Buying guide: BMW E38 728I
[Published in BMWCAR March 2010]
The 728I doesn’t seem like the obvious pick of the E38 range, but in times of economic struggle and with the arrival of the F01 it represents storming value as a luxury used buy.
When the E65 7 series arrived in 2002 its controversial lines meant its predecessor quickly faded into obscurity with its comparatively sudate design. But behind those classically styled lines the E38 seven was a showcase for electronics, at launch BMW boasted it had more computing power than had been used in the Apollo 11 moon landing.
Replacing the E32 in 1994, the E38 seven was initially criticised as far as its evolutionary rather than revolutionary design language was concerned. The majority of the motoring press said it looked bland and anonymous but with all the drama that surrounded its replacement, the E65, It now seems like a bit of a storm in a tea cup!
At launch the E38 was available with just two models, the 730I and 740I powered by the same 3.0 and 4.0 litre V8s that had been used in the last of the E32 sevens. All cars were mated to a five-speed auto which adapted to the drivers individual style of driving and in Europe and some other markets a manual gearbox was available, although this option was not offered in the UK. In September 1994 the flagship 750I joined the range. Powered by an enlarged version of the E32 750I’s V12 it was a real gem and the obvious choice for captains of industry. For a two-tonne wafter figures were impressive, with 326bhp, 361 Ib of torque and 0-62mph being dispatched in 6.6seconds. Loaded with kit such as sat nav, a telephone and electric rear seats the flagship of the range commanded a price of just over £71,000.
In the September of 1995 the entry level 728I joined the range and while it may carry some of the stigma associated with an entry level model, it really shouldn’t. The Six-cylinder seven was and still is a remarkably competent car and gave little away to the V8 engined 730I. With 193bhp and 207Ib ft of torque on tap compared to the 218bhp and 214Ib ft of torque from the 730I, the entry level seven compared favourably. Economy was also a strong point with a combined figure of 27.4mpg. The 728I quickly became the pick of the range in the UK for the fuel conscious owner, as diesel models were never destined for UK consumption.
Although the range topping 750I grabbed the attention with standard spec such as xenon lights, self levelling rear suspension and sat nav, the 728I still came with features like an auto dipping interior mirror and dynamic stability control. In typical BMW fashion, delving into the options list could easily add several thousands onto the final bill. One option that really made the car stand out was the desirable M Sport Pack. Launched around the time of the September 1998 facelift the spec comprised of a fully colour-coded body, 18-inch M Parallel alloys, M Sports suspension, Sports seats, de-chroming, an anthracite headlining and an M multi-function steering wheel.
Driving one today
While the E38 is inevitably a much bigger car than either an E46 3 series or E39 5 series, the 728I can still hold its own when tackling a challenging stretch of road. The seven should drive without too much roll and shame the likes of an equivalent Mercedes on a twisty stretch of road. The servotronic steering at times gives a remote feeling about the helm, but once you adjust to the car and its abilities it doesn’t prove a major issue.
Admittedly the car calls upon all the gears and revs if rapid progress is required, but in sport mode the transmission delivers everything you need. Part of the 728I’s success lies in the perfect harmony between the automatic box, the car and engine. Compared to the more expensive V8 engined 730I and even 735I, the entry level model offers perfectly respectable performance for a near two-tonne car. Covering the 0-62mph run in 8.6 seconds and going on to 143mph, the 728I never feels slow on the road. Thanks to all the insulation from the outside world, you occasionally get caught out with just how fast you are actually traveling.
Pick a later 728I with the M Sport Pack and it’s worth remembering you will inevitably endure a firmer ride thanks to the M Sport suspension. But with this trade off you gain more composed body role in tighter corners. The only consideration with the pack is the higher cost for replacement tyres, something worth bearing in mind.
Buying a 728I with higher miles shouldn’t prove too much of an issue, especially if you’re not planning on doing a huge amount of motorway miles. If the car has been treated to regular servicing engines and transmissions should be good for 200,000miles. Taking the car for a good test drive should show up any major issues.
