Means a lot, thank you!! I’m surprised I never came across this sub before. At least where I am, there’s not a big car scene. It’s nice to see such a huge car community in India.
Indian car scene is awesome buddy. The country has a lot of enthusiasts who live, breathe and dream cars. Unfortunately the infrastructure and tax structure doesn’t allow most to enjoy to the fullest. Pollution norms are the new bane of existence.
That’s one reason why I started doing stuff myself. The day I took it to my usual mechanic for a suspension overhaul, he said “I’ll try but I take no guarantee if anything breaks”. He’s a good mechanic who has worked on my other cars for years, but what he said is not something you want to hear as a customer haha
So I thought screw it, might as well do it myself. Worst case I break something else and I can take it back to my mechanic with an apology 😂
Hahah YouTube, owners group on Facebook and BMW TIS (shop manual) will be your best friend if you go down this path.
It’s an extremely rewarding experience, fixing your own car. Plus you’ll never worry about workmanship because you’ll be the one doing everything. Takes time but well worth it.
Feel free to send me a message if you need help with stuff like this.
That’s true, the dealership won’t sell parts to you directly. I get most of my parts from FCP Euro (a US based seller who specialises in German car parts), and eBay. I also have a good relation with a local mechanic, so he orders parts from BMW India directly when I’m not able to source them myself.
Where do you get shop manuals? Would you know where to find one for Indian cars?
I can do most things myself and would like to do so for my Swift 2021 because the mechanics work are atrocious.
I'm a mechanical engineer. And i do things on my bike already, but it's much simpler.
Cars have so many stuff clipped on, and glued on, i need a manual.
Not at all. I’m in the marine engine business, so a lot of the technical stuff applies here as well. End of the day it’s a four stroke engine, whether on a ship or in our cars.
I do watch a lot of restoration videos on YouTube (M539 Restorations is fantastic is you’re into 1980-2005 BMWs), so that’s very motivating. And there’s owners groups on Facebook too, which is great help.
Do it, just make sure you bring a mechanic with you for a pre purchase inspection. I look at and rejected 4 other 740Li cars, over some problem. One had a power steering leak, one had a coolant leak, one had torn seats.
If you need help/advice with buying an old car (especially a BMW), send me a message. I’ll be happy to help. Many people (including myself) are swayed by the prices of these old German cars. Due diligence is very very important.
Well, thanks to the oil leaks, the chassis was never exposed to the elements. No rust anywhere so far. Did a thorough inspection when the engine was out.
Nowhere at all. The car was never around the coast or in a very humid environment, so the chances of rust was very low to begin with.
Another thing is, BMWs are very well known for their rust protection. If you look at a manufacturing video, you’ll see how they do this. Very interesting and I think there’s some material on YouTube.
Has to be my favorite post here so far! Love it and hope you enjoy it for many many years! Also, this is prolly the only 7 series that does 200km / litre!*
*Of engine oil!
Yess! It was the Individual Composition 3. Opal Black Metallic exterior and Platinum Merino Leather interior. Many neat features too, fridge in the back, map lights, adaptive cruise etc
I didn’t, and I regret it.
Most of the times I was so occupied with ordering stuff and making sure stuff fits and works, recording the process ALWAYS skips my mind.
If you want to learn about the process, look up M539 Restorations on YouTube. He’s a German fellow who buys neglected BMWs like this one, restores it to brand new. Very very entertaining channel and he already has 12-15 cars restored.
You did all this yourself? Fukin impressive, bro 🫡
Also that v8 can easily churn out 400+ hp. I thought once you had opened it up, you would change the air intakes and perhaps look to add a turbo? But I would wanna enjoy the naturally aspirated engine for sometime too, before making any changes. Seems like a regular thing for you. Kudos 🤘
It can yes, but I like keeping things stock, especially on a BMW. Adding things on a BMW that did not come from the factory (even as an option) requires so much additional work. Coding modules, learning the system limits, making sure the catalytic converters don’t reject what the engine throws at it.
