It’s been a loooong while since I’ve participated in CC. One might also term it “a stretch”. So it’s only fitting that I would return with a short piece about a long car. Finding a V12-powered limo in the streets of Bangkok was a sure sign that, after a couple months of lurking, it was time to resurface…
It was yet another sweltering day, during the so-called Thai “winter”. I was passed by a big black 7-Series from the turn of the century. It took me a little while to register that this 20-year-old 750iL was not quite the common-or-garden variety, but the 750iXL, marketed as the L7. Nice work, BMW. Take heed, Mitsuoka and countless others. This is how to do a (modest) 25cm stretch with a minimum of fuss and awkwardness.
This generation of L7 remains the longest production BMW ever made. To date, it is also the marque’s only attempt at a “proper” limo since the stillborn 505, back in the ‘50s. A glimpse from BMW’s catalogue shows an opulence that rivals the contemporary Maybach, Rolls-Royce or Toyota Century, with none of the overwrought styling that usually characterizes these über-limos. A little under 900 L7s were made from 1997 to 2001. Not sure about the number of RHD models, but it’s safe to say fewer than 40% (more likely 10%) of that total were sold as right-hookers.
So to answer the title question: they’re too damn rare. But they’re also quite affordable, as befits a 20-year-old V12 Bimmer. A bit of web browsing proved that there are at least three in Thailand – one of which was sold recently for THB 1.1m (about US$ 36,000). That’s the price of a new Mazda 3 in these parts. Imagine that. A locally-made 4-cyl. shopping cart versus a Rubenesque Bavarian Autobahn eater.
I know which one I’d go for.
Related post:
CC Feature: 2000 Karl Lagerfeld BMW 750iL L7 Individual – The Brougham-iest BMW, by Brendan Saur
Where you are, one presumes “we” can’t all just a long BMW (a BM tripleU?) because then “our” traffic jam would presumably reach the border of Cambodia at one end and the border of Burma the other, whereas it currently falls a bit short of that. Mostly.
Great to see your articles here again… I’ve missed the stories from your part(s) of the world!
The 750 (i and iL) were about the last BMWs that really wowed me, and I’ve got to say that iXL is an awfully nice looking car. If a car like this still looks imposing and grand nearly two decades after it was manufactured, then you know it’s a well-done prestige vehicle.
Actually, the reason we can’t all get a Long is because of that sexy, sexy V-12 engine. Essentially, it is two of BMW’s near-perfect inline 6’s mated at the crank. However, using German “You-will-not-question-our-logic!” thinking, the decision was made to simply use two separate 6-cylinder systems rather than spending the money for a single 12-cylinder system. After all, the two near-perfect independent systems just have to be perfectly synchronized into one system. No problem for any German engineer worth his bratwurst, right?
It seems though, that in the real world the two sides of the engine can get slightly out sync with each other with results ranging from annoying to disasterous. While the right mechanic can keep things in perfect harmony, it is such a bother that many mechanics won’t touch them or will charge high prices in hopes you’ll go elsewhere.
The too-long/didn’t read version of the above is:
An engine divided against itself is hard to stand.
*I learned about the V-12 when I had a chance to buy a beautiful BMW 850 for a stupid low price. Fortunately I talked to my BMW mechanic first, who sighed, rubbed his forehead, and explained why the car was so cheap.
So you are saying that the most effective way to appreciate a Jaguar V-12 is to own one of these first? 😊
It all sounds compelling, and I’m sure you’re 100% correct, but I do wonder what you mean exactly by “system.”
I think he means ECU. I believe I read somewhere that it used two ECU’s, one for each bank and (this now my supposition) presumably had some kind of module between them that attempts to keep the two ECU/engines in sync. (as opposed to one ECU for the whole shebang like you’d kind of expect).
I could be wrong, but that’s immediately where my mind went when I read his comment after he posted it.
At $36k, you can keep the Mazda and the BMW. I’ll have a Cub 70 and lots of taxi rides please.
Welcome back. We’ve missed you around these parts.
I’d rather forgotten about BMW’s not so little experiment in factory limos. It is understated, which is also the case with these 7 Series to start with. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one. For that matter, I wonder if they were even sold in the US. I suspect not. The US limo market by this time had moved on to cheap but very long stretches. This would have been way to understated to work here.
Nice to be back, Paul.
I would think a few might have made it over to the US. How many? 50, 100? Perhaps more, but not much more… Tough to spot within a country the size the US. FWIW, It’s the first one I’ve ever seen myself.
It’s not quite as simple as that. Certifying a unique body version would have required its own EPA testing regime as well as crash testing, including side intrusion, etc., as this version was a unique variant, weighed more and had different aerodynamics. And there were likely other certification issues. The US market is not at all friendly to unique small-volume variations.
My guess is that BMW did not ever try to sell it in the US, but I could be wrong.
This generation 7-series is still, to me, the best looking of the generations. I don’t recall being aware of the “L” package either (I wasn’t, and still am not, in that target market), but it works and certainly has presence. The 750 pictured here seems to have some rather wide rear wheels/tires, in a good way, certainly wider than those on the “standard” car pictured from the catalog. Daddy likes.
The range topping 7 cost a quarter mill here in standard length, values plummeted like building 7, I dont think Ive even seen this extra long version nice find.
Welcome back, Tatra87!
L7 designation isn’t exclusive to this E38. BMW USA offered the opulent L7 version of E23 as a “final edition” for 1986 before the next generation was introduced in the United States in 1987.
https://germancarsforsaleblog.com/1986-bmw-l7/
https://drive-my.com/en/blogs/entry/a-most-personal-statement-of-style-1986-bmw-l7-e23-7-series.html
Same with L6 version of 635CSi for 1987 in the United States.
Yes, I also understand that a successor was entertained, made from the E65. One prototype was made in 2005, but they never did go ahead with production. BMW now owned Rolls-Royce, so it was perhaps deemed better not to cannibalize sales…
So good to see your byline again. I’ve always regarded this generation of 7 series as timelessly handsome, and your photos prove me right.. Looking forward to your next post !
Thank you kindly, Imperialist.
I agree — this generation of 7 Series is timeless. Which is strange, as it dates back to an era that is far from my cup of tea. But it’s very well-proportioned. Wide without being bulbous, svelte yet Germanic. The only contemporary car in this category that would make me hesitate would be the Jaguar / Daimler Sovereign.
When I first saw the title I read “750iX” and thought, hmm, an AWD 7 Series, that is an oddity. In Thailand no less. But it’s XL, as in long, I see. I do remember the L7 here in the US, a curious branding choice though perhaps alluding to single letter + single number M series cars.
Great find. There’s one parked in the back streets of hipsterville here in Melbourne which I assume is a RHD.
Well, well well! So some of these made it all the way to Melbourne. RHD most likely indeed.
This Ozzie one shows how much this car benefits from tinted rear windows, as the stretch window is tinted by default.
Is it only in China that the stretched 7-series are badged Li instead of iL?
The local dealer brought in a white one in 1999, which a man I knew eventually bought. The last time I saw it was in 2010 and it was out of commission. He said it needed a fuel pump. Not sure what has become of it since then, but I remember him saying it was very rare, and it was an RHD as well.
Seems odd that the sunroof opening was over the front row of seats…
Hi guys, I have just bought a RHD black L7 here in New Zealand- it is very neglected cosmetically, but man, it’s coming up beautifully. I have not found a single English video about the L7 on YouTube, and articles on the car are far and few in between. Some photos attached (remember, I am still in the process of detailing- it needs work!).
L7’s best album was “The Beauty Process”.