Longer Real Road Test: BMW 735i E32

Changing the format a bit - I spend a few weeks with this delicious BMW E32 7-Series, covering around 500 miles and discovering she does like a drink!
With 150,000 miles on the clock, how does it drive? What issues does it have? Who fitted such a ridiculous stereo?!
I really do love the variety that see us go from a Trojan microcar to a huge BMW barge. Support such antics via hubnut.org or / hubnut !

[@nakoma5]

It has aged like a human: sagging here, fading there, wrinkling leather, clunky bones, but the heart and soul are still intact and enjoyable to spend time with.

[@BJN87M]

nice words

[@Billy_Street]

Agreed, nicely put!

[@owensteele1274]

Indeed. Fine wine also springs to mind here.

[@neilsa9292]

@James Smith I was thinking the same thing!

[@herrfister1477]

Owen Steele Fine wine is great until you get rust in the wings and the only replacements you can find are worse than the ones you have, and no one wants to weld it. The wine I mean. No one wants to weld your rusty wine. Something like that anyway.

[@Dvlx1]

I never would have imagined in a million years when I subbed to this channel a year ago that I'd eventually be watching a short haired man review a BMW.

[@davidmg1925]

3:25 "modern bmws are blobby slashy and horrible" with an estimated 260,000 words in the english language i really dont think i could have chosen better...

[@ssilvaxxx22]

agreed

[@RichieRouge206]

Totally agree, hate new BMWs with a passion. Love the old ones though

[@andyfinlay9776]

Yup, exactly that! (E39 Touring facelift owner, one model before the blobbing and slashing started!)

[@julianevans9548]

Saw the new 8 series today. Was surprised to learn that it looks even worse in the 'flesh' than it does in pictures.

[@klwthe3rd]

The 735i was the only variant of the 7 series we received here in the United States at the beginning of 1987-88. Later we received the 750il V12 but they were ultra expensive and few were sold. I preferred the inline 6 cylinder compared to the later V8 models such as the 740i models which had much higher repair costs. It's important to note that this car does have the extra cost BBS alloyed wheels. In my opinion this generation 7 series was their best looking of all 7 series. Build quality was exceptional back then too. I would take this car over any new BMW made today. 🤗

[@frothe42]

I totally agree. I see too many, especially 3 series, that it has diluted the brand to being too common.

[@d2factotum]

I found it quite amusing that a man whose daily drivers are a Daewoo Matiz, a Citroen 2CV and an Invacar would be worried that a car with a 3.5 litre engine wouldn't have enough grunt. :-)

[@plutomotorsblackpool]

Me too! But then I realised that the cars he owns are so small and noisy that he feels like hes going 100 mph when hes doing 30.

[@danielmarshall4587]

I had a Daewoo Matiz for a good while. Man o man that car served me well.

[@markhorvath5469]

I have a 735i and when I am just cruising through serpentine roads the cars just disappear and my wife doesn't even shout at me :)

[@robinwells8879]

Back when the Germans could do sublimely elegant executive steeds rather than the current ever so brash Jack the Lad offerings!

[@ferrumignis]

Agreed, IMO Mercedes leads the way in terms of vulgar, brash styling. A shame as the older cars were nicely understated and built like tanks.

[@weedmastersr]

German cars have become vulgar because they no longer design their cars with Europeans in mind. Instead, they catering to the tastes of their Arab and Chinese clients, which are very interested in brash and vulgar displays of wealth. The head of design at BMW said as much when questioned about those grotesque large grills they use these days. They said they are no longer designing cars for European tastes. Well, fuck them then. Volvo still looks somewhat decent.

[@dm5374]

I must agree. The W126 was the pinnacle of luxury, performance, and class. Now? New Jersey night-club styling that would make Miami Vice shiver.

[@owenb1t5014]

Protector of the Republic Yes your 100% right, BMW design their cars for the masses and in doing so have shown a two finger gesture to its past heritage! The money men dictate everything unfortunately!

[@colmfarrel4742]

@@ferrumignis The standard Non amg pack S class is still nice. No garish grill. The new BMW grills are just as bad they are humongous.

[@richardhowlett9424]

When BMW made good looking, well built and well engineered cars. I think this was peak BMW and peak car , since then all cars have got ever more complex and uglier, trying to find gaps in the market nobody knew existed.

[@-DC-]

They will never top these the quality was incredible compared to virtually everything else. Modern BMW are garbage in comparison.