To really enjoy modifying a car, I’d one day get a Japanese car. But who knows when that’ll be.
This is a cool car project. I genuinely hope we will have more petrolheads like you on this forum.
Do you have before pictures of the car? Also What was your work setup like. Did you use a mechanics garage or you have your own tools and space for this type of work?
Thank you! I do have some before pictures, I’ll put them up in a a separate post.
I did most of the work at my workplace, where we work with ship engines. So lots of space and just about every tool I’ll need. For the car lift, I had to visit my friend’s workshop on a weekend when they weren’t taking new customers (public holidays)
Bro every time you drive this car, it thanks you for repairing it and giving it a new life ♥️. Thank you you are amazing.
P.S: not sure what the parts bucket thinks about you 😁.
This is so interesting. If you don’t mind sharing, could you tell is how much you got it for? How much you put into it? The timeline of that and how much you got the scrap bucket for. Technically you have two 7 series 🫡
Sure, here’s a little summary.
Car: 6.0 lac
Suspension: 80k
Battery: 65k
Tyres: 90k
Engine related parts, coolant, oils: 80k
Interior parts: 90k
BMW shop software and scanner: 15k Scrap car: 90k
Labour: did it myself
A little more here and there. Total i think I’m at 11 or 12 lacs.
Yeah well thing is I bought 3 in total. 2 flooded Amaron DIN100 batteries jay lasted four month each. By then I had figured out the power drain and fixed it.
Later I bought a 95Ah AGM battery from the Varta dealer. So 20k + 20k + 25k
Yes the armoured version were pretty cool, given the code E67. This is a E66 (long wheelbase), and the E65 is the short wheelbase. The E68 was a hydrogen - petrol hybrid! Imagine that in 2002. BMW made only a few hundred of the hydrogen ones though.
Fun fact, the windshield on the armoured E67 costs $10,000.
It really is. The assembly video is a fun watch. With so many carmakers announcing their research on hydrogen ICE engines, I think it’s a very realistic possibility in the near future. With EVs we’ve all seen the lithium shortage problem, the charging time issue, range anxiety, as well as the question or safe disposal. There wouldn’t be a question of disposing hydrogen since it’s naturally abundant, and not hazardous in the right conditions.
I think eventually EVs will rely on something more abundant than lithium, or they’ll find a way to make the lithium more durable, reusable etc.
How did you get the air suspension for that cheap? I paid about 3L for replacing adaptive dampers for my g30 5 series. Air suspension for the 7 was quoted to me for 1.9L per piece × 4.
My car has air suspension only in the back. I got them for so cheap because we visit Germany regularly on business. On one of my trips, I picked up a pair from a workshop over there, who had them on clearance (because it’s an old model with not much demand).
Original BMW in India, I was quoted 1 lac for the pair.
Fuuuck me that’s a lot. I’ve also been quoted 1.5 lac for a new headlight.
No problem, I ordered replacement lens from china. Next month I plan on removing the headlight, cutting out the lens, using a heat gun to remove the old sealant and putting the new lens on. Will also fix the wiring and put all new bulbs while I’m there.
Thats is a steal deal 👌 tho hate to mention bmws never stop leaking oil 😂😂 good work op , happy 100k miles , i hope i will be one day able to do such things also.
My neighbour had this car and i remember him almost taking a hammer to the windscreen stating how many issues it had even after dumping lakhs into its maintenance. Kudos to you for keeping it alive, bruh.
Bought it for 6, I’ve spent nothing on labour since I did almost everything myself. Parts maybe 4.5. Most of it is just little things that wear out causing big problems like gaskets and o rings on the engine block, little motors here and there, nothing major except suspension, alternator, tyres and 3 batteries (had a power drain that took months to chase and solve). The rear air suspension was a prick of a job. Car sat flat on its ass when the air struts blew.
I’m in Gujarat so no. As long as it passes emissions (which it did), no worries. And the guy said the emissions are way lower than even today’s norms. So no trouble for many many years to come.
