The 735i was the only variant of the 7 series we received here in the United States at the beginning of 1987-88. Later we received the 750il V12 but they were ultra expensive and few were sold. I preferred the inline 6 cylinder compared to the later V8 models such as the 740i models which had much higher repair costs. It's important to note that this car does have the extra cost BBS alloyed wheels. In my opinion this generation 7 series was their best looking of all 7 series. Build quality was exceptional back then too. I would take this car over any new BMW made today. 🤗
It has aged like a human: sagging here, fading there, wrinkling leather, clunky bones, but the heart and soul are still intact and enjoyable to spend time with.
Owen Steele Fine wine is great until you get rust in the wings and the only replacements you can find are worse than the ones you have, and no one wants to weld it. The wine I mean. No one wants to weld your rusty wine. Something like that anyway.
After my 1984 Austin Maestro Vandan Plas, I had a Diamond black 1988 F reg BMW E34 535i auto, Looking under the bonnet of this 735i brought back memories of having to remove the complete air intake system to gain access to the spark plugs ! and also the exhaust manifolds too to change the leaky gaskets (It has two manifolds of, 1 manifold for each lot of 3 cylinders and 2 aluminium heat shields over them to stop the heat coming up and drying out the spark plug leads), these are the BMW ,"M30" engines in 3430cc form for the 3.5 (really a 3.4) and they are very good engines, the gear box is a ZF 4HP 4 speed auto transmission with "Sport", "Economy" and "Manual" modes, being in sport mode locks the transmission up to 3rd gear, meaning that the gears change 1, 2 and then 3 and that's it. (The engine then races in 3rd at approx 4,000 rpm and 80mph, moment you switch it over to "Economy" and 4th gear is then engaged the engine revs drop rapidly right down to approx 2,000 rpm), I noticed when my E34 535i was in sport mode and locked up in 3rd gear, it had a tremendous amount of surge and overtaking power over 70 mph without getting out of 3rd gear !!! (no need for kickdown unless you really want to hear that engine scream !!!) - It was really amazing for only a 211 bhp car weighing close to 2 tones ! - the E34's were heavy solid cars and I am pretty sure that the E32 7 series were the same too except slightly more heavier !! After the E34 535i I had a 1999 BMW E39 540i in Cosmos black with beige napa leather seats, Tv/Sat-Nav and a glass sunroof, It had BMW's M62 4.4 Single Vanos 32 valve V8 in it and a ZF 5 HP 5 speed auto/tiptronic gearbox (which sadly turned out to be the death of my E39 540i when its transmission failed at only 90,000 miles !), the BMW E34 535i I had previously had done 129,000 miles when I part ex'ed it for the 540i in September 2003 (I bought it in 1995 with 91,000 on the clock) and its gearbox was still silky smooth with no problems at all compared to the Gorgeous Black 1999 E39 540i I paid £21,000 for which kept locking its gears in 5th gear after 5 minutes driving down the road and saying "Trans failsafe mode" making the car extremely slow off the line and almost undriveable ! as these cars are supposed to do 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds ! - I had it for 2 years before it failed which was very bad show, Googling this problem online brought up many Unhappy E39 540i owners and X5 owners who were having exactly the same problem with their gearboxes ! Whatever you do hubnut do not keep the 735i in sport mode for too long otherwise you'll end up like me ! having to push this big heavy dead weight barge of a car to your nearest petrol station ! to get petrol which is no fun ! lol, as that happened to me the first week I got my E34 535i because I didn't know that these engines DRINK the petrol very fast in sport mode !!! Please find and test out a 1996 Mercedes C36 AMG !!! - This was my next car after the BMW E39 540i and this was a VERY FAST CAR !! and sounded really awesome !!!! with its high revving 24 valve straight 6 and 277bhp, the 540i I had was slightly more powerful with 286 bhp and 324lbs of torque (compared to the C36's 277 bhp and 280 lbs of torque) but the 540i felt MUCH slower then the C36 AMG ! ... Just don't bother driving a C36 AMG on a wet day !, as it is a wheel spin nightmare ! car in the wet and things can get VERY SCARY if you're not expecting it ! when the rear wheels spin and go sideways violently !!! - I now own and drive a 2009 MERCEDES CLS 63 AMG with only 32,000 miles on the clock (6.2 N/A AMG V8) and it is by far the best car I have ever owned or driven ! But it is massive !! and very car park unfriendly ! FAIR WELL ! - Keep the great vids comming man ! You rock ! ;-)
I found it quite amusing that a man whose daily drivers are a Daewoo Matiz, a Citroen 2CV and an Invacar would be worried that a car with a 3.5 litre engine wouldn't have enough grunt. :-)
I never would have imagined in a million years when I subbed to this channel a year ago that I'd eventually be watching a short haired man review a BMW.
German cars have become vulgar because they no longer design their cars with Europeans in mind. Instead, they catering to the tastes of their Arab and Chinese clients, which are very interested in brash and vulgar displays of wealth. The head of design at BMW said as much when questioned about those grotesque large grills they use these days. They said they are no longer designing cars for European tastes. Well, fuck them then. Volvo still looks somewhat decent.
Protector of the Republic Yes your 100% right, BMW design their cars for the masses and in doing so have shown a two finger gesture to its past heritage! The money men dictate everything unfortunately!
3:25 "modern bmws are blobby slashy and horrible" with an estimated 260,000 words in the english language i really dont think i could have chosen better...
Drove a Malachtit green 735i from 1987 with a manual gearbox for 12 years, absolutely beautiful and lovely car. At well over 300.000 kms the electrical gremlins made me sell it, still miss it though.
Got to love the variety in these reviews - from microcar one day to wafty barge the next (and from "will it do 45 in 4th?" to "it'll do 45 in 1st") - such contrasting vehicles, yet charismatic in their own (completely different) ways. Delightful.
I had a Black 735il ex BBC. Longer wheelbase did help it handle better although Hydraulic dampers were expensive when they failed. Electrics very reliable other than ignition barrell which had a dry joint. My No.1 BMW. And I have owned a lot of 90's BM's. You got electric reclining seats front and rear, 3lectric sun blind and the ski hatch had a bag built in for ski's to stop them marking your interior. You could even set the car to heat up the interior ready for your morning commute.
Back in the 1990s my parents briefly considered one of these as a replacement for their Volvo 744. I recall the interior (black leather) being head and shoulders above anything I'd ever experienced before, but ultimately I seem to recall that the car had some mechanical issue (it was only 4 or 5 years old at the time) so they passed on it. They do seem to lose their value quite spectacularly - I prefer the earlier sharknose E23, which for some reason can still be picked up much more cheaply than the 6-series of the same period. I also miss the days when big luxury barges were comfortable, classy and understated, rather than having to scream their presence with slashes, snarly grilles, enough LEDs to light Wembley Stadium, and a horrible, harsh ride to rattle the fillings from your teeth. (Not to mention the complicated electronic engine computer and transmission systems that are designed to break and leave the second owner with huge repair bills). Facebook is one thing, but the lack of predictable comments about indicators in here is surprising. As you say, you shouldn't judge a car or brand by the tw*ts who drive them.
