im thinking of buying a used 1997 740il. I love it but id love it more with a v12. How easy is the swap? how doable? where to get a good deal on an engine? i would just buy a 750 but its too good of a deal to pass up!! also what are some recomendations on rims? so far my favorite are the stock 19 inch 10 spokes off the new 7 series.

Really not sure of the final cost, but if you compare you can clearly see that many things would need to be changed (trans etc....) Avoid the headache and cost. If you get a good price on the 740 be happy with the 8 or float your boat and just get the 750.

or supercharge the 4.4l v8 and get more power than you would ever have with the 12.

im thinking of buying a used 1997 740il. I love it but id love it more with a v12. How easy is the swap? how doable? where to get a good deal on an engine? i would just buy a 750 but its too good of a deal to pass up!! also what are some recomendations on rims? so far my favorite are the stock 19 inch 10 spokes off the new 7 series.

Not a good idea. Just buy a 750 if you want a 750. However, I think you'll be very happy with a 740, they do not disappoint.

yeah, an engine swap would be too much money...
a s/c on a 740 makes it drive like a bat out of hell...so ive heard...



buy a 740, s/c it, and then swap a 6 speed in it!!!

Yep, VF engineering makes a supercharger for the M62. Stage 1 is claimed to make 415 horses and 400 ft/lbs torque. Already you're leaving 750s like they are standing still. VF has a stage 2 in dev which they are claiming will boost power to 475hp. Couple more mods and you are making M5/M6 power!

I've heard of a couple people who have the VF S/C, no problems for them so far, but I don't know much more about them than that. ... I do know that I want one!! :buttrock ... Even though, I'm still very happy with the V8 as is.

or supercharge the 4.4l v8 and get more power than you would ever have with the 12.

I don't disagree with this, but I'd be curious as to what Rob Levinson's reply would be!

But I do agree with Plik's "if you want the 750, get it" comment. You'll have all the options that you might wish you had in your 740 along with a great engine.

And if you never get around to installing a supercharger on the 740, then where are you?

-pd.

And if you never get around to installing a supercharger on the 740, then where are you?

Lol ... you're right, it would be terrible to be stuck with a wimpy smooth V8 producing a measly 282hp/325ft-lbs ... :).

But yeah, if the V12 is a must, I would say go 750 as well.

Just out of curiosity, what are the options on the 750 that are not available on the 740 (other than engine)? I could do a search myself, but a list might help the decision in this thread too?? ... I know the double pane glass was 750 only. I've also seen rear seat reading lights that I've never seen in 740 trim. Um, also I've only seen the wood trim on the back of the front seats in a 750, I believe all the wood trim is distinguishable from the 740 ... what else?

Just out of curiosity, what are the options on the 750 that are not available on the 740 (other than engine)? I could do a search myself, but a list might help the decision in this thread too?? ... I know the double pane glass was 750 only. I've also seen rear seat reading lights that I've never seen in 740 trim. Um, also I've only seen the wood trim on the back of the front seats in a 750, I believe all the wood trim is distinguishable from the 740 ... what else?

I could have sworn I saw a list of these items, but I can't find it via search. Here's a start:

* dual pane laminated glass (that is prone to de-laminating!)
* wood trim on the back of the seats (and also on door panels?)
* chromed accents around various things like the speakers, door lock pins, hazard warning button, and central lock button on the ctr console
* "opera" lights underneath the reading lights in the rear (that you reference)
* stitched fake leather dash (evidently real leather cracked too much in a prior model)
* same fake leather on top of door sills

I'm sure there are more...Q, where are you when we need you?

Of course, you could upgrade a 740 to these by buying parts, but you could not get these as options from the factory as best I can tell.

And the optional components on the 740 were standard on the 750: phone, navigation, DSP, CD, window shades, etc. Of course later year 740s got as standard things that may have been optional in prior years, but within any given model year, the 750 has almost all the toys standard.

-pd.

i just want the sound of a v12 more than anything. this id going to be my daily driver im not maing a race car out of it. I have my twin turbo trans am for that. And my purpose built ae86. No im just going to go about my daily duties and errands in my 7. the v8 is great for it but if i could spend a few grand and have something as prestigious as a v12 i say itd be worth it. Ive seen the v12 on ebay go for under a grand and right now theres a few trannys there for under a grand. Dont know what else is involved. I figured that be it other than labor. An all my other cars are manual so this is going to remain auto just for when im lazy. But i always buy these "daily drivers" and then mod the crap out of them.