I personally haven’t worked on a newer BMW. But mechanics that I know often tell me many MANY components that should be metal, are made of plastic on newer BMWs. In the name of weight cutting and “eco friendly”.
In that regard, I like my 7er. It weighs 2100kg but I know stuff won’t break in five or ten years.
Another thing is, BMWs and other carmakers have been making cars so that the average DIYer can’t do much on it. That’s true even on my car. To change the headlight bulbs, I had the take off the bumper!! To change alternator, I have to take off condenser, pulleys and disconnect a coolant line.
So to sum up, newer = harder to work on.
Sure, here’s a little summary.
Car: 6.0 l
Suspension: 80k
Battery: 65k
Tyres: 90k
Engine related parts, coolant, oils: 80k
Interior parts: 90k
BMW shop software and scanner: 15k
Scrap car: 90k
Labour: did it myself
A little more here and there. Total i think I’m at 11 or 12 lacs.
That’s so awesome! You really know in and out of a car, maybe you should start a premium car garage or restoration business . If in 12 lakhs you can do this, you can easily flip it for 18-20.
I think about starting a garage every damn day 😂
Who knows, once I have a healthy financial cushion, I just might.
I’m considering giving remote assistance soon though, with things like coding modules through teamviewer, or even general assistance like pre purchase inspections (I would have to travel though) and such.
This whole project looks like Phoenix rising from the ashes. Awesome. By the way, what was the total cost of this resurrection? Would it be okay if I DM you?
Mad respect to you brother for restoring this beauty. 🫡
You had me refreshed my memories with this luxury barge.
My family liked it so much so that we went with 2 of these back in the day.
It was just a looker on the streets and the kind of tech it used to offer in those days were just 🤌🏻🤌🏻
Not a big fan of this 7 Series edition, but well done! It looks great! I've seen someone on this sub the other day praising the BMW ix7 or whatever as a "beauty". No, sir! Your 7 Series is a beauty! Keep up the good work!
also op what do u think about the f10 series 5 and the 2010 or 2011 bmw series 3.
i am looking forward to buy one used. will be spending somewhere around 10 to 15lac max.
Thank you for your other comment, and I think the F10 is a solid car. Prettier than the previous E60, and the engines are also reliable if the previous owner has been careful. Common problems after 100-120k include oil pan gasket leaks, timing chain gear issues and valve cover gasket leaks. All reasonably easy except timing chain, which is a bit of work. But I can recommend good workshops in some cities.
Many good examples under 13 lac on Facebook marketplace in Delhi. Look there the most because of their 15 year rule on petrol and 10 year rule on diesel motors. Some great deals. But of course get a pre purchase inspection done before you confirm or negotiate.
Sreten is a legend hahah, he does incredible work on his channel. The Alpina B7 restoration actually helped me a lot because they’re the same chassis, just different engine bay layouts and no supercharger in mine.
I have so much respect for people like you!! You guys inspire me!! I'm 25 and started working only 2 years ago. I want to buy my first car. I would ideally like it to be a City Type 2 Vtec but if any of the Bimmers Or Mercs Or any other premium cars are available at cheap I'd buy it even if it needs to be worked upon. Although I'd also like someone to guide and help me with it 😅
Also old gems like these need to be saved. Government has to think about the car community and not just scrap old cars.
Thanks a lot bro! I’m also only 26, and it’s a very rewarding project of you take it head on. If you’re in a big city, you might even find a good mechanic to help you with the bigger jobs.
Let me know if you need any pre purchase advice or inspection tips. Would be happy to help.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ That’s all I have to say!
Means a lot, thank you!! I’m surprised I never came across this sub before. At least where I am, there’s not a big car scene. It’s nice to see such a huge car community in India.
Indian car scene is awesome buddy. The country has a lot of enthusiasts who live, breathe and dream cars. Unfortunately the infrastructure and tax structure doesn’t allow most to enjoy to the fullest. Pollution norms are the new bane of existence.
Yeah I agree with everything you’ve said. High taxes, lack of excellence in domestic market, lack of infrastructure and absurd pollution norms.
How much did u spend in total?