[@olik136]

nice car- this whole class of executive cars doesn't even exist today- the modern equivalents (no matter de manufacturer) are too sporty, too big and look like a 16 yo designed it after 6 cans of Monster Energy...I drove a BMW 740li for a few days and I kind of hated it- it didn't want to stay in a straight line with its huge tyres that did feature a minimal amount of rubber- in wet conditions you couldn't even drive away from a crossing without wheels spinning- it also did not fit into any parking space... on the bright side- those cars are so expensive that I don't even have to think about having to deal with all this..

[@Perkelenaattori]

It's an issue with most cars nowadays. Tires are so wide they don't fit in the tracks. Anything above 225 is too wide.

[@tech4pros1]

Nor do decent estate cars anymore. you can get more stuff in an old volvo 850 estate than any modern blobby overinflated SUV/crossover thing.. also the modern fashion for silly large alloy wheels and rubber bands for tyres means a harsh crashy ride.

[@dodgydruid]

I was offered an MOTd 750il last year in reasonable order for £750, same with Jags and Land Rover's, the prices have dropped out the bottom on these super expensive cars, £300 can buy you and up and running Jag these days that will need some fixing and Landy/Rangey prices on stuff like the Freelander, Defenders are ridiculous.

[@bmwman1981]

I like some new luxury cars but they have to have a wheel size to suit the car size I hate seeing big cars with silly little wheels that look daft a good example is a newish 5 series with 17 inch wheels look daft as there is to much tyre and it’s too skinny for the wheel arch space

[@owensteele1274]

@@tech4pros1 I love old Volvos. Big alloys are expensive and difficult to repair, and above all, downright ugly.

[@The1979_]

I have both F10 520i and E32 735ia (1987). I prefer driving 735i for daily. For some reason i feel myself much more special and distinguished in the e32. I beleive it has a soul. By the way it really still feels modern, that’s true! God i’m gonna go out and drive it now:)

[@pauldavies6037]

THis period of 5 and 7 series were pretty bullitt proof and still had those classic lines things went down hill when Mr Bangle designs started

[@MaximilianvonPinneberg]

I think the E60 was/is one of the best looking saloons of all time. It still looks contemporary today.

[@pauldavies6037]

@@MaximilianvonPinneberg yes it doesn't look too bad now as all new cars look so ugly

[@Phil-1969]

A old friend of mine, had a brand new 1990 model in Dark blue , well it was his boss’s and he was the chauffeur , we used to rag it around Buckinghamshire most weekends when he wasn’t working ,, happy days

[@wattling1396]

When bmws were good with straight six engines and some good build quality

[@tolrem]

I had an 82 520i back in the day.Nice smooth vehicle and less electronic crap on it compared with today's BMWs.[eg the sunroof was manually operated.]They really stood out from the crowd then.

[@wattling1396]

@@tolrem I had an e30 around 2005 and was the most dependable car I've ever owned like alot of older cars you gets squeaks rattles but it always felt solid to drive and had over 200k on it there is not many new cars capable of 200k. Like anything though basic maintenance really does help

[@dannyroberts3590]

I have a daily driven 735il.murdered out look tint, black rims, metallic black paint. Best car I've owned 👍😎

[@andrewpreston4127]

12mpg..... Reminded me of what someone once said about the Jensen Interceptor of that era... ( Chrysler Typhoon V8 )..... "You can pass anything in this car....., except for a petrol station ... ".

[@millomweb]

12gpm - from a real tank !

[@colmfarrel4742]

😂 don't think I've hear that one before.

[@BUTLERHQ]

Jensen West Bromwich My Home Town👍🏻

[@rich_edwards79]

Back in the 1990s my parents briefly considered one of these as a replacement for their Volvo 744. I recall the interior (black leather) being head and shoulders above anything I'd ever experienced before, but ultimately I seem to recall that the car had some mechanical issue (it was only 4 or 5 years old at the time) so they passed on it. They do seem to lose their value quite spectacularly - I prefer the earlier sharknose E23, which for some reason can still be picked up much more cheaply than the 6-series of the same period. I also miss the days when big luxury barges were comfortable, classy and understated, rather than having to scream their presence with slashes, snarly grilles, enough LEDs to light Wembley Stadium, and a horrible, harsh ride to rattle the fillings from your teeth. (Not to mention the complicated electronic engine computer and transmission systems that are designed to break and leave the second owner with huge repair bills). Facebook is one thing, but the lack of predictable comments about indicators in here is surprising. As you say, you shouldn't judge a car or brand by the tw*ts who drive them.

[@spuriouspodge7416]

What a lovely example of a 7 series. It's a design that has aged quite well, still looks sharp despite being obviously an 80s design. I wonder if we'll be saying the same of the bangle BMWs in 15 years time... I'd love one but couldn't afford the fuel 😮

[@olivermacke838]

Nah, the E60 still looks aseptic imho. I will never like that design, even though I'm would want to.