* chromed accents around various things like the speakers, door lock pins, hazard warning button, and central lock button on the ctr console


Cool, thanks for the list. :thumbup: I'm not sure what year it came into affect, but the one point I quoted is possible on the 740 via the "interior appearance package", my car has this. Also gives you the wood trimed handles above the door (or as some like to call them, the "oh sh*t" handles), and some other nice shinny pieces.

ok nevermind. According to bavarian auto recycling the 740 has 285 hp while the 750 v12 has 295. is that correct? why on earth would they build a v12 with only 10 more ponies than a v8? that cant be correct. Who in the right mind would pay the huge dirrence in a new 740 for a 750 with 10 more horsepower? come on guy this has to be wrong!!!!!right?

ok nevermind. According to bavarian auto recycling the 740 has 285 hp while the 750 v12 has 295. is that correct? why on earth would they build a v12 with only 10 more ponies than a v8? that cant be correct. Who in the right mind would pay the huge dirrence in a new 740 for a 750 with 10 more horsepower? come on guy this has to be wrong!!!!!right?

The M73 V12, as found in the E38 has 326BHP. Hes comparing the later generation V8 (Found in trhe E38) with the older generation V12 (Found in the E32). Rememeber BHP is useless without torque.

TBH its a bit of a letdown IMO. All those cylinders, all that money and its SOHC.

Sounds pretty sweet though!



More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_E38

Yeah, even the 326bhp has always sounded low to me for the V12, given the V8 makes 282. Even with the torque numbers it's not that impressive.

The ride must be smooth as silk though with that many cylindars keeping things moving.

I "tried" to take an '01 750iL for a spin when I was looking for my e38. The guy selling it claimed he had it up to like 240km/h and the tac was only reading 2000rpm ... I did my best not to laugh ... but this was his ploy to convince me that the v12 actually gets better mileage than the v8. Funny how that car was never available for a test drive each time I went. :rolleyes ... oh yeah, and it was also "bullet-proof" ... no it wasn't. :lol

... oh yeah, and it was also "bullet-proof" ... no it wasn't. :lol


Im so fookin sick of hearing that B$ from idiots.

/rant

^ I agree ... I just thought with the influx of that type of misinformed post I'd add that particular seller was the same way. ... my apologies.

^ I agree ... I just thought with the influx of that type of misinformed post I'd add that particular seller was the same way. ... my apologies.

LOL, no apology needed. I guess us superior beings must share the earth with mere mortals ;)

The benefit to more cylinders is that the engine runs smoother. The more power pulses you have spread around the 360 degree crank rotation the smoother it will run.

As for the options, I think everything for the 750 was available as an option on the 740 - it was just standard on the 750.

Short wheel base 750 would be the ish. Heck while im at it, the 5.7 V12 in the short wheelbase would be the ultimate driving ish.

Other than the mentioned interior treatments and the 740 optional items standard. So far no one has mentioned the steptronic transmision which was available on the 740isport but not the 740IL's. Also not sure about this one the self- leveling suspension and S-EDC.

i just want the sound of a v12 more than anything. this id going to be my daily driver im not maing a race car out of it. I have my twin turbo trans am for that. And my purpose built ae86. No im just going to go about my daily duties and errands in my 7. the v8 is great for it but if i could spend a few grand and have something as prestigious as a v12 i say itd be worth it. Ive seen the v12 on ebay go for under a grand and right now theres a few trannys there for under a grand. Dont know what else is involved. I figured that be it other than labor. An all my other cars are manual so this is going to remain auto just for when im lazy. But i always buy these "daily drivers" and then mod the crap out of them.

My 750 is my daily driver. I bought it with 57,000 on the clock, and am at 103,000 after 4 years. If taken good care of, I think the car will easily go another 100,000 miles (I suspect wear and tear on the interior will take it down sooner than the engine's performance may taper off).

I've often wondered why someone hasn't tried to take a 2001 740i Sport and drop a V-12 in there. All the parts are available. It's not cheap, of course -- you'd basically be buying a used 2001 740iS and a 1999-2001 750iL with the engine in good shape, but it IS possible. But you'd have a heck of a car!

I'm not an expert on engine swaps but since the V-12 has two of everything, I doubt it's as easy as buying a V-12, replacing the V-8, and turning the key. The V-12 has at least two of:
- mufflers
- ECUs
- Catalytic converters
etc. All this is because the V-12 is very similar in design to two inline 6 engines mated together. 5.4L divided by 2 = 2.7, which is pretty close to the top 3-series engine of the day, an inline 6 of 2.8L.

Might be easier and/or cheaper to try to convince the government to let you import a 750i from Europe. If I ever move to Europe I will save up for one!

