I trust you guys here so of these hree what one should I get?

LaserSVT

LaserSVT

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And I know its not Mark related but this is where all the cool people are that I trust.

Looking at three 2001 740i Sports Thursday. One will become mine and I am torn between them and hope for input here. All are within $500 of each other.
Now for those that dont know when I say "optionless" I mean: No power folding in mirrors, np power rear window shade, no heated seats and no park distance control.


#1 Dont know the color but love it. Car has no options but everything works. No doccumentation at all because its an auction car. Everything works including the cup holders. Car has 125k on it

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Car number 2. LOVE the Stratus Metallic color. Car is fairly well doccumented. Was a CPO car so was always BMW serviced. Guy has owned it for two years and did the whoole cooling system and has ne Sport OEM shocks. Everything works and car is described as flawless except a rock chip in the window thats been filled. Car had about 139k on it. Looking at the front tire tells me it prolly needs the entire $700 front end job done. Again it is a no option car.
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Last but not least is a loaded silver one. Has all the options and is a one owner car. Full service records available but owner is unsure if tensioners or valve gaskets have been done. Has yet to get back to me on that. Been at a specialty shop for any issue its had since the warrenty expired. Hes selling it cause he bought a brand new 7 series. Car looks nice but its my least favorite color. But the doccuments and one owner and all options makes me kinda lean to it. Has about 145k on it.

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So out of the three which seems the better deal. BTW the silver one will be about $600 less then te other two.
 
#3

Tensioners or valve gaskets? Have they been done on the other cars? (why valve gaskets, unless they are leaking)

I love those cars. I'll never forget when I was in middle school and my dad picked me up in one when he worked for a dealership. Felt like a boss. Of course, it was a little older and non-sport.
 
If #1 passes your snuff test, I would go with it.
 
1 or 2. But I'd say 2 if you can get it a decent amount cheaper then 1, and it does have some maint history.

I don't like # 3, think it has to do with the color.:)
 
I love those cars,I think it's the best looking and driving car of the 90's (sedan) a friend of mine had a few. But let me tell you. You do not buy a German used car without expecting to spend a few grand a year on repairs, and they are expensive.
5-speed auto box in those cars is sealed, so most people never bothered to change oil, which is supposed to be a life time oil, but we all know what this means.
Parts are expensive. So be prepared for that. Check rear suspension bushings for creaking noises. Look for radiator leaks. Water pump likes to be changed every 60k miles. Vanos 2001-up system likes to leak oil inside and need seals, look for smoke from oil.

To me a BMW over 100K is a ticking bomb, unless its a 6-cyl with manual tranny.

Good luck!
 
I love how they couldn't even be bothered to pull #2 out of the garage..., but I do think I like the color on it the best.

-Alan
 
1 or 2, something about 1 just speaks to me the most, 3 doesnt excite me at all, mainly because its fully optioned, theres options and then theres too many options, the first 2 have all the options i would need..either way all 3 are great cars...
 
I'd say 1 or 2, im sure you know parts to repair foriegn cars cost an arm and a leg. They all look good but i'm sure repairing the 3rd isn't going to be cheap. in the end they all are 3 nice looking beamers, but its your choice. good luck
 
The auction car without a service history would concern me. Based upon the info you've provided, I'd go with the 3rd car.
 
BTDT and I can tell you this if it doesnt not have a warranty steeeeer wayyyy clear man, they are ellectrical nightmares. $$ to fix too.
 
man that is :q:q:q:qing too weird, i just woke up from a dream where i bought one of those and it was a lemon.

truth is, you dont know jack about a car by looking at a few pics. until you go look at a few you will never know . but i can tell you the first one is not optionless it has the big screen nav and the sport package.

what options are on the third one that are not on the first one?

you are buying one of my "top 10 to own" cars. i have had over 20 bmws all older than 1991 and mainly the old e30 325. i chose the mark over the e38 because i was completely broke and thought the mark would be fun, and it has been.

before you jump in head first go drive an e39. the manual does it for me. something about selecting the rpm range you want manually just works here in the hills of tennessee. and the 528 is soooo much more reliable. (and cheaper)
 
I'm lovin' that first one. It just looks better than the other two. The "auction car" status would have me a bit on edge, however. And is it a manual or a slushbox? Can't tell by the pic of the shifter. If it's a manual, I'd get that one hands down. Wouldn't even look at the other two. To me, there's no sense in even buying a Bimmer if you can't row through the gears! These are drivers' cars, not boulevard cruisers. Manual tranny or nuthin'!!!:D
 
thaywood said:
These are drivers' cars, not boulevard cruisers. Manual tranny or nuthin'!!!:D
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Unfortunately I think the only 7 series they offered a stick in was in the 80's with a 6 cylinder... Definitely not that generation though. My all time favorite (well, most affordable anyways) would be a 97-02 540i with the 6 speed. Mmmmm.
 
I still you're stupid for spending that much on a play toy, you need something to haul your a$$ back and forth to work... That's it
 
based on color alone 1 or 2.
based on history 2 or 3.



2 would be my choice.
 
They never came in manual. The options the first two lack are heated seats, park distanc control, power window shades and power fold in mirrors.

NAV was standard that year as was everything else. I am well aware of what to look for and what stuff costs. 2&3 both seem to have the major stuff done like the gaskets and cooling system. Number two even has new OEM sport shocks but the tire wear on the front tells me its gonna need the front end kit which is $700 for ne tie rods, sway links, thrust arms and lower control arms. All easy to swap.


Jeremy I know your stance and am ignoring it so STFU.
 
LaserSVT said:
They never came in manual. The options the first two lack are heated seats, park distanc control, power window shades and power fold in mirrors.

NAV was standard that year as was everything else. I am well aware of what to look for and what stuff costs. 2&3 both seem to have the major stuff done like the gaskets and cooling system. Number two even has new OEM sport shocks but the tire wear on the front tells me its gonna need the front end kit which is $700 for ne tie rods, sway links, thrust arms and lower control arms. All easy to swap.


Jeremy I know your stance and am ignoring it so STFU.
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well i guess it comes down to one question.... how much?
 
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