[W126 Coupe] Off Topic BMW

[Shayegan, Richard]

Yeah, I've actually heard of that, though I never heard free (but last I
heard of this no law suit had been filed). What I heard is they will
often cover the labor portion. I never bothered with that because it'll
just go out again in 4 years. Better to spend $300 one time and get it
over with. Has he had any of the coolant system hoses replaced? Usually
when the neck goes, soon after the heater core hose (IIRC it's the
heater core, it runs behind the engine) goes. Luckily that's a cheap fix
(1 hour labor + couple bucks for the hose). One more thing I forgot is
differentials don't go much more than 180k. Honestly though, 180k life
cycles for tranny, cats, and diff isn't all that bad, and when the diff
goes that's just an excuse to get a limited slip diff from Dinan. The
4.4 liter engine is solid, unlike the 750 v12 about which one mechanic
who had one for sale told me not to buy it because that engine is a
headache. The BMW bodies/interiors are probably the only ones tighter
than W126's, it'll never creak. Another thing is sometimes the window
regulators go (sound familiar?) though this tends to be a faulty thing
and not an age thing (i.e. if it has lasted 1 year without making
grinding noises it'll last a long time).

-----Original Message-----
From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com
[mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com] On Behalf Of David Fatovic
Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 5:32 PM
To: Mercedes Coupes Mailing Lists
Subject: RE: [W126 Coupe] Off Topic BMW

He has just had the radiator replaced 2K ago due to a crack in the top
neck. (sound familiar to our MBs?) The computer readout is starting to
go, he said there is an 800 number to call that many times it can be
replaced for free due to some suit filed a while ago.

David

--- "Shayegan, Richard" <rishayegan at davidson.edu>
wrote:

> The dash computer readouts are like that. Even if you buy a new one 
> from BMW (I want to say they're like $500), it'll just go out in 4 
> years.
> I've heard that www.vdorepair.com fixes these so that they don't go 
> bad again. Apparently VDO just uses shoddy wiring. I'll be sending 
> them the one out of my parents' 540 this summer. Something to keep in 
> mind about BMW's is that you have to be prepared to replace the 
> cooling system hoses and radiator every 6 years or so. There are some 
> aftermarket radiators with metal in the necks, but according to the 
> tech my parents use those leak from other places so you might as well 
> get the BMW one (they aren't very expensive, around $200). IIRC the 
> 540i and 740iL are largely similar as far as under the hood stuff. If 
> the tranny fluid hasn't been changed (i.e. he really believed BMW when

> they said the tranny fluid is lifetime) I don't think it has more than

> 50k mile left in it. Cats also may go within the next 50k.
> Richard
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com
> [mailto:mbcoupes-bounces at mbcoupes.com] On Behalf Of David Fatovic
> Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 4:52 PM
> To: MBCOUPES
> Subject: [W126 Coupe] Off Topic BMW
> 
> Does anybody on the list have any experience with late 90's BMW 740iL?
> I am looking at a 1997 740iL.  It has 129K on the clock.  I did notice

> a couple things off the bat.  It needs to have the valve cover gaskets

> replaced. The computer readout on the dash is kind of in and out.  
> Other than that, it handles great, drives great, no shortage of power 
> and the AC and all windows etc work.
> 
> Just wondering if there is any experience with these cars on the list.
> Good or bad.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> David
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