Description
Background
S696 GRR was manufactured on the 18th November 1998 before being registered in the UK as a BMW demonstrator on 5th January 1999.
The first owner bought the car on 1st May 1999 and kept it until April 2006 (number plate JE 6570) when the second owner bought the car keeping it until November 2006.
The previous owner to me then bought it in November 2006 with 94, 797 miles and owned the car for over 14 years before I bought it in April 2021. Before I bought the car it had been off the road for a number of years and it has since had a lot of work done to get it to the condition it is now.
Specification
Prod. Date 1998-11-18
Type 740I
Series E38 (7 Series)
Body Type Sedan
Steering -
Engine M62/ TU
Displacement 4. 398
Power 210kw / 286hp
Drive rwd
Colour cosmos-schwarz
Upholstery Leather Montana/ basic equip/ schwarz
S401 Lift-up-and-slide-back sunroof, electric
S416 Roller sun visor, rear lateral
S428 Warning triangle and first aid kit
S438 Fine wood trim
S441 Smoker package
S456 Comfort seat with memory
S459 Seat adjustment, electric, with memory
S473 Armrest front
S488 Lumbar support, driver and passenger
S494 Seat heating driver/ passenger
S495 3-point belt & head restr'nt, rear middle
S500 Headl. washer system/ intensive cleaning
S508 Park Distance Control (PDC)
S202 Steptronic
S210 Dynamic stability control
S216 Hydro steering-servotronic
S265 Tyre pressure control (TPC)
S288 BMW light alloy wheel, cross spoke 29
S302 Alarm system
S358 Climate comfort windscreen
S812 National version Great Britain
S850 Dummy-SALAPA
S853 Language version, English
S863 Dealer List Europe
S877 Omission of non-combined operation
S880 On-board literature, English
History to April 2021
The previous owner used the car relatively lightly putting about 3, 500 miles on it each year until 2014 when the car failed the MOT needing suspension work. The previous owner maintained the car himself and ordered the parts required consisting of full replacement packs for the front and rear (suspension arms, track rod ends, anti-roll bars) costing approximately £450 for the parts alone. These were not fitted at the time and the car was instead SORN for a number of years.
During lockdown at the end of 2020 it was decided to get the car back on the road so front Meyle shock absorbers were ordered and all the new suspension parts were fitted.
At the same time the car had an oil and filter change, brake fluid change, new pollen filters, new windscreen washer pump, new windscreen washers and a pusher fan. A new MOT was issued in February 2021.
By then I was in contact with the seller and had agreed to buy the car but could not collect it due to lockdown restrictions. Whilst it was still with the previous owner the wheels were refurbished and a brand new set of correctly specified tyres were fitted (Falken ZE310 235/ 60 16 100W) and full alignment was completed. I collected the car on 30th April 2021.
In My Ownership
I bought the car because I’ve always loved the E38, not because I actually needed it. I think at the time the car was number six that I had.
I took it straight away to have it booked in with a metal shop which I had been recommended as both the rear wheel arches needed repair. The lead time was 9 months so I just enjoyed it as it was until then.
When it finally came round to go in it was found that the driver side rear arch had been filled in the past so rather than a small repair the rear wing was cut out. I sourced a newly pressed wing from Europe and this was fitted alongside the repairs to the other side.
Whilst the car was in the metal shop it was found that the fuel tank was leaking. This was then removed and sent for professional repair at Hartlepool Radiators (fueltanks. co. uk) at a cost of £600. When it was refitted new parts were ordered from BMW Cheltenham
the details below Fuel Tank Sender Pump Seal
the details below Fuel Sender Gasket
the details below Hose Clamp
the details below Fuel Filler Hose
the details below Fuel Line
the details below Fuel Hose
Once the car was back it went for paint. At the same time I sourced a rust free boot lid to replace the original and also ordered brand new fully chrome V12 kidney grills, again from BMW Cheltenham.
In May 2023 I obtained the relevant certificates from BMW to confirm that the car meets the London ULEZ emission requirements. It was properly registered with TFL for full exemption of the ULEZ charge.
In July 2023 I had the car serviced by DM Worx in Aylesbury. Approximately 2, 000 miles had been completed since the oil was last changed but I wanted to get it done on a time basis. I have covered about 3, 000 miles since the last service 13 months ago.
