Considering buying 2005 7 series

So I am soon to be in the market for a new (to me, anyway) car, and have always had my eyes set on European cars for obvious reasons..


What is the consensus opinion on a 2005 7 series? Are they known to be reliable cars? Any certain things I should be on the lookout for? And finally, what optional features would you guys consider a "must have" on this model of car?


I am hoping to pick one up with ~80k miles at a dealer auction for ~$14,000.. just want a few pointers on if this is a good model and a good choice of car for my money, so far it looks like the most bang for my buck by a longshot.

Reliable isnt the word for 7Series lol. Just make sure you are ready to do whatever it takes to maintain it at anytime. If not, dont buy it.

Originally Posted by MakaveliFaison

Reliable isnt the word for 7Series lol. Just make sure you are ready to do whatever it takes to maintain it at anytime. If not, dont buy it.

As in if I maintain it then it is extremely reliable, or you mean that even if maintaining it they aren't very reliable vehicles?


Just want to clarify..

If you take care of it, it should take care of you. But there are some money pits out there. Other members will chime in soon.

Originally Posted by MakaveliFaison

If you take care of it, it should take care of you. But there are some money pits out there. Other members will chime in soon.

I understand.. The car I currently have is a SAAB, so believe me, I know a thing or two about unreliability thanks for the advice buddy, and looking forward to hearing from some more people.



Does the price I am looking at seem like a reasonable range? Also, do these cars have xenon headlamps standard?

Yea, hids are standard. Dont get me wrong, everyone that has owned their 7s for a while enjoy their cars. I just dont want you to be one of the people who go and buy the car for cheap then complains about everything that goes wrong. A lot of people buy these cars and end up selling them within 6 months because they cant keep up. But 14 grand isnt bad but you can do better. Especially if you are going to auction it should be cheaper, unless the vehicle is extremely clean.

Originally Posted by MakaveliFaison

Yea, hids are standard. Dont get me wrong, everyone that has owned their 7s for a while enjoy their cars. I just dont want you to be one of the people who go and buy the car for cheap then complains about everything that goes wrong. A lot of people buy these cars and end up selling them within 6 months because they cant keep up. But 14 grand isnt bad but you can do better. Especially if you are going to auction it should be cheaper, unless the vehicle is extremely clean.

Sounds good, if I can score one for sub $14,000 then that is just more I can keep put away for any maintenance I need to keep up with for it

I was just unsure if I was being unrealistic on hoping to find one for that price. Didn't know if scoring one around that price range would result in me getting one of those surefire "money hole" model ones

I love my 04' but I would advise that at this point you not buy an 05' 7 series. Go for an 06' and above if you must have a 7. If you have lots of money to put toward repairs go for it, if not I advise you to get a nice American or Japanese car that is much more reliable and relatively inexpensive to fix. 02'-05' are considered "pre-facelift" and the 06-08 are "face lifted" meaning that a few things have been reworked and redesigned but the overall car is pretty much the same. At this point most "pre-faclift" 7's have very expensive problems or they are about to real soon. Hang around for a while and you'll notice that the post in this forum are increasing about problems associated with this car. Anyone selling a "pre-facelited" 7 is probably doing so because they are tired of putting $$$ into repairs.

^^^head on. Honestly if you are going to auction you should be able to get 06 for that price.

Originally Posted by MakaveliFaison

^^^head on. Honestly if you are going to auction you should be able to get 06 for that price.

Excellent, thanks for all the tips guys. Looks like I am now in the market for about an '06 7 series. The base model that year would be the 750i if I am not mistaken, so hopefully I can pick one up anywhere from $14k-$15k.


Thanks again for all the help, hopefully my next post in a month or so includes pictures of my new purchase!

guy is selling a clean 05 745li with 110k miles,staggered 22s,for 12k cash here locally

There are several super threads that go thru your situation to the point. By maintain the car it means to have deep pockets each year for general repairs on a car that sold new for 90 grand. Replacement parts are expensive and mechanics know BMW charges the crap out of repairs so you can maybe save 20.00 per hour by using an independent mechanic.

Let me go thru some cost. These items break or need repair all the time as I see it, and you will not find a perfect e65/66.

Ask unit 450.00
L7 amp 500.00
Control arms 480.00
Ball joints 190.00
Alternator 700.00
Coolant pipe 850.00
Water pump 200.00
Tyres 1700.00
Transmission 2500.00

The items above I replaced this year plus labor

Other things are
Valve stem seals 3000.00
Transmission flush 800.00
Oil change 150.00
Filters 175.00
Coolant flush 300.00
Brake pads 150.00

Then there are other items you may want like

Lowering the car
Wheels
iPod
Bluetooth
Tv
Entertainment

I took my car and had it inspected by one of the best independant shops here, car came back in great shape with only item being the turn signal didn't work.

Front headlight assembly 1200.00
And the fact it was not the headlight assembly but the light control module

LCM 145.00

Then don't forget the cable to program your own car because BMW will charge you out the butt. 50.00

Get my point, these are all things to maintain.

Look at the car extremely well at auction, I don't think they will let you do a prepurchase inspection.

Good luck

Originally Posted by sirstopher

There are several super threads that go thru your situation to the point. By maintain the car it means to have deep pockets each year for general repairs on a car that sold new for 90 grand. Replacement parts are expensive and mechanics know BMW charges the crap out of repairs so you can maybe save 20.00 per hour by using an independent mechanic.

Let me go thru some cost. These items break or need repair all the time as I see it, and you will not find a perfect e65/66.

