Out of the z4 - in to the BMW 7 series

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matsmith749

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What feels like the end of an era - I sold the last of a line of z4s in August (my fantastic z4 35is gone to a new home).

For practical reasons needed something bigger & easier to live with day to day - so ended up buying 'the grandad express' - a BMW g11 730d.

Found a deal to good to pass up on - a 3 owner black metallic with 66k miles, 2016, FSH, and an options list as long as your arm - somebody spent almost £30k in options!! Super rare to find a spec like this, especially in the UK.

But far from perfect.

There is always a list of jobs for any used car - no matter how nice it is - and this was bigger than most TBH.

It's been 2 months, and whilst no disasters or unexpected issues, there has been a lot done to get it right.

New battery - preventative as it was 8 years old & the car is chocablock with sensitive electrical kit.
New front grill - light damage / few stonechips.
Repainted lower bumper mesh panels - they had started fading out & turing blue (common issue).
20" diamond cut alloys - full refurb.
New tyres all round.
New TPMS sensors all round.
Rear brake pads.
Replaced windscreen wipers with ones that actually worked.
Lots of stone chips badly touched in - undid that, and repaired properly.
Full decon of paintwork & polish.
Broken drivers seat panel (where the electrical seat controls are situated) - replaced & riveted back in.
Air con service.
Full service.
New air supsension compressor & valve block.
2x new air suspension struts for the rear.
Full service - engine oil / filters / fuel filter / brake fluid.

Feels like I'm finished - car stands me at just over £18k after purchase price + all the work - I'm really pleased with it :)
 

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Looks amazing.

How are you getting on driving it?

What paint / method did you use on the blue plastics?

I have the same issue on my 5 series.
 
It's an amazing machine - drives incredibly quiet & smooth, inside it's just fantastic TBH. As a luxobarge I think it's about as good as it's possible to get (unless you want to go rolls royce).

But for me it's kindof 'meh' - a luxury appliance rather than an emotional experience that I could love.


For the lower mesh panels, I tried a heat gun first - it almost worked, but was still a bit patchy (& it's a temporary fix).

I ended up using plasticote bumper trim spray in jet black. It's kindof a paint/dye hybrid. Was nervous - but it was super easy & the finish is perfect. From the pic you can see 'silver' lines that look uneven - but that's actually light reflection, and it's exactly the same all across the front. Just looks silver depending where you stand.

As long as you are patient, it's an easy DIY even if you have never dared spray anything at your car before.
 
Next door neighbour has the 740D MSport

Lovely car…as you say luxurious if barge like..

A massive massive change from an E89…I wonder how long you’ll keep it..
 
I will likely keep it at least a couple of years - but also feel likely that I will accidentally buy something small & nippy in the next few months to run alongisde.

I know I don't fit them. I know the wife will go nuts.

I've almost bought 2 different e85 z4m roadsters (both minters) in the last 7 days.

Quick shout out for RBM Hampshire - a BMW independent garage about 20 minutes from me. Can't say enough good about the place or the people - a proper nit picking approach & standards that feel better than BMW dealer level. About half the price of BMW without any messing around - and they will fit after market parts that you supply.

BMW quoted me £7k to sort the compressor & the 2x rear air shocks (with a 2 year warranty). Supplied parts myself - RBM completed the work for less than £1200 (including the parts).

A good independent is the key to living with one of these I reckon. If you are stuck with having things done at a BMW dealer, I would recommend to stay away from one of these TBH.
 
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That is a lovely big barge, it all went pair shaped when they fitted that huge grille at LCI and I couldn't look at them any more without :sick:
 
sars said:
That is a lovely big barge, it all went pair shaped when they fitted that huge grille at LCI and I couldn't look at them any more without :sick:
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Agreed - 2020 big grill (horrible) and the brand new one with the slatty lights? Not a fan either.
 
Brilliant choice , pokey if stock but remapped then you have access to seemingly endless torque , plenty spec , 40+mpg & only £220 yr ved
Currently have a G32 ( 6 Gran Turismo) + weekender 640d coupe ( F13) & struggle to find anything to compare like for like with other brands .
 
Well that's quite a change from a Z4!

I can see an E85 on the horizon for the small and nippy choice. :LOL:

RBM are great, I've been taking both my cars there since Ross opened for business.
 
TIMMOS29 said:
Lovely car but the timing chain scares the hell out of me……
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Like any other Bmw or used car for that matter , you buy the best example you can based on its history & condition .
Yearly oil change ( or 8-10k max) with decent oil , don't thrash from cold , use quality fuel & no reason why you should expect anything major to go wrong .
egr / dpf do need thinking about , i use a additive for both monthly even though Bmw don't recommend them .
 
The g11 has the newer b57 engine - supposedly with uprated reliability for the timing chain. Will just have to keep my fingers crossed & stay on top of regular maintenance with it. I've checked a load of sites before buying, and the b57 is regarded as the most reliable diesel engine ever made by BMW (go figure).

I'm not overly worried TBH. (ask me again if it fails).

It's been 2 months & 2k miles, been checking the DPF every week with the scan tool & it's doing it's thing with the regens - so that is ok, I will stop worrying about that.

TBH, there is so much that could go wrong with a car like this - but it's all working fine with a clean scan & no issues I can see.

Just going to enjoy it, and if it does become a money pit will sell it on.
 
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The previous owner was a youtuber if anyone is interested - Martin Habinak - so I have a rather unique additional service history of his videos working on the car.

He sold the car as he was dissapointed that it didn't have active anti roll bars - not something I'm too concerned about TBH :)

Bit of fun.
 
mr wilks said:
Like any other Bmw or used car for that matter , you buy the best example you can based on its history & condition .
Yearly oil change ( or 8-10k max) with decent oil , don't thrash from cold , use quality fuel & no reason why you should expect anything major to go wrong .
egr / dpf do need thinking about , i use a additive for both monthly even though Bmw don't recommend them .
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The problem is that they are so complex that minor things cost extortionate amounts.

A wheel is £1000 a corner. Not including the tyres.
Some big bills from my G30. :-(
Amazing car tho.
 
Certainly more practical! I swapped an E89 for a 640i convertible a couple of years ago and that felt like a whale!
 
Deepseaskateboard said:
The problem is that they are so complex that minor things cost extortionate amounts.

A wheel is £1000 a corner. Not including the tyres.
Some big bills from my G30. :-(
Amazing car tho.
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Yes higher up the range part prices do increase , i was wary of that buying the F13 , to the point i walked away from a near perfect example in terms of condition + history but had 2 specific items i didn't want to be involved replacing > active rear steering & adaptive ride shocks 2 items not on the vehicle i went on to buy
 

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