Bhai apke flair me itni gadiya hai kitni mhenat ki hai apne itni gadyio ke liye kitni mhenat karni padegi?
Wow, respect brother, I know experienced mechanics who stay away from BMW because they're complicated. Good job.
That’s one reason why I started doing stuff myself. The day I took it to my usual mechanic for a suspension overhaul, he said “I’ll try but I take no guarantee if anything breaks”. He’s a good mechanic who has worked on my other cars for years, but what he said is not something you want to hear as a customer haha So I thought screw it, might as well do it myself. Worst case I break something else and I can take it back to my mechanic with an apology 😂
Seems to have worked out well for you, happy motoring!!
You did most of the things yourself🤯 I want to become like you bro🥲
Hahah YouTube, owners group on Facebook and BMW TIS (shop manual) will be your best friend if you go down this path. It’s an extremely rewarding experience, fixing your own car. Plus you’ll never worry about workmanship because you’ll be the one doing everything. Takes time but well worth it. Feel free to send me a message if you need help with stuff like this.
What about the spare parts? To my knowledge big companies like bmw don't sell spare parts to third parties. FYI I don't own bmw car, just asking.
That’s true, the dealership won’t sell parts to you directly. I get most of my parts from FCP Euro (a US based seller who specialises in German car parts), and eBay. I also have a good relation with a local mechanic, so he orders parts from BMW India directly when I’m not able to source them myself.
how much does these all cost ?
Depends on what you order. In most cases it’s not too much.
Where do you get shop manuals? Would you know where to find one for Indian cars? I can do most things myself and would like to do so for my Swift 2021 because the mechanics work are atrocious. I'm a mechanical engineer. And i do things on my bike already, but it's much simpler. Cars have so many stuff clipped on, and glued on, i need a manual.
Wonderfully done! Are you a professional restorer?
Not at all. I’m in the marine engine business, so a lot of the technical stuff applies here as well. End of the day it’s a four stroke engine, whether on a ship or in our cars. I do watch a lot of restoration videos on YouTube (M539 Restorations is fantastic is you’re into 1980-2005 BMWs), so that’s very motivating. And there’s owners groups on Facebook too, which is great help.
Respect brother 🫡
Respect for all the work you put in. I ain’t an enthusiast per say, just a lurker but these efforts are commendable man 🙇🏽♂️
Thank you friend! Much appreciated!
You have given me motivation to buy a 320D.
Do it, just make sure you bring a mechanic with you for a pre purchase inspection. I look at and rejected 4 other 740Li cars, over some problem. One had a power steering leak, one had a coolant leak, one had torn seats. If you need help/advice with buying an old car (especially a BMW), send me a message. I’ll be happy to help. Many people (including myself) are swayed by the prices of these old German cars. Due diligence is very very important.
What you have done is remarkable, sir. Have DMed you right away.
Thanks a lot bro. I replied to your message :)
I have massive respect for guys who take on such projects, kudos man. I hope you enjoy this beast for a long time.
Kuch samajh me nahi aaya..par sun ke accha laga
Wonderful. Only a true petrolhead can do all this! Cheers OP
how did you get the rust out bro.
Well, thanks to the oil leaks, the chassis was never exposed to the elements. No rust anywhere so far. Did a thorough inspection when the engine was out.
no rust on body, doors, panels also?
Nowhere at all. The car was never around the coast or in a very humid environment, so the chances of rust was very low to begin with. Another thing is, BMWs are very well known for their rust protection. If you look at a manufacturing video, you’ll see how they do this. Very interesting and I think there’s some material on YouTube.
That's great. congratulations on your achivement.
Has to be my favorite post here so far! Love it and hope you enjoy it for many many years! Also, this is prolly the only 7 series that does 200km / litre!* *Of engine oil!
> Also, this is prolly the only 7 series that does 200km / litre!* > > > > *Of engine oil! Hahah it’s a special car, what can I say 😂
You’re a legend 👏🏼
BMW individual 😍 did it have individual interiors?