5 років тому+7
I had this car's 'little' brother for a while, an E39 535i V8 with the 5 speed auto. I still miss that bloody car, it was godly!
little brother would be the E34 5 series they where designed at the same time. The E39 is the little brother of the E38 7series wich where also designed at the same time
I had an 82 520i back in the day.Nice smooth vehicle and less electronic crap on it compared with today's BMWs.[eg the sunroof was manually operated.]They really stood out from the crowd then.
@@tolrem I had an e30 around 2005 and was the most dependable car I've ever owned like alot of older cars you gets squeaks rattles but it always felt solid to drive and had over 200k on it there is not many new cars capable of 200k. Like anything though basic maintenance really does help
12mpg..... Reminded me of what someone once said about the Jensen Interceptor of that era... ( Chrysler Typhoon V8 )..... "You can pass anything in this car....., except for a petrol station ... ".
What a lovely example of a 7 series. It's a design that has aged quite well, still looks sharp despite being obviously an 80s design. I wonder if we'll be saying the same of the bangle BMWs in 15 years time... I'd love one but couldn't afford the fuel 😮
Spent many a mile in both the drivers & passenger seats of a few of these 7 series. Good job it isn't a V12.You can see the fuel gauge move as you are driving along with the 750il. No need for a fuel computer or economy gauge. Epic cars. Another superb Hubnut video.
Absolutely adore these cars. As something to be seen in I reckon it's one of the coolest saloons on the planet right now. Classic aggressive elegance and straightforward body lines with just a hint of well-aged retro charm about it.
My boss had a 730i on our taxi fleet back in 2001 or so. My Peugeot 405 broke down one night so the only free car was said beemer. Very quickly and without realising, I was doing treble figure mph. It was in white and when I hypermiled it was good for 25/30 mpg, despite the astronomical mileage on the clock!
Love it. My Dad had a E34 525tds when I got my driving licence. Back then it was considered cool to drive with parking lights plus fog lights on. BMWs were perfect for that.
The Lay-By you stopped in around 24:00 - I know exactly where that is. I stopped there to take Photos of my van with the stunning backdrop only the other week en-route to my destination not far away in a secret location. It was a sunny windy day on my Pics too. Marvellous!! :-)
When BMW made good looking, well built and well engineered cars. I think this was peak BMW and peak car , since then all cars have got ever more complex and uglier, trying to find gaps in the market nobody knew existed.
I remember driving with a friend in one of these between Hannover and Magdeburg in 1990 shortly after the Wall came down. We were doing about 120mph and it was glued to the road. We passed many Trabants which appeared as a speck in the distance then went flying past as if they were standing still. Occasionally the cardboard Trabants stuck in the outside lane and we had to slam on the brakes which worked perfectly. Which was a good thing as if they hadn’t we would have arrived at our destination covered in vaporised cardboard and 2 stroke oil!
Back in the late 90s i owned a 1990 on a G plate diamond schwartz (met black) factory dechromed only kidney grill border was chrome and slightly lowered suspension 735ise model. Beautiful to drive and handled very well indeed. Yes it liked a drink but fuel was a lot cheaper then. Could not fault it for reliability and only needed ac regassing and a thermostat in my ownership of nearly 2 years, these are one of the properly built bmw's and showed in the way it drove. Great video Ian and nice to know a few are still around, wish I had kept mine now.
6:16 i have a BMW 735il 1991 the headrests sound like that because it actually is meant to be used with the electrical controllers on the side of the seat, the sound is because you forced the gears.
nice car- this whole class of executive cars doesn't even exist today- the modern equivalents (no matter de manufacturer) are too sporty, too big and look like a 16 yo designed it after 6 cans of Monster Energy...I drove a BMW 740li for a few days and I kind of hated it- it didn't want to stay in a straight line with its huge tyres that did feature a minimal amount of rubber- in wet conditions you couldn't even drive away from a crossing without wheels spinning- it also did not fit into any parking space... on the bright side- those cars are so expensive that I don't even have to think about having to deal with all this..
Nor do decent estate cars anymore. you can get more stuff in an old volvo 850 estate than any modern blobby overinflated SUV/crossover thing.. also the modern fashion for silly large alloy wheels and rubber bands for tyres means a harsh crashy ride.
I was offered an MOTd 750il last year in reasonable order for £750, same with Jags and Land Rover's, the prices have dropped out the bottom on these super expensive cars, £300 can buy you and up and running Jag these days that will need some fixing and Landy/Rangey prices on stuff like the Freelander, Defenders are ridiculous.
I like some new luxury cars but they have to have a wheel size to suit the car size I hate seeing big cars with silly little wheels that look daft a good example is a newish 5 series with 17 inch wheels look daft as there is to much tyre and it’s too skinny for the wheel arch space
Lovely. I once picked up a rather battered 1993 example; mine was a 740i with the 4.0 V8, in this same sort of goldish silver colour. That E32 was worth nothing at the time, being unfashionable , thirsty, tatty, high mileage and with lots of electrical problems, but I do rather regret selling it now. Despite its age and ropey condition it was a lovely, comfy thing to mooch around in.
i have a E32 735I Executive automatic from 1986 with the 10.000 guilder optional hydraulic/electric self leveling suspension, when passengers step in the back it raises automatically, you can also do it manually with a switch in the console. 320.000km on it, im second owner, bought it from the 1st owner who drove it to 275.000km. I even have the buying receipt from the dealer when it was bought new. it is a champ of a car, and only get out on sunny days. it is a lovely car to drive and own, and gets a lot of attention.
@@houseofno you'll find a lot of BMW enthusiasts will tell you that the shape and styling of the E60 M Sport has aged the best and is the best mark, similar to the E46 M3, plus the E39 didn't enter the diesel performance game, the bi turbo that came in the E60 535d was a game changer for performance tuned diesels. Also this is the 46th car I've owned in 22 years of driving and the build quality is better than any other car I've had.
From what I can remember reading in the brochure the rear seatbelts cross the shoulder that way to prevent the rear passengers smacking heads in the middle of the car should you have an accident. Had an '88 730i a few years back and I miss it dearly! Comfy, fast enough, quiet and enough modern tech to keep you happy
My stepdad had a 1989 520i about 15 years ago. It was sluggish around town (being the 12v model) but the roar at high revs was amazing. It was so delightfully clattery at low revs as it had about 160k on the clock but it was so incredibly well-built. Hewn from granite I believe is the expression. I always think a 4-cylinder BMW isn't a BMW...except both incarnations of the 318iS.