[@MeDicen_Rocha]

The thing with the e60 is that for all of its shortcomings, it was still a clean design. Like really, really clean.

[@houseofno]

The M30 and M70 used 87 octane fuel.

[@spuriouspodge7416]

@freepieanchipsgarage looks sharp that. Spotless even

[@mattsmith87]

When I lived in Germany I had the 750. Now that car really did like a proper drink! Especially at 155mph.

[@MrGazzw]

Nice wofty car, looks good too. I liked this 5 & 7 series but prefer the earlier versions, modern ones just aren't the same, too brash and posy, and quite over rated alone with the other big German car makers, there good, just not as good as all the hype around them unfortunately, which is a great shame really. Would have been nice to see the boot/trunk size.

[@jamiemorris5177]

I remember when these come out The guy over road in work brought a brand new 750i v12 was £52000 back in the 80s ouch could of brought a 3 bedroom house

[@ericgraham7026]

Hi HubNut, I’ve been watching your videos for a while now and find them so refreshing. They’re delivered with unbiased and honest opinions and feature all types of vehicle, which I love. But there is one thing I’ve noticed. It’s the headrests - please adjust them properly! If you were hit hard in the rear on that BMW, your head would be forced back and over the rest, possibly breaking your neck! They should be adjusted with the base of the rest level with the earlobes. Keep up the great videos, they are a real treat and I’m always eager to see the latest of you tests and escapades. Good work and keep it up.

[@larstragl146]

This generation, the E30, E32 and E34, was the most beautiful generation of BMWs. I owned a 535 for some years and still miss it.

[@KarlAdamsAudio]

Got to love the variety in these reviews - from microcar one day to wafty barge the next (and from "will it do 45 in 4th?" to "it'll do 45 in 1st") - such contrasting vehicles, yet charismatic in their own (completely different) ways. Delightful.

[@millomweb]

Wafty barge - oh Ian - on your return from the NZ - will you really ? perhaps on the Llangollen canal ? Clutch ? What clutch ?

[@josemason6177]

I borrowed one of these cars for a trip from Wigan to Nottingham in 1991 cost me an absolute fortune in petrol !! Hope your mate has given you a blank cheque for the fuel !

[@ingenfestbrems]

When i se a 80s or 90s bmw i think about the great and nice things of those years ☺️

[@andrewcheatle4691]

I so miss my E34 - bought in car auction in Shoreham for a few hundred quid about 10 years ago. Owned for 6 years. Loved that car...sold it for an unreliable Jeep, worst decision ever!

[@BUTLERHQ]

Andrew Cheatle Addicted To Them

[@dodgydruid]

My dream car is a 750il with the full Alpina upgrade package and delimited... serious supercar performance and a V12 too. One chap I saw on a forum reckoned he got over 190 from his full upgraded one O.o

[@ssilvaxxx22]

Best car on the channel so far!

[@alanbellwood3902]

I had a Black 735il ex BBC. Longer wheelbase did help it handle better although Hydraulic dampers were expensive when they failed. Electrics very reliable other than ignition barrell which had a dry joint. My No.1 BMW. And I have owned a lot of 90's BM's. You got electric reclining seats front and rear, 3lectric sun blind and the ski hatch had a bag built in for ski's to stop them marking your interior. You could even set the car to heat up the interior ready for your morning commute.

[@m80tmm]

You can tell it’s on loan, it’s ECU is wondering why the indicators are being used correctly. Enjoy the change Ian

[@RoyCousins]

You don't need them when you're "parked" in the outside lane of the motorway with a huge tailback behind you. 😉

[@1jhnpennington]

@@RoyCousins I've never seen any of these things happen

[@georgehuser4711]

"I swapped my daewoo matiz for BMW 7 series" I bet no one has ever said that :DD

[@Turnbull50]

I think its brilliant you driving a BMW what a change to see this.

[@grayfool]

From when a BMW was a car to admire. Sorry, but not the case now. They did look so much more "executive" than the more modern mess today. I agree about the interior. The Lexus is a much more rugged affair. Strangely I was talking about the need for every car having to be sporty this very morning. Why can't we have luxury without the need to beat some pointless track time in every single car these days? Or am I just an old fart now? That's a rhetorical question by the way. Nice report Ian. Look forward to more in the same vein. Thanks

[@RichieRouge206]

Totally agree. The plastics in German cars do leave a lot to be desired. The styling was lovely back then.

[@paulanderson79]

Why not use the h/brake? Park position is only a secondary safety feature in case the h/brake fails. I know Buckingham extremely well. Lived there for 11 years.

