To 735i or not to 735i

[Luis Marques <marques@rtis.ray.com>]

The '85 735i was the old-old model.  The model changed in '87 or '88
which was much more modern until the new version came along I think two
years ago (for the James Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies).  Engines were
still basically the same, with a little more power in the later years
(3.5 lt., ~200 hp.)  Watch out for loose cam oiler tubes and worn cam
lobes.  Changing a camshaft is synonymous with changing the head on
these cars.  Bad bushings can give the car the shakes during braking. 
Good dry handling.  Never as good as quattro in less than perfect (wet,
snow) roads.  HTH

Luis Marques


> From: Michael Williams <daserde@ucla.edu>
> I dunno, my dad had an 85 735i and the thing cost him big bucks in 
> repairs.  brakes, clutch, the shifter assembly fell apart ever 5000 
> miles, horribly out of tune, lots of electrical problems...accident 
> finally killed it...uhg...and the handling was mediocre at
> best...could  not ever get comfortable in that car for taking
> corners....