Hi HubNut, I’ve been watching your videos for a while now and find them so refreshing. They’re delivered with unbiased and honest opinions and feature all types of vehicle, which I love. But there is one thing I’ve noticed. It’s the headrests - please adjust them properly! If you were hit hard in the rear on that BMW, your head would be forced back and over the rest, possibly breaking your neck! They should be adjusted with the base of the rest level with the earlobes. Keep up the great videos, they are a real treat and I’m always eager to see the latest of you tests and escapades. Good work and keep it up.
How is it you keep highlighting cars I’ve run. I loved my E32 730i, 20 years old, 22,000 miles, still going strong and to my surprise, the dealer even paid me a trade-in when I went for the then current E60 530d. A wonderful, safe, comfortable and agile banger!
Hello! I got same car (730 m30), but with a problem in engine, propably broken cylinder head gasket: emulsion (coffee with milk) in antifreeze tank. Can you please give an advice is that critical to fix or i may use the car some time, looking at temp?
Handsome car these, and that’s a nice colour. Imagine what it would have felt like when the first owner brought it home for the first time when it was brand new. Must have felt good.
Love these, I couldn’t agree more with you regarding 80’s BMW design. In fact from the 70’s through almost all of there cars are unrivalled when it comes to just looking spectacular.
I have both F10 520i and E32 735ia (1987). I prefer driving 735i for daily. For some reason i feel myself much more special and distinguished in the e32. I beleive it has a soul. By the way it really still feels modern, that’s true! God i’m gonna go out and drive it now:)
Love these old 7's and really cheap now as no one wants old gas guzzlers. Speaking of which, i would imagine this is going to use the same amonut of fuel in a day that the 2CV and Matiz combined use in a month!
Gas guzzlers? The M70 V12 will do 18 mpg on the highway if you can keep from going stupid fast on the gas pedal. It's not a Toyota Prius. Show some respect
Awesome video...bit of nostalgia watching this. My old man used to have one of these back in 96 in alpine white and sport trim, had a factory spoiler on it beautiful car. I'd never forget the smell of leather...proper leather seats back in the days.
I remember when these come out The guy over road in work brought a brand new 750i v12 was £52000 back in the 80s ouch could of brought a 3 bedroom house
Had a 1986 728i SE.Best car I've ever had.Over 10 yrs and 280k miles, the only problem was the gear box, cost a £1000 at a back street specialist who told me he did the gearboxes for BMW dealers, they wanted £3000.You could throw it into a corner and be fairly sure to come out the other side.Currently looking at a spotless low mileage 1988 735i, very tempted but could be just an attack of nostalgia.
Great video! The spark plugs are very easy to access. You just need to remove the air filter box, then remove two bolts and move over the black wiring loom. Plenty of space to work in. The V12, on the other hand...
A car from a time when fuel economy was somewhat secondary. Now its painful to look at those consumption figures - although getting 25 mpg out of it at its current age is actually quite impressive. At about the time this car was current I had a Discovery V8 - best I ever got out of that was 17 mpg on a long run, 12 was more typical. Bit embarrassing now huh.
Good point. Modern engines are amazingly efficient and get astonishing power out of small capacities, the flipside is that they are reliant on sensors and computer management and if that fails the engine is not economically repairable. Means today's cars won't be worth keeping on the road when they start going wrong as it will cost too much to repair them - that's the cost of such clever, safe and efficient cars.
I had a V8i Discovery and 17mpg was my average. Not great as I worked 25 miles away. Finding out the bosses helicopter did more mpg was the last straw.
@@buggs9950 What did the chopper achieve ? What a new benchmark you're offering us ! Are you sure the tank didn't have a hole in it ? I'm finding that consumption amazing.
I had a chevy Astro 8 seat van with a 4.3 V6 and automatic gearbox. On a motorway run to Devon it managed 24mpg, which was pretty good for what it was, but about 18 was more typical
A few years ago I sold my e34 535i manual. Something I still regret. The 535 was really just a restyled version of the 735. under the skin it was virtually a identical. To the extent that they made the front seat backs extra thick in order to make it appear that the 735 was bigger. At 350 000 miles it was still running well but showing signs of cam wear. It's probably the best car I have ever owned. Comfortable, reasonably quick and very playful if you pushed it. It certainly didn't feel as big and heavy as it looked. Durability was excellent. In all those miles, my only extraordinary expenses was a radiator and a couple of front suspension bushes (actually X2) I wish I could have it back, I would be gladly pay for a new cam.
I remember them from when I was working in my uncle's garage. There was a guy who came to garage with his Jag and his 735I out both car's he said he preferred the BMW. Another good video mate 👍👍
Who doesn't like a luxo-barge with an engine like that one, handsome styling and lovely road manners. Shame about the tired interior, oh well, can't have everything I suppose. What a contrast to the Trojan. Cheers.
My parents had one of these back in the day. It was back when BMW actually deserved the moniker "THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE". They drove it for years and enjoyed it for almost 300k miles with minimal issues .
Why not use the h/brake? Park position is only a secondary safety feature in case the h/brake fails. I know Buckingham extremely well. Lived there for 11 years.
@@alaboutcars7426 some transmissions can play up when parking on even a slight incline or decline and left in P. Its the devil's own job to move the selector from that position. Not good for the car at all. In later machinery say 2017 onwards the whole lot is very tightly integrated. X mission and parking brake sort out their own requirements autonomously Using the P position alone is akin to using either 1st or Reverse as a parking mode with full manual transmissions. In this case the whole gearbox is holding the car steady and stationary. But still use the parking brake for its intended purpose.
@@HowardLeVert you're not wrong. The whole assembly needs constant adjustment. Cables stretch and also need replacing. They drive nicely though, thoroughly disguising their age if well maintained.
Absolutely love this car. Father used to have a 735 E32 Manual. bulletproof 3,430 M30 engine. However, this car has SLS, Self levelling system, and I can see that the reaer end is starting to sag a bit... Always look for a model without it when you end up looking for one. Can be really expensive that SLS... That antenna on the rear is a pity... NOt original! This engine, the M30B35 is rated 155KW, not 162 normally. Fuel consumption is terrific on these engines... 15-20 l/100km is no exception even with moderate usage. This is not equipped with headlight wipers, BUT this car is, apparently, equipped and specced with the "intensiv" cleaning package. If you take a closer look on the chrome piece trim on the front bumper, you see that there are nozzles that spray up the headlights. Please do a review on a E9, E23 or E34 too! The problem you experienced with the seats arae typicasl for BMW's of that era, however, it is was equipped with manual seats, they would still be in perfect working condition :p Is that Luxorbeige paint? Lovely review!
my dad bought one as the second owner in 1996 when i was 4- it was a brown on brown 88 735i. code lock in the dash computer and if you locked it with the key on the outside the pins stay down! you can lock someone inside- or lock it with all the windows open when you park, but the door stays locked. headliner did the same thing in the back, and i always thought the rear sunshade was cool. sold it in 2005- it rusted a little by then, but then i saw it for sale later with a repaint- knew it was the same car- one white letter tire gave it away. power steering also drives the hydraulic power brakes. if you loose the fan belt you loose brakes and steering at thee same time. good memories from mississauga ontario canada. he since moved on to e38s. has a 2000 750il now.
