Can Buy A 1987 735i For $1000. Should I??

[rcc13]

As you can see....I'm a newbie.

Have a friend willing to sell me his 1987 735i with 180k miles for $1k. Motor rebuilt at 160k. Engine runs great, tranny shifts great, repainted 3 years ago (silver), good interior. The only thing that doesn't work is the A/C. I'm totally ignorant about BMWs (this would be my first) but would love to have one as a 3rd vehicle.....(esp for this price) so I can learn about them. he said it's been solidly reliable though he has dumped about $3k into it the past 4 years. Said it's never failed to start at first turn of the key.

Any advice appreciated!

rcman

[George L. Marchin]

Originally posted by rcc13@Jul 22 2005, 06:37 PM
As you can see....I'm a newbie.

Have a friend willing to sell me his 1987 735i with 180k miles for $1k. Motor rebuilt at 160k. Engine runs great, tranny shifts great, repainted 3 years ago (silver), good interior. The only thing that doesn't work is the A/C. I'm totally ignorant about BMWs (this would be my first) but would love to have one as a 3rd vehicle.....(esp for this price) so I can learn about them. he said it's been solidly reliable though he has dumped about $3k into it the past 4 years. Said it's never failed to start at first turn of the key.

Any advice appreciated!

rcman

[snapback]364448[/snapback]

I bought a 1985 735i with 205,000 on it about a month ago. I appears to have small problems but it runs well. I paid 1250. I'm in the process of correcting things either myself or commercially. One of the power seats was not working; I fixed it. There was a crimp in the return fuel line which was making it run rich a garage found that and corrected it. The exhaust system together with the oxygen sensor was shot; Midas fixed that. I'm going to have the struts and shocks replaced. I'm going to replace the power steering pump. All in all it has run well during these fixes. Good Luck with yours. George L. Marchin

[slyhog-22056]

I sure wouldn't pass that up at all. I bought a 84 633CSi about 2 years ago and have only invested a little over $1000 in it and now have a very dependable car with only a few probloems here and ther as expected with 200,000 miles on it.

[rcc13]

Thanks all for the encouragement. I think this will be a good buy. the owner had the entire exhaust system replaced...all power options work (locks, seats etc...). The only thing that doesn't work is the AC....but I'm hoping I can replace that myself for under $600 and convert the refrigerant. Or maybe I can make it till fall/winter and not worry about it!