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My 2000 BMW E38 728i

d_a_n1979

d_a_n1979

Messages
484
So wrote my post and for some reason my iPad and this forum didnt get on so I'll write it again :lol:

This is my BMW E38 728i; 2000 X reg, bought in Sept 2012 and it's a Sept 2000 build :cool: Bought it with just under 99k miles; it's just ticked over 100500 recently.

Finished in Aspensilver metallic with very recently refurbished 18" Style 32 alloys by Stevie at Wheelrite; Chorley:

20130329_145045_zps75d1b548.jpg


A shot of the very straight forward engine bay:

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Just replaced the OEM intake with a K&N Gen II 528i intake & currently adapting a custom cold air feed and shield made which I'll fit ASAP so will update pics then :) (OEM intake had a hole in the bottom (looks like it'd been forced back into position or it was leant on etc...) :( Was causing erratic idling issues; have tried to source a 2nd hand one but had 3 and sent 3 back as they were damaged even though they were sold as 'immaculate'. Always the case with eBay! :( As I dont do many miles with working from home economy and/or power loss hasnt been an issue (and havent noticed a drop in either TBH)!

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Everything as its stands is OEM and really the only things ill be changing to soon will be a front upper strut brace; Eibach lowering springs when I replace the front shocks (not needed yet) and I may go for the H7R HID upgrade kit from HIDS4U and possibly some later style LED rear clusters. Will also be getting the gear box & filter changed but needs to be done by a specialist as it's not a straight forward job & has to be done as certain temps etc... :roll: Probably going to get a stainless cat back system made for it too to let some of that straight six burble out more :D

I've had a lot of work done on it since I bought it in Sept 2012 (suspension stuff (rear end overhaul with KYB springs and Boge shocks plus new top-hats), a few oil & oil filter changes, new front tyres, alloys fully refurbed in sparkle silver (stripped, acid dipped, powder coated and sparkle lacquer finish), new diff fluids and plugs, brake overhaul (Brembo discs all round; EBC Ultimax rear pads, EBC Redstuff pads upfront along with HEL stainless brake lines)

Just replaced the rad a few days ago as well (small hairline crack appeared under top hose connection) so sourced one through General Traffic for £85 :) Took it to my pals garage and we got it swapped over, refilled and bled in just over an hour :)

All work done by Stevie @ Grinspeed; he's alright, gets the job done etc... :lol: Much better at snapping tools and getting angry though :twisted:

Car is now in with the bodyshop for the following:


  • Rear boot lid rust patch to be removed and resprayed (as well as a small patch under the boot catch to be removed and resprayed)
  • NS wings to be resprayed due to small rust spots appearing (havent broken through the paint yet)
  • NS wing mirror area to be resprayed as small rust patch has appeared under the wing mirror cowling
  • Front OS wing to be resprayed (same issues as NS wings)
  • Rear OS door to have a small patch of rust removed and resprayed on the very bottom corner
  • OS sill at the rear has rotted through so that needs stripping and a patch welding in and then seam-sealed


Sounds a lot but everything (bar the sill repair) will come in around the £200 mark (only small areas to be sorted thank god) and I reckon the sill repair will be around another £200 (fingers crossed)

Got some pics re the tin-worm eating away at the sill! Appears that it's had a bump but my pal at the body shop & I think it's been spun at some point as the dent is parallel to the sill and about the right height for a curb!

OS sill:








It's getting cut out and a new plate welded in right across the sill and will be seam sealed/wax oiled etc...

Will have it back Saturday/Sunday afternoon hopefully :D

Other than that the cars solid and runs like a dream :D :cool
 
Got the car back from the body shop; looks absolutely stunning :)

All the niggly bits of rust and bubbles that were appearing all gone; new OS sill fabricated and welded in, seam sealed and stone shipped/wax oiled. Just needs a good wash now as it's covered in fine dust but will get that done later this week after its MOT!

Got the car cleaned inside yesterday though as the dust was everywhere. All seats leather cleaned and then conditioned inc. the steering wheel :thumbsup

Installed a Kenwood head unit this afternoon in place of the OEM Blaupunkt tape head unit! Need to connect the aerial up yet but the unit fitted straight away with no issues (apart from a lot of wiring that just needed to be tucked out of the way better). Used a BMW ISO to Kenwood patch lead and all works. Fitted a treat and it sits nice and flush so the fascia panel can be closed over it :cool

Pics (apologies, phone camera isn't the best)!