[@alaboutcars7426]

No need. If it's in park it's going nowhere.

[@paulanderson79]

@@alaboutcars7426 some transmissions can play up when parking on even a slight incline or decline and left in P. Its the devil's own job to move the selector from that position. Not good for the car at all. In later machinery say 2017 onwards the whole lot is very tightly integrated. X mission and parking brake sort out their own requirements autonomously Using the P position alone is akin to using either 1st or Reverse as a parking mode with full manual transmissions. In this case the whole gearbox is holding the car steady and stationary. But still use the parking brake for its intended purpose.

[@HowardLeVert]

It's a BMW. The handbrake will be rubbish. Well, they have been on all three of my 5ers...

[@paulanderson79]

@@HowardLeVert you're not wrong. The whole assembly needs constant adjustment. Cables stretch and also need replacing. They drive nicely though, thoroughly disguising their age if well maintained.

[@skinnedknuckles2444]

@@HowardLeVert Yep. Both my E39's handbrakes are shocking to say the least.

[@MrSammotube]

BMWs are always concentrated around the driver. E36 still my fave.

[@maxgreece1]

A car from a time when fuel economy was somewhat secondary. Now its painful to look at those consumption figures - although getting 25 mpg out of it at its current age is actually quite impressive. At about the time this car was current I had a Discovery V8 - best I ever got out of that was 17 mpg on a long run, 12 was more typical. Bit embarrassing now huh.

[@millomweb]

2 mpgs of note: 16 and 25. MkI Granada 3 litre - with and without caravan.

[@garideb]

Good point. Modern engines are amazingly efficient and get astonishing power out of small capacities, the flipside is that they are reliant on sensors and computer management and if that fails the engine is not economically repairable. Means today's cars won't be worth keeping on the road when they start going wrong as it will cost too much to repair them - that's the cost of such clever, safe and efficient cars.

[@buggs9950]

I had a V8i Discovery and 17mpg was my average. Not great as I worked 25 miles away. Finding out the bosses helicopter did more mpg was the last straw.

[@millomweb]

@@buggs9950 What did the chopper achieve ? What a new benchmark you're offering us ! Are you sure the tank didn't have a hole in it ? I'm finding that consumption amazing.

[@PhilOsGarage]

I had a chevy Astro 8 seat van with a 4.3 V6 and automatic gearbox. On a motorway run to Devon it managed 24mpg, which was pretty good for what it was, but about 18 was more typical

[@RetroGamerVX]

Be interesting to see how it would ride with refreshed suspension. I've always liked the design of that generation.

[@matthewbrown2037]

Love these old 7's and really cheap now as no one wants old gas guzzlers. Speaking of which, i would imagine this is going to use the same amonut of fuel in a day that the 2CV and Matiz combined use in a month!

[@houseofno]

Gas guzzlers? The M70 V12 will do 18 mpg on the highway if you can keep from going stupid fast on the gas pedal. It's not a Toyota Prius. Show some respect

[@jacklee7104]

Having had a few it will easily do 25mpg, more than my Lancia of similar vintage

I had this car's 'little' brother for a while, an E39 535i V8 with the 5 speed auto. I still miss that bloody car, it was godly!

[@lexburen5932]

little brother would be the E34 5 series they where designed at the same time. The E39 is the little brother of the E38 7series wich where also designed at the same time

[@Strike86]

Absolutely adore these cars. As something to be seen in I reckon it's one of the coolest saloons on the planet right now. Classic aggressive elegance and straightforward body lines with just a hint of well-aged retro charm about it.

[@Anirossa]

Prefer the look of the E30 3-series and the E34 5-series, still, I must say this E32 is the best looking 7-series BMW has made to date.

[@bennyhannover9361]

BMW produced Germany's first post war V8 engine in 1954 ! The 502 2.6 litre (100 hp / 100 miles /160 km/h) the last version in 1961 the 3200 S (160hp / 190km/h / 120miles/h) Germany's fastest Limousine only outspeeded by Mk2 3,8 Litre.

[@bunter6]

If you should come to Glasgow some time and you can take away my 2000 Mk1 Audi S8 for a long termer, a bit newer I know but it's a big old retro barge these days.................................I just need to fill it up with electricity as it needs an alternator right this minute.

[@rich_edwards79]

One of my friends has a 1999 A6. Lovely big wafty car from the days when Audi's image was more 'cerebral professional' than 'wide boy up your chuff' though she is beginning to look a tad tired now.