Rear seat belts the other way round are great for strapping kids in. The E34 5 series had the same and I wish I'd had a car that had them when my kids were young.
As someone who has driven a lot of bmws’ through work over the years, nothing quite ticks as many all-round boxes as a practical drivers car like a decent beema. There is a particular 90’s beema that I use as my benchmark when compering with other marques. Always enjoy your videos Ian, but this one especially so!
Had a couple of these and many more e23’s The e32 looks and (still) feels very modern but the e23 is a little lighter on its feet and more sporty to drive
For a 30 odd year old car, I think it’s aged quite well. I like it and wouldn’t mind spending some time bumbling around in it. It certainly doesn’t look it’s age, compared to a lot of its contemporaries. I’m very pleased that you fixed the wiper blade! Must have been a shock getting back into Mertyl!😂
Very good vid. I have a manual version of this - manual gearbox, manual seats. Over twice the mileage of this one and not rusty because I've looked after it for well over 15 years. Similarly thirsty - it will j-u-s-t tickle 30 mpg on a very long steady run but really, the M30 engine is a thirsty bugger. The seats are superbly comfy when in good nick. My headlining has also drooped so I gave it the good news with a staple gun - sorted until I get around to having it retrimmed. The XJ40 does ride better but doesn't handle as well, and the W126 is like a ship in comparison.
A old friend of mine, had a brand new 1990 model in Dark blue , well it was his boss’s and he was the chauffeur , we used to rag it around Buckinghamshire most weekends when he wasn’t working ,, happy days
Great review, Ian! I am a big fan of the old BMWs (my 1985 E30 is my pride and joy!) and as much as I admire the 7 Series of this generation, I wouldn't own one personally. Strictly due to the size and my preferences. My favourites are the microcars and compacts like the Isetta, 700, 2002 and early 3 Series.
About 12 years ago i almost bought an E32 730i V8 with pretty much all options, even the double pane windows (or however it's called in English..). It had 280.000 km on the clock, drove very nice, did had some wear, but not as bad as the one you've driven. I would've called it "obviously used", but still good for another 100k km. This one is more likely abused. Still, one of the most beautifull BMW's ever made, and i still wouldn't be ashamed to own one.
i Drive my BMW E32 from 1987 now more then 25 Years...last weekend i Drive from Lörrach to Berlin and back...thats more then 1900km.....with no Problems...I love Him
The 735i was the only variant of the 7 series we received here in the United States at the beginning of 1987-88. Later we received the 750il V12 but they were ultra expensive and few were sold. I preferred the inline 6 cylinder compared to the later V8 models such as the 740i models which had much higher repair costs. It's important to note that this car does have the extra cost BBS alloyed wheels. In my opinion this generation 7 series was their best looking of all 7 series. Build quality was exceptional back then too. I would take this car over any new BMW made today. 🤗
I totally agree. I see too many, especially 3 series, that it has diluted the brand to being too common.
It has aged like a human: sagging here, fading there, wrinkling leather, clunky bones, but the heart and soul are still intact and enjoyable to spend time with.
nice words
Agreed, nicely put!
Indeed. Fine wine also springs to mind here.
@James Smith I was thinking the same thing!
Owen Steele
Fine wine is great until you get rust in the wings and the only replacements you can find are worse than the ones you have, and no one wants to weld it. The wine I mean. No one wants to weld your rusty wine.
Something like that anyway.
After my 1984 Austin Maestro Vandan Plas, I had a Diamond black 1988 F reg BMW E34 535i auto, Looking under the bonnet of this 735i brought back memories of having to remove the complete air intake system to gain access to the spark plugs ! and also the exhaust manifolds too to change the leaky gaskets (It has two manifolds of, 1 manifold for each lot of 3 cylinders and 2 aluminium heat shields over them to stop the heat coming up and drying out the spark plug leads), these are the BMW ,"M30" engines in 3430cc form for the 3.5 (really a 3.4) and they are very good engines, the gear box is a ZF 4HP 4 speed auto transmission with "Sport", "Economy" and "Manual" modes, being in sport mode locks the transmission up to 3rd gear, meaning that the gears change 1, 2 and then 3 and that's it. (The engine then races in 3rd at approx 4,000 rpm and 80mph, moment you switch it over to "Economy" and 4th gear is then engaged the engine revs drop rapidly right down to approx 2,000 rpm), I noticed when my E34 535i was in sport mode and locked up in 3rd gear, it had a tremendous amount of surge and overtaking power over 70 mph without getting out of 3rd gear !!! (no need for kickdown unless you really want to hear that engine scream !!!) - It was really amazing for only a 211 bhp car weighing close to 2 tones ! - the E34's were heavy solid cars and I am pretty sure that the E32 7 series were the same too except slightly more heavier !!
After the E34 535i I had a 1999 BMW E39 540i in Cosmos black with beige napa leather seats, Tv/Sat-Nav and a glass sunroof, It had BMW's M62 4.4 Single Vanos 32 valve V8 in it and a ZF 5 HP 5 speed auto/tiptronic gearbox (which sadly turned out to be the death of my E39 540i when its transmission failed at only 90,000 miles !), the BMW E34 535i I had previously had done 129,000 miles when I part ex'ed it for the 540i in September 2003 (I bought it in 1995 with 91,000 on the clock) and its gearbox was still silky smooth with no problems at all compared to the Gorgeous Black 1999 E39 540i I paid £21,000 for which kept locking its gears in 5th gear after 5 minutes driving down the road and saying "Trans failsafe mode" making the car extremely slow off the line and almost undriveable ! as these cars are supposed to do 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds ! - I had it for 2 years before it failed which was very bad show, Googling this problem online brought up many Unhappy E39 540i owners and X5 owners who were having exactly the same problem with their gearboxes !
Whatever you do hubnut do not keep the 735i in sport mode for too long otherwise you'll end up like me ! having to push this big heavy dead weight barge of a car to your nearest petrol station ! to get petrol which is no fun ! lol, as that happened to me the first week I got my E34 535i because I didn't know that these engines DRINK the petrol very fast in sport mode !!!
