Tips on E66/65 730/735 - keen to explore and need pointers

[ssmann]

Hello fellow forumers/E65/66 owners,Its been 3 years since my last acquisition of a 7 and the itch is rife. I have a serious pantang on buying new cars as i cannot live with the depreciation and high insurance costs. I don't like giving money away if i can avoid it!!!So my itch is to find an E66/65 preferably 730, if not 735. Does not matter what it is long or short wheel base. Also prefer facelifted version year 2002 - 2005 is fine. Some questions of owners of the car, pls share your experience on the following;Service cost - bro EL1118 shared some details and am pleased to see this is very similar to the E38Absorbers - these cars run EDC I understand. Any idea the cost of replacing these and how often do they kong? Any other options out there e.g. Bilsteins as replacement for the EDC?Electrics - how reliable are these? Any major horror stories?Overall review of the car seems good and I am very keen for one.Any assistance rendered, always appreciated!

 

[ssmann]

What happened to all the 7ers la? Am sure there are E65/66 users/hunters out there.....

 

[infinityKL]

aiya... saw ur blue 7 in WP last week ... nice ler

haha sama sama pantang

good luck with ur hunt ...

 

[ssmann]

aiya... saw ur blue 7 in WP last week ... nice ler

haha sama sama pantang

good luck with ur hunt ...

Tq bro. Not sure if we have met before, but the next time @ Albert's do intro and we can thani together!

 

[kaniz]

Yazmeen's family member owns an E65 735iL. Maybe u can have a chat with him to know more.

 

[pussy]

owing one can be a nightmare to countless visits to the workshop and a unlimited platinum credit card..

At ah wai, there is 1 e65 and a e66 that has monthly visits with much of electronic problems...

your call bro...

 

[pussy]

and remember, any outstation drives there no say the car will breakdown and not many can touch it, unless they have the correct scanners/GT1's....

 

[ICEMAN 68]

heard that SSMan already bough a tow truck just for this upgrade ...

 

[maccasel]

Hi Serjit,

Mine is a E66 740Li 2007 model....a slightly updated model to what you are looking for....so far nothing really major has happen (touch wood)....i had a starting problem a couple of months back...took quite some time (and several changed parts) to figure what it actually was...so far so good now...other electrics are ok save for the adjustment on my steering wheel (it cant move up and down now) although it was repaired previously...

service wise....oil filter cost in the region of rm80-90....i have changed the front pads before, cant really recall how much but it think it was three digits starting with a number two...

like all other sevens...its a very very nice and comfortable car....unless....u know what i mean...

overall suspension is fine so far and yes, it does cost a bomb if its faulty but i havent found out how big a bomb it is....yet...hahaha

hope this very very very brief intro helps bro...

 

[EL118]

Only the back suspension is airmatic. front are standard spring coil type.

try to get a facelifted model from 2006 onwards, pre-facelift is more error prone.

 

[ssmann]

Yazmeen's family member owns an E65 735iL. Maybe u can have a chat with him to know more.

Tq macha! Van-gama jag jag!

owing one can be a nightmare to countless visits to the workshop and a unlimited platinum credit card..

At ah wai, there is 1 e65 and a e66 that has monthly visits with much of electronic problems...

your call bro...

Meow, now u r scaring me big time...my card all reserved for extra curriculur activities la not cars!!!

and remember, any outstation drives there no say the car will breakdown and not many can touch it, unless they have the correct scanners/GT1's....

Ok, so clearly it ain't going North!

heard that SSMan already bough a tow truck just for this upgrade ...

Hehehehehe.....phai, you are 10 steps ahead of me la!!!

Hi Serjit,

Mine is a E66 740Li 2007 model....a slightly updated model to what you are looking for....so far nothing really major has happen (touch wood)....i had a starting problem a couple of months back...took quite some time (and several changed parts) to figure what it actually was...so far so good now...other electrics are ok save for the adjustment on my steering wheel (it cant move up and down now) although it was repaired previously...

service wise....oil filter cost in the region of rm80-90....i have changed the front pads before, cant really recall how much but it think it was three digits starting with a number two...

like all other sevens...its a very very nice and comfortable car....unless....u know what i mean...

overall suspension is fine so far and yes, it does cost a bomb if its faulty but i havent found out how big a bomb it is....yet...hahaha

hope this very very very brief intro helps bro...

Bro Maccasel, thanks man! Yes, saw your beauty in the flesh on the drive to Kluang! Thanks for the review mate, and indeed its always great till something hits the fan!

Only the back suspension is airmatic. front are standard spring coil type.

try to get a facelifted model from 2006 onwards, pre-facelift is more error prone.

Tq sir!