[@davidhobbies7712]

Great video mr HubNut Im picking a citroen c2 on Monday Theses BMW S are nice i sould be worried about the fuel consumption but nicr car

[@cme2cau]

I test drove a 535i in 1989. Beautiful engine. Sadly, the numbers didn't add up so it was back to the Volvo 740. Pity.

[@davidmg1925]

A close relative said something pretty similar.

[@HakanKoseoglu]

Once owning a H plate Volvo 940, would agree.

[@jeph-rey]

I like the thought of wafting round the Nurburgring in the BMW like a Gentleman racer.

[@millomweb]

I think I'd prefer to do it on Welsh roads ;)

[@neilwalsh4058]

The S-class you were looking to compare it to at the start of the review Ian is the W126, but you eventually mentioned it at the end😁. Hard to compare to really, the S-Class was even bigger and as the SEL model (LWB) sold really well a lot have survived. On the build quality front the 7 series doesn't seem any better than an XJ Jag and certainly nowhere near an S-Class. The comparable model/spec Merc was way more expensive though and maybe that shone through in the quality of the interiors and how they held up?

[@chrisjohnson6876]

Always loved the styling of the 7 series, would be my choice of Beemer.

[@deviantrider9309]

The car of chose for all the wana be 1980's gordon gekko's shame its missing the obligatory car phone so the first owner could yell buy it buy it buy it haha, Gota be the best looking 7 series they ever made though they have aged beautifully

[@skinnedknuckles2444]

I agree. Although I'd rather have an E38. Not the unloved 728 or 730...

[@unixnerd23]

@@skinnedknuckles2444 730i was better than you'd think, I ran one for a bit. But yeah, 740i all the way.

[@sg8539]

Back in the late 90s i owned a 1990 on a G plate diamond schwartz (met black) factory dechromed only kidney grill border was chrome and slightly lowered suspension 735ise model. Beautiful to drive and handled very well indeed. Yes it liked a drink but fuel was a lot cheaper then. Could not fault it for reliability and only needed ac regassing and a thermostat in my ownership of nearly 2 years, these are one of the properly built bmw's and showed in the way it drove. Great video Ian and nice to know a few are still around, wish I had kept mine now.

[@vikingraiders4138]

Practical classics many years ago restored a 735i

[@DogsBAwesome]

That front badge shows BMW don't care about the second or third owner.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

I actually like the worn effect on the badge. I deliberately leave the warn badges on all my BMWs.(except on my E65 where the badge totally disinterested)

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

I have an E23, E38 and an E65 so the E32 is the missing piece, maybe one day. In some senses each generation becomes less of a drivers car, however my E65 has the dynamic drive etc. on it so it can be pushed harder. I used to often drive a friends XJ40 when I was driving the e23 all the time. I preferred the BMW as it was better to throw around. However the XJ40 was smoother and more refined as you said.

[@PresidentCamacho2024]

no,. but if the second or third owner cares about his bmw,. the badge can be replaced for 20 bucks,.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

I actually agree, I was recently at a motorway services thinking about the styling of the cars in the parking lot. I came to the conclusion that all the modern cars are ugly. My E65 was the oldest ugly car in the parking lot. In a way that makes it special to me, Bangle had an eye for the future.

[@vikingraiders4138]

Nice one Ian look forward to watching after work.

[@davidyoung9561]

The time when BMW made cars that were BMWs. I love BMWs of the 70s and 80s. This model came out in 1987.

[@1171karl]

I want my e34 back! :'-(. This has got the comfort leather interior (as opposed the to sports one). I had this in my last e34 it was very comfortable, so think maybe its just the adjustment is broken. The seatbelt height is linked to the seat position so might explain the creak too. Interesting intermittent wipe on these, turn it on and off wait the time you want between wipes, then turn it on again

[@1066gaz]

Always liked these 735i's when i first saw them. Big fan of the 850i as well. What a layby that is.(:-)

[@TK42138]

That's not lacquer peel... that's patination

[@Mike_P646]

What a geezer

[@tomsmith9208]

Handsome car these, and that’s a nice colour. Imagine what it would have felt like when the first owner brought it home for the first time when it was brand new. Must have felt good.

[@DalekBuilder]

Spent many a mile in both the drivers & passenger seats of a few of these 7 series. Good job it isn't a V12.You can see the fuel gauge move as you are driving along with the 750il. No need for a fuel computer or economy gauge. Epic cars. Another superb Hubnut video.

[@paulspindler5849]

I had a 750i, nice car but 4.9 mpg around town at one point wasn’t the best.

[@captscarlet17]

I love 💕 these old BMW’s can’t stand the new ones.👍🏾👨🏾‍💼

[@Blue-moon12]

When BMW were still well built.

