My e38 728 sport cost me £2000 (80k miles FSH). The e38 sport is the last true 'classic' shaped Bimmer as far as I am concerned, so elegant and well proportioned.

I am regularly seeing 24mpg, while using her daily in my 7 mile drive to work.

The power is more than adequate and does not feel underpowered as some say. The straight six is reasonably easy to work on withs lots of room.

I've had Bimmers for 20 years starting with an e32 735, some e34's and an e46.

Some questions if I may;-

Although I'm sure she is a sport, is there a difinitive tell tale that cant be faked.?

Is there a way to improve the dismal stereo easily.?

 

Are there any other 2.8 sports owners with any tales or advice?

 

If it is a Sport model it should in not say on the V5?  Like 523i SE or 520d MSport etc

 

The general concencous with the E38 7er was the 728i was the best model to get, any more power and the fuel consumption gets to be a bit of a problem.  The 740i was the most heavily depreciating car at one time, of which the consumption played a big part of that.

 

My BMW original stereo in my E39 (of similar vintage to your E38) was poor too.  Sound quality wasn't up to much.  I couldn't bear to butcher the dash to fit a different one in so I just fiddled with the equalisers on it to get the best I could and listened to the engine instead.

All in all I'm not atall dissapointed in any area other than the lack of fold away door mirrors! That surprises me, for a high end motor, must have been extra!

 

It is always a good idea to spend money to get a decent set of tyres as that is all that keeps you between the ditches!

 

The BMW folding wing mirrors are nothing to get excited about.  I test drove an E39 which had them and they seriously reduced the mirror size restricting the view but the housing was still the same size as my non folding E39 ones.

 

The only thing you get as standard/free in any BMW is the air that comes in the cabin!  You pay for everything.