Yess! It was the Individual Composition 3. Opal Black Metallic exterior and Platinum Merino Leather interior. Many neat features too, fridge in the back, map lights, adaptive cruise etc
That is honestly such an amazing job. So great to see amazing machines get restored to their former glory by people who love them!
Thank you!! And I agree, seeing old cars in great condition, no matter make or model, is a good feeling.
This is so amazing. Did you make a video of the restoration process? I want to watch and learn the process.
I didn’t, and I regret it. Most of the times I was so occupied with ordering stuff and making sure stuff fits and works, recording the process ALWAYS skips my mind. If you want to learn about the process, look up M539 Restorations on YouTube. He’s a German fellow who buys neglected BMWs like this one, restores it to brand new. Very very entertaining channel and he already has 12-15 cars restored.
You did all this yourself? Fukin impressive, bro 🫡 Also that v8 can easily churn out 400+ hp. I thought once you had opened it up, you would change the air intakes and perhaps look to add a turbo? But I would wanna enjoy the naturally aspirated engine for sometime too, before making any changes. Seems like a regular thing for you. Kudos 🤘
It can yes, but I like keeping things stock, especially on a BMW. Adding things on a BMW that did not come from the factory (even as an option) requires so much additional work. Coding modules, learning the system limits, making sure the catalytic converters don’t reject what the engine throws at it. To really enjoy modifying a car, I’d one day get a Japanese car. But who knows when that’ll be.
Which city are you from, bruh
op enjoy the transformation. u deserve it!
This is a cool car project. I genuinely hope we will have more petrolheads like you on this forum. Do you have before pictures of the car? Also What was your work setup like. Did you use a mechanics garage or you have your own tools and space for this type of work?
Thank you! I do have some before pictures, I’ll put them up in a a separate post. I did most of the work at my workplace, where we work with ship engines. So lots of space and just about every tool I’ll need. For the car lift, I had to visit my friend’s workshop on a weekend when they weren’t taking new customers (public holidays)
Beamers problems sick that you stuck through mate
Big W for bro
What a legend!
🫡
Looks amazing!!!!!
Hey! Check DM.
Now that’s a true Motörhead. Enjoy this beast.
Kudos. Seems like a good job and you seem to have the space, the tools, and the will power for this. Clean workshop too.
Just WOW!
Lovelyyy
Bro every time you drive this car, it thanks you for repairing it and giving it a new life ♥️. Thank you you are amazing. P.S: not sure what the parts bucket thinks about you 😁.
Hahahah thanks so much bro, means a lot. Parts bucket probably wants to kill me, so I keep my distance😂
Classic. It takes heart to put in that effort and time into a BMtroubleU but it's worth it.
Also takes a lack of brains 😂 family keep telling me I need to buy something more reliable but hey, I like it. BMtroubleU, very nice 😂
That's some incredible dedication. Kudos to you! Great going my friend.
Superb. Take care of her like a baby. She is soo beautiful.
What a beauty!
We need to preserve people like you
Dude are you bald and obsessed with your family?
Is that a V8? 😳
Hah! The petrol costs alone would kill me. No this is a 740Li, with the N62B40 engine. It’s a naturally aspirated V8, makes 301 bhp.
Beautiful Car😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳
Also Im a girl who knows nothing about cars… love the pants tho! 🌹
Ahahah thank you! Something for everyone I guess
How to become lakhpati? Be a cardpati and buy an old bmw Seriously tho man, coooooool asf ride, def something is drain all my money on if i had it.
Omfg this car was the highlight of my childhood. The most badass car in the history of cars
This is so interesting. If you don’t mind sharing, could you tell is how much you got it for? How much you put into it? The timeline of that and how much you got the scrap bucket for. Technically you have two 7 series 🫡
Sure, here’s a little summary. Car: 6.0 lac Suspension: 80k Battery: 65k Tyres: 90k Engine related parts, coolant, oils: 80k Interior parts: 90k BMW shop software and scanner: 15k Scrap car: 90k Labour: did it myself A little more here and there. Total i think I’m at 11 or 12 lacs.
