I am in the process of looking at purchasing either a 2000 740 IL Hi Line, or a 2001 750 IL. Both have low mileage with the 740 having mid 60 K and the 750 have low 50K. I fell in love with a 1991 750 IL years back but moved away from purchasing it due to the repair issues at the time.
I understand that both the 740 and 750 are going to have higher maintenance as this would be my third BMW to own. I currently have a 323 IC convertible that I am keeping.
I know that regular service on these cars during their first five years and 50 to 70 K miles is essential to getting a good one, and I have read about most of the issues that go wrong on the 750 over the 740. The price is pretty close to the same for both cars, I guess I am just torn at the moment on which route to go. Either way it is a car that I plan on keeping for a long time and using mainly for traveling more so than in town use. I am not loaded by any means, but a thousand a year in upkeep does not bother me to enjoy the ride of either of these. I do know that there is minimal delamination on two of the 750 windows and one window has been broken and needs immediate repair.
Are there any other issues or suggestions anyone would make before I pull the trigger on one of them this evening.

740 Highline, no question.

The first time you have a yearning to change sparkplugs on the 750, you'll wish that you had bought the 740.

Both will comfortably get to the same cruising speed in very short order, but in the 12 cylinder, you will have the pleasure of watching the needle in the gas gauge swing quickly to the left. Remember: There are two of (almost) everything in the 750.

In short, I vote for the highline. It's beautiful, and subtly sexy.

jake

high-line 7x0 > reg 750

Is the Hi Line model in the 750 pretty close to the same in the 740 ? The 750 I am looking at has the dark blue exterior and the oyster cream interior with the blue dash and blue carpeting. It also has some type of inlay in the wood trim. Anyone know ?

:needpics

:lol

The first time you have a yearning to change sparkplugs on the 750, you'll wish that you had bought the 740.

Both will comfortably get to the same cruising speed in very short order, but in the 12 cylinder, you will have the pleasure of watching the needle in the gas gauge swing quickly to the left. Remember: There are two of (almost) everything in the 750.

In short, I vote for the highline. It's beautiful, and subtly sexy.

jake

Hey now, when you drive recklessly like 80mph on long trips the 750 will do better mpg wise because the 4 cylinders short V8 has to work too hard.:D

I am biased now after owning both of the older styles.;)

Highline all the way man.

Highline all the way...

Anyone seen Swordsman? He'd probably say hold out and find a 750 highline.

Personally, I was looking for a 740iS when I stumbled across my '01 740iL highline last summer. It had 68k miles and the interior was spotless. By the way, there are e38s with Oyster beige leather and blue carpet/dashboards that are not highlines. True highlines have navy blue piping on the seats and a navy center console and armrest. If I am not mistaken, the non-highline oyster beige cars have an oyster beige armrest on the center console.

Good luck with your decision. Since this thread is worthless without pics, I'll add my own... this is my car:
:buttrock

More pics of highline/non-highline cars in this thread:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=799473

whats the difference between a regular 7 and a highline, you guys speak so highly about

Highline just 0wnz! Nice car 95AVBLM3 (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/member.php?u=132919).... Mine is the same... The colors, the leather, just feels oh so much better... and pleasing to the eye... ;)

Since this thread is worthless without pics, I'll add my own... this is my car:

Wow that is just gorgeous. I've been wanting to make my interior just like that, except with black instead of blue.

Wow that is just gorgeous. I've been wanting to make my interior just like that, except with black instead of blue.

hmmm....

That would be sweet. Oyster beige/black. Please do share pics when you get around to it.

whats the difference between a regular 7 and a highline, you guys speak so highly about

The highline was an appearance package offered on the E38s (at least, not sure if there is something similar for E65/66s). I've heard it was a no charge option on the 750 (anyone confirm or deny) but the window sticker on my car said it was $3k (740). The exterior came in either Midnacht Blau or Orinocco (a green color, rarer than the blue). The midnight blue is close in color to Orient Blue but is slightly different. On the interior, Oyster beige Nappa leather was used in place of Montana leather on the seats and door panel inserts. The headliner was also beige. Every thing else was either navy blue or english green depending on the exterior color. This includes the dash (upper and lower), carpet, bulk of the door panels, center console and armrest. The interior door handles were also wrapped in leather, similar to a standard 750 but not like a standard 740. I guess they are somewhat rare. Certainly not as many as a normal 7, although I believe Imola Red 7s may be rarer. I don't know for fact but it appears that way. It was offered I believe in 2000 and 2001, not sure if any earlier. My car is an '01 with a 4/'00 mfg date. It has all the features of the '01s but retains the narrow aspect ratio nav of the earlier cars.

More information than you probably wanted to know but I hope that answered your question.