stablemate for the 4.6is - E39 or E38?

[m5james]

That's a nice looking one. They've kept the climate control on *C, where are they from. Just like any car, I check the service records if possible, drive it around, have it inspected (their dime or taken off the purchase price) and go from there. Interior looks in great shape, no burnt pixels, but the floor needs to be vacuumed and the shifter it cracked...typical. www.e38.org will be your best friend if you end up getting a 7.

[1stE53]

Originally Posted by c4racer

what sig?? So you think the IL is the way to go? I was thinking the 740i was the best way to go to maintain some sportiness factor.

According to the boys on Top Gear, you are right, the i has a more balanced sport feel than iL. Longer wheel base smoother ride though.

[m5james]

While I'm usually always the one to drive, I don't mind taking the iL on roadtrips and letting someone else take over the wheel...hop into the backseat, put on the headphones and a movie, one foot on the footrest and throw the foot up onto my knee (I'm 6'4" and can still do that in the back of this car), and relax. My buddy had one of these before I did and we always took his 7 over my M5 on our 10+ roadtrips to Vegas. Eventually I found the 7 I was looking for, and while some see it as taking a step backwards, it was bye bye M5, hello 740iL.

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by m5james

While I'm usually always the one to drive, I don't mind taking the iL on roadtrips and letting someone else take over the wheel...hop into the backseat, put on the headphones and a movie, one foot on the footrest and throw the foot up onto my knee (I'm 6'4" and can still do that in the back of this car), and relax. My buddy had one of these before I did and we always took his 7 over my M5 on our 10+ roadtrips to Vegas. Eventually I found the 7 I was looking for, and while some see it as taking a step backwards, it was bye bye M5, hello 740iL.

James do you have any pictures of your 740 on this forum? i bet its amazing judging on the rest of your stable

[E53is]

the 540 is nice

[GSXRliterbikz]

Originally Posted by c4racer

what sig?? So you think the IL is the way to go? I was thinking the 740i was the best way to go to maintain some sportiness factor.

Signature. Pic at the bottom of my posts. Here is another


The Shorty Sport is a better sports car. They had a lower gear ratio and stiffer suspension, but I love the look of an IL. With a little work it can handle just as good. I'm in the process of lowering mine now. Should handle great when done.

[m5james]

Originally Posted by Naz24

James do you have any pictures of your 740 on this forum? i bet its amazing judging on the rest of your stable

I've got pictures scattered over 3 laptops, 2 digi's and about 3 phones, so bear with me Honestly, other than the exhaust tips notched in the bumper, rims and being lowered, it's nothing super fancy to see visually since most everything I've done has only been major mechanical improvements. I've painted the interior trim a brushed aluminum, but I've still got full plans for some more CF, an M7 bodykit and other little visual things after I finally get her into the HP range to warrant fancy looks. I've always hated bodykitted cars that we're slower than hell, so in keeping with my sleeperish tendencies, I wanna make sure she's truely fast before I make her start looking the part.

[1stE53]

Your car looks amazing!!!!
May I ask how you painted your trim? My wife wants a more modern look on her X rather than the wood. We also have a black X5 with the black interior, the trim looks so good in aluminum.

[c4racer]

So I found a steel blue / gray 01 iL that a local Lexass dealer took in on trade that I will go look at today. Sport package, rear shade. 2 owner and last owner had for 8 years and has all the records. It has potential. Asking $15.8K which seems a bit high. 90K miles. KBB high trade-in is $11K, so I put my valuation around $12K.

What is funny is we live in a court and the 2 houses to the left of us both have a 740iL - one is a real sport package, the other a non-sport with the sport wheels. So the one downside is the E38 has been "done" on our court!! OTOH, maybe that is the standard issue lux car for our court. haha.

[c4racer]

here is the 540iT I am considering. It does look nice, eh?