[JakeJ]

Well actually it was yesterday but still today is also very good.

Here's why -
New set of 6 pairs of Cardas Golden Cross interconnects in the following configuration:
1 pr. 2 meter RCA
1 pr. 1.5 meter RCA
1 pr. 1 meter XLR
3 pr. 1 meter RCA
 
And a set of Golden Cross speaker wire is on the way.






2000 BMW 740iL -
115K miles but impeccably maintained by a car fanatic with full service history.  Eibach suspension kit, two sets of mag wheels, extra GPS brain module, premium sound, new cup holder mechanism (because they chronically break), clean and clear title.  Drives like nothing I've ever owned and got better GPM than my Volvo 740 GL Wagon coming back from Seattle.
 
  

[rockadanny]

Dude! No kidding!! Freakin' great day, and many days to come! Congrats! 

[Gopher]

e38 ftw!  Pre-Bangle BMWs are timeless things of beauty.  My daily driver is a 2003 540i, love it.

Nice drop, are you using stock shocks with that Eibach prokit? 

[vinyl_guy]

Hey Jake,

Congratulations and very nice on both the car and audio ends

I have been a BMW owner since 1976 and would drive nothing else. I bought all the them used and have never had one bit of trouble. I was careful when I bought each car and changed the oil regualrly. 115,000 miles is nothing--just broken in

1973 Bavaria-- bought with 30,000 miles; sold with 185,00 (wish I still had it--a classic)
1981 733i --19,000 mi; gve it to my church with 255,000 mi (original engine with no major engine work)
1994 525i 60,000 mi; sold with 128,000 so I could buy . . .
2001 530i 5 speed with high performance package (suspension, steering, engine), premium sound, and only 48,000 mi. I have just over 70,000 on it. I get >30 mpg on the highway at 75 mph.

There is a reason BMW advertises as "the ultimate driving machine." Enjoy your new toys. I know you will get great pelasure out of them.

[JakeJ]

Thanks guys!

First I'll thank my lucky stars to be working and able to buy stuff.

Gopher-What does Pre-Bangle mean?  As to the suspension, well don't they have to use a shorter shock?  I assumed the PO did but I could be wrong.  He did have the kit professionally installed.  I am having my fav local mechanic check it out in a couple of days and I will ask for sure.

There are a couple of known issues with the car, upper control arm bushings and a very slight oil leak that is probably the valve cover gaskets which is common to the big V-8.  Oh, and a few dead pixels on the digital portion of the display in the instrument cluster.  Looked about a dozen cars and every one had this problem.

[JakeJ]

Hi Laura, 

Thanks!  It's a beaut and the motor pulls hard.

I did look at the 540i as well but this car had the most solid history of what I found.

Wow a Bavaria!  Those are collector's cars now.  Quite the list and only four vehicles in 37 years is also impressive.  Quality maintenance will keep even a Chevy Sprint on the road for along time.

[Gopher]

Chris Bangle was the designer responsible for the radical change between the 2001/2002 7s 2003/4 5 etc.  :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Bangle  I'm sure you've heard of the "Bangle-butt"

As for the shocks, I believe a lot of guys throw the lowering springs on stock shocks.  I'm using an eibach prokit myself on my 5, but with a set of KoniFSD shocks (second set under warranty).   

If you're using the stock shocks, I wouldn't replace with stock when they wear out...  If Bilstein has an application for the e38 that may give you far better longevity, tighter feel and cheaper than stock.

[TomS]

Really nice 7!

I've had a few as well (all pre-owned) and wish I could have kept them all!

'82 528e
'91 M5
'97 M3
'00 540i-6 Sport (by far best car I've ever owned!)

Enjoy the ride

Tom

Please no more Bangle 

[mfsoa]

Got rear-ended hard in my Honda Fit yesterday.  Was not so good of a day 

But I do have an old BMW too, 2000 323 touring. Rear shock puked last week and sent a piece up through into the cabin. Usually not good when you can see suspension pieces moving from inside the car!

-Mike

[JakeJ]

Gopher -
Thanks for the tips and info.  I knew nothing of Mr. Bangle or his butt.


Martin! 

Man am I sorry to hear of your woes.  One reason for looking for a newer car is my '89 Volvo 740 GL wagon, at 205K mi., is getting a bit long in the tooth.  Plus it started puking oil two days ago and I was planning on driving it to the Seattle area to look at cars but got it into the shop before going and they advised against driving it over the mountains.  It's in the shop now and once done I will swap the BMW in for the little items it needs.