Yes I've lost the steering wheel functions for volume and changing tracks but the buttons still work for the in-car phone which I'm very pleased about... I think it looks really good and the OEM speakers are actually very good indeed; just the OEM head unit that let the system down really!
 
Yeah I know there are the patch leads out there but having had the loom out; there's nothing to connect to the spare plug on the specific patch lead if you follow me and I'm not going to start cutting wires

Losing the volume/tracks buttons dont bother me; I just didnt want to lose the phone connectivity!
 
IIRC the steering wheel controls are passed through the factory connector (should be a 17-pin on the E38).

As per R3573564891224's picture, the adaptor loom plugs into the connector on the BMW harness, and provides you with the usual 2 ISO connectors and also a patch box into which you plug the appropriate cable for your aftermarket HU. Phone control passes through, no cutting required - certainly the case on the last E38 I looked at?
 
Doodle said:
IIRC the steering wheel controls are passed through the factory connector (should be a 17-pin on the E38).

As per R3573564891224's picture, the adaptor loom plugs into the connector on the BMW harness, and provides you with the usual 2 ISO connectors and also a patch box into which you plug the appropriate cable for your aftermarket HU. Phone control passes through, no cutting required - certainly the case on the last E38 I looked at?
Click to expand...

Yeah; the phone connections are working fine; the 17 round pin connection is correct but the OEM stereo in E38's (bar the sat nav versions) are 2 pieces; the upper tape player unit with the equalizer bits and then a mid section (you can see it in the pics that's below the Kenwood head unit) that controls the tuner, volume, on & off parts too... The connections are completely separate and not sure how they'd connect with the specific Kenwood patch leads but for now it's fine :)
 
Danger200 said:
Shouldn't this fit? Just need a bit of elbow grease :lol:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2008-07-B...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item27d3150976
Click to expand...

Funny :p :lol:

Looked at a lot of V8's before I bought my 728i but was severely put off by their well known electrical gremlins!

There were no V12's available when I bought mine (well bar the ones that the sellers though they were worth over £7k for :roll:

Now there's quite a few going and one currently near to me sat on 89k miles with full BMWSH for £3.5k :shock: :cry:
 
It's the split tape/MID unit, sometimes seen on E39's too. Right now I can't remember how I got around it. :confused:
 
So exhaust idea shelved for the time being. Current OEM exhaust is still very clean & in perfect nick so going to leave it as is

Instead I've ordered:


  • FK Coilovers which will be with me in a few weeks. Looking for a c30mm drop at the rear and c35mm up front :) along with x2 OEM front suspension top-mounts
  • Ultra Racing front upper strut brace
  • 15mm rear and 10mm upfront hubcentric spacers with longer wheel nuts
  • H7R HID upgrade kit from HIDS4U

Will get Stevie @ Grinspeed to sort the coilover fitting; not as if he's got owt better to do :p :lol:
 
Fairplay as it's your car. But personally a 7 series to me is for comfortable, wallowy cruising. I wouldn't be lowering and stiffening it up. IMO
 
It's only the 2.8, it needs every bit of help it can get to maintain speed once it's finally got there :lol:
 
Skelly Ops said:
Fairplay as it's your car. But personally a 7 series to me is for comfortable, wallowy cruising. I wouldn't be lowering and stiffening it up. IMO
Click to expand...

The FK's are designed for the E38. They stiffen up the ride a little but still allow for a very comfy ride indeed and with sensible lowering; they dont alter the handling too much at all. Just a tighter, all round feel really :) They get rave reviews across the pond for that very reason!

All other coilovers and lowering kits (usually Bilstein & Eibach) make the ride much hasher!
 
Doodle said:
It's only the 2.8, it needs every bit of help it can get to maintain speed once it's finally got there :lol:
Click to expand...

Smart arse :p

It's plenty fast enough for me! It shifts well enough with the slick auto-box and in Sport mode it pulls like a train! The 4.4 V8's are not much faster at all; just a higher top speed but when can you ever use that in this country?!
 
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