I bought this early E32 series BMW
750iL (above, photographed in Fishguard) as a bit of an
indulgence back in 1999, as I was missing the 12 cylinder
motoring I'd had with my old series 1 XJ12L.
Only later did I realise that
it had been BMWs own UK Motorshow car back in late 1987, and if anyone has any pictures of
it back then I'd be very interested to see them. Averaging around 20mpg made this
stomach-able as a daily car, despite the best efforts of HM Government to price such
sizeable machines from our highways. And with 300bhp to play with it also made for a rapid,
comfy mode of transport, especially on my twice yearly pilgrimage to Goodwood for the
Festival of Speed and Circuit Revival meeting.
However all good things must come to an end, and at the beginning
of 2002 I decided that I would return to running a classic as my main car, meaning that with heavy heart the BMW was sold.
August 2002 Update: Hmm well I should have known that this would happen, but the pangs of loss were too great to bear, so I've done it again and added a 750 to the fleet once more (photograph below, on part of the old Brooklands motor racing circuit), this time a very late E32 (1994) 750i, as opposed to my previous 750iL which was a very early (1987) example.
Even
the colours are very similar, both being a very dark blue. To date I'm very happy with my latest acquisition, and its nice to have a V12 back on the drive again!
May 2003 Update: Well touch walnut the car is still going well. I have spent out on it a bit lately, fitting it out with new front discs and pads, front dampers, a brake caliper mounting bracket (the original had a stripped thread), a new lower control arm, plus a general service. The small local garage I used also had a look at a transmission vibration that had been driving me nuts, turns out the mounting bracket that the propshaft centre bearing mounts on had a crack across it, allowing the whole assembly to vibrate. This was welded up, and the vibration, while not completely gone, was far far better (although 12 months later it was as annoying as ever again).
While it was apart I wish they'd replaced the rubber bearing mounting, but never mind.
Last year I sent it away for a fettling at a local BMW approved garage, that specialises in older BMWs. They failed to cure the transmission vibration, but cured a lumpy idle by replacing a plug lead that was down (a new set would have been £600 + VAT), and fitting new inlet manifold gaskets (£300+VAT just for the parts), and a new set of plugs while they were at it. As part of their diagnosis, they ran compression tests on each cylinder, and a diagnostics check, both of which is passed AOK. 2002 also saw me arrange for a new towbar to be fitted, as I have a few small trailers which I use from time to time.
November 2004 Update: 2004 saw a major upheaval in my career, such that I now work from home and do a fraction of the mileage I once did. Having a need for carting lots of stuff around on a regular basis, I ended up buying an old
Merc estate, relegating the BM to part time use on a 'modern classic' insurance policy. With the Merc proving to be such a useful old tool, the BM saw less and less use, and in the end I sold it, rather than
leaving it on the drive which doesn't do any car much good really. I was mightily sorry to see this svelte V12 Beemer drive away, but I know its the right move. Of course having made this choice, its going to be difficult justifying a Jaguar XJR in future, which is something I'd
very much like to acquire one day!
|