 

[andrewk]

I also did some research on owning one.. we all got the same itch la :wink:

From what I've read and what I found out from E65/66 owners:-

- Electricals issues is one of the main concerns for a model like this. If nothing happens, thank your lucky stars. If something does, it can be quite difficult to diagnose
- Rear EDC absorbers are expensive to replace. IIRC, somewhere in the tune of RM12-15k for the rear set.
- Regular maintenance (oil filter / oil change / consumables) commensurate the 7 series range, but not much more than our current E38.
- Bodykits can be quite pricy too. A friend had to replace a side skirt and rear bumper. Went into the 5 figure range.
- If can, get the facelifted one. Less problems. Forget the early production models. More problems with electricals and idrive issues.

That's about as much as I found before home security minister found out the plan and sent it to Kamunting.... as far as i know, its still sitting there without any possibility of release...

 

[ssmann]

I also did some research on owning one.. we all got the same itch la :wink:

From what I've read and what I found out from E65/66 owners:-

- Electricals issues is one of the main concerns for a model like this. If nothing happens, thank your lucky stars. If something does, it can be quite difficult to diagnose
- Rear EDC absorbers are expensive to replace. IIRC, somewhere in the tune of RM12-15k for the rear set.
- Regular maintenance (oil filter / oil change / consumables) commensurate the 7 series range, but not much more than our current E38.
- Bodykits can be quite pricy too. A friend had to replace a side skirt and rear bumper. Went into the 5 figure range.
- If can, get the facelifted one. Less problems. Forget the early production models. More problems with electricals and idrive issues.

That's about as much as I found before home security minister found out the plan and sent it to Kamunting.... as far as i know, its still sitting there without any possibility of release...

Hahahahaha! Kamunting!!! Good one!

Thanks bro for the info. I thought by now u would have been converted to 3 bintang!!!!

Yeah la....itchy...thinking what to get next.......

 

[pussy]

go get a used X5 la... 4.8i sport...

 

[EL118]

I also did some research on owning one.. we all got the same itch la :wink:

From what I've read and what I found out from E65/66 owners:-

- Electricals issues is one of the main concerns for a model like this. If nothing happens, thank your lucky stars. If something does, it can be quite difficult to diagnose
- Rear EDC absorbers are expensive to replace. IIRC, somewhere in the tune of RM12-15k for the rear set.
- Regular maintenance (oil filter / oil change / consumables) commensurate the 7 series range, but not much more than our current E38.
- Bodykits can be quite pricy too. A friend had to replace a side skirt and rear bumper. Went into the 5 figure range.
- If can, get the facelifted one. Less problems. Forget the early production models. More problems with electricals and idrive issues.

That's about as much as I found before home security minister found out the plan and sent it to Kamunting.... as far as i know, its still sitting there without any possibility of release...

Hi bro, the source is not correct or probably kena slaughtered. the rear airmatic suspension cost around RM3000 per piece so per set is RM6k + labour should be around 7k. maybe he changed other parts too to reach 12-15k.

I replaced a brand new rear bumper after a young chap "kiss" my car's back side at a traffic light. the workshop claim from insurance RM5000 only for a brand new original BMW bumper (including paint and i supposed "premium" as normal practice for insurance claim.)

 

[andrewk]

Bro EL188, thanks for the update. Guess it pays to shop around...

 

[andrewk]

Hahahahaha! Kamunting!!! Good one!

Thanks bro for the info. I thought by now u would have been converted to 3 bintang!!!!

Yeah la....itchy...thinking what to get next.......

hahah! Tiga bintang already in de garage...

Was at quill yesterday to test drive the F30 328i... fuyooo is all I have to say...

 

[EL118]

When come to 7 ers or S-Class, the parts are sure more expensive compared to 5ers or 3ers, simply because lake of economies of scales and of course "Premium element".

My friend in Singapore just changed rear airmatic suspension (s$1,800/ pc) + sensors + misc for his 2008 S350. total including labour S$5,600.

He got stranded on the road when suddenly the error popped up. the rear suspension gave away and sank down.

 

[YaZmEeN]

well, i can say the 3 bintang is more prone on the suspension system.

my dad's car, year 2002 still running good, with almost zero body roll and i do enjoy play corner with that car seriously. no issue on the airmatic.

the 735Li, with the n62b36 engine is a bit sluggish during roll start and i can say my m52b28 does better. so, better hunt for the 730 to make it a lil bit wise spending. or else, get the 740 or higher with fully loaded package and sabah road tax

the door absorber will always give away, so u have to live with that.

electrical errors will always be there, but mine is very minimal except that the radio FM signal has gone now. AB can't solve it, my mech can't solve it, and to date, nobody can solve it or faced this in the internet.

well, why not if u change ur 38 suspension with the B12 setup first? u'll love to drive it more than any other car then. so the moderator can close this thread

 

[YaZmEeN]

or u can consider this

http://www.mudah.my/BMW+X5+4+6+M+Sport+high+spec-16656561.htm