I really don't want to be driving it to work all the time and the longer term plan is to find a better commuter machine and retire the Volvo.

[rockadanny]

Just to give you some perspective, here is my car on a very bad day:



While visiting my bro (800 miles away), two nights before we were to return home our car got thumped by a large tree limb next to his home. Had to stay an extra week to get it repaired. Even though insurance covered all but $100 deductible, it cost us lots extra for extended pet & horse care and loss of wages. And to make matters worse, I went to the casino to win $100 to cover the deductible. Bad idea.

[Big Red Machine]

Jake, and I mean this in the nicest way, YOU SUCK! 

[rollo]

Best of luck looks sweet. Cars cables oh my, Ya only go around once.

charles

[JakeJ]

Mornin' Gents,

Rockadanny,
WOW, as I scrolled down to your photo I saw the windshield first, of course, and my mind leapt to "vandalism".  Then " roll-over" as scrolled further.  Then I read your explanation and the damage made sense.  What a bummer on the lost time.

BRM,
Funny, I definitely do not feel sucky at this time but if my condition changes I'll let you know. 

Rollo,
Thank you.  Glad your amp woes are behind you and your saga, however personally painful for you, does serve the community to remind us all that we need to be a bit cautious when buying tubes without warrantees.  Did Grant ever inform you of Full Music's current woes?  It would appear that Full Music may fade out in the near future.


Oh and just so everyone knows, it's not all candy-canes and lollipops in my world.  Late last week I noticed an odd buzzing coming from my Genesis 501s and found that somehow I've blown all four mid-bass couplers.  That little error is going to cost me $800 to replace or maybe I can get them repaired.  I haven't done much about the problem other than to chat with Genesis and get the above mentioned price.  So if anyone has a suggestion for a repair service that is of high quality please let me know.

Regards,
Jake
 

[ArthurDent]

Sweet set of wheels Jake, and nice ICs as well.

You've probably noted at some point where on the east side of the mtns you are, but I can't remember. The pic is very Spokanesque. You and Laura should hook up with the local BMWCCA chapter. I'd presume they are still active. Nice folks, good contacts for info, parts, svc, and activities. Was a charter chapter member back in the late '70s.

'69 2002, '73 2002 - round tailights rule  Would still like to find a nice Tii, enjoy the ride. 

[JakeJ]

Hi Art,

Actually I'm in the Tri-Cities area near the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.  Our friend Laura is, in fact, in the Spokane valley.  I had the pleasure of meeting her when she had Rod Tomson of Soundings Hi Fi, Denver come up and perform a Master Set on her Daedalus speakers.  What a revelation in room speaker/room interfacing!

Local club does sound interesting, I'll have to look into it.

My history with BMW goes back to the early 80's when I bought a 1973 2002 Malaga/Tan.  It was bone stock and needed some work bit what a fun car.  I'm 53 soon to be 54, I had a heart attack and open heart surgery for a sextuple bypass.  Life is short and I want something fun to drive when I go across the hill to Seattle for holidays and other road trips.

[kessljo]

Hi Art,

Actually I'm in the Tri-Cities area near the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. 

Local club does sound interesting, I'll have to look into it.

Nice to know there are others on the sunnyside of the State.  I am up in Yakima.  If there is a club or an interest in an Eastern Washington HiFi club, I would be up for a visit or meet!!  Granted, it is not a 7 series but I do love my 330XI.  Does great in the winter time.

Jake

[Gopher]

Almost forgot.  I'm generally not a huge 'preventative maintenance' guy, but check your service records on that e38 and if you've got more than 40k on it, just do a cooling system overhaul....  seriously.  Waterpump, fan clutch, fan blades, upper/lower radiator hoses, expansion tank, radiator...    Not to scare you, the car is a wonderful machine, but the cooling system is the achilles heel.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1455331

[TomS]

Almost forgot.  I'm generally not a huge 'preventative maintenance' guy, but check your service records on that e38 and if you've got more than 40k on it, just do a cooling system overhaul....  seriously.  Waterpump, fan clutch, fan blades, upper/lower radiator hoses, expansion tank, radiator...    Not to scare you, the car is a wonderful machine, but the cooling system is the achilles heel.

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1455331

I replaced my 540's radiator at about 80k with one from Zionsville Autosport http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/screen/ctgy/store_code/6134/category_code/CCS.htm No more cheap plastic connections on that one, so it should last forever.

[Gopher]

Well done, Tom.  Depending on how long I hold onto the 540i that may be on my menu...   Ideally I won't have another catastrophic failure in the next couple years, but if I do, forget the plastic parts... stainless all the way, baby!