The BMW 750iL Was BMW's V12 Flagship Luxury Sedan From 30 Years Ago - Doug DeMuro

[Mani59]

[stein_325i]

Great video. I find that these older cars are much more suited to Doug's review style as by today's standards they are very "quirky" and just much more interesting to learn about.

This car was a big deal back in the day and won a lot of praise from automotive journalists. C/D was enamored with this car back in the day, beating out the then aging W126 S-Class and Value-Leader Lexus LS400.

Originally Posted by Car and Driver

If you can grasp that any number of auto writers, including ours, called the 750iL "the best car in the world" and nobody laughed, then you have an inkling of the level of automotive excellence present in history's finest BMW sedan. What Dom Perignon is to champagne, the 750iL is to luxury sedans.

Like Doug said, this really sent a warning to Mercedes that BMW intended to be on the map of German luxury brands. MB was so starstruck by BMW's V12 that the next W140 S-Class which arrived in 92' was pure excess, and can actually be seen as an earlier example of the horsepower wars. In order to overshadow the 7er the S600 received a 6.0L V12 making 402hp and 428lb-ft of torque and a 0-60 time of 5.7 compared to the 7er's 296hp and 332lb-ft and 0-60 of high 6's-low 7's. Of course the price was also $140k which was outrageous for the time. Honestly, the full-size luxury flagship class has some of the most interesting history behind it.

C/D: 1990 Luxury Sedan Comparison

[fgpalmer71]

My mom had one when I was a kid learning to drive in 1994. Gray with gray interior. My dad had a 735i Dinan'ed out, white with Camel. I LOVED that 750iL. Learning to drive was fun!

[Germanauto]

I just love seeing all these old school BMW elements together in one car. The small kidneys, dual headlights, strong character line, Hofmeister kink, business-like cabin, and of course the timeless wire wheels. This E32 is obviously very rudimentary; the forthcoming E38 really took all these elements and refined them to the point of perfection.

[fgpalmer71]

The E32, it's rudimentary by any standard today.....but back then...that car was it. Doug says it didn't handle all that well, but at ths time it out handled everything It's size. Those 15's were boss hog at the time too! That's back when 17's were considered huge and 18's meant you were nuts. Lol.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by fgpalmer71

The E32, it's rudimentary by any standard today.....but back then...that car was it. Doug says it didn't handle all that well, but at ths time it out handled everything It's size. Those 15's were boss hog at the time too! That's back when 17's were considered huge and 18's meant you were nuts. Lol.

Concur

[Maitre_Absolut]

The E38 was more iconic to me, always my favorite until the S8 (Ronin car) came out. I guess the E32 was before my time. Looks like a car from the 70s and a quick google search confirms it looks identical to the E23 which was made in the 70s.

[fgpalmer71]

Originally Posted by Maitre_Absolut

The E38 was more iconic to me, always my favorite until the S8 (Ronin car) came out. I guess the E32 was before my time. Looks like a car from the 70s and a quick google search confirms it looks identical to the E23 which was made in the 70s.

I think that's it right there....timing. That E32 750iL will always hold the top spot when I think of classic large luxury sedans because I was a teenager when they were new. I remember the looks and can hear the conversations my parents would have with strangers....."that thing has a V12!, oh my lord". That chase scene from Ronin is 1 of the best of all time. If you were a teen at that point in time I can see how it (S8) would end up taking the top spot in yours!

[..Rush..]

Nice 7 series.
For me, the ultimate BMW of the 90s era was this 8 series pictured in the movie Glengarry Glen Ross.

"Coffee is for closers!"

[fgpalmer71]

Originally Posted by ..Rush..

Nice 7 series.
For me, the ultimate BMW of the 90s era was this 8 series pictured in the movie Glengarry Glen Ross.

"Coffee is for closers!"

Sexy beasts!! I couldn't argue with that choice either.

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by Maitre_Absolut

The E38 was more iconic to me, always my favorite until the S8 (Ronin car) came out. I guess the E32 was before my time. Looks like a car from the 70s and a quick google search confirms it looks identical to the E23 which was made in the 70s.

Identical to the E23? The bumpers and tail lights are completely different. The entire rear end, doors, fenders, grills (both kidneys and headlight surrounds) are updated and much more defined and striking. Plus the interiors are worlds apart, but I assume your comment was mainly about exterior design. The shape of the windows are similar but that's about it.

[fgpalmer71]

I can follow where he was trying to go with it Vivek. Visually speaking, the e32 was a fantastic update. They kept the round headlights, general roofline and pillars all around. You can see the evolution of that 70's design, where as the e38 changed all those things.....Visually speaking. In every other aspect that 750 e32 shouldn't be compared to anything previously!

[Maitre_Absolut]

Originally Posted by ..Rush..

Nice 7 series.
For me, the ultimate BMW of the 90s era was this 8 series pictured in the movie Glengarry Glen Ross.

"Coffee is for closers!"

325is from The Chase

[Maitre_Absolut]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

Identical to the E23? The bumpers and tail lights are completely different. The entire rear end, doors, fenders, grills (both kidneys and headlight surrounds) are updated and much more defined and striking. Plus the interiors are worlds apart, but I assume your comment was mainly about exterior design. The shape of the windows are similar but that's about it.

I can’t even tell those two apart. Today that wouldn’t even be considered a facelift.

[M-technik-3]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

Identical to the E23? The bumpers and tail lights are completely different. The entire rear end, doors, fenders, grills (both kidneys and headlight surrounds) are updated and much more defined and striking. Plus the interiors are worlds apart, but I assume your comment was mainly about exterior design. The shape of the windows are similar but that's about it.

We got hosed on the E23 body style. There are some grey market spec cars here in the US, they look significantly better than our miserable bumpered cars.

[fgpalmer71]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

We got hosed on the E23 body style. There are some grey market spec cars here in the US, they look significantly better than our miserable bumpered cars.

We ALWAYS get hosed!

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by Maitre_Absolut

I can’t even tell those two apart. Today that wouldn’t even be considered a facelift.

Can you tell an E21 from an E30?

[AR_Motorwerkz]

Originally Posted by M-technik-3

We got hosed on the E23 body style. There are some grey market spec cars here in the US, they look significantly better than our miserable bumpered cars.

Now that is gorgeous, even more so than the US model. No wonder the gray import ban happened, when foreign versions were always better.

[FCX5]

The build quality on the 750il seems really impressive given it has 180K miles.