-pd.

i just want the sound of a v12 more than anything. this id going to be my daily driver im not maing a race car out of it. I have my twin turbo trans am for that. And my purpose built ae86. No im just going to go about my daily duties and errands in my 7. the v8 is great for it but if i could spend a few grand and have something as prestigious as a v12 i say itd be worth it. Ive seen the v12 on ebay go for under a grand and right now theres a few trannys there for under a grand. Dont know what else is involved. I figured that be it other than labor. An all my other cars are manual so this is going to remain auto just for when im lazy. But i always buy these "daily drivers" and then mod the crap out of them.
Hi there
As someone who just found a M70 V-12 from a 89 750il on e-bay for $699, with the tranny (Auto) the whole swap cost $ 1100. Pulled the 3.5 out of my 88 735i and shoehorned it in. It can be done with a few needed parts.
Good luck
92svxman

Also get the ECU's 4 in all, exhaust with cat's, mufflers, driveshaft too.

My 750 is my daily driver. I bought it with 57,000 on the clock, and am at 103,000 after 4 years. If taken good care of, I think the car will easily go another 100,000 miles (I suspect wear and tear on the interior will take it down sooner than the engine's performance may taper off).

I've often wondered why someone hasn't tried to take a 2001 740i Sport and drop a V-12 in there. All the parts are available. It's not cheap, of course -- you'd basically be buying a used 2001 740iS and a 1999-2001 750iL with the engine in good shape, but it IS possible. But you'd have a heck of a car!

I'm not an expert on engine swaps but since the V-12 has two of everything, I doubt it's as easy as buying a V-12, replacing the V-8, and turning the key. The V-12 has at least two of:
- mufflers
- ECUs
- Catalytic converters
etc. All this is because the V-12 is very similar in design to two inline 6 engines mated together. 5.4L divided by 2 = 2.7, which is pretty close to the top 3-series engine of the day, an inline 6 of 2.8L.

Might be easier and/or cheaper to try to convince the government to let you import a 750i from Europe. If I ever move to Europe I will save up for one!

-pd.

FYI - on e38's 750 and 740 use the same exhaust systems = 2 of everything.

if i got a supercharger, i would have to mod it in a way to make the whine alot louder. I <3 s/c whine

My 750iL is my daily driver and it is the best car I have ever owned. In fact, it is the best car I have ever driven. :redspot

When I took my 750 to a meet with a bunch of 740's there, a lot of the guys wanted to drive it. I was happy to do that. The universal agreement was that the 750 rocks. It has the EDC suspension, Steptronic transmission, superior interior details, plus the smoothness of the V12. If, as you say, you are not looking for a hotrod, the 750 is for you.

If you are into mods, such as SC, forget about the V12. There is nothing out there for the M73, though you can find a few people who have turbocharged the older M70.

Due to fuel prices, 750's are going pretty cheap nowadays. Though I love my 750, I was originally looking for a 2001 blue Highline 750iL, my "dream car". I saw one of these sell on eBay recently with 70K miles. It sold for $12K! The same car a few years ago, with 40K miles, was selling for $35K.

I agree with the other posters: though I highly recommend the 750iL, I think it would be silly to do an engine swap to create a half-assed version of a car I can readily buy complete with all the goodies. If you can do THAT kind of work, throw a SC on a 740i Sport. OR, if money is the problem, buy a cheap 750iL with a blown engine (rare) and an engine from a wreck (not so rare) and swap THEM. (I still think I'd rather just work overtime and just BUY the damned thing.)

Enjoy!

WELCOME BACK swordsman. long time no see

Thanks! Yeah, well, I have a job now. When I was here 6 times a day and 10 times on Sunday, I was unemployed.

I am still a V12 fanatic!

The M73 V12, as found in the E38 has 326BHP. Hes comparing the later generation V8 (Found in trhe E38) with the older generation V12 (Found in the E32). Rememeber BHP is useless without torque.

TBH its a bit of a letdown IMO. All those cylinders, all that money and its SOHC.

Sounds pretty sweet though!



More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_E38

There is a reason for the SOHC and it is all about the way the motor makes its power. The V12s have the low end power that the V8s don't and if you actually drive a 740 hard than you would notice that there are a few seconds of lag before the power band hits as the 750 is already roaring away.

Just something that you have to be there for, like at buffalo wild wings, man I watch to much TV.

There is a reason for the SOHC and it is all about the way the motor makes its power. The V12s have the low end power that the V8s don't and if you actually drive a 740 hard than you would notice that there are a few seconds of lag before the power band hits as the 750 is already roaring away.

Just something that you have to be there for, like at buffalo wild wings, man I watch to much TV.

Your argument mite hold water for the older ones - I think the new '99-'01 740's have plenty on the lowend, maybe because of Vanos.

I would put the newer 740 against any 750 to maybe 120+, then I think the 750 has an edge.

Since I don't drive that fast normally.......... I'll just keep the 740!:evil2

I can't claim much experience with the 740iL, but the 740iL owners who drove my 750iL said the additional power was very noticeable.