Please find and test out a 1996 Mercedes C36 AMG !!! - This was my next car after the BMW E39 540i and this was a VERY FAST CAR !! and sounded really awesome !!!! with its high revving 24 valve straight 6 and 277bhp, the 540i I had was slightly more powerful with 286 bhp and 324lbs of torque (compared to the C36's 277 bhp and 280 lbs of torque) but the 540i felt MUCH slower then the C36 AMG !
... Just don't bother driving a C36 AMG on a wet day !, as it is a wheel spin nightmare ! car in the wet and things can get VERY SCARY if you're not expecting it ! when the rear wheels spin and go sideways violently !!! - I now own and drive a 2009 MERCEDES CLS 63 AMG with only 32,000 miles on the clock (6.2 N/A AMG V8) and it is by far the best car I have ever owned or driven ! But it is massive !! and very car park unfriendly !
FAIR WELL ! - Keep the great vids comming man ! You rock ! ;-)
I found it quite amusing that a man whose daily drivers are a Daewoo Matiz, a Citroen 2CV and an Invacar would be worried that a car with a 3.5 litre engine wouldn't have enough grunt. :-)
Me too! But then I realised that the cars he owns are so small and noisy that he feels like hes going 100 mph when hes doing 30.
I had a Daewoo Matiz for a good while. Man o man that car served me well.
I have a 735i and when I am just cruising through serpentine roads the cars just disappear and my wife doesn't even shout at me :)
This generation, the E30, E32 and E34, was the most beautiful generation of BMWs. I owned a 535 for some years and still miss it.
I never would have imagined in a million years when I subbed to this channel a year ago that I'd eventually be watching a short haired man review a BMW.
Back when the Germans could do sublimely elegant executive steeds rather than the current ever so brash Jack the Lad offerings!
Agreed, IMO Mercedes leads the way in terms of vulgar, brash styling. A shame as the older cars were nicely understated and built like tanks.
German cars have become vulgar because they no longer design their cars with Europeans in mind. Instead, they catering to the tastes of their Arab and Chinese clients, which are very interested in brash and vulgar displays of wealth. The head of design at BMW said as much when questioned about those grotesque large grills they use these days. They said they are no longer designing cars for European tastes. Well, fuck them then. Volvo still looks somewhat decent.
I must agree. The W126 was the pinnacle of luxury, performance, and class. Now? New Jersey night-club styling that would make Miami Vice shiver.
Protector of the Republic
Yes your 100% right, BMW design their cars for the masses and in doing so have shown a two finger gesture to its past heritage! The money men dictate everything unfortunately!
@@ferrumignis The standard Non amg pack S class is still nice. No garish grill. The new BMW grills are just as bad they are humongous.
3:25
"modern bmws are blobby slashy and horrible"
with an estimated 260,000 words in the english language i really dont think i could have chosen better...
agreed
Totally agree, hate new BMWs with a passion. Love the old ones though
Yup, exactly that! (E39 Touring facelift owner, one model before the blobbing and slashing started!)
Saw the new 8 series today. Was surprised to learn that it looks even worse in the 'flesh' than it does in pictures.
Drove a Malachtit green 735i from 1987 with a manual gearbox for 12 years, absolutely beautiful and lovely car. At well over 300.000 kms the electrical gremlins made me sell it, still miss it though.
Got to love the variety in these reviews - from microcar one day to wafty barge the next (and from "will it do 45 in 4th?" to "it'll do 45 in 1st") - such contrasting vehicles, yet charismatic in their own (completely different) ways. Delightful.
Wafty barge - oh Ian - on your return from the NZ - will you really ? perhaps on the Llangollen canal ?
Clutch ? What clutch ?
THis period of 5 and 7 series were pretty bullitt proof and still had those classic lines things went down hill when Mr Bangle designs started
I think the E60 was/is one of the best looking saloons of all time. It still looks contemporary today.
@@MaximilianvonPinneberg yes it doesn't look too bad now as all new cars look so ugly
I had a Black 735il ex BBC. Longer wheelbase did help it handle better although Hydraulic dampers were expensive when they failed. Electrics very reliable other than ignition barrell which had a dry joint. My No.1 BMW. And I have owned a lot of 90's BM's.
You got electric reclining seats front and rear, 3lectric sun blind and the ski hatch had a bag built in for ski's to stop them marking your interior.
You could even set the car to heat up the interior ready for your morning commute.
Back in the 1990s my parents briefly considered one of these as a replacement for their Volvo 744. I recall the interior (black leather) being head and shoulders above anything I'd ever experienced before, but ultimately I seem to recall that the car had some mechanical issue (it was only 4 or 5 years old at the time) so they passed on it.
They do seem to lose their value quite spectacularly - I prefer the earlier sharknose E23, which for some reason can still be picked up much more cheaply than the 6-series of the same period.
I also miss the days when big luxury barges were comfortable, classy and understated, rather than having to scream their presence with slashes, snarly grilles, enough LEDs to light Wembley Stadium, and a horrible, harsh ride to rattle the fillings from your teeth. (Not to mention the complicated electronic engine computer and transmission systems that are designed to break and leave the second owner with huge repair bills).
Facebook is one thing, but the lack of predictable comments about indicators in here is surprising. As you say, you shouldn't judge a car or brand by the tw*ts who drive them.
I had this car's 'little' brother for a while, an E39 535i V8 with the 5 speed auto.
I still miss that bloody car, it was godly!
little brother would be the E34 5 series they where designed at the same time. The E39 is the little brother of the E38 7series wich where also designed at the same time
When bmws were good with straight six engines and some good build quality
I had an 82 520i back in the day.Nice smooth vehicle and less electronic crap on it compared with today's BMWs.[eg the sunroof was manually operated.]They really stood out from the crowd then.
@@tolrem I had an e30 around 2005 and was the most dependable car I've ever owned like alot of older cars you gets squeaks rattles but it always felt solid to drive and had over 200k on it there is not many new cars capable of 200k. Like anything though basic maintenance really does help
12mpg..... Reminded me of what someone once said about the Jensen Interceptor of that era... ( Chrysler Typhoon V8 )..... "You can pass anything in this car....., except for a petrol station ... ".
12gpm - from a real tank !
😂 don't think I've hear that one before.
Jensen West Bromwich My Home Town👍🏻
What a lovely example of a 7 series. It's a design that has aged quite well, still looks sharp despite being obviously an 80s design.
I wonder if we'll be saying the same of the bangle BMWs in 15 years time...
I'd love one but couldn't afford the fuel 😮
Nah, the E60 still looks aseptic imho. I will never like that design, even though I'm would want to.
The thing with the e60 is that for all of its shortcomings, it was still a clean design. Like really, really clean.
The M30 and M70 used 87 octane fuel.
@freepieanchipsgarage looks sharp that. Spotless even
Spent many a mile in both the drivers & passenger seats of a few of these 7 series. Good job it isn't a V12.You can see the fuel gauge move as you are driving along with the 750il. No need for a fuel computer or economy gauge. Epic cars.