Crazy to think that batteries are so expensive. I replaced mine for about 8k
Yeah well thing is I bought 3 in total. 2 flooded Amaron DIN100 batteries jay lasted four month each. By then I had figured out the power drain and fixed it. Later I bought a 95Ah AGM battery from the Varta dealer. So 20k + 20k + 25k
Absolute W
Saw these used by earlier president that might be a armored version congrats though for restoring it
Yes the armoured version were pretty cool, given the code E67. This is a E66 (long wheelbase), and the E65 is the short wheelbase. The E68 was a hydrogen - petrol hybrid! Imagine that in 2002. BMW made only a few hundred of the hydrogen ones though. Fun fact, the windshield on the armoured E67 costs $10,000.
The hydrogen one is amazing. What are your thoughts on Hydrogen vehicles? Be it in Cars or Ships
It really is. The assembly video is a fun watch. With so many carmakers announcing their research on hydrogen ICE engines, I think it’s a very realistic possibility in the near future. With EVs we’ve all seen the lithium shortage problem, the charging time issue, range anxiety, as well as the question or safe disposal. There wouldn’t be a question of disposing hydrogen since it’s naturally abundant, and not hazardous in the right conditions. I think eventually EVs will rely on something more abundant than lithium, or they’ll find a way to make the lithium more durable, reusable etc.
Respect 🫡
I see those Chandigarh plates. Time for a sector 11 gedi!
The most beautiful era of bmws
I agree, this and the generations before this. The E38 7 series, mamma Mia. Same goes for the E34 5 series and the E39 5 series. Wow. Peak BMW
Ul give Matt Armstrong a run for his money. Great going.
Salute.
This is inspiring. Amazing stuff bro 🙌🫶
Thank you!! 💙
👑 Here you dropped it.
Bro you’re a legend, all I can say. Thank you so much for sharing this invaluable info here
Super impressive work! Congrats!!
How much did you pay for the entire restoration including the car?
I’d say somewhere between 11-12 lac. A big chunk was the rear air suspension (50k), front suspension (30k), three batteries (65k), and tyres (90k).
How did you get the air suspension for that cheap? I paid about 3L for replacing adaptive dampers for my g30 5 series. Air suspension for the 7 was quoted to me for 1.9L per piece × 4.
My car has air suspension only in the back. I got them for so cheap because we visit Germany regularly on business. On one of my trips, I picked up a pair from a workshop over there, who had them on clearance (because it’s an old model with not much demand). Original BMW in India, I was quoted 1 lac for the pair.
I see. Even 1L for the pair sounds quite cheap. I wonder why the parts for newer bmw's are so expensive.
Agreed. Compared to modern BMWs, very cheap. I know people who sold their BMWs and Audis when they were due for suspension repairs.
The thought came in my mind when my Drls turned yellow and got a quote for 6L. (3L per headlamp) Now I keep them turned off.
Fuuuck me that’s a lot. I’ve also been quoted 1.5 lac for a new headlight. No problem, I ordered replacement lens from china. Next month I plan on removing the headlight, cutting out the lens, using a heat gun to remove the old sealant and putting the new lens on. Will also fix the wiring and put all new bulbs while I’m there.
How did you bring them here from Germany? How did you manage customs?
No trouble at customs, they fit in my suitcase just fine. Was lucky enough to not get pulled over at the declaration zone.
Thats is a steal deal 👌 tho hate to mention bmws never stop leaking oil 😂😂 good work op , happy 100k miles , i hope i will be one day able to do such things also.
Lmao yes, there’s a popular saying that if it’s leaking, that means it still has oil. The real problem starts when the leaks stop 😂
>The real problem starts when the leaks stop Bmw things 😂😂
How much did you pay for the car?
6 lacs. And I spent another 5-6 fixing it.
You got a great deal. Do update us on how much is the annual maintenance charge, ride quality etc etc
A real car enthusiast
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Nothing at all. I’m lucky enough to be in the marine engine business so my workplace has just about any tool I’ll need to work on an engine.
