Re: E32,Cost of Ownership (Cont'd) (archive)

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I have owned my '92 E32 since new so I guess I am qualified for this topic, so to speak. =)

It is definitely not a "cheap" vehicle to maintain. Buying used will definitely lead to an even bigger question mark but even when I have owned it since new various things came up needing replacement or maintenance. I don't know how "relevant" these would apply to a used vehicle but for a car this age I think there's a high likelihood the same things would be needed, if not more!

What I have replaced/repaired within the last 2 years - new A/C unit (costly as the labour involved in taking the dash apart, parts are OK if you go OEM instead of BMW), rubber hoses & O-rings, engine gaskets (the gasket is cheap but the labour...ooch), fan clutch, new brake pads and rotors, front brake calipers rebuilt, front hi/low beam light assemblies replaced as they were badly chipped, drive-shaft center support bearing, brake sensor switch, engine mounts, suspension bushings, shock inserts front and rear, front end alignment, strut-top rubber mounts plus other "regular" maintenance items like valve adjustment, spark plugs, oil & filters etc. Plus I'll be needing a new battery and fuel pump pretty soon as they are going...

Gasoline might be a substantial part of "cost of ownership" too. It's better in the US and Canada where gasoline is resonably "cheaper" but here in Hong Kong owning a 735i (with premium unleaded at ~US$1.48/liter) is more or less burning money! A full tank here cost me a nice figure of ~US$120!!! Plus the mostly city driving doesn't help either.

In the 9 years that I have owned my 735i the total I've spent on the car is a scary sum - almost USD32,000 excluding gasoline, insurance and license fees. Enough for a very nice "extra" car!

But all in all I keep my car in a reasonably good condition...the interior of the car is in almost new condition (periodic application of a good leather conditioner helps) except slight aging of the driver's leather seat, which unfortunately is sort of unavoidable for a 9 year-old car, plus of course the slight rattling from the various interior panels when the road surface is rough. Recently my mechanic has commented that there aren't too many E32 7-series in HK that are in nearly as good condition as mine. Had the car re-sprayed less than 2 years ago and recently added some 18" wheels and tires also. Plus an Alpine CVA-1005 in-dash TV system with Video-CD, a MOMO 3-spoke sterring wheel the car is really a joy to drive! =)

The car may be an expensive automobile but fact is, there is no other full-size sedan that could touch the 7-series for the same " magic blend" of performance and comfort!

***OUCH!!!***$125-$150 a month sounds like a lot. Even if this is averaged out over a year.Could you tell me what you're doing every month Alex, that costs so much???
The thought of a new front end,exhaust,suspension,and driveshaft isn't too frightening for me as long as I feel the benefits of the cost.

I joined the BMWCCA, purchased the Bentley Service Manual a few months ago, and have also spent countless hours on the internet (great site by the way) so I'm fairly familiar with the mechanics of the car as well as my abilities to perform most of the maitenance and upgrades myself.

My thoughts up to this point have been that an average E32 will need in it's first year:
>Shocks and Springs,$650.00
>Stearing Components,$600.00
>Exhaust System,$850.00 (Not Incl. Cat Convt)
>Ignition System Upgrade,$500.00-$800.00
>Injectors,$300.00
>Misc (this and that),$1000,00 <(Liberal Est.)

What it really comes down to is: What does a reconditioned 735i feel like after I've done everything listed above???
I should also mention that I'm not looking for a road rocket. I just want an asthetically pleasing car that I can depend on, feel comfortable in for hours and hours, and upgrade as I please.

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