Re: 745i purchase...sorry to butt in James (long) (archive)

The complete automotive resource for buyers, sellers, and owners like you.

Just wanted to thank everyone for their emailed comments and posts to this forum regarding my piggy back post to James007's initial inquiry about how to purchase a 745i as an informed consumer. Caveat emptor, right?!

I really appreciate your comments as does my friend Steve who is the likely buyer. I'm sure he'll soon begin to post to this board if he buys the car. I have received email from a couple of folks saying that if either of us decide to back out of the deal that they would like the contact information for the owner. Not to worry, I will gladly provide it to this group if the purchase falls through for either of us. I want this lovely car to go to a good home if one of us doesn't get it in our garage first ;-) So meanwhile, stay tuned, I'm sure Steve and I will have more questions for you all.

The worst news of all for me was that the car was purchased off of ebay 6 months ago by the current owner's college-aged son. No maintenance records were included nor was an owners manual! The missing maintenance history situation usually sends me running for the hills BUT since this car is only $3500 (a fair price), drives very well, brakes are in good shape, engine bay is well kempt for its age, low miles (104k kilometers...if it is to be believed), no smoke at startup (or during driving...throttle off or on), tranny is silky smooth, new exhaust front to back, new tires, and recent tuneup (PO had wrong bosch plugs in it!), new wires, new radiator, all electrical features work, buffalo hydes are in good shape, paint is original black (NO RUST!) all make me think the car is worth the gamble.

If anyone has access to carfax or similar service...the VIN# is WBAFJ910808751307.
I would LOVE to know what you could find out about this car.

Best regard and thanks for your assistance! Best of luck with your search too James...I guess we can both learn through this process, eh?

ps.
Matt, my wife can't drive it...it's a stick and she thinks it is a brute of a car...her loss ;-)

I am seriously considering buying a 745i at the end of the summer and I would like to hear any and all input on this car. Common problems, good points, aftermarket market, everything. My family has driven BMWs all my life and I understand about the maintenance costs etc of owning Bimmers. I just want to know everything there is to know about this car before I buy one. Not so much that I am going to change my mind about it as I really do want one, but what to look for when I buy it and how the car performs. Is it really that much quicker over the 735i with that turbo? Whats this I hear about a self leveling suspension, stuff like that. Please feel free to email me with as long an email as you want because with a rare car such as the 745i I don't want to be the one that kills it doing something stupid. For those of you real car lovers I plan on fixing everything thats wrong with it and maintain it to the best of my abilities, BMW owners have a real passion for their cars and I am certainly one of them. I hope to become an active member on this board when I get a 7 of my own.
Thanks all,
James

Questions, comments, or problems, please visit the Roadfly help desk.