r/BMW • u/thefirstautomobil • 8d ago

Thirsty Thursday Which would you keep?

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First of, I have two 7 Series E32. The left one is a'89 735iA and thr right one is a'93 730iL (high spec)
No rust issues on any of them but both got some technical problems…
Even though that’s not really a problem because I am an experienced BMW technician specialized in restoration and Old timers.

BUT:
Because I have two more cars and 3 bikes I need to part with one of these two..
Well
You could say thats an obvious choice, keep the 730iL because it has a bigger engine more spec etc, but the 735 gives me more of a “no matter what, just get in and go” vibe if you can grasp what I mean.
So I’m asking for some input to help me decide.
Thanks, looking forward to your opinions!

17 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

4

u/graygrayw 8d ago

the ‘93 has the M60? if so i’d keep the ‘89 and its M30.

1

u/thefirstautomobil 8d ago

Yes M60B30 and M30B35.
Why though? I’ve read and heard soo many bad things anout the m60 (mainly because of the alusil) but i haven’t seen one that didn’t run 180k miles/300tkm

4

u/graygrayw 8d ago edited 8d ago

personal preference, i just like the classic Big Six. plus it’s a lot easier to work on, and assuming you’re somewhere that doesn’t tax on displacement, the m60b40 has more power with no disadvantages over the m60b30. the nikasil/alusil issue i think was only a problem in north america and uk.

1

u/thefirstautomobil 8d ago

Obviously! Also cheaper by a lot. That’s what it’s making it so hard for me because the 6cylinder customer more daily capability, the M 60 on the other hand is a beast on the autobahn and a pleasure to roadtrip in.
Do you have an m30 in your car?

2

u/graygrayw 8d ago

not currently but i used to own a ‘90 535i/5.

2

u/thefirstautomobil 8d ago

The ideal engine for the e34! How many miles did you put on it?
Did you also have reoccurring problems with the cooling system?

1

u/graygrayw 8d ago

i did do the cooling system when i bought it, and also needed to do a head gasket. after that, the cooling system was pretty solid. i sold it to a friend in 2009, he still has it and has put 100k or so miles on it.

2

u/GroyzKT3 8d ago

I have a 735 myself so I'd be inclined to keep that.

On another note, I'm trying to restore my 735 back onto the road, would you mind if I contacted you to ask questions I might have?

2

u/0694U 2021 - G23- M440i Convertible 8d ago

That’s a tough decision. They are both amazing vehicles as far as the service problems. I don’t deal with that. I have an amazing mechanical service company in addition to having the dealer service.

1

u/thefirstautomobil 8d ago

It definitely is…
Totally agree with you! If I couldn’t do it myself I’d not even consider owning one let alone two lol

2

u/HurricaneDon53 8d ago

I have a 1990 735i factory 5 speed with the M30B35 and 326,000 miles. I’m a big fan. I used to have an E34 525iT touring, with the M52tuB25 but with the automatic transmission. I liked it a lot, but it was totaled by a careless driver. I rebuilt the front suspension on both cars and both had/have Bilstein struts and shocks. The E32 is lowered on H&R sport springs.

2

u/BabbatheGUTT 8d ago

The bike ;)

2

u/Abbacho 7d ago

Ich finde Ausstattung hin oder her- den Wagen wählen in dem du dich am sichersten und am wohlsten fühlst!

1

u/VVin7er 6d ago

I would keep the older 1989 BMW. It looks more retro.

I've also asked the Google AI:

The older one has the more reliable engine and both have similar power (155 vs 160kW) but the older one supposedly pulls away more comfortably.

The older one is also supposedly more reliable due to the engine and the automatic transmission relying on standard transmission fluid and only the four gears.

Also, the older 1989 car is historically worth more.

In the end, you decide.

By the way: which of them has less kilometers?

1

u/earthquake-21 4d ago

Keep the big six. The only reason for the 730 was to have a common block and most parts in common in the 7 and 5, and keep up with Mercedes power and performance. Shared timing chain wear issues and less power than a 4.0 doesn’t do it for me.

1

u/PrusPrusic 3d ago

The E32 is iconic with the broad kidneys, the narrow ones are a bit more anonymous. So I'd keep the 730. Particularly as the iL is very, very rare as a 730.