HomePick of the DayPick of the Day: 2001 BMW 740iL, German luxury for rising executives

Pick of the Day: 2001 BMW 740iL, German luxury for rising executives

The extended-wheelbase sedan comes loaded with class

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In the luxury car marketplace, many models have historically been targeted specifically to professional business executives.  A 2001 commercial for BMW’s flagship 7-Series takes viewers through a day’s activities of white-collar life but concludes with a twist – all of those tasks were carried out as part of an extended, day-long test-drive.

The Pick of the Day is a 2001 BMW 740iL, an executive cruiser listed on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Elkhart, Indiana.

BMW

While the listing doesn’t reveal who owned the car 20 years ago, it likely was someone in a high-rise office building working his or her way up the corporate ladder.  But the commute must have been short – the odometer reads only 76,000 miles.  

“After driving this very well-maintained 2001 BMW 740iL, it is easy to understand why the 7-Series was the flagship of the BMW lineup,” the listing states.  “This BMW runs and drives just as it should and is ready for a cross-country trip with no excuses.”

Finished in Titan Silver Metallic, the sedan rides on a chassis called the E38 and carries an “L” suffix in its model name, indicating that it has an extended wheelbase with a few extra inches of legroom for rear passengers, making it BMW’s largest car at the time.

Another exterior upgrade comes in the form of M-Sport staggered wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport tires, conveying a sporty aesthetic in conjunction with color-matched lower bodyside moldings.

Since the flagship 7-Series’ introduction in 1977, BMW has used this model as a showcase for its newest technology, later trickling down to lower models in succession.  Some of the innovations for this sixth-generation 740iL include a navigation system, a built-in garage door opener, and a host of comfort and convenience amenities.

Power for all E38 7-Series models comes from a 4.4-liter V8 that delivers 282 horsepower and sends power to the rear wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission.   

BMW

According to production data on the BMW Sales & Production Databook, this car was one of 13,389 sold in the United States for the 2001 model year.  There might not be many remaining with fewer than 100,000 miles on them today. 

“If you are looking for a luxurious ride, you have found the car,” the seller concludes.

BMW

The asking price is $9,995, which seems like a bargain considering it cost $66,900 when new.  It could be the perfect neo-classic car for celebrating your promotion to regional manager.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Tyson Hugie
Tyson Hugie
Tyson Hugie is a Phoenix-based automotive enthusiast who has been writing for The Journal since 2016. His favorite automotive niche is 1980s and 1990s Japanese cars, and he is a self-diagnosed “Acura addict” since he owns a collection of Honda and Acura cars from that era. Tyson can usually be found on weekends tinkering on restoration projects, attending car shows, or enjoying the open road. He publishes videos each week to his YouTube channel and is also a contributing author to Arizona Driver Magazine, KSLCars.com, NSX Driver Magazine, and other automotive publications. His pride and joy is a 1994 Acura Legend LS coupe with nearly 600,000 miles on the odometer, but he loves anything on four wheels and would someday like to own a 1950 Buick Special like his late grandfather’s.

5 COMMENTS

  1. as a 23 year member of the bmw cca and having owned 2 bmws.the 740i is a great car but has many shortcomings.firstly the timing chain is numero uno.can not fix this with a big mac and a fry.too many rubber and plastic parts.it is a midwestern car so how bad is the rust.does it have tilt steering wheel and telescopic steering wheel .,lumbar seats for driver and passenger? i am interested but need a complete carfax,vin,repair and maintenance records and a check on a pre buy basis buy a bmwcca member or a bmw dealership.they are wonderfull cars but wonderfully expensive as they get older.

  2. I’m wit JimmyIn TEXAS- BMW is not even on my list.- But at least the copywriting pulled me in. As Bob mentioned- I see costs only imagined in horror movies. $1900 for spark plug change? Eh needed new wires…..

  3. And…. you will be the last owner. No one will ever buy it from you. A life of never ending BMW mechanic pain.

  4. The E38 was the nicest of the BMW 7s imo. Better be prepared to turn your own wrenches if buying a 20 year old Bimmer though, unless you want to adopt a mechanic.

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