The Drive: BMW 740iL

The Ultimate Executive Sedan

Back in 1999, I had the privilege to spend four days or so with one black on black BMW 740iL. I recall my driving experience in what follows.

The sedan is jet black. Ink. Night. Gloss. It is mag-nificent.

The interior? A satiny glow comes from the immaculate black leather gloved cabin. The faint, marvelously tantalizing scent of BMW leather tickles my nostrils.

This is the consummate executive sedan. Not over done as was the 750iL. The 740iL was well priced ($69,000 give or take) and well powered (DOCH 4 valve, 4.4 Liter, 282bhp w/ 310 lb-ft torque @ 3900rpm).

The 7 sits heavily (4,325 lbs) on a long wheelbase (120.9 inches). From stem to stern, the big sedan is 201 inches long – just three inches behind the mammoth W140 S-Class of the same genre. It’s well proportioned, though. Nothing seems too fat, or too skinny, it all seems right and tight.

Actually, one exception. The rear door looks a little too stretched. This being a LWB car, the 7 blesses the rear occupants with 42 inches of leg stretching room. But the roofline, the rear window, and the actual door have the appearance of being just disproportionate with the rest of the car.

The SWB is the proportionate choice. Just don’t expect nearly the same rear legroom.

There’s blessed tension to the design. The flared front wheel well “haunches”, the nostrils of the grille, the A-pillars, the C-pillars, the line of the trunk, all sharply defined, yet subtly smoothed. Vodka w/ Kahlua.

Approach.

There are obvious hallmarks of the predecessor (E32) 7-Series. What stellar pedigree.

Pull up on the door handle. The door opens, heavily, but smoothly.

Full waft of BMW leather scent. I swear it’s an aphrodisiac.

Sit.

The 16 way adjustable seat, isn’t actually all that comfortable. It seems thinly padded. It isn’t bad, it’s just not great at being anything else more than supportive.

That driver oriented cabin. The dash w/ GPS at the ready seems to point at me. I could spend hours just figuring out that system. But do I care to? Absolutely not.

Start the engine. It’s that “twill” sounding start up that so BMW; light yet refined. The V-8 idles softly and distantly. It’s a smooth sounding machine.

Take the burled walnut shifter in hand and then shift to D.

Forward we go. No drama, just smooth progression.

The four spoke, leather wrapped steering wheel feels so right in hand. The hub mounted controls are perfectly placed. The all important register is there – feeding me tarmac information from four Michelin MXV4 Plus signals.

The rearview mirrors stick out like oversize ears. They cover a lot of sightline behind me.

Time to cruise down the road. The 5-Speed ZF Automatic shifts seamlessly. It’s all so easy. The speed-sensitive steering is, again, perfect.

Slow for a moment.

Those brakes are right-now grabby. This machine is meant for performance.

Look ahead. Straight ahead. All clear and all smiles.

Right foot stomps go pedal to floor and…

The rear tyres chirp as I surge forward with a hushed, but vicious V-8 snarl. The DSC traction control intrudes, not audibly, but cuts the wheelspin and flash an admonishing hazard triangle at me from the center of the gauge display.

From naught to 60, takes an easy 7 seconds. Respectable time, but a little too casual in retrospect and when compared to the current 750Li’s sub-six second record. Still, the torque is there and it pushes the 2+ ton car with effective force.

Grab the wheel and find a corner and the big 7 takes to it with amazing aplomb. For such a big car, this machine handles its weight so very, very well. Better in fact than any other big sedan that I’ve ever driven. That includes the predecessor 740i. The confidence given to the driver is nothing short of impressive. The capability to go fast and push is on tap.

Considering that this 740iL rides on standard bilsteins and not self-levelers, it is an impressive geometric accomplishment by the Bavarians.

On the open highway, a high speed cruiser, this 7 most assuredly is. Past the century mark, the car’s Autobahn breeding shows itself with poised control of body movement, stability in lane change maneuvers, and calm assurance that there’s no better high speed cruiser.

The 7’s maximum sprint is limited to a wimpy 128 mph. Unfettered, I’m quite sure that the big Bimmer would be good for maxing out in excess of 140.

Along the happy way, a fellow enthusiast in an 80s Ford Mustang gives me a grin and thumbs up as we both charge the horizon.

Time to depart the highway and return home. Once again, around town the 7 is docile and so very civilized. As an every day commuter, the car works very well. Again, the 7’s actions are all executed in such a precise manner that everything feels so effortless.

To be sure, this is never, ever the old Caddy style of effortless. Highly adept and controlled ease of use is the better way of putting it.

Park the car. Step out. Turn around and marvel. The 740iL is one of the smoothest operating cars on the road. It’s sharper and more competent in its actions than the S-Class. It’s a looker too. Those lines are perfection. Ah, BMW before Chris Bangle.

This car will remain one of my all time favorites.