Hi folks.
I am reviving a 98 750il with about 96,000 miles on it.
Engine runs perfectly now.
Have no history.
What are service issues as time goes by, etc.
Thanks!

Well, my '99 750iL just turned 100K so I would expect these items to need some attention (there's always more):
- radiator, expansion tank, and neck to expansion tank
- head gasket
- spark plugs
- front and rear ball joints (and/or thrust arm bushings), and maybe other suspension things like self-leveling and EDC
- power steering hoses and reservoir

Have you checked out http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/e38/? And e38.org? Lots of good information there.

While you are replacing things like the gaskets, you may wish to replace every other rubber bushing, etc. that you can see, since going into the engine is best done infrequently.

You may want to have a good BMW mechanic take a look since the V-12 is not common, and not everyone knows the ins and outs of the engine. As for me, I rely on my mechanic.

-pd.

You should not need a head gasket at 100k. You should barely need it at 150k on these engines. Only if it has overheated in the past or has been abused would it become a problem (under most circumstances).

You should not need a head gasket at 100k. You should barely need it at 150k on these engines. Only if it has overheated in the past or has been abused would it become a problem (under most circumstances).

Whoops, you are right, I meant I recently had my VALVE COVER GASKET replaced under my extended warranty. Sorry about that.

While that gasket was being replaced, I had my mechanic replace all the other bushings and whatnot since the labor to get in there was basically "free". If it was easy to replace with the engine open, I told him to do it. Can't wait to break 200,000 miles in a few years!

-pd.

My 2000 750iL has 109K on it and is in the shop now getting valve cover gaskets under an extended warranty. Since they have to take the intake runners off to do it, I'm getting new intake manifold gaskets as well. As it happens, there are also a couple of leaking coolant hoses that would ordinarily be VERY expensive to replace because (get this) you have to take the intakes off to get at them. Not a problem for me now, since they have to come off anyway as part of this other work.

Amazingly, my warranty company is also covering two new front EDS struts ($2,500 installed) in addition to the engine work, plus a rear control arm, a new steering wheel and replacement of some faulty PDC sensors.

Total bill: $6500. My cost: $1400. I love extended warranties.

The dealer thinks it is unlikely there is anything more worth doing when the engine is open. He is expecting it to be fine, but will let me know.

When I get the car back, I'm replacing plugs, rotors, and distributor caps myself. These are not covered under the warranty and the dealer wants way too much for the kind of work I can do myself with some effort.

Swordsman,
You warrant sounds like a good one....very impressed. Care to share the name and contact info? Thanks!

My warranty is from EasyCare and I just extended it through Tony K from the e38 forum on Bimmerboard. My plan is the TotalCare plan, which is an exclusionary warranty - the only kind to get. Under TotalCare, whatever is NOT listed specifically as a NON-covered item is, by definition, covered.

For example, the dealer (Tully BMW in Nashua, NH) was amazed that the warranty covered the steering wheel, which was replaced because the steering wheel heater made the wheel WAY too hot at one spot. They said that many warranty companies would call that an "operator comfort" issue and not a real failure. EasyCare covered it all - over $700 parts & labor.

If you research EasyCare on this board and Bimmerboard, you will find opinions running both hot and cold. My own experience is not perfect, but I certainly got full value from the warranty I purchased. (My only major complaint is with an intermittent ABS fault that Tully BMW diagnosed but EasyCare wouldn't fix because it was working fine when their inspector drove the car. What part of "intermittent" wasn't I clear about?)

I paid $2500 for a 12-month, 12K mile warranty a year ago and EasyCare has picked up about $7500 in repair costs in that time. I just extended it for another 12-months for $2500. Even if they never agree to pay for the ABS repair, I still feel like I've gotten excellent value from EasyCare.

In case you're wondering, since my car has 109K miles, they won't sell me a warranty for more than 12 months and 12,000 miles. I was able to extend it this time. I'm not sure how many miles it can have on it before they will not extend it anymore.

I'm amazed they even offer comprehensive coverage on a 750iL. Most warranty companies will not touch this car. Those that offer anything at all will only give you very limited powertrain warranties with capped payouts - usually far less than the repair would actually cost. For example, they'll pay $6000 maximum for a total engine replacement when it actually costs $12K-25K to do or they'll pay $3000 maximum on a tranny rebuild that costs $8,000 in real life. Not so with the TotalCare plan from EasyCare.

Again, they are not perfect, but I recommend them all the same. :redspot

Since there is NO history of PM you should consider the following

-Coolant replacement.
-Synthetic oil and filter...Do it twice within 2k.
-Differential oil replacement.
-Plugs,rotors,caps and wires.
-fuel filter.
-air filters
-Environment air filter under engine hood.
-AC filters inside compartment.
-Check brakes and rotors.
-check ball joints.
-Check batteries.
-There are two camps on transmission fluid replacement. Your call.
-AC refrigerent.

Take care of her and she will take care of you!