[@BITTYBOY121]

After my 1984 Austin Maestro Vandan Plas, I had a Diamond black 1988 F reg BMW E34 535i auto, Looking under the bonnet of this 735i brought back memories of having to remove the complete air intake system to gain access to the spark plugs ! and also the exhaust manifolds too to change the leaky gaskets (It has two manifolds of, 1 manifold for each lot of 3 cylinders and 2 aluminium heat shields over them to stop the heat coming up and drying out the spark plug leads), these are the BMW ,"M30" engines in 3430cc form for the 3.5 (really a 3.4) and they are very good engines, the gear box is a ZF 4HP 4 speed auto transmission with "Sport", "Economy" and "Manual" modes, being in sport mode locks the transmission up to 3rd gear, meaning that the gears change 1, 2 and then 3 and that's it. (The engine then races in 3rd at approx 4,000 rpm and 80mph, moment you switch it over to "Economy" and 4th gear is then engaged the engine revs drop rapidly right down to approx 2,000 rpm), I noticed when my E34 535i was in sport mode and locked up in 3rd gear, it had a tremendous amount of surge and overtaking power over 70 mph without getting out of 3rd gear !!! (no need for kickdown unless you really want to hear that engine scream !!!) - It was really amazing for only a 211 bhp car weighing close to 2 tones ! - the E34's were heavy solid cars and I am pretty sure that the E32 7 series were the same too except slightly more heavier !! After the E34 535i I had a 1999 BMW E39 540i in Cosmos black with beige napa leather seats, Tv/Sat-Nav and a glass sunroof, It had BMW's M62 4.4 Single Vanos 32 valve V8 in it and a ZF 5 HP 5 speed auto/tiptronic gearbox (which sadly turned out to be the death of my E39 540i when its transmission failed at only 90,000 miles !), the BMW E34 535i I had previously had done 129,000 miles when I part ex'ed it for the 540i in September 2003 (I bought it in 1995 with 91,000 on the clock) and its gearbox was still silky smooth with no problems at all compared to the Gorgeous Black 1999 E39 540i I paid £21,000 for which kept locking its gears in 5th gear after 5 minutes driving down the road and saying "Trans failsafe mode" making the car extremely slow off the line and almost undriveable ! as these cars are supposed to do 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds ! - I had it for 2 years before it failed which was very bad show, Googling this problem online brought up many Unhappy E39 540i owners and X5 owners who were having exactly the same problem with their gearboxes ! Whatever you do hubnut do not keep the 735i in sport mode for too long otherwise you'll end up like me ! having to push this big heavy dead weight barge of a car to your nearest petrol station ! to get petrol which is no fun ! lol, as that happened to me the first week I got my E34 535i because I didn't know that these engines DRINK the petrol very fast in sport mode !!! Please find and test out a 1996 Mercedes C36 AMG !!! - This was my next car after the BMW E39 540i and this was a VERY FAST CAR !! and sounded really awesome !!!! with its high revving 24 valve straight 6 and 277bhp, the 540i I had was slightly more powerful with 286 bhp and 324lbs of torque (compared to the C36's 277 bhp and 280 lbs of torque) but the 540i felt MUCH slower then the C36 AMG ! ... Just don't bother driving a C36 AMG on a wet day !, as it is a wheel spin nightmare ! car in the wet and things can get VERY SCARY if you're not expecting it ! when the rear wheels spin and go sideways violently !!! - I now own and drive a 2009 MERCEDES CLS 63 AMG with only 32,000 miles on the clock (6.2 N/A AMG V8) and it is by far the best car I have ever owned or driven ! But it is massive !! and very car park unfriendly ! FAIR WELL ! - Keep the great vids comming man ! You rock ! ;-)

[@sprezzatura8755]

I had a short wheelbase 735i automatic, a wonderful car. To me it's the sweet spot for BMW. Engineered to be maintained, rebuilt and refinished. Today's cars are built to be replaced and recycled.

[@grantmarshall3026]

My boss had a 730i on our taxi fleet back in 2001 or so. My Peugeot 405 broke down one night so the only free car was said beemer. Very quickly and without realising, I was doing treble figure mph. It was in white and when I hypermiled it was good for 25/30 mpg, despite the astronomical mileage on the clock!

[@oldschoolracinggames5729]

Hello! I got same car (730 m30), but with a problem in engine, propably broken cylinder head gasket: emulsion (coffee with milk) in antifreeze tank. Can you please give an advice is that critical to fix or i may use the car some time, looking at temp?

[@1961kickboxer]

Volvo 740 estates headliners droop to annoying but understandable.