Ask unit 450.00
L7 amp 500.00
Control arms 480.00
Ball joints 190.00
Alternator 700.00
Coolant pipe 850.00
Water pump 200.00
Tyres 1700.00
Transmission 2500.00

The items above I replaced this year plus labor

Other things are
Valve stem seals 3000.00
Transmission flush 800.00
Oil change 150.00
Filters 175.00
Coolant flush 300.00
Brake pads 150.00

Then there are other items you may want like

Lowering the car
Wheels
iPod
Bluetooth
Tv
Entertainment

I took my car and had it inspected by one of the best independant shops here, car came back in great shape with only item being the turn signal didn't work.

Front headlight assembly 1200.00
And the fact it was not the headlight assembly but the light control module

LCM 145.00

Then don't forget the cable to program your own car because BMW will charge you out the butt. 50.00

Get my point, these are all things to maintain.

Look at the car extremely well at auction, I don't think they will let you do a prepurchase inspection.

Good luck

how many miles on yours flagship when you had the transmission flush done? mine has 120k and i believe it was never changed...so thats my next project,new filter,gasket and fresh fluid...
did you use oem bmw or aftermarket fluid?
thx

Originally Posted by sirstopher

There are several super threads that go thru your situation to the point. By maintain the car it means to have deep pockets each year for general repairs on a car that sold new for 90 grand. Replacement parts are expensive and mechanics know BMW charges the crap out of repairs so you can maybe save 20.00 per hour by using an independent mechanic.

Let me go thru some cost. These items break or need repair all the time as I see it, and you will not find a perfect e65/66.

Ask unit 450.00
L7 amp 500.00
Control arms 480.00
Ball joints 190.00
Alternator 700.00
Coolant pipe 850.00
Water pump 200.00
Tyres 1700.00
Transmission 2500.00

The items above I replaced this year plus labor

Other things are
Valve stem seals 3000.00
Transmission flush 800.00
Oil change 150.00
Filters 175.00
Coolant flush 300.00
Brake pads 150.00

Then there are other items you may want like

Lowering the car
Wheels
iPod
Bluetooth
Tv
Entertainment

I took my car and had it inspected by one of the best independant shops here, car came back in great shape with only item being the turn signal didn't work.

Front headlight assembly 1200.00
And the fact it was not the headlight assembly but the light control module

LCM 145.00

Then don't forget the cable to program your own car because BMW will charge you out the butt. 50.00

Get my point, these are all things to maintain.

Look at the car extremely well at auction, I don't think they will let you do a prepurchase inspection.

Good luck

Very informative post.

A clean 06 750 with low miles for around 14k.....? I don't think so.

Originally Posted by Boeing750i

A clean 06 750 with low miles for around 14k.....? I don't think so.

You are absolutely right. At auction you will be lucky to find an 06 with 85k plus miles at that price point.

Originally Posted by Boeing750i

A clean 06 750 with low miles for around 14k.....? I don't think so.

Not in Ny anyway they still go about 20k woth 100k miles.

They selling on the street here for 18k with 85k miles. So I know the auction has to be lower. I saw one for 12k with 130k miles.

want my 06 Li? With 19k miles on the clock...

tomorrow i might pull the trigger on an 06 750i with 129k on the dash at a toyota dealer, the dealer has a very good rep so it kinda eases the nerves, very clean with no lights on the dash for $10,500 and then an additional $500 military discount, it all comes down to if this guy buys the 02 745 (with 128k and an air bag fault light ) for $9,000 tomorrow. i will then have 2 750s in the stable.

Originally Posted by bayerisheteknik

how many miles on yours flagship when you had the transmission flush done? mine has 120k and i believe it was never changed...so thats my next project,new filter,gasket and fresh fluid...
did you use oem bmw or aftermarket fluid?
thx

24,000 mile when the transmission was replaced by BMW under CPO. Transmission flush at 80,000 miles.

02 got the extended coverage of 6 years 100,000 miles.

Originally Posted by Boeing750i

A clean 06 750 with low miles for around 14k.....? I don't think so.

+1

I was about to cry for a second! I think my 7 is worth a little more than 14k

Originally Posted by sirstopher

24,000 mile when the transmission was replaced by BMW under CPO. Transmission flush at 80,000 miles.

02 got the extended coverage of 6 years 100,000 miles.

i am pretty sure that mine was never changed,since i have slight jerk when shifting 1-2 not all the time but sometimes,so i am thinking old burnt fluid,low level of fluid....hopefully when i drop the pan i will not see any metal particles in there

when i dropped the pan on my 02 e39 it had 190k miles(original tranny)....fluid was black i mean really black but trannys internal were like new

Originally Posted by kyled427

So I am soon to be in the market for a new (to me, anyway) car, and have always had my eyes set on European cars for obvious reasons..


What is the consensus opinion on a 2005 7 series? Are they known to be reliable cars? Any certain things I should be on the lookout for? And finally, what optional features would you guys consider a "must have" on this model of car?


I am hoping to pick one up with ~80k miles at a dealer auction for ~$14,000.. just want a few pointers on if this is a good model and a good choice of car for my money, so far it looks like the most bang for my buck by a longshot.

Good luck with whatever you decide ... You maybe able to get away with finding one a little newer at an auction

When I was in the market for mine 3 years ago I was looking for an 05 and ended up scoring an 07 so its possible just make sure you are getting what you want.

Originally Posted by kyled427

So I am soon to be in the market for a new (to me, anyway) car, and have always had my eyes set on European cars for obvious reasons..


What is the consensus opinion on a 2005 7 series? Are they known to be reliable cars? Any certain things I should be on the lookout for? And finally, what optional features would you guys consider a "must have" on this model of car?


I am hoping to pick one up with ~80k miles at a dealer auction for ~$14,000.. just want a few pointers on if this is a good model and a good choice of car for my money, so far it looks like the most bang for my buck by a longshot.

Check out this 750I.
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail...teo&listType=1