What to look for?
There’s no getting away from the fact the E38 is an exceedingly complex piece of kit, even by today’s standards. A bad seven can cost a fortune to sort out, but a decent one can be a great ownership experience. Like the E39 5 series they were well built and wore the miles relatively well. But be warned as a vast number of cars were used to pound the motorway miles and it’s not uncommon for earlier models to have been clocked.
When buying any E38 follow a few basic rules to make sure you get a good ’un. When buying privately do all the sensible things like getting HPI checks etc. A full service history is a real must with one of these cars as skimping on servicing by a previous owner will have detrimental effect. Take the time to examine the service book and note down the name or names of the servicing dealers, give them a call to verify the service dates and mileages. Nearly all cars will have been serviced within the dealer network for at least the first three years and don’t be put off if subsequently it’s been looked after by a specialist dealer, providing that genuine BMW parts have been used.
With BMW fitting a wide range of wheels to the seven, the majority are costly items to replace. Take your time to examine the wheels for excessive kerb damage as this tends to give you an idea of how careful previous owners have been. Badly kerbed alloys may well be buckled which will cause a vibration through the steering wheel.
Whilst you’re looking at the alloys take the time to examine tyre tread and bear in mind the cost of replacement tyres. Front tyres aren’t usually prone to unusual wear, so anything unusual may suggest suspension damage. Over inflation of rear tyres may result in slightly more wear in the centre so check them out.
Lastly, consider the cost of replacement tyres. The big alloys look great and suit the seven, but are much more to replace. Pay particular attention to a 728I Sport as the 18-inch rubber will be significantly more expensive to replace than a car equipped with the standard 16s.
Body
With early examples of the E38 turning sixteen years old this year it’s no surprise to hear that some will be a tad worn out with obvious areas to look out for. Start by checking the panel gaps are consistent as BMW’s quality control bods didn’t let these cars leave the factory if everything wasn’t aligned properly. Check the front end for stone chips as the water-based paint isn’t the most durable and large chips usually suggest the car has had a hard life. Its also worth making sure the under bonnet welds look to be factory original and if they don’t, walk away. Replacement lenses are not available for headlights so look for cracks or you will end up replacing the entire unit.
Don’t forget to check the body for obvious signs of damage, particularly around parking sensors in the bumpers as many of these cars were chauffeur-driven machines and these tend to be the first areas to take a knock. Also take a close look at the support mechanisms on the boot as these have been known to fail and an E38 boot lid is not the lightest thing if it falls on your head.
Whilst outside it’s worth taking a look under the car for any signs of damage or dampness as power steering hoses can leak. It’s also worth checking the condition of the rear exhaust boxes. With a pair costing £450 on a 740I without fitting, it’s worth knowing how much life they have left in them as a bargaining tool.
If the seven you’re looking at shows any signs of rust walk away as the car has more than likely been involved in an accident and not had the repair work carried out properly.
Interior
With so much on offer inside, give yourself plenty of time to check everything out. The E38 offered a level of spec that E32 owners could only have dreamed of and while gadgets and gizmos are all well and good, they only add value when working properly.
To start with check all the seats and headrests as electric motors fail over time and cables stretch. Check the condition of the leather as this can be a tell tale sign of a genuine car or one that has been clocked. Make sure the multi-function steering wheel buttons work and if the steering column is electric that this still functions as it should.
A common problem with the E38 is the pixel display in the dash binnacle and heater displays. As far as we know repairs can’t be done so if a few pixels have been lost a new unit is required. Another area to look at is the onboard monitor. Available on early models in a ‘small screen’ version and later a ‘wide screen’, check everything works properly. It is possible to upgrade the early ‘small screen’ monitor to the later edition so don’t be
put off as parts are reasonably priced on sites like eBay. Just don’t try and fit nav to a car that doesn’t have it as this will be painfully expensive.
