Long Car is Long!

Alright, I will make this short: I am BEYOND excited to see this 1999 BMW L7 pop up on BringATrailer!

Generally speaking I like all cars, but there are a few that really get my heart racing, and this is one of them. As a prior 2001 BMW 740i Sport owner, I hold the late 90s/early 2000s E38 generation on a pedestal, going out on a limb stating they’re the best sedans……..ever.

And the L7 model featured here is a part of that storied lineup. But, what makes it so cool that it deserves its own post on here? Well, let me tell you:

BMWs recipe for making the L7 was pretty simple: take a standard 750iL, an already long car, and add nearly 10 inches to the wheel base. This brings the overall length to 211 inches. That’s seventeen and a half FEET of E38!

It’s like a Maybach 57 and 62, before there was a Maybach 57 and 62. This makes the L7 a car not just to be driven in, but to be chauffeured in, you wealthy industrialist, you.

L7s were expensive and sold in extremely limited numbers, with around 900 produced against a total of 340,000 E38s. Most had heaps of money spent optioning them out with all sorts of features that screamed wealth in the late 90s and early 2000s. Power reclining rear seats (with memory!), refrigerators, etc were common. But then you could also have mobile phones, TVs, VCRs, and yes, even that icon of 1990s success…a fax machine!

So, they’re rare, special, and can be found in unique configurations. Additionally, they were never sold here in North America, and as such, I have been patiently waiting for one to trickle in once they reached 25 years of age and could be imported.

And that wait has finally ended! Yes, one has finally appeared, and wow, does it look great.

Finished in a lovely Night Blue Metallic over Champagne (how fitting!) leather interior, this L7 was originally sold in the Middle East before finding its way to New York via Canada.

Even though it’s 27 years old, the mileage is sitting around 57,000 miles, which is perfectly acceptable, as I’d imagine it wasn’t a daily driver. Or not a daily driver of long distances, at least.

Inside, the front is typical 750iL E38. Looks nice and tidy and I love seeing a leather dash. Great bit of luxury!

But really it’s the back we’re here for, as that’s what the L7 is all about. It was originally specified in a four seat configuration, forgoing the standard rear bench style seat for a split one featuring a center divider containing a flip up TV screen, mobile, phone and seat controls.

A VCR is included and is housed in the driver’s seat. Just imagine popping in your favorite 90s flick and watching it as you cruise along.

Condition of the rear looks equally as nice as the front. All the leather appears clean, switches are all intact and with minimum fade. Impressive, because even though this was a luxury car, it was from a time when a LOT of plastic was used inside.

All in all, it’s an amazing car, and I could go on and on highlighting all the details. But really, I just want to be driven in it. I want to be settled in to those supple reclining seats, window shades up, cold drink in the cupholder, and a movie on the TV. All while cruising quietly down the road.

And now the question: what will it sell for? Such a unique, luxurious car should SURELY pull a high figure, right? Currently, there are a couple for sale on Mobile.de in the 40,000 to 50,000 EUR ($46,000-$56,000 US Dollar) range. Given that it would require transportation and import fees, it’s going to be a tad higher. Does $65,000-$70,000 sound reasonable?

That’s a lot of money for a niche BMW, but what a car! Certainly whoever owns it will be the only pulling up to their local Cars and Coffee in it. I think it’s worth it and I am excited to see how this plays out. It won’t end up in my garage, but I hope it ends up in yours!