Another superb Hubnut video.
I had a 750i, nice car but 4.9 mpg around town at one point wasn’t the best.
Absolutely adore these cars. As something to be seen in I reckon it's one of the coolest saloons on the planet right now.
Classic aggressive elegance and straightforward body lines with just a hint of well-aged retro charm about it.
I think its brilliant you driving a BMW what a change to see this.
I like the thought of wafting round the Nurburgring in the BMW like a Gentleman racer.
I think I'd prefer to do it on Welsh roads ;)
My boss had a 730i on our taxi fleet back in 2001 or so. My Peugeot 405 broke down one night so the only free car was said beemer. Very quickly and without realising, I was doing treble figure mph. It was in white and when I hypermiled it was good for 25/30 mpg, despite the astronomical mileage on the clock!
Love it. My Dad had a E34 525tds when I got my driving licence.
Back then it was considered cool to drive with parking lights plus fog lights on. BMWs were perfect for that.
The Lay-By you stopped in around 24:00 - I know exactly where that is. I stopped there to take Photos of my van with the stunning backdrop only the other week en-route to my destination not far away in a secret location. It was a sunny windy day on my Pics too. Marvellous!! :-)
When BMW made good looking, well built and well engineered cars. I think this was peak BMW and peak car , since then all cars have got ever more complex and uglier, trying to find gaps in the market nobody knew existed.
They will never top these the quality was incredible compared to virtually everything else. Modern BMW are garbage in comparison.
Best car on the channel so far!
These are so beautiful.. Love the bit at the end with the lights.
I remember driving with a friend in one of these between Hannover and Magdeburg in 1990 shortly after the Wall came down. We were doing about 120mph and it was glued to the road. We passed many Trabants which appeared as a speck in the distance then went flying past as if they were standing still. Occasionally the cardboard Trabants stuck in the outside lane and we had to slam on the brakes which worked perfectly. Which was a good thing as if they hadn’t we would have arrived at our destination covered in vaporised cardboard and 2 stroke oil!
Back in the late 90s i owned a 1990 on a G plate diamond schwartz (met black) factory dechromed only kidney grill border was chrome and slightly lowered suspension 735ise model.
Beautiful to drive and handled very well indeed.
Yes it liked a drink but fuel was a lot cheaper then.
Could not fault it for reliability and only needed ac regassing and a thermostat in my ownership of nearly 2 years, these are one of the properly built bmw's and showed in the way it drove.
Great video Ian and nice to know a few are still around, wish I had kept mine now.
6:16
i have a BMW 735il 1991 the headrests sound like that because it actually is meant to be used with the electrical controllers on the side of the seat, the sound is because you forced the gears.
Certainly a channel of contrasts Mr HubNut. From a Trojan 200 to a BMW 7 Series. All wonderfully enjoyable stuff. Thank you muchly.
nice car- this whole class of executive cars doesn't even exist today- the modern equivalents (no matter de manufacturer) are too sporty, too big and look like a 16 yo designed it after 6 cans of Monster Energy...I drove a BMW 740li for a few days and I kind of hated it- it didn't want to stay in a straight line with its huge tyres that did feature a minimal amount of rubber- in wet conditions you couldn't even drive away from a crossing without wheels spinning- it also did not fit into any parking space... on the bright side- those cars are so expensive that I don't even have to think about having to deal with all this..
It's an issue with most cars nowadays. Tires are so wide they don't fit in the tracks. Anything above 225 is too wide.
Nor do decent estate cars anymore. you can get more stuff in an old volvo 850 estate than any modern blobby overinflated SUV/crossover thing.. also the modern fashion for silly large alloy wheels and rubber bands for tyres means a harsh crashy ride.
I was offered an MOTd 750il last year in reasonable order for £750, same with Jags and Land Rover's, the prices have dropped out the bottom on these super expensive cars, £300 can buy you and up and running Jag these days that will need some fixing and Landy/Rangey prices on stuff like the Freelander, Defenders are ridiculous.
I like some new luxury cars but they have to have a wheel size to suit the car size I hate seeing big cars with silly little wheels that look daft a good example is a newish 5 series with 17 inch wheels look daft as there is to much tyre and it’s too skinny for the wheel arch space
@@tech4pros1 I love old Volvos. Big alloys are expensive and difficult to repair, and above all, downright ugly.
You can tell it’s on loan, it’s ECU is wondering why the indicators are being used correctly.
Enjoy the change Ian
You don't need them when you're "parked" in the outside lane of the motorway with a huge tailback behind you. 😉
@@RoyCousins I've never seen any of these things happen
I've had them all... E23, E32, E39, W126 and W219. And I remember my 735i as the best car I ever owned.
Wow and another wow. GOOD STUFF hope your new series of longer test drives goes well.
No that's fair enough.... I do drive my "big German car" like a.... big German car driver.
I've been waiting for this one as you know - many thanks for uploading Ian!
The time when BMW made cars that were BMWs. I love BMWs of the 70s and 80s. This model came out in 1987.
Lovely.
I once picked up a rather battered 1993 example; mine was a 740i with the 4.0 V8, in this same sort of goldish silver colour.
That E32 was worth nothing at the time, being unfashionable , thirsty, tatty, high mileage and with lots of electrical problems, but I do rather regret selling it now. Despite its age and ropey condition it was a lovely, comfy thing to mooch around in.
My 92’ has 350k miles and is still going strong 🤙🏻
Always liked BMWs. Older ones and had a few. Present chariot is a 323i cabriolet. Lovely 7.
My Dad said one he drove felt like driving a tank.
Nice to see you enjoying a bit of style and speed.
i have a E32 735I Executive automatic from 1986 with the 10.000 guilder optional hydraulic/electric self leveling suspension, when passengers step in the back it raises automatically, you can also do it manually with a switch in the console. 320.000km on it, im second owner, bought it from the 1st owner who drove it to 275.000km. I even have the buying receipt from the dealer when it was bought new. it is a champ of a car, and only get out on sunny days. it is a lovely car to drive and own, and gets a lot of attention.
My diesel E60 has almost twice the power and does 50mpg! How things changed in 20 years! Love seeing these old Beemers Hubnut 👍
Yes but you could buy alot of petrol with the change!
I know which Id rather have.
@@davidmg1925 I paid £3000 for my 2006 535d, you'd spend that travelling 15,000 miles in that old petrol barge!
I basically spend half as much every journey compared to the driver of this and have twice the power on tap, its a no brainer for me 😂
The E39 was far more beloved by enthusiasts. The E60 had terrible build quality. No wonder BMW went to the E39 for inspiration for the F10.
