Hey Everyone !!

[maxmk8]

I'm new to this board, although I am not new to online car message boards at all. I have had a Lincoln Mark VIII for the past 5 years, and I am ready for an upgrade. After reading some reviews etc. I decided that my next car will probably be a 2000-2001 740i with a sport package. I love the BMW styling up until the new design wave. The 02 is the 745 best of the worst. And I absolutely hate the styling of the new 5 and 3 series. But let me get to the point.
I think a 740i is one of the best looking, performing sedans to me, and I want to purchase one soon.
I have a feeling many of you won't like this, but i am a FORD nut. I have a Lincoln mk8, a ford Crown Victoria as well as a Mercury cougar, which is most likely getting sold pretty soon. I have done some rather serious stereo modifications to my mark VIII (as well as a few performance mods) but I kept the other cars stock. I do all my own oil changes, transmission fluid changes, brakes etc. I also tend to handle most repairs unless it comes to automatic transmissions. Since I think that dealers are stealers, and out here in Cali they charge close to $200 an hour for labor which is ridiculous.

I have a few questions for those of you experienced in these issues. I have read that the 740i is a not very reliable car. I have read some horror stories about 97s... I'm wondering if most of that got fixed by 00 or 01 since i would hate to deal with replacing a radiator, dashboard lights etc on an expensive car like that. I have also heard a few stories with the AC malfunctioning. As well as catalytic converters costing upwards of $3000 to replace.
What are the most common problems with the bimmers (740 i that is)? Do the trannies last for a while or do they take a dump by 100k like some ford trannies ? What about the engines? Any common weakspots i should look out for when making my choice?

Anyways i think I have rambled on long enough to introduce myself.

 

[maxmk8]

Here are a few pics of my Lincoln. In case no one is familiar with it.
Here are a few cool stats on the lincoln
First Introduced in 93 with a 280hp 4.6l DOHC engine. Sadly they only came with a 4 speed automatic. Also they came standard with an air suspention that lowers 1 inch on the freeway, leather, and a long list of other features. Back in the day the perfomance of this car was almost impossible to beat.

I have a 1996 Mark VIII with HID headlights. I have upgraded the wheels to 18 inch wheels and tires that are 245 up front and 275 out back. I have a also installed new shocks and a new rear sway bar that dramatically improved the cars handling. Lincoln went to great lengths to save weight on the car, the Hood is made out of fiberglass and varius suspention components are made out of aluminum instead of iron. But the car is still a porky 3760 pounds. 4000 pounds with my stereo equipment.
I have run a best of 6.77 sec 0-60
and high high 14 sec 1/4 mile. Nothing impressive but I thought i'd share.


I also have a perfomance chip in my car. Currently there are 122k miles on the car

 

[Big Daddy]

I have read that the 740i is a not very reliable car. I have read some horror stories about 97s... I'm wondering if most of that got fixed by 00 or 01 since i would hate to deal with replacing a radiator, dashboard lights etc on an expensive car like that. I have also heard a few stories with the AC malfunctioning. As well as catalytic converters costing upwards of $3000 to replace.

The 740i is a very reliable car, and I have read some horror stories about all cars including the Lincolns. The converters are not 3 grand, the mufflers are 2-3 hunderd dollars, but three grand? I would rate the 740i more reliable than the Lincoln, so would JD Powers. Welcome and enjoy you will be amazed how much better the 740 handles and rides than the Lincoln.

 

[///M SPEED]

Welcome to the board and good luck with the BMW purchase. I believe the 740i is a great car and with the sport package you will be surprised. Your Lincoln looks very clean and well taken care of.....

 

[andreyiv]

Yup, sorry to be another one complimenting you on the car but it looks very nice and those wheels are just right without making it look over done. I've ridden in a mark VIII once and as I remember, it is one beast of a car, good choice there.

The 3 series auto trannys as I heard go between 80 and 120k miles but have not heard anything about the 7. Good luck on your new purchase, enjoy it as much as you can.

 

[maxmk8]

Thanks for the replies guys. As long as I don't have to tear into the tranny, and or engine, everything is fine. The replacement of the radiator/waterpump should be a piece of cake. I know that mufflers aren't worth much, but I am guessing those inflated 3k bills were made by people who had their car repaired at the dealer, and I know how those $150 an hour labor rates can add up. So I will be on the lookout for a 2001 E 38 with less than 50k and the sport package.