Re: how much time you got? (archive)

My experience with downtime, as you might expect, depends on the dealer, their parts inventory, and how many other dealers are within one day shipping range. 12's never sold a high volume of cars. Dealers don't stock the parts bin "deep", if you know what I mean. I have a very good relationship with my service manager, and I can usually tell him what I need, and wait 1-3 days as it comes in from central distributing in NJ, or they play swapsies from another dealer here in town. The 12 doesn't have lots of parts in common with the 740 engine...some...but of course never on YOUR car. I needed an alternator...order it. I needed one self-levelling rear shock...order it...radiator...order it....water pump...IN STOCK...secondary fan clutch...order it....a/c compressor and condensor....order it...I am reading through my pile of ror sheets here...see the picture? Ask your local dealer what the parts situation looks like. Of course, a newer vintage vehicle may not need that many repairs yet...It also really depends on if the mechanic knows what he/she is doing. This is a complex engine...not for the faint of heart (part?). Lots of the trash talk about this engine comes from inadequate or improper maintenance or repair..not necessarily because the unit itself is bad. Besides, you own one of these and start dropping some serious dollars in the service department....they should give you a loaner. At my dealer outside cleveland, they generally give you the same series as what you are having repaired...especially if you are top tier repair customer...so I usually got a 740 as a loaner...now that has gotten somewhat worse as they wanted to halt the depreciation on the used 7 fleet, so I now I get 5's and 3's. Even a Z once. Hope this helps.
david

Seems as that the M62 should be then considered more reliable. I think I could afford the maintenance costs... my primary concern is downtime. Which spends more time at the dealer, more frequently? I've heard a lot of conflicting info on this- some say the 750's engine is more reliable, and then there are websites like www.my750.com that completely trash it.
The M60 engine has the nikasil thing with it- are there any known issues with the M62 over long term use?
When I do purchase, I intend to run the car to 200k+ miles....
Thanks for your help...

I have owned both. The 12 has obvious motoring advantages, but I kid you not....repair and parts costs can be breathtaking. Upper oil pan gasket (it has 2...upper and lower pans = $1,000 in labor...gasket extra) Remember, it has 2 of almost everything. Very heavy and somwhat largish engine crammed in...sometimes you must dismantle a lot in order to reach the item(s) to be repaired. If cost is not an object...do the 12. I changed in favor of the M62.
david 98 740i

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