Former Q owner checking in...

[AZQ45]

Since 'defecting' to BMW, I thought I would drop a line.

First, the best BMW forum I can locate is nowhere near as informative as this forum. You all should be (and are)grateful you have gurus like Q45tech to help. Most posts at BMW are cosmetic in nature: 'what tires do I choose' or 'how do I updgrade the looks of my headlights'. There is little to no helpful technical information.

Second, BMWs, at least the 740, has many similar issues to the Q. Tire balance problems, vibrations and significant suspension wear. What is notably absent are the transmission and injetor problems. The ZF transmission in my 97 is built for 430lb/ft of torque (overbuilt for the engine).

Some differing problems are: digital display failure (pixels - not a big deal, really), Nikasil engine block failure on 95 and older (and you thought guides were bad!), radiator neck cracks (guaranteed to happen), catalytic converters fail prematurely, oil pump bolts back out and fall in to pan and ac motors go bad.

My 97 740 is running well at 69k. I do have a potential driveshaft problem. I get some sporadic metalling clanking at low speeds accompanied by vibration (under load all speeds) from the rear of the car. I think it is the driveshaft CV or the center bearing (not sure yet). I don't think it is a half shaft given the speed of the clanking. Kind of hard to diagnose.

In 3 months I have spent $1k on the car. $500 for a tune up (plugs, all fluids changed (x transmission - lifetime fluid), filters, etc) and $500 on suspension/preventative maintenance.

Hope the Qs are running well. I don't see too many gen Is around anymore. I do see lots of gen IIs, but almost no new Qs.

Hey Hitman!

[Jberger]

If you're looking for a technically informative BMW group. Try this one http://www.digest.net/bmw/

It's been around forever, so almost EVERYTHING has been discussed in detail. The archives are simply amazing. Now days, the traffic is much lower, but the archives are worth the searching.

enjoy.

[JEC]

Just in case you haven't seen this one:http://www.roadfly.org

Have an E24 and an E28 in the family and these boards are well-frequented and informative (could be a function of catering to older-model owners.)

Hope this helps!

JEC

[PalmerWMD]

How does it feel to be wearing your screename again?

Fred..

[greg_atlanta]

What about the driving experience with the BMW v. the Q?

I know the BMW feels more like a tank (weighs about 300 lbs more). Does it feel as nimble as the Q did with performance tires?

5 speed auto feel different? Shift a lot more?

[AZQ45]

Now that you mention it, the car does 'feel' heavier than the Q. The benefit of that, it seems to me, is a feeling of greater stability. You plant the BMW in a turn (freeway ramp)going 80 and it holds the line effortlessley. I guess that is a suspension and steering thing. It does feel a little ponderous in the regular 'D' mode around town. I drive it in the 's' (sport) mode which always starts in 1st and had much higher shipt points. It does feel sportier.

I don't have sporty tires. They are the stock 235/60/16s. I will probably stick with stock size as I don't feel like spending $2k on 17 or 18 inch wheels/tires.

The cabin is quiter. I guess there is more soundproofing.

Controls are a little strange. They take a while to get used to. Small switches...LOTS of small switches. The AC blows ice cubes. The engine fan howls quite a bit.

I love the transmission. The 5 speed shifting is really cool. It shifts smooth and the close ratio gearing (i.e. RPM drops are only like 1k WOT) is awesome.

The car does NOT seem to have the screaming acceleration the Q had from 50-85. It is more sedate.

The BMW is able to be worked on. I dropped the whole exhaust system in 1 hour (came out in one piece!). Strangely enough, parts are a bit cheaper than the Q.

Overall, I would say my 91 Q was more sporty and possessed more 'raw' power. If it had a transmission like the 740, that would have been something. The 740 is more sublime. It is as quick/fast as a well maintained 91Q, but more refined (don't forget BMW has had many years to work on the 7 series equation....the gen I Q was Infiniti's first crack at it...Nice job!)

While I am here...anyone have any thoughts on my driveline issue? Same design as the Q (2 piece driveshaft). Intermittent noises from what seems the rear center of car (clanking that rapidy increased in frequency as you accelerate). The noise will appear when the car downshifts, too. Vibration from the rear...felt in seat of pants. More noticeable partial load. Not as noticeable WOT. All this happens when the car is hot...driven for a few minutes. Sometimes it doesn't happen at all!

I initially thought parking brake problems, but I am not sure. The clanking (tinny sounding), seems to be too fast for the half-shafts.

I inspected the driveshaft...u-joint was tight. Center bearing looked OK (cant tell about the race). Not much play at the CV joint and no tears in the boot. There was a lot of grease and grime on the heat shield under the CV joint...I am thinking it lost a seal and its grease and may be shot.

Thanks all! Nice to post here again.

[wamQ45]

I am looking to become a future former Q owner. May happen sooner than I though.......

[PalmerWMD]

I am looking to become a future former Q owner. May happen sooner than I though.......

Fred...

[greg_atlanta]

The car does NOT seem to have the screaming acceleration the Q had from 50-85. It is more sedate.

One of the benefits of the Q 4 speed auto is that it keeps pulling in one gear... usually 2nd gear. The fact that 2nd gear can go from 0 mph to 90 mph means the engine is doing all the work.

But 5 speed auto is better since there are more sweetspots to get a downshift.

Q feels like a horse if you punch it at 20 mph (drops into 1st) or 60-70 mph (drops into 2nd), but in between it feels like a dog.

See if center U-joint on 740i is replaceable. Might be?? Has extended warranty covered any work so far?