Back in an E38, and it feels so right!

[BimmerM3]

Well, coming up it's one year anniversary with me and still running perfect, with no repairs needed in the last 11k miles. Hoping to keep this up for the next 5 years or so...

I just noticed the little ///M accent on corner of the hood. I like it!

[MexicoCityM3]

I love this car.

The E38 was significant in my becoming a BMW fan. My dad - who worked for a while at the first BMW dealer here - once brought home a demo gorgeous white 750i back around 97 or so. I managed to convince him to lend it to me for a few hours. Went to pick up a few friends for a highway drive and had a blast. Loved it ever since.

[Raza]

Man, what a gorgeous car.  I always wanted a manual one, like in the Transporter. 

[ChrisV]

Added a couple little touches: Alpina airdam (with the Alpina logo ground o0ff. Looks better, and since it's a rep and the car's not an actual Alpina, I think it's more appropriate) to match the rear spoiler and a perforated leather, M stitched shift boot that matches teh perforated leather M stitched M sport steering wheel.

A year and almost a half on the car and still no issues. I did brake pads a month ago to swap over to ceramics and get rid of the black dust that coated the wheels within a week of washing them...





And yes, I modified that E39 cupholder to fit and hold a USB charge port.

[MrH]

If you're ever looking to sell...

[Madman]

So classy, so elegant! 

Why can't modern BMWs look this good?

[68_427]

If you're ever looking to sell...

No there's one for you being supercharged S62 and 6 speed swapped right now with some nice updates such as a camel tan dyed interior and this beast Nav screen and iDrive controller from the new BMWs...




Sorry to thread jack I just think Mike needs to go all out.

[MrH]

I hate camel interiors on those.

[BimmerM3]

No there's one for you being supercharged S62 and 6 speed swapped right now with some nice updates such as a camel tan dyed interior and this beast Nav screen and iDrive controller from the new BMWs...




Sorry to thread jack I just think Mike needs to go all out.

Fuck that. If you're going to go through the trouble of installing modern infotainment, at least go with something that has Android Auto/Apple CarPlay.

[Cookie Monster]

I hate camel interiors on those.

Fuck that. If you're going to go through the trouble of installing modern infotainment, at least go with something that has Android Auto/Apple CarPlay.

You guys really know how to shit on someone's build.

[ChrisV]

Actually the NBT integrates nicely with the E38 electronics and keeps all the on board diagnostics and factory integration. So far the Apple Car play head units and the like really don't. And Brandon's white over caramel and black S62 6 speed car WITH ESS supercharger is going to be a completely killer build, based as it is on a low mileage Alpine white '01 E38... I almost bought his last project, an Estoril Blue E38, but he decided to keep it, so I bought this one (then he sold the blue one anyway 'cause his wife hated the color...).

[SJ_GTI]

Meh, I have carplay on my current car and since trying it out when I first bought it I have yet to actually use it. Its easier to leave my phone in my bag and just have music/phone integration via bluetooth and then just use my car's onboard nav (which is nicer than the carplay nav anyway). Now that I have it, I wouldn't sweat not having carplay if you have a nice head unit otherwise. To me the real value in something like carplay or android auto will be for cheaper cars that don't have onboard nav and/or Bluetooth integration for phone/music.

[MrH]

Where's the build thread for the E38 listed above?

[ChrisV]

Where's the build thread for the E38 listed above?

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2310123-RVAE34-s-next-E38-project

[BimmerM3]

Meh, I have carplay on my current car and since trying it out when I first bought it I have yet to actually use it. Its easier to leave my phone in my bag and just have music/phone integration via bluetooth and then just use my car's onboard nav (which is nicer than the carplay nav anyway). Now that I have it, I wouldn't sweat not having carplay if you have a nice head unit otherwise. To me the real value in something like carplay or android auto will be for cheaper cars that don't have onboard nav and/or Bluetooth integration for phone/music.

Wait a couple years after your nav system is outdated but CarPlay gets updated automatically.