@@houseofno you'll find a lot of BMW enthusiasts will tell you that the shape and styling of the E60 M Sport has aged the best and is the best mark, similar to the E46 M3, plus the E39 didn't enter the diesel performance game, the bi turbo that came in the E60 535d was a game changer for performance tuned diesels. Also this is the 46th car I've owned in 22 years of driving and the build quality is better than any other car I've had.
Nice one Ian look forward to watching after work.
What a lovely old BMW. This era of BMW was quite special I think. Sounds gorgeous too.
The BMW 735i was my dream car back in the day (before I could even drive). Yeah, I still love them, but could never imagine myself owning one. 👍🏻
Is your alter ego columbo? 🤗
From what I can remember reading in the brochure the rear seatbelts cross the shoulder that way to prevent the rear passengers smacking heads in the middle of the car should you have an accident. Had an '88 730i a few years back and I miss it dearly! Comfy, fast enough, quiet and enough modern tech to keep you happy
My stepdad had a 1989 520i about 15 years ago. It was sluggish around town (being the 12v model) but the roar at high revs was amazing. It was so delightfully clattery at low revs as it had about 160k on the clock but it was so incredibly well-built. Hewn from granite I believe is the expression. I always think a 4-cylinder BMW isn't a BMW...except both incarnations of the 318iS.
I love the older 7 series the best, I’ve had many of them and enjoyed them all.
What a absolute beast from the past. Used to love these cars back in the day & still do now.
Hi HubNut, I’ve been watching your videos for a while now and find them so refreshing. They’re delivered with unbiased and honest opinions and feature all types of vehicle, which I love. But there is one thing I’ve noticed. It’s the headrests - please adjust them properly! If you were hit hard in the rear on that BMW, your head would be forced back and over the rest, possibly breaking your neck! They should be adjusted with the base of the rest level with the earlobes. Keep up the great videos, they are a real treat and I’m always eager to see the latest of you tests and escapades.
Good work and keep it up.
It's quite nice to see how some things are very similar to this in my 2005 E46 320cd. I also find the steering heavier than I am used too.
How is it you keep highlighting cars I’ve run. I loved my E32 730i, 20 years old, 22,000 miles, still going strong and to my surprise, the dealer even paid me a trade-in when I went for the then current E60 530d. A wonderful, safe, comfortable and agile banger!
Hello! I got same car (730 m30), but with a problem in engine, propably broken cylinder head gasket: emulsion (coffee with milk) in antifreeze tank. Can you please give an advice is that critical to fix or i may use the car some time, looking at temp?
Handsome car these, and that’s a nice colour. Imagine what it would have felt like when the first owner brought it home for the first time when it was brand new. Must have felt good.
Straight 6 2.8 perhaps one of the most satisfying engines I have ever driven, just lovely.
Love these, I couldn’t agree more with you regarding 80’s BMW design. In fact from the 70’s through almost all of there cars are unrivalled when it comes to just looking spectacular.
I have both F10 520i and E32 735ia (1987). I prefer driving 735i for daily. For some reason i feel myself much more special and distinguished in the e32. I beleive it has a soul. By the way it really still feels modern, that’s true! God i’m gonna go out and drive it now:)
Love these old 7's and really cheap now as no one wants old gas guzzlers. Speaking of which, i would imagine this is going to use the same amonut of fuel in a day that the 2CV and Matiz combined use in a month!
Gas guzzlers? The M70 V12 will do 18 mpg on the highway if you can keep from going stupid fast on the gas pedal. It's not a Toyota Prius. Show some respect
Having had a few it will easily do 25mpg, more than my Lancia of similar vintage
Awesome video...bit of nostalgia watching this. My old man used to have one of these back in 96 in alpine white and sport trim, had a factory spoiler on it beautiful car. I'd never forget the smell of leather...proper leather seats back in the days.
Thanks for rewiew! I owned 735i lang e32 back in 2005, good memories.
I remember when these come out
The guy over road in work brought a brand new 750i v12 was £52000 back in the 80s ouch could of brought a 3 bedroom house
Had a 1986 728i SE.Best car I've ever had.Over 10 yrs and 280k miles, the only problem was the gear box, cost a £1000 at a back street specialist who told me he did the gearboxes for BMW dealers, they wanted £3000.You could throw it into a corner and be fairly sure to come out the other side.Currently looking at a spotless low mileage 1988 735i, very tempted but could be just an attack of nostalgia.
I have a daily driven 735il.murdered out look tint, black rims, metallic black paint. Best car I've owned 👍😎
I had an 1986 735i and loved it, had it for 2 1/2 years with no issues, would recommend them,
Great video!
The spark plugs are very easy to access. You just need to remove the air filter box, then remove two bolts and move over the black wiring loom. Plenty of space to work in. The V12, on the other hand...
A car from a time when fuel economy was somewhat secondary. Now its painful to look at those consumption figures - although getting 25 mpg out of it at its current age is actually quite impressive. At about the time this car was current I had a Discovery V8 - best I ever got out of that was 17 mpg on a long run, 12 was more typical. Bit embarrassing now huh.
2 mpgs of note: 16 and 25. MkI Granada 3 litre - with and without caravan.
Good point. Modern engines are amazingly efficient and get astonishing power out of small capacities, the flipside is that they are reliant on sensors and computer management and if that fails the engine is not economically repairable. Means today's cars won't be worth keeping on the road when they start going wrong as it will cost too much to repair them - that's the cost of such clever, safe and efficient cars.
I had a V8i Discovery and 17mpg was my average. Not great as I worked 25 miles away. Finding out the bosses helicopter did more mpg was the last straw.
@@buggs9950 What did the chopper achieve ? What a new benchmark you're offering us !
Are you sure the tank didn't have a hole in it ? I'm finding that consumption amazing.
I had a chevy Astro 8 seat van with a 4.3 V6 and automatic gearbox. On a motorway run to Devon it managed 24mpg, which was pretty good for what it was, but about 18 was more typical
A few years ago I sold my e34 535i manual. Something I still regret.
The 535 was really just a restyled version of the 735. under the skin it was virtually a identical. To the extent that they made the front seat backs extra thick in order to make it appear that the 735 was bigger.
At 350 000 miles it was still running well but showing signs of cam wear. It's probably the best car I have ever owned.
Comfortable, reasonably quick and very playful if you pushed it. It certainly didn't feel as big and heavy as it looked.
Durability was excellent. In all those miles, my only extraordinary expenses was a radiator and a couple of front suspension bushes (actually X2)
I wish I could have it back, I would be gladly pay for a new cam.
I remember them from when I was working in my uncle's garage. There was a guy who came to garage with his Jag and his 735I out both car's he said he preferred the BMW. Another good video mate 👍👍
Who doesn't like a luxo-barge with an engine like that one, handsome styling and lovely road manners. Shame about the tired interior, oh well, can't have everything I suppose. What a contrast to the Trojan. Cheers.