In February 2024 I had the LCD panel replaced in the instrument cluster to fix the missing pixels and also fitted a new YBX5019 Yuasa Silver High Performance 100Ah battery. Pre-2006 service history details TBC
Date Supplier Notes Notes
10/ 01/ 2006 MOT Pass 87, 618
12/ 02/ 2006 BMW Bury St Edmunds Parts only Oil filter
25/ 11/ 2006 MOT Pass 94, 676
04/ 03/ 2007 BMW Norwich Parts only Gearbox filter & sump
25/ 10/ 2007 BMW Bury St Edmunds Parts only Water pump
12/ 04/ 2007 BM Spares Parts only Light control module
02/ 11/ 2007 MOT Pass 101, 517
31/ 01/ 2008 BMW Bury St Edmunds Parts only Oil filter
31/ 01/ 2008 BMW Bury St Edmunds Parts only Antifreeze
01/ 12/ 2008 MOT Pass 105, 643
31/ 07/ 2010 Drive Parts only Oil filter
13/ 04/ 2011 BMW Bury St Edmunds Parts only Voltage regulator
31/ 03/ 2011 BMW Bury St Edmunds Parts only Chrome mouldings
01/ 04/ 2011 MOT Pass 108, 206
04/ 08/ 2011 BMW Bury St Edmunds Parts only Transmission oil cooler
05/ 05/ 2011 BMW Bury St Edmunds Parts only Thermostat
15/ 07/ 2011 BMW Bury St Edmunds Parts only Gear selector handle
26/ 03/ 2012 MOT Pass 110, 650
31/ 05/ 2012 Drive Parts only Oil filter
08/ 10/ 2012 BMW Bury St Edmunds Parts only Front and rear brake pads and sensors
30/ 03/ 2013 MOT Pass 114, 694
04/ 11/ 2014 Mapco (53655 full link set) Parts only Rear trailing arms, suspensions arms, anti-roll bar links
04/ 11/ 2014 Mapco (53650 full link set) Parts only Front controls arms, tie rod ends, anti-roll bar links
01/ 01/ 2015 SORN
01/ 01/ 2016 SORN
01/ 01/ 2017 SORN
01/ 01/ 2018 SORN
01/ 01/ 2019 SORN
01/ 01/ 2020 SORN
30/ 11/ 2020 JD Motorsport Parts only Meyle front shock absorbers (left and right)
24/ 12/ 2020 BMW Bury St Edmunds Parts only Oil filter
02/ 02/ 2021 MOT 117, 071
02/ 05/ 2021 BMW Bury St Edmunds Parts only Antifreze
28/ 01/ 2022 MOT Pass 118, 337
01/ 02/ 2023 MOT Pass 119, 113
21/ 07/ 2023 DM Worx, Aylesbury Service Oil and filter service, A/ C pollen filters (119, 691)
01/ 02/ 2024 MOT Pass 120, 445
Next Steps
I bought the car more out of love for the E38 than actually needing it and I have spent considerable time and money on it to getting it to where it is now.
Since I bought the car I have moved to a city centre and commute to London by train for work. I’ve also bought another car so it is now one of five cars and I need to slim that down. I’ve also got a Lexus LS400 which is a similar style that I'll never sell, so as much as I love the E38, it has to be the one to go.
The car has had a lot of work completed since 2020 to get it to where it is now and has covered all of the typical E38 problems (suspension, fuel tank, rear arches).
That said, it isn’t perfect and needs a few bits to get it fully sorted. If I was keeping the car for longer I’d get them done over time, but the time has come to move it on and let someone else take it over.
Road tax is around £245 and insurance last year on a classic policy was £175. MOT until February 2025. 122, 000 miles.
Next Steps
The footbrake needs an overhaul and DM Worx also picked up on the rear brake flexis beginning to perish.
Oil leak from a rocker cover gasket
Aux belt beginning to perish
AC requires a regas
NSR ¼ blind window does not retract
The tyre pressure monitoring system is inoperative and the car bongs when turning the ignition off
Faulty front parking sensor
Small rust bubbling at the front edge of the roof where it meets the windscreen (pictured)
The windscreen is partly cloudy in one corner beneath the windscreen wipers (pictured)
Sometimes when turning the car on the starter ‘clicks’ instead of starting. It didn’t do this for the three days it was DM Worx to diagnose and to be honest I’m not sure the last time it did it. But no doubt if someone comes to view it, it will click so thought I’d add it.
Rear passenger door has some paint imperfections after a massive bird left a present on it while I was holiday, unable to quickly clean it
General paint chips, scratches etc up close consummate with age and miles
Price
£6495
There are cheaper E38s, and more expensive ones. It is a rare black / black 740i combination with all the major items addressed and with the added bonus of being ULEZ registered. With the work that is required to get the final bits finished I think that's a fiar price without leaving someone too put of pocket.
Viewing
The car is located in Summertown, Oxford (OX2 7DY). Viewings at the weekends only.
