Have any of you guys worked on these cars or wanted to own one? Are they reliable like the Maxima...are the replacement parts expensive?

 

Replacement parts are very expensive.

 

I hope this question is volvo 740?

Everyone wantin a tractor goes to Volvo (all are like that)

...except the holland relative DAF = V70-series. Its steering and geometry is not wiking tractor steel block design in - but behavior sits really at Maxima class)

Cheap parts from www.biltema.se

http://www.swedecar.com/volvo_history.htm

(eh. I hope I am on the same .se page)

 

740iL is a high end BMW. it will not be reliable as the myriad of electronics it has will fail and be a pain in the *** to find which one is causing that problem and then once you find it, it's a dealer only module that costs you $1k.
chassis, and routine maintenance parts aren't that expensive if you know where to buy them.

 

...funny...740 is EU volvo -type number. The model number licensing is globally a tricky busine$$.

 

I like these a lot, and almost got one after my max was in a flood. Yes, stuff will start flying apart at some point, but if you attend to the car's maintenance needs and pay attention, then I think major problems can be prevented.

From my research at the time, the auto transmission can have issues if it didnt get scheduled fluid changes during its life. Also, in the early years of that V8, the screws holding the oil pump had a tendency to back out but they fixed that so like 1999+ or 2000+ shouldnt have an issue.

As far as the electronics, the maximas have their share of cracked solder and melted capacitors. I doubt the electronics problems in these would be too different, but yes there is a risk of getting stuck with a huge parts invoice.

 

There is a 740iL for sale in my town that I've had my eyes on but what I really want is a 540i.

 

??? http://forums.maxima.org/forumdisplay.php?f=59

 

The difference between a 3rd gens electronics (and attendant problems) and the 740's electronics are HUGE. The 740's control just about every aspect of the cars being, ESPECIALLY if it has the dreaded iDrive. I'm not sure if iDrive was standard on the 7 series in 2000, but it was prevalent even then.

iDrive really does control everything. They aren't known to be bad, but when they do go, it's a HUGE mess.

And yes, even mechanical parts are expensive. My experience is more with the 90's 3 series, but just for example. The price of a metal bladed water pump to replace the plastic impeller OEM unit was $189. The OEM unit was more. An OEM radiator was over $500.

I still want a M series BMW though. HANG the costs!

 

IDrive was not around in 2000. It debuted with the 2002 E65 7 series.

 

Most excellent then. I've really hated iDrive everytime I've had to touch it. I just couldn't remember when it came in.

 

Just because there are more electronics to do more things doesnt mean they work any differently. There are diagnostic procedures for any car that help you track down faulty units, and at their core, they are still a collection of capacitors, resistors, inductors, gates, and logic chips soldered to a board.

 

Thanks guys. I'll always wanted one when I was younger...but for now i'll stick with the maxima. If the cost of oil continues the way it's going, it's probably better to follow "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"...so stick with the old rusting maxima, fix what needs to be done, and drive it less.

 

I'm just saying there's a lot more to go wrong. And more of those things control how and IF the car operates.

 

we have volvo 740 here too, but only until 97(?) or so. then all volvo start with letter S,C,V, or XC.

 

there is a huge difference, the max uses simple resistors and capacitors to control most things with a SIMPLE chip here and there.
the Bimmer uses a complex chip with a couple of caps and resistors. much more expensive to fix and fixes are rarely a simple resistor resolder on a newer car. it's usually something getting damaged within the chip itself that is the issue. no choice there but to spend $$ and replace

 

I borrowed a 2000 740 about two years ago, it was a 3 mile trip only and that was enough to fall in love with it and notice the huge difference from any other car I had drive before. Suspension feels so good, I don't know which trim was but even for sharp turns this car felt amazing, eliminates traction, brakes felt great and overall powerfull and luxury.

However, this V8 consumes gas as hell and some are V12, at least I was told so, not sure about that, besides any minor repairs cost about 1/2 the value of a good 3rd gen or even more, if to that you add the costly insurance (here in CA is mandatory) you end up paying a lot more money than having a sexy, reliable, cool, hot, fun-to-drive nice 3rd gen Maxima Just my opinion

 

I think you should buy one.

that way you can go over to bimmerforums and ask them 10,000,000,000 stupid questions in 10,000,000,010 different threads.

 

+m'effin 1!!

 

ha ha my manager has one...the 745.
about 30k on it and the tranny was acting up.
the driver seat was setting the air bag light off.
and the brakes was grindin.