[@marcokempers8315]

Drove a Malachtit green 735i from 1987 with a manual gearbox for 12 years, absolutely beautiful and lovely car. At well over 300.000 kms the electrical gremlins made me sell it, still miss it though.

[@DolleHengst]

The E32 is the best looking 7-Series in my opinion. It's got more character and presence than its successor. Also, i like the Benz W116 better than the W126, which i regard as the "Cola Light" version of its predecessor.

[@WhosAGoodDogue]

A car that likes a drink? Hmmm. An Alcoholic Automobile! I have a bike that is the same. It's constipated regarding fuel, meaning that it cannot pass a petrol station. But, MEH! - sod the environment and burning up all the fossil fuels. When things put a smile on yer face for the very short time we are on this planet, I say SOD how much fuel it costs or uses to run.

[@gorsmy]

Drove bmw for years e32 e38 e46 e61 the older bnws are the best built any thing you need to know about them are on bmw forums on internet. Easy to work on and fix if you have any mechanical knowledge

[@andrewgardner9615]

Feel like a dictator when riding in the back! Foot handbrake to the right of the brake pedal?A friend of mine has a 728 -75k miles same rearclonk(bushes) car bought for £1500 4 years ago-mot fine every time-Treated as spare/knockabout car.Brill car only things broken are pop up ash tray trim and rear window isolator switch.Bangernomics.

[@HubNut]

No, handbrake on the centre console.

[@stugill4513]

i was always told to use the handbrake it doesnt put any strain on the drive train

[@SantiagoMartinez-nv2cu]

6:16 i have a BMW 735il 1991 the headrests sound like that because it actually is meant to be used with the electrical controllers on the side of the seat, the sound is because you forced the gears.

[@stephenport4768]

Cut my teeth on them as an apprentice M30 engines service at the intervals watch out for camshaft wear E32s bloody good cars

[@grenvillephillips6998]

A handsome old Hector, and generally not the natural choice of the beeping beeps.

[@grndiesel]

I nearly bought an E32 a few years back. But then I saw an E24 with a 5-speed...the shark was stronger than me.

[@gianpaologliori3604]

I remember driving with a friend in one of these between Hannover and Magdeburg in 1990 shortly after the Wall came down. We were doing about 120mph and it was glued to the road. We passed many Trabants which appeared as a speck in the distance then went flying past as if they were standing still. Occasionally the cardboard Trabants stuck in the outside lane and we had to slam on the brakes which worked perfectly. Which was a good thing as if they hadn’t we would have arrived at our destination covered in vaporised cardboard and 2 stroke oil!

[@wightwalker2453]

32 years of; first yuppie, then pimps and then nostalgic car enthusiasts; you can forgive the interior for being a tad tired.

[@philipread8733]

Great video. In better condition you might enjoy it more .......

[@bombakdik]

Absolutely love this car. Father used to have a 735 E32 Manual. bulletproof 3,430 M30 engine. However, this car has SLS, Self levelling system, and I can see that the reaer end is starting to sag a bit... Always look for a model without it when you end up looking for one. Can be really expensive that SLS... That antenna on the rear is a pity... NOt original! This engine, the M30B35 is rated 155KW, not 162 normally. Fuel consumption is terrific on these engines... 15-20 l/100km is no exception even with moderate usage. This is not equipped with headlight wipers, BUT this car is, apparently, equipped and specced with the "intensiv" cleaning package. If you take a closer look on the chrome piece trim on the front bumper, you see that there are nozzles that spray up the headlights. Please do a review on a E9, E23 or E34 too! The problem you experienced with the seats arae typicasl for BMW's of that era, however, it is was equipped with manual seats, they would still be in perfect working condition :p Is that Luxorbeige paint? Lovely review!

[@olivermacke838]

Maybe it's rated at 162kw due to not having a catalytic converter?

[@bombakdik]

oliver macke my father’s non catalyst was a 155 kw...

[@Bevoin1970]

The Lay-By you stopped in around 24:00 - I know exactly where that is. I stopped there to take Photos of my van with the stunning backdrop only the other week en-route to my destination not far away in a secret location. It was a sunny windy day on my Pics too. Marvellous!! :-)

[@MegaBreadvan]

AY - Leicester/Leicestershire reg. :-) I feel at home already... (originally from Leics).

[@ClaudeSac]

I am going to thouroughly enjoy this E32 test, many happy memories come to mind. And you ... You are going to buy quite a lot of petrol in the very near future. Multiple times, most likely. 😂😂👍

[@Witheredgoogie]

Good idea the long term test..on 'some' cars..and that is a lot of car.. mind you- you don't want to keep us waiting too long LOL.Don't think a humble straight 6 has ever been beaten for refinement ...and have to agree that something started going wrong with the BM design dept I reckon after the now often rusty and shabby (but still nice looking ) E46

[@nigelsandeman2642]

Always liked BMWs. Older ones and had a few. Present chariot is a 323i cabriolet. Lovely 7.

