I thought it's about time for me to post my latest car. The first couple of posts will be catch-up as I got the car in September 2016.
I had recently moved to San Diego, and it seemed like a great chance to own an E38 given the amount of them here, and the lack of rust. I looked at a few, but really couldn't pass up the opportunity of getting into a V12 when I came across this 1998 750iL. Although it was not in mint condition, it was pretty good, and the previous owner had kept up with maintenance.
Here's the car the day I picked her up:
The seller listed the following recent maintenance:
For under $4000, and with less than 120k on the odo, I couldn't pass it up! The owner said it may need new shocks in a year or two, which is not horrible, they can be replaced with non-SLS shocks easily. I didn't notice the EDC system is working, as there wasn't any change when I switch it on, but luckily the shocks weren't super-hard as some have found when that is wearing out.
My to-do list as of Oct 2016. Then some more photos.
Also - the thread title. A license plate is inbound, "BAD V12"
- - - Updated - - -
First up - cleaning. The engine needed it. This is after:
The cabin air filters had never been changed:
The HID bulbs were getting foggy:
The passenger side projector is still cloudy, The plastic inner lenses are yellowed, and I've got a set of mini-H1 bi-xenon projectors I might add into the high-beam housings, so I'd have dual projectors per side.
The original comfort seats weren't in bad condition, but these extra sport seats were even better.
Swapped the 750iL wood seat backs onto them:
I also replaced the engine air filters, which weren't too bad, but it was cheap.
- - - Updated - - -
Just before I purchased it, the previous owner had some new clearcoat sprayed on the roof. Didn't do a great job, it's not really that glossy, and I'm not sure they properly masked off the windows, including the sunroof. There's this residue that looks like it was wiped while drying, but never properly removed.
It was worst on the sunroof, although there were bits of it on the rear windows as well. I tried everything to get it off, window cleaner, degreaser, abrasive polisher, nothing. Then I remembered you can actually scrape windows using an Xacto blade, so that's what I did yesterday. Success! Finally got it off.
Still getting the edges perfect. You can also see it coming off the rear side window:
- - - Updated - - -
Now, about those tires. I new the rears were a little worn, but I didn't give them a thorough inspection. Unfortunately after about 3 weeks I got a blowout on the freeway doing 85mph. The inner sidewall blew out, and also took out this brake pad sensor at the same time:
So I replaced that, and since the wheel wasn't in great shape I jumped on a deal for a new set of 19" wheels.
Current living room:
19x11, +25mm for the rear, 19x9.5, +22mm for the front.
Rear test fit:
Pretty close on the inside.
There's actually lots of room on the outside it looks like. Might add spacers at some point. Current plans are for 275/35R19 tires at the back, 245/40R19 at the front.
The next big item is replacing the front lower control arms. Although the previous owner said the bushings were replaced, it still has a shimmy at 65-90mph, and under braking at 60-40mph. I don't trust that the control arms were done properly, and apparently they're always the major culprit of these problems, so I have replacements on hand and it's going in on Thursday to have them replaced. If the problem persists, I'll move on to the center steering link and tie-rod ends.
And finally, some decent photos of the car in it's stock state.
I had recently moved to San Diego, and it seemed like a great chance to own an E38 given the amount of them here, and the lack of rust. I looked at a few, but really couldn't pass up the opportunity of getting into a V12 when I came across this 1998 750iL. Although it was not in mint condition, it was pretty good, and the previous owner had kept up with maintenance.
Here's the car the day I picked her up:
The seller listed the following recent maintenance:
- Intake manifold gaskets (all 12)
- Fuel injectors (all 12)
- Spark plugs (all 12)
- Primary air pumps (2)
- Secondary air pump
- Radiator
- Cooling fan and shroud
- Belts
- Hoses
- Window regulators (all 4)
- Tail lights and lenses (Right and Left hands)
- Vacuum hoses
- Passengers side low beam head light
- Lower control arm bushings
- Coolant tank
- Coolant temperature sensor
For under $4000, and with less than 120k on the odo, I couldn't pass it up! The owner said it may need new shocks in a year or two, which is not horrible, they can be replaced with non-SLS shocks easily. I didn't notice the EDC system is working, as there wasn't any change when I switch it on, but luckily the shocks weren't super-hard as some have found when that is wearing out.
My to-do list as of Oct 2016. Then some more photos.
Also - the thread title. A license plate is inbound, "BAD V12"
- Proper clean inside/out
- Clean engine
- Re attach driver-side rear outer door trim
- Re-fill coolant (low coolant warning)
- Replace front control arms, alignment
- Swap front seats for sport versions
- Repair front kidney grilles (broken tabs, hopefully will stay put)
- Passenger headlight - color is off. Cloudy lens. Replace w/H1 housings?
- Replace trunk struts
- Replace upper windshield seal/strip
- Replace HID bulbs
- Install H1 bi-xenon housings in high-beams? (Already have these)
- Glovebox latch (stuck closed)
- Side mirror panes (delaminating)
- Paint driver's door handle (lots of scratches)
- Driver's door card replacement if possible (slightly worn leather)
- Headliner, pillars (headliner is sagging)
- Replace rear passenger window shade frame (missing)
- Re-dye rear deck carpet if it's out (fading from sun)
- Fix front cupholder?
- Upgrade speakers/stereo/navigation?
- Paint correction - lots of swirls & scratches
- Rear tires getting worn. New tires, 19" wheels.
- - - Updated - - -
First up - cleaning. The engine needed it. This is after:
The cabin air filters had never been changed:
The HID bulbs were getting foggy:
The passenger side projector is still cloudy, The plastic inner lenses are yellowed, and I've got a set of mini-H1 bi-xenon projectors I might add into the high-beam housings, so I'd have dual projectors per side.
The original comfort seats weren't in bad condition, but these extra sport seats were even better.
Swapped the 750iL wood seat backs onto them:
I also replaced the engine air filters, which weren't too bad, but it was cheap.
- - - Updated - - -
Just before I purchased it, the previous owner had some new clearcoat sprayed on the roof. Didn't do a great job, it's not really that glossy, and I'm not sure they properly masked off the windows, including the sunroof. There's this residue that looks like it was wiped while drying, but never properly removed.
It was worst on the sunroof, although there were bits of it on the rear windows as well. I tried everything to get it off, window cleaner, degreaser, abrasive polisher, nothing. Then I remembered you can actually scrape windows using an Xacto blade, so that's what I did yesterday. Success! Finally got it off.
Still getting the edges perfect. You can also see it coming off the rear side window:
- - - Updated - - -
Now, about those tires. I new the rears were a little worn, but I didn't give them a thorough inspection. Unfortunately after about 3 weeks I got a blowout on the freeway doing 85mph. The inner sidewall blew out, and also took out this brake pad sensor at the same time:
So I replaced that, and since the wheel wasn't in great shape I jumped on a deal for a new set of 19" wheels.
Current living room:
19x11, +25mm for the rear, 19x9.5, +22mm for the front.
Rear test fit:
Pretty close on the inside.
There's actually lots of room on the outside it looks like. Might add spacers at some point. Current plans are for 275/35R19 tires at the back, 245/40R19 at the front.
The next big item is replacing the front lower control arms. Although the previous owner said the bushings were replaced, it still has a shimmy at 65-90mph, and under braking at 60-40mph. I don't trust that the control arms were done properly, and apparently they're always the major culprit of these problems, so I have replacements on hand and it's going in on Thursday to have them replaced. If the problem persists, I'll move on to the center steering link and tie-rod ends.
And finally, some decent photos of the car in it's stock state.
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