The final area to check is the air conditioning. Give the system a thorough workout as stepper motors, compressors and condensers can fail and repairs tend to be expensive. If the A/C doesn’t work never be fobbed off by a seller as in some models the air-con drain lines need re-routing to stop gurgling sounds. With most of these cars being used for big motorway miles it’s always an area we advise you take the time to check.
Engine
The first thing to mention with the E38 is that the 728I (M52) suffered from the infamous Nikasil engine wear problem due to high levels of sulphur in British fuels. The cylinder bores were coated with a substance called Nikasil which was attacked by the Sulphur in fuels, leading to rough running and hefty oil consumption. BMW remedied the problem by replacing the blocks and pistons of affected cars with modified items, with the six-cylinder engines gaining steel bore-liners. 728I’s built from March 1998 have the redesigned engine fitted as standard. Be cautious when looking at early examples and check it’s been fitted with a modified block and pistons. Giving the chassis number to a BMW dealer will confirm if the work has been carried out and save on big bills later on. The vast majority of cars had the work done but if you’re in any doubt walk away as you’ll be looking at £2000-£3000 to have the work rectified. To be completely sure we would recommend buying a post 1998 728I.
In general the M52 six-cylinder engine is a reliable unit, but like many sixes can suffer from faulty coil packs which result in rough running. If you can hear any tappet noise coming from the top end of the engine it’ll probably need a new set of hydraulic lifters.
As with any potential purchase check it idles and runs smoothly. These engines don’t tend to suffer much in the way of oil leaks, but to be on the safe side have a look at the underside as sump gaskets have been known to leak.
Finally, on the engine side of things check for rattles coming from the catalytic converter. Usually the larger V8s are worst affected but for total peace of mind have a BMW dealer plug the car into its diagnostic machinery which should advise if the cats are at the end of their life. Poor performance is a good indication that the cats are partially blocked and costing around £1500, it’s worth checking them out before any purchase.
Suspension and brakes
It’s worth paying attention to the suspension components when looking at any E38. At the front wear can be very quick so check the service history invoices to see if and when the front thrust arms and the centre tie rods were replaced. If they haven’t been done you should budget around £600-£700. If they are worn you will more than likely get a shimmy through the steering at around 50mph. It’s also worth listening for any rumbles or humming from the front end as this could indicate worn front wheel bearings, particularly on cars with larger wheels.
For such a big car good brakes are a real must so take the car out and check the braking performance. Generally speaking they are pretty trouble free on the E38, but it’s still worth having a good look over the discs. The last thing you want to do is buy a car that you have to shell out pads and discs all round for. Roughly speaking you should expect to get around 10k from a set of pads and 20k from a set of discs dependent on driving style. Check the service history to see when these were last changed and use to your advantage if they are due for replacement.
Drivetrain
As we mentioned earlier the seven was never offered with a manual box in the UK. The five-speed automatic unit fitted to all cars is generally strong and robust. But you can tell if the unit is on its last legs by listening for whining in the gears. We would strongly recommend that you check all three modes of the gearbox work correctly as some owners complain of these getting stuck. Check you can engage ‘sport’ and ‘manual’ modes, checking all five ratios work.
Conclusion
With the E38 being phased out in 2001, making way for the controversial E65, The 728I currently represents astonishing value for money as many feel it is too big or not quite sporty enough to be deemed a true sports saloon.
It may not seem the obvious pick amongst its larger V8 brothers, but it shouldn’t be ignored in today’s market. The car offers exceptional bang for your buck and will return a great ownership experience providing you follow a few basic rules. Do your homework properly and you’ll have a brilliant piece of German engineering parked on your drive. Buy the first car you see however and you could regret your purchase. With an abundance ofelectronics the car can be a real nightmare if you pick unwisely so spend time in the car and check everything functions as it should.
With the latest F01 7 Series returning to an evolutionary rather than revolutionary approach, the E38 is ageing well. Picking a 728I may seem like you’re listening to your head rather than your heart, but the ownership experience will soon show you have a real luxury bargain.
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