I got to drive a 745Li this weekend. It was made 11/03, so I don't know if that is '03 or '04, but it is E66, right? This is the first seven series I have been in, and WOW, what a car. I would never have guessed or imagined that a car that large would feel so nimble and responsive. I liked the throttle response, but the handling just blew me away. I don't know if there is a fancy name for the ride control, but I understand the sway bars hydralically twist to counter body roll. Well it works, I can't desrcibe how overwhelmed I was. I know some people fret over the design, but from behind the wheel I could find no faults. I have the car for today also, I'm trying to think up some errands to run. And try to think where I can can come up with $78,000 to get one! It is too conspicous to rob a bank with.

Don’t ever buy a 7-series new. Their value falls like rocks. Find a ’03-’04 or (I’m biased) test drive a '01 740i with Sport Package. I found performance to be similar, but only with the later i Sport e38’s and you’ll pay $25K-$35K for a good one. I have to say I do like the facelifted e65/e66.

Don’t ever buy a 7-series new.

?? weird statement. All cars depreciate. The 7 doesn't depreciate more than say a Rangerover.

The value thing now it's issue, because I'm only $70K short!!! But, if I had the money I see this car in a very different light now. And if I needed or wanted a big car it is more than capable.

?? weird statement. All cars depreciate. The 7 doesn't depreciate more than say a Rangerover.

No, ask any hardcore 7 enthusiast. The 7 will depreciate more then just about any BMW. GENERAL RULE: The bigger they are, the harder they fall. The same year 3-series hold their value MUCH better relative to the new purchase price.

NEW 3-series in 2001 = $40,000

NEW 7-series in 2001 = $70,000 (at least one optioned like mine)

4 years later…both are worth about $27,000

What do you think?

No, ask any hardcore 7 enthusiast. The 7 will depreciate more then just about any BMW. GENERAL RULE: The bigger they are, the harder they fall. The same year 3-series hold their value MUCH better relative to the new purchase price.

NEW 3-series in 2001 = $40,000

NEW 7-series in 2001 = $70,000 (at least one optioned like mine)

4 years later…both are worth about $27,000

What do you think?

01 is not a good comparison b/c if the change in design in 02 Bungle Debacle

are we talking about in % or $$ amt here? % would be the more accurate comparison.

3 yrs, 2002 745LI...that is what? 50-60K resale now? How much was it new, 75k? that is approx 15-33% depreciation here which isn't too bad

the 2002 Range Rover which I think is roughly the same MSRP when new is 35K today which is a far bigger hit

dwight's right on this one. Yeah, the bigger they are the harder they'll fall. I am also with you that I would get one of the last E38s instead of a E65/66. All the kinks worked out. The new ones has a lot of glitches especially with the iDrive.

Hey Dwight, your car looks awesome in your Sig. You got any more pics of it?

But Dean, that's what I heard about the newer BMWs. Even though they don't look that great. They still drive like a BMW :thumbup: .

dwight's right on this one. Yeah, the bigger they are the harder they'll fall. I am also with you that I would get one of the last E38s instead of a E65/66. All the kinks worked out. The new ones has a lot of glitches especially with the iDrive.

Hey Dwight, your car looks awesome in your Sig. You got any more pics of it?

But Dean, that's what I heard about the newer BMWs. Even though they don't look that great. They still drive like a BMW :thumbup: .

The driving is unparrelled. All regular cars to be driven depriceate. I think, though, that a car in class can not be viewed by it's value after 3 years. From my prespective this car would be a lifetime purchase. If I could buy a new one, I would probably keep for a long, long time. The valve would be returned in the drivng and long service.

dwight's right on this one. Yeah, the bigger they are the harder they'll fall. I am also with you that I would get one of the last E38s instead of a E65/66. All the kinks worked out. The new ones has a lot of glitches especially with the iDrive.

Hey Dwight, your car looks awesome in your Sig. You got any more pics of it?

But Dean, that's what I heard about the newer BMWs. Even though they don't look that great. They still drive like a BMW :thumbup: .

Dont mean to jack the thread, but here are a few pics...