[CaminoRacer]

Or just use AUX!

Oh wait Apple hates simplicity.

[ifcar]

Meh, I have carplay on my current car and since trying it out when I first bought it I have yet to actually use it. Its easier to leave my phone in my bag and just have music/phone integration via bluetooth and then just use my car's onboard nav (which is nicer than the carplay nav anyway). Now that I have it, I wouldn't sweat not having carplay if you have a nice head unit otherwise. To me the real value in something like carplay or android auto will be for cheaper cars that don't have onboard nav and/or Bluetooth integration for phone/music.

Would you feel differently if it had Google Maps instead of Apple Maps? With Android Auto (the only one of the two I've used), I have all the destinations I've searched on other devices, so prediction usually gets what I want once I've typed a couple of letters. In VW's own nav, and pretty much everyone else's, you have to fuss through multiple steps like selecting states, categories, slow keyboards.... Plus you get live traffic data that doesn't require a subscription after a while, and updates.

[MrH]

Would you feel differently if it had Google Maps instead of Apple Maps? With Android Auto (the only one of the two I've used), I have all the destinations I've searched on other devices, so prediction usually gets what I want once I've typed a couple of letters. In VW's own nav, and pretty much everyone else's, you have to fuss through multiple steps like selecting states, categories, slow keyboards.... Plus you get live traffic data that doesn't require a subscription after a while, and updates.

When Waze reaches one of them, that's the true game changer.  I know Waze doesn't have all that huge of a following, but I'll keep mounting my phone on my dash just for Waze.

[ChrisV]

Some new pics today in the sun:

[Rupert]

Man, that graffiti wall doesn't change much, does it?

[93JC]

Don't really have anything to say about this, other than every time the thread pops back on the first page it makes me think of this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMh3utpqfaY


I figure if it gets stuck in my head I might as well share, and hope it gets stuck in your heads too. You're welcome.

[cawimmer430]

Man, what a gorgeous car.  I always wanted a manual one, like in the Transporter. 

I know someone who is selling their 728i 5-Speed M/T... but I doubt it could merge onto a freeway in the US! 


But IIRC the 740i also came standard with a manual.

[ChrisV]

I know someone who is selling their 728i 5-Speed M/T... but I doubt it could merge onto a freeway in the US! 


But IIRC the 740i also came standard with a manual.

The 740i was rare with a manual outside the states, and unavailable with one IN the states (in fact, no E38 had a manual in the states). But, 6 speed swaps are, while not common, easily doable.

[cawimmer430]

The 740i was rare with a manual outside the states, and unavailable with one IN the states (in fact, no E38 had a manual in the states). But, 6 speed swaps are, while not common, easily doable.

Yep, I quickly googled this and it seems that among the more enthusiastic 740i owners these transmission swaps are a thing to do. 

[CALL_911]

Man I love your car. Have you ever thought about trying an E39 instead? I feel like an E39 M5 would be an interesting successor to this thing.

[ChrisV]

Just as an aside, my buddy Brandon is getting finished with his Alpine white E38 sport. Here are a couple teaser pics from his project:

As delivered:



The new M5 S62 engine WITH Supercharger kit added (will also have the 6 speed manual). Shooting for 500 hp:



And the newly dyed caramel and black interior (not a factory color):





Build thread:

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2310123-RVAE34-s-next-E38-project

[Soup DeVille]

Noice. 

[Cookie Monster]

Man, fuck you Chris. Now I have to waste all day at work reading a 53 page build thread.

[68_427]

This is the same car posted a while back with the YUGE new iDrive screen in it.  This guy goes all out.  Unfortunately after MT reached out to him to do an episode of Ignition with the LS7 swapped E39 wagon that he had they never responded.  He should buy that 850csi that was posted on TCL and do something with it.

[ChrisV]

Well, first actual $ repair will be happening this week. Looks like the radiator got a small crack in the plastic side tank, so a new one has been ordered ($163.00) as well as a pair of hoses for it.

I swear, BMW sees these things as standard wear items.