My parents had one of these back in the day.
It was back when BMW actually deserved the moniker "THE ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE".
They drove it for years and enjoyed it for almost 300k miles with minimal issues .
I’m surprised how much the inside is like my e34. I love BMWs from the 80s and 90s - the company’s golden era in my mind.
Prefer the look of the E30 3-series and the E34 5-series, still, I must say this E32 is the best looking 7-series BMW has made to date.
Why not use the h/brake? Park position is only a secondary safety feature in case the h/brake fails. I know Buckingham extremely well. Lived there for 11 years.
No need. If it's in park it's going nowhere.
@@alaboutcars7426 some transmissions can play up when parking on even a slight incline or decline and left in P. Its the devil's own job to move the selector from that position. Not good for the car at all.
In later machinery say 2017 onwards the whole lot is very tightly integrated. X mission and parking brake sort out their own requirements autonomously
Using the P position alone is akin to using either 1st or Reverse as a parking mode with full manual transmissions. In this case the whole gearbox is holding the car steady and stationary. But still use the parking brake for its intended purpose.
It's a BMW. The handbrake will be rubbish. Well, they have been on all three of my 5ers...
@@HowardLeVert you're not wrong. The whole assembly needs constant adjustment. Cables stretch and also need replacing. They drive nicely though, thoroughly disguising their age if well maintained.
@@HowardLeVert Yep. Both my E39's handbrakes are shocking to say the least.
It certainly looks huge inside, love big spacious cars
Absolutely love this car. Father used to have a 735 E32 Manual. bulletproof 3,430 M30 engine. However, this car has SLS, Self levelling system, and I can see that the reaer end is starting to sag a bit... Always look for a model without it when you end up looking for one. Can be really expensive that SLS... That antenna on the rear is a pity... NOt original!
This engine, the M30B35 is rated 155KW, not 162 normally. Fuel consumption is terrific on these engines... 15-20 l/100km is no exception even with moderate usage.
This is not equipped with headlight wipers, BUT this car is, apparently, equipped and specced with the "intensiv" cleaning package. If you take a closer look on the chrome piece trim on the front bumper, you see that there are nozzles that spray up the headlights.
Please do a review on a E9, E23 or E34 too!
The problem you experienced with the seats arae typicasl for BMW's of that era, however, it is was equipped with manual seats, they would still be in perfect working condition :p
Is that Luxorbeige paint?
Lovely review!
Maybe it's rated at 162kw due to not having a catalytic converter?
oliver macke my father’s non catalyst was a 155 kw...
Love the e32! Owned a 730 se for five years back in the '90s ! Averaged 17.5 to 18 mpg the way i drove it!
Wafting about In great barges of comfort. Couldn't say it better.
my dad bought one as the second owner in 1996 when i was 4- it was a brown on brown 88 735i. code lock in the dash computer and if you locked it with the key on the outside the pins stay down! you can lock someone inside- or lock it with all the windows open when you park, but the door stays locked. headliner did the same thing in the back, and i always thought the rear sunshade was cool. sold it in 2005- it rusted a little by then, but then i saw it for sale later with a repaint- knew it was the same car- one white letter tire gave it away. power steering also drives the hydraulic power brakes. if you loose the fan belt you loose brakes and steering at thee same time. good memories from mississauga ontario canada. he since moved on to e38s. has a 2000 750il now.
To be fair, the Vauxhall Cavalier MK3 had similar deadlocks. They weren't uncommon around that time.
Rear seat belts the other way round are great for strapping kids in. The E34 5 series had the same and I wish I'd had a car that had them when my kids were young.
As someone who has driven a lot of bmws’ through work over the years, nothing quite ticks as many all-round boxes as a practical drivers car like a decent beema. There is a particular 90’s beema that I use as my benchmark when compering with other marques.
Always enjoy your videos Ian, but this one especially so!
Had a couple of these and many more e23’s
The e32 looks and (still) feels very modern but the e23 is a little lighter on its feet and more sporty to drive
For a 30 odd year old car, I think it’s aged quite well. I like it and wouldn’t mind spending some time bumbling around in it. It certainly doesn’t look it’s age, compared to a lot of its contemporaries.
I’m very pleased that you fixed the wiper blade!
Must have been a shock getting back into Mertyl!😂
Always liked these 735i's when i first saw them.
Big fan of the 850i as well.
What a layby that is.(:-)
Best shape 7 series made in my opinion plus the BMW reliability to go with it even now it still has presence on the road
Very good vid. I have a manual version of this - manual gearbox, manual seats. Over twice the mileage of this one and not rusty because I've looked after it for well over 15 years. Similarly thirsty - it will j-u-s-t tickle 30 mpg on a very long steady run but really, the M30 engine is a thirsty bugger. The seats are superbly comfy when in good nick. My headlining has also drooped so I gave it the good news with a staple gun - sorted until I get around to having it retrimmed. The XJ40 does ride better but doesn't handle as well, and the W126 is like a ship in comparison.
A old friend of mine, had a brand new 1990 model in Dark blue , well it was his boss’s and he was the chauffeur , we used to rag it around Buckinghamshire most weekends when he wasn’t working ,, happy days
Almost makes me want my old BMW back (a bit newer than this one R reg 5 series E39)
But it was so temperamental I was glad to sell it!
Great review, Ian! I am a big fan of the old BMWs (my 1985 E30 is my pride and joy!) and as much as I admire the 7 Series of this generation, I wouldn't own one personally. Strictly due to the size and my preferences. My favourites are the microcars and compacts like the Isetta, 700, 2002 and early 3 Series.
Those m30b35 engines can handle turbo boost really well on stock internals, ARP headstuds, and a MLS headgasket. Solid engines!
I had a 735 shark nose front. A reg it was so good.
It is definitely a wafting barge of Comfort, nicely put.
Behold My Wheels
Late 80's BMWs had such clean styling, really nice cars.
This and the BMW 7 series after an absolute design Classic start to go wrong not long after that
Love 7 series.... love the E32! Great video, thanks!
In Southern Europe there was also the 728i. When I was younger it was a tad difficult for me to distinguish between the 5 and 7 series 😁
About 12 years ago i almost bought an E32 730i V8 with pretty much all options, even the double pane windows (or however it's called in English..). It had 280.000 km on the clock, drove very nice, did had some wear, but not as bad as the one you've driven.
I would've called it "obviously used", but still good for another 100k km. This one is more likely abused. Still, one of the most beautifull BMW's ever made, and i still wouldn't be ashamed to own one.
"I swapped my daewoo matiz for BMW 7 series" I bet no one has ever said that :DD
i Drive my BMW E32 from 1987 now more then 25 Years...last weekend i Drive from Lörrach to Berlin and back...thats more then 1900km.....with no Problems...I love Him
Practical classics many years ago restored a 735i