How to loose $100k in 12 months

Not any more.

That's always the thing, the car is easy to afford, service is not.

A friend of mine used to have a 750iL. He loved the car, but hated spending over a grand every time he took it in for service.

 

Complexity is killing newer cars as they age. A Porsche 928, BMW 750, even my Northstar Allante... have incredibly bad resale value because of the cost of service, repairs, etc. Pretty sad when a mainstream car has a higher value than the special flagships these marques had.

That being said, I would not be interested in any Mercedes built in the last decade or so. Quality and reliability have taken a nosedive while complexity and gadgetry have gone up.

Her's my latest find... destined to not depreciate at all and be fairly easy to service. Rare German model with a 4sp manual and a huge factory sunroof. Fresh 280 engine with mechanical fuel injection. No rust but needing a few cosmetics....

http://fnader.com/images/Mercedes/

Who needs new cars?!

Bill

 

Hey Bill-

Is this a 67? I had a beautiful antique white 250S that ran like a top, sold it with 62,000 original miles on the clock. Unreal how much attention that car garnered, who would expect it? Not bad on the highway, but better for in-town cruising.

Nick

 

I disagree. Reliability wise, it was a a step up. As was fit and finish. The E38 50 interiors with leather covering EVERYTHING and minimal use of plastic really made me even more angry when I saw the 745 plasticity cheap interior.

 

This is still pretty sweet..........
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To me, the interior is opulent in the way a private jet is opulent:- you know the materials are expensive, and it's comfy, but it still looks like plastic.

I had a 6.3 Totally classic, big, fast, elegant and they don't make 'em anything near like that anymore. The later 6.9 has that plasticy thing going again.
Saw an early 90's coupe on the run to the city this morning- not badged CL, just S. That slab-sided look is, to my eye, easier than the current japanese style Mercedes shell. And, they must be pretty cheap these days.

The Maybach is, in my estimation, an atrocity. It looks like an overdone S class. If I wanted that kind of statement in a Mercedes, I'd take a short or long wheelbase 600, restored. Otherwise, for de modern bling, the Roller or a big Bentley. I've been told that the Maybach is suprisingly fast, though.

 

Perfect for a four-person jaunt to Vegas.. I wouldn't even mind sitting in traffic on the 15 if I was in the backseat.

 

I can see where BMW cut corners on the E38 that were not cut on the E32 (for instance, E38 solid rear brake rotors?! plastic radiator necks fail early, etc. Though it is not as though the E32 didn't have it's share of problems.)

Also not really sure that the E38 will end up being more reliable. I suppose time will tell. The E38 does have a great deal of features I want (buttons on steering wheel, 5-sp auto, takes denison ICElink and Stealth1 radar detector integration. Bluetooth, etc.) I'll probally pick up an 01 soon, it will go with dad's 99 740il nicely.

Anyrate, either 7 is a fantastic car. Much better than the current crop.

 

Solid rears? Not in the '50 (also were for a number of years the F largest rotors of any sedan, and rears were only marginally smaller 330 to 327 if I recall correctly); Radiator necks, not in the '50 (uses a different angle, as its a different engine).

In short mechanically they are a better design (M70 to M73) as one of the BMW's key points was to increase reliability. You never hear of DME issues with a M73 for example.

As such the only real issue the car has is fading pixels, oil pump bolts loosening , power steering lines that leak (as with 40s), and valve covers that leak. Some say the cats are weak too. The 40s have more issues it seems, though, it could be a sample error, still in 5 years I have seen far more complaints lodged by the '40s. The electronics haven't proven to be a problem for most (save the pixels that fade), I know people with far greater miles and older then mine.

BTW get the 01, great car!

 

I have an E32 750 as well ('92). A war wagon. 166k miles and not a squeak or rattle. Cheap cheap too.

 

I love depreciation. I can't wait to pick up an E39 M5 and an '01 E38 750iL Protection (just for the heck of it) for dirt cheap. M cars don't fall down too much unfortunately for me. Since the E39 is regarded as one of the last true BMWs, the M5 might hold it's value very well and never dip below 20, sigh.

 

All this talk about big comfy cars and not one person has mentioned the new Audi's... Honestly the A8 is a damn nice car and imo the interior shats all over the S600 and 7 series. Oh yeah and the S is gonna fly.

 

Couldn't resist a pic of a real MB limo:
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Here's a pic of a G V interior. Looks like a lotta plastic to me, no matter how much leather or burled veneer you lay on; in fact, change the color palate from white to dark grey, and it does look pretty close to our Maybach interior shot. By contrast, take a look at the interior of an old MB 600.
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The preformed panels lining the walls may be something other than plastic, but the entire effect is cheap looking. That was my point. As to my flight time on private jets, I'm sure it is not as great as yours. But if you think the use of the materials there is great looking, I'll refrain from insulting your taste.

 

"Some are hideously ugly. But they are all quite expensive." Just like a ....

hmmm... Maybach?

G'nite.

 

Boy, the only other car which immediately comes to mind that would present a similar challenge, with no upside on restoration, would probably be an A-M Lagonda. Jamie Kitman, who lives down the street (sometimes) has a restored 6.3 that is just gorgeous. Parts have to be frighteningly expensive.