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/dwightf/imolaa2.JPG

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/dwightf/imolaa3.jpg

http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/dwightf/imolaa4.JPG

Like dport135 said, (unless you lease) the 7 is a car you take care of and drive for a long, long time. I have 75K miles now and whenever my tranny gives it up years and years from now, a 6-speed will be on the way :buttrock .

Really nice pictures. I don't see many 7's that are modded. Your's looks real nice. Usally it is 60ish couple rolling down the freeway at 60 mph, and it's black or silver. Dignifed and nice, but not flashy and normally doesn't make me think, oh I've got to get one of those. Yours is different. I don't know if the earlier versions handled like this new one, either. But they are probably sportier to drive than I thought also.

The new ones has a lot of glitches especially with the iDrive.



even the 05 ones? or the one with the updated look... 06? I was hoping they fix the kinks by now.....no wonder consumer rpt. bashed the 745LI electronics

dwightf, very :cool pics... love the color

I drove the car about 500 miles this weekend. I had no instruction book for the idrive. I figured out most of functions. I didn't have the Nav disc, so I couldn't check that function out. It isn't exactly straight forward, but it wasn't as horrible as I heard about. The adaptive cruise is the bomb, though, very cool.

?? weird statement. All cars depreciate. The 7 doesn't depreciate more than say a Rangerover.

Stupid statement The 7 series is actually the highest Depreciating car on the market starting with the e38 a few years back now :nono

I don't know if the earlier versions handled like this new one, either. But they are probably sportier to drive than I thought also.

The early e38's are actually a little...sluggish off the line/grandpa-ish (don’t mean to offend anyone; I owned a 1995 740iL before this one). If you go e38, it has to be a 1999-2001 740i Sport (The iL isn’t really a Sport, its just cosmetic changes). The difference is amazing from early to late Sport e38’s. I couldn’t believe it when I drove this after my ’95!

even the 05 ones? or the one with the updated look... 06? I was hoping they fix the kinks by now.....no wonder consumer rpt. bashed the 745LI electronics

I heard that they simplified now. I forgot the number, but they reduced the number of directions on the joystick.

Really nice pictures. I don't see many 7's that are modded. Your's looks real nice. Usally it is 60ish couple rolling down the freeway at 60 mph, and it's black or silver. Dignifed and nice, but not flashy and normally doesn't make me think, oh I've got to get one of those. Yours is different. I don't know if the earlier versions handled like this new one, either. But they are probably sportier to drive than I thought also.

Haha, exactly. This Imola Red one is just. . . "cool" :thumbup: .

Dwight, I've also seen an Estoril Blue one, that's pretty rare too.

Depreciation can be debated to the point of pointlessness.

Now, back to the car! dport135, glad you enjoyed the ride. I have an '02 745Li with adaptive ride. This is the mechanism you speak of on the handling and anti-roll. It is an incredible option. The car is a dream to drive and performs much differently than my former 1998 E38. The car is a rocketship and the gizzmos and gadgets seemed like "nice to have" when I got the car to "must have". Stuff like Logic 7 and speed volume, rear power seats, tire pressure monitor, voice recognition, etc. I am now taking for granted. Call me crazy, but I like iDrive and I like the design. You can get great deals on 2002 or 2003's with a bumper to bumper warranty to 100k.

Depreciation can be debated to the point of pointlessness.

Now, back to the car! dport135, glad you enjoyed the ride. I have an '02 745Li with adaptive ride. This is the mechanism you speak of on the handling and anti-roll. It is an incredible option. The car is a dream to drive and performs much differently than my former 1998 E38. The car is a rocketship and the gizzmos and gadgets seemed like "nice to have" when I got the car to "must have". Stuff like Logic 7 and speed volume, rear power seats, tire pressure monitor, voice recognition, etc. I am now taking for granted. Call me crazy, but I like iDrive and I like the design. You can get great deals on 2002 or 2003's with a bumper to bumper warranty to 100k.

