Now that the cooling system is fixed... - Ed 2008-11-11 01:38:47 (21 views)
    • I hope you're right about the car being fine now... for a while at least. (nt) - Steve R 2008-11-11 22:08:24 (6 views)
  • I thought about it all day today :) (nt) - sdmike 2008-11-11 01:30:47 (11 views)