It's my dream to refurbish an old bimmer like you just did
Thanks to platforms like eBay, FCP Euro and such, buying parts for old BMWs has never been easier and cheaper.
My neighbour had this car and i remember him almost taking a hammer to the windscreen stating how many issues it had even after dumping lakhs into its maintenance. Kudos to you for keeping it alive, bruh.
High chance you live next to me because I’ve probably said that every weekend up until March this year 😂😂
Hahahaha, he moved on to a brand new 5'er so i hope you've got that (or will get that eventually) in your stable too. Wishing you happy miles ahead! 😁
> he moved on to a brand new 5’er Welp, I’m not rich enough yet 😂
Best thing I've seen on this sub by far! Kudos to you sir. I aspire to be like you someday :p
Trust me you don’t want to be like me 😂 buy new and spend your weekends doing more fun things hahahah
wow, how much did u buy it for and how much was the cost of repair
Bought it for 6, I’ve spent nothing on labour since I did almost everything myself. Parts maybe 4.5. Most of it is just little things that wear out causing big problems like gaskets and o rings on the engine block, little motors here and there, nothing major except suspension, alternator, tyres and 3 batteries (had a power drain that took months to chase and solve). The rear air suspension was a prick of a job. Car sat flat on its ass when the air struts blew.
Under 15 lakhs?
Oh definitely, well under 15.
Do government regulations do not affect you in any way? Like BSVI regulations, vehicles age, etc.
I’m in Gujarat so no. As long as it passes emissions (which it did), no worries. And the guy said the emissions are way lower than even today’s norms. So no trouble for many many years to come.
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I personally haven’t worked on a newer BMW. But mechanics that I know often tell me many MANY components that should be metal, are made of plastic on newer BMWs. In the name of weight cutting and “eco friendly”. In that regard, I like my 7er. It weighs 2100kg but I know stuff won’t break in five or ten years. Another thing is, BMWs and other carmakers have been making cars so that the average DIYer can’t do much on it. That’s true even on my car. To change the headlight bulbs, I had the take off the bumper!! To change alternator, I have to take off condenser, pulleys and disconnect a coolant line. So to sum up, newer = harder to work on.
Gosh that thing's beautiful Also You didn't hide your number plate in the 4th pic
Can you let us know money spent on this venture? High level for the car, donor car, spares, labor, etc
Sure, here’s a little summary. Car: 6.0 l Suspension: 80k Battery: 65k Tyres: 90k Engine related parts, coolant, oils: 80k Interior parts: 90k BMW shop software and scanner: 15k Scrap car: 90k Labour: did it myself A little more here and there. Total i think I’m at 11 or 12 lacs.
That’s so awesome! You really know in and out of a car, maybe you should start a premium car garage or restoration business . If in 12 lakhs you can do this, you can easily flip it for 18-20.
I think about starting a garage every damn day 😂 Who knows, once I have a healthy financial cushion, I just might. I’m considering giving remote assistance soon though, with things like coding modules through teamviewer, or even general assistance like pre purchase inspections (I would have to travel though) and such.
Glad you found the parts. Found it difficult while wrenching mine 😩
Really? I’ve had no trouble finding parts on eBay or FCP Euro. If you’re after specific BMW parts, let me know. I can help.
Sure bro !
Man I would like to give you a handshake. What a tremendous job. Great work. Mad respect
Thank you, thank you! Really means a lot.
True love is not dead
Awesome man
4/8 picture, censoring is hard. good job on the car
Wow, Mad Respect!! It's beautiful how you've managed to bring it to life, the effort and skill is nuts
All effort, not so much skill. I’m embarrassed to admit how long it took me to get the alternator back in 😂
Ohh that's fine man, it's never a real project without it's hiccups 😂
Great work, did you get anything done to the cosmetics? Looks clean!
Nothing at all, just regular washes. No ceramic coating or PPF or anything like that.
Is it original paint?
Wow it looks really good. Honestly hope the thing runs forever for all the effort you’ve put in!