[@millomweb]

My Dad said one he drove felt like driving a tank.

[@clarkkent2913]

My favorite 7 series. Elegant, light design, nice handling, lots of comfort. 730 (6 cylinder) was the smoothest one, 735 the most versatile and the glorious 12 cylinder was the king of the hill. The V8s might be as good but I've never driven one. This car is in a very sorry state, of course (why??)

[@MGBetts1]

The BMW 735i was my dream car back in the day (before I could even drive). Yeah, I still love them, but could never imagine myself owning one. 👍🏻

[@klwthe3rd]

Is your alter ego columbo? 🤗

[@mattsbeamer]

Lovely cars. When I was 18 I had a 87 e32 735iSe along side my 88 325i touring and 89 316i coupe. All were great cars. Unfortunately I didn’t have my e32 for long as some jealous idiot vandalised it. This was about 17 years ago. I had a 97 740i when I was 21 years old, I’d love to see you compare this to that. It is probably one of the best 7ers made. Back to the e32s thou, when I was about 8 may dad had the ultimate e32, which was the Alpina B12. It had all the toys, including a fridge in the Center armrest. I miss that car. :)

[@olivermacke838]

Love it. My Dad had a E34 525tds when I got my driving licence. Back then it was considered cool to drive with parking lights plus fog lights on. BMWs were perfect for that.

[@timneeves.6338]

These 90s Bmws were really lovely cars to drive but the cost of fuel now is beyond a joke...

[@ClassicBMWFanInQuebec]

Great video! The spark plugs are very easy to access. You just need to remove the air filter box, then remove two bolts and move over the black wiring loom. Plenty of space to work in. The V12, on the other hand...

[@dm5374]

I've had them all... E23, E32, E39, W126 and W219. And I remember my 735i as the best car I ever owned.

[@notmanynamesleft]

My diesel E60 has almost twice the power and does 50mpg! How things changed in 20 years! Love seeing these old Beemers Hubnut 👍

[@davidmg1925]

Yes but you could buy alot of petrol with the change! I know which Id rather have.

[@notmanynamesleft]

@@davidmg1925 I paid £3000 for my 2006 535d, you'd spend that travelling 15,000 miles in that old petrol barge!

[@notmanynamesleft]

I basically spend half as much every journey compared to the driver of this and have twice the power on tap, its a no brainer for me 😂

[@houseofno]

The E39 was far more beloved by enthusiasts. The E60 had terrible build quality. No wonder BMW went to the E39 for inspiration for the F10.

[@notmanynamesleft]

@@houseofno you'll find a lot of BMW enthusiasts will tell you that the shape and styling of the E60 M Sport has aged the best and is the best mark, similar to the E46 M3, plus the E39 didn't enter the diesel performance game, the bi turbo that came in the E60 535d was a game changer for performance tuned diesels. Also this is the 46th car I've owned in 22 years of driving and the build quality is better than any other car I've had.

[@mrstanhope1516]

It needs a chunky car phone to finish off the interior! Or a hubnut sticker perhaps?

[@iansteel1447]

I had a 1979 732i which cost £350. Great car, not very good on fuel, I only got 10mpg. I went on holiday in it, and drove all over Norfolk, did £500 in petrol in two weeks, and the back box fell of in Bury.

[@BIMMERZEITT]

Nice video on this old E32. I just purchased a 1990 735iL which I'll be introducing on my channel shortly. My latest upload teases at a preview of the car's interior at the end. Cheers.

[@Robhalifax]

I love driving a big barge around as long as it has adequate power.. Maybe you need an old barge in the fleet for variety on your return Ian.

[@HubNut]

I think so. What I need is to find the magic waft, in a smaller package. The Rover 45 did a surprisingly good job bar the lack of torque.

[@stepheng8779]

Not many people seem to use a handbrake these days. Always appreciated by those of us who suffer blinding migraine headaches from their stupidly over bright brake lights they like to keep illuminated for an age.

[@HubNut]

To be fair, I usually do at traffic lights, but autos get tricky. This one really didn't like being taken out of Drive and you could feel it straining against the handbrake.

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Who doesn't like a luxo-barge with an engine like that one, handsome styling and lovely road manners. Shame about the tired interior, oh well, can't have everything I suppose. What a contrast to the Trojan. Cheers.

[@kingkangaroobear112]

tried a 740 v8 on an l plate, it was not as nice at the straight 6........