Ditto all that. I didn't find rear power seat controls or a control for tire pressure. Maybe it's automatic? Is the rear arm chubby hole refrigirated? I saw a button on the side of the console when it was folded down. I'll be ready to trade in about year. A new 7 will be out-reach for me, but one of those sport models the other guy mentioned might be a posibility. I think I said it before. I could never have imagined that a car this big would drive that well. It is beyond my ability to describe in words. If you've never driven one, you have to.

02s are buyable with good miles in the mid-low 40s, and 03s high40s-low 50s.

Since BMW put a 6yr/100k warranty on the 02s and 03s the values on them have seriously stabilized.. a year or two ago E65s werent worth much less than they are today.

Ditto all that. I didn't find rear power seat controls or a control for tire pressure. Maybe it's automatic? Is the rear arm chubby hole refrigirated? I saw a button on the side of the console when it was folded down. I'll be ready to trade in about year. A new 7 will be out-reach for me, but one of those sport models the other guy mentioned might be a posibility. I think I said it before. I could never have imagined that a car this big would drive that well. It is beyond my ability to describe in words. If you've never driven one, you have to.

Power rear heated seats are an option and not a common one on the E65 (standard on the E66). Pull down the armrest and you may see controls simlilar to what you see up front on the center console. I think TPM was an option as well. On your refridgeration question, I think this is an option, I don't have it. My car really is loaded. Some people use "loaded" loosley, but there is not an option I don't have.

Good luck in your quest. I got an incredible deal on mine and I then went and paid $1300 to extend the full maintainance to 100k. Free oil changes, brakes, fluid flushes, etc. I don't have to put a dime into this vehicle for over three years (at least). This was pretty much my motivation for switching to the newer 7, they cost a small fortune to maintain once you are out of warranty. I was putting $500-800 into my E38 every few months in the 18 months post warranty. I miss the car dearly, but I don't miss bringing it in for stupid stuff like door lock actuators and ignition switches.

I'll check it out. My fantasy ends in about 2 hours. My service advisor called and my car is done. It has been a weekend I won't forget. The car has totally blown me away.

On your refridgeration question, I think this is an option, I don't have it. My car really is loaded. Some people use "loaded" loosley, but there is not an option I don't have.


????

????

LOL! Except for that one :D

A little bit of a contradiction! The fridge is a pretty rare option. Put it this way, the 760 (E66) pretty much comes with all the E65 options as standard (similar to the 750 E38). But there are few "options" on the E66 and the fridge is one of them. So, I'd say my E65 has everything the standard E66 has. It rare finding rear power seats on an E65. Similar to finding rear power seats on a 740IL. In all my years of surfing E38's on ebay, I never came across a 740 with rear power seats.

I didn't think what you wrote was what you intended :) The refrigerator for the E38 was an absolute fortune and kind of gimmicky so it probably hasn't changed a whole lot for the E65/66's. I never saw it in the sales brochure but the wiring diagram for my car shows the adaptive cruise control so I guess it must have been another expensive ass option too - glad that's gotten more standardized because it's a really cool feature.


LOL! Except for that one :D

A little bit of a contradiction! The fridge is a pretty rare option. Put it this way, the 760 (E66) pretty much comes with all the E65 options as standard (similar to the 750 E38). But there are few "options" on the E66 and the fridge is one of them. So, I'd say my E65 has everything the standard E66 has. It rare finding rear power seats on an E65. Similar to finding rear power seats on a 740IL. In all my years of surfing E38's on ebay, I never came across a 740 with rear power seats.

What, your dealer is pretty cool, u take in a 95 318i, and they give u a 2005 745Li!!

Here they will only give u what u have. If u give them a 3 u will get a 3 etc etc.

What, your dealer is pretty cool, u take in a 95 318i, and they give u a 2005 745Li!!

Here they will only give u what u have. If u give them a 3 u will get a 3 etc etc.

I have had nothing but good experience with our local dealer. The 745Li was made in 11/03, so it was a '03 or '04. I've taken my car in for service three times and received an X5 stick-shift, 325i auto (with 600 miles on it) and now the 745Li. I have been very lucky. I work with same service advisor and have gotten along very well with him.