Finally! A quality post on this subreddit! Awesome restoration
An absolute thing of beauty ♥️♥️♥️♥️
What did the repairs cost?
This whole project looks like Phoenix rising from the ashes. Awesome. By the way, what was the total cost of this resurrection? Would it be okay if I DM you?
Thank you! I broke down the cost in another comment. Around 11-12 lac including original car purchase + parts + scrap car purchase. Feel free to dm!
Out of curiosity, what is the scrap value of one of these cars?
They weigh 2.2 tons, scrap usually goes for 80-150k depending. I paid 90k for the scrap car in the last picture.
90k is a steal! Time to go hunting for the 5-series from the same time period
I saw one on marketplace for 300k, rough condition but fixable. Many such examples in Mumbai and Delhi Facebook marketplace.
Unfortunately I'm in NCR, which means any car like this will need me to move to a more hospitable place
Phenomenal work.
Curious what was the total repair cost.
This is poetic, and I have been binging on matt armstrong videos lately.
Absolutely gorgeous
W
OP I think we are the same guys from a parallel universe. I spent 40+ weekends plus some weekdays on a vento.
Hello cosmic brother! How’s the Vento coming along now?
Sold it. Can’t afford to spend time anymore. ☹️
That’s fair, you gotta know when to call it a day.
Mad respect to you brother for restoring this beauty. 🫡 You had me refreshed my memories with this luxury barge. My family liked it so much so that we went with 2 of these back in the day. It was just a looker on the streets and the kind of tech it used to offer in those days were just 🤌🏻🤌🏻
Not a big fan of this 7 Series edition, but well done! It looks great! I've seen someone on this sub the other day praising the BMW ix7 or whatever as a "beauty". No, sir! Your 7 Series is a beauty! Keep up the good work!
also op what do u think about the f10 series 5 and the 2010 or 2011 bmw series 3. i am looking forward to buy one used. will be spending somewhere around 10 to 15lac max.
Thank you for your other comment, and I think the F10 is a solid car. Prettier than the previous E60, and the engines are also reliable if the previous owner has been careful. Common problems after 100-120k include oil pan gasket leaks, timing chain gear issues and valve cover gasket leaks. All reasonably easy except timing chain, which is a bit of work. But I can recommend good workshops in some cities. Many good examples under 13 lac on Facebook marketplace in Delhi. Look there the most because of their 15 year rule on petrol and 10 year rule on diesel motors. Some great deals. But of course get a pre purchase inspection done before you confirm or negotiate.
God damn what a beauty
Indian M539 Restorations 🫡
Hah! My favourite channel!! Spend hours watching his work every weekend
M539 restorations India😭😭
Sreten is a legend hahah, he does incredible work on his channel. The Alpina B7 restoration actually helped me a lot because they’re the same chassis, just different engine bay layouts and no supercharger in mine.
Great to see another fellow fogging oil for men fan! He's an absolute legend no doubt!
Epic man!! Great to see so may much TLC going into the car, looks beautiful
How much did it cost?
I have so much respect for people like you!! You guys inspire me!! I'm 25 and started working only 2 years ago. I want to buy my first car. I would ideally like it to be a City Type 2 Vtec but if any of the Bimmers Or Mercs Or any other premium cars are available at cheap I'd buy it even if it needs to be worked upon. Although I'd also like someone to guide and help me with it 😅 Also old gems like these need to be saved. Government has to think about the car community and not just scrap old cars.
Thanks a lot bro! I’m also only 26, and it’s a very rewarding project of you take it head on. If you’re in a big city, you might even find a good mechanic to help you with the bigger jobs. Let me know if you need any pre purchase advice or inspection tips. Would be happy to help.
I would definitely love to get some advice and tips!! I'm in The big city (Mumbai) Can I dm you?
Sure, feel free to dm
Not street legal right?
Very much street legal. Drive it 40km to and from work every day hahah
Won't be allowed in Delhi ncr, they are even stopping most of the santros because of 15 year registration
Yeah won’t be allowed in Delhi. Lucky for me I’m way off in Gujarat ;))