Drove my first V12 today

[Big_Richard]

yes, though, not an MB, but that's a good thing.

1989 euro BMW 750I 5 litre V12

What an eye opener.

electric everything, active stability control, 2 program electrohydraulic suspension, graphical instrument cluster with intelligent service interval display. Trip computer, climate control, cruise control, and headlight wisch wash. leather interior with electric memory seats.

Absolutely no room in the engine bay to do any work at all yourself, but, all I can say after driving it is "what a machine"

An engine so smooth from idle all the way to the red line that it wouldn't disturb a glass of wine placed on top of the massive intake manifold. It may only be 5 litres, but you press the accelerator and it presses your ass back into the seats something cruel.

These cars are rumoured to be hideously expensive to maintain and unreliable, but so is the 6.9, supposedly, thus they can be purchased for pocket change.

It is the most enjoyable car I've driven in my life, new or old. Sheer driving pleasure is an absolute understatement.

I want one.

I came away from the test drive asking my self, why the hell would anyone in their right mind of bought a w126 in 1989, which has absolutely nothing in comparison? When such a machine existed, that is better looking inside and out and is about a million times more enjoyable to drive. I can only come to one assumption, and that's the typical snobbery of some new Mercedes buyers, too stuck in their ways to even consider anything from a different manufacturer. It's their loss, all it took was one ten minute drive and I'm sold.

I look forward to test driving a W140 V12 to restore my faith in MB products.

[s class]

Thanks for the report.  I've never driven a 750, but I've driven a few S600's.  Just make sure the one you drive is properly sorted - a lot have issues that lead to a drop in power, and hence a substandard experience. 

[TJ 450]

I look forward to hearing the verdict after driving a properly sorted W140 V12... will the Bimmer stand a chance? From a driver's point of experience, particularly that of PB, I think it will.

If I was buying a new car in 1989, all things considered, it would be a Volvo 760GLE. I would then live happily ever after, that is until the purchase of a 6.9 for company... the best of both worlds. 

Tim

[Big_Richard]

I look forward to hearing the verdict after driving a properly sorted W140 V12... will the Bimmer stand a chance? From a driver's point of experience, particularly that of PB, I think it will.

If I was buying a new car in 1989, all things considered, it would be a Volvo 760GLE. I would then live happily ever after, that is until the purchase of a 6.9 for company... the best of both worlds. 

Tim

Isnt that the model that has a disolving engine block, and or constant head gasket leaks ?? 

Sounds like a wise investment 

The early 750's were 4 speed auto (propper autos with real first gear start all the time) 5 litre v12's and 220KW
the w140 s600's early 4 speed, later 5 speed autos 6 litre v12's producing 307Kw

Its not all about the power either, the e32 just feels good to drive, in every respect (except braking, this one required new front disks as they were warped)

[SELfor50]

I haven't had the pleasure of driving a V12, though I do look forward to having a crack in a 750!

I've driven a friend of a friend's 540LE (apparently pretty rare BMW), and being only a 4.0L V8, I was talking it down before driving it.
But honestly, it was a great ride.  Very smooth delivery of power.

I'd be keen to have a crack at a 600 too.  There was a fella who had one at MB Spares one afternoon, he'd picked it up after a service and I was in there picking up parts....  it was pretty sweet... couldn't convince him to let me drive it though.   
He looked at my $300 450SEL (pre paint job and weight reduction) and told me I need to work my way up..    fair call I guess.

[oscar]

Can't deny a good ride.... even if it is the opposition.

Personally I'd love to drive a Jag v12, preferrably an XJS coupe.  Finding a well sorted one would be an issue so everyone tells me.
Would love an ex WWII RR merlin in the shed.  Hardly driveable but as a working static thing to start up every now and then awsome!

[Big_Richard]

The novelty and excitement has worn off, it took over 2 days to remove the thought in my mind of purchasing that vehicle. Even though currently its the wrongest time possible for me to buy a car, the thought was still - almost irresistible. (new house requires new shit to put in it)

Never test drive cars for fun, when you don't want to buy one, temptation is a very bad thing sometimes

[wbrian63]

My daily driver is a '92 300SE (W140). 228hp/228tq. (170KW, 309NM). Engine is a runner, peak HP is at 5800, peak torque is at a stratospheric 4100 rpm. Put that in a 5,000# (2272kg) car and you're not talking a barn-stormer. It's got a 3.69 rear axle, and 1st gear (when you can get the stupid "start in 2nd" tranny to use it) is 3.87, so takeoff can be OK for its size.

Spotted a pristine, low mileage (56k / 34.7k-klm) '92 600SEL for sale around the corner from my shop about 2 years ago. Stopped by in the evening and pulled the VIN and did a little looking around. Nice example of a car that cost north of $100,000 new.

Went by when the seller was open for business and took it for a spin. WOW! 402hp (300kw) and 428tq (480nm). Sedate hot rod, this car. Still a relatively high-strung motor - peak torque occurs at 3,800rpm, but nearly double the torque and hp made it feel like a completely different car than my 300SE. Traction control light was easily illuminated, even at 20mph and a romp to downshift.

Interior was in good shape, but there were two show stoppers. 1) Seller wanted $3,000 too much. These cars are notorious gas hogs, plus they're expensive to maintain. He thought he'd get 13.5K, when all internet pricing guides said a condition 1 car (which this car wasn't) should only fetch 11K. Second issue was when I told my mechanic about the car and he told me not to even show my face if I bought it - they won't work on the cars at all.

Car sat for a long time and finally disappeared. I suspect the seller had to wholesale it out to get rid of it.

But the THRILL...

[alabbasi]

750i's are as cheap as chips here. There are two for sale for under $2k and one for $900 locally. I have thought about it, but then thought twice. Everything that i've heard about these cars is that they are labor intensive and have 5 (five) computers that can create havoc as they get older.

The 850i is supposed to be an even bigger nightmare from what I understand as it uses fiber optics instead of electrical connections to send signals. I could not even begin to figure out how to trace a short with those cars.

[wbrian63]

I remember reading about the 850i when it first came out. They use some sort of networking distribution for power. Basically every object in the car receives voltage constantly. The network aspect is used to allow the various switches to tell their counterpart objects what to do.

For example, the window lift motors have 12v constant. Press the button to raise or lower a window, and the button sends a signal to the proper motor telling it what to do - no voltage at all.

I'm thinking Cisco would be a good place to start when things go wrong - and they usually do.

As for multiple computers, my 300SE has 5, and I think there are 3 open slots for more... While the 400SE, 500SEL and 600SEL are wondrous cars, their additional complexity makes for interesting times as they age. My car lacks all the goo-gahs and doo-dahs of its fancier brethren, but I spend less $ to keep it going because of that. No SLS, no ADS, no ASR, no problem...