Unfinished Business-Klásse

 

Being on lock down and keeping eyes on the market leads to a lot of day-dreaming for auto enthusiasts. And while that certainly has been the case for me, it's also been a time of reflecting on past adventures and experiences - i.e. those cars from my past that I would like to have around again.

Though I'm currently on a sports car hiatus, I do have my heart set on a couple of fun choices for the future.  For now though, something practical, timeless, and less expensive - that can still keep my interest - was higher on the list. Something low key to tool around town at night or on the weekend, and eventually, the office.

There has been one sedan from my past that my mind always went back to.  It was an extraordinary car for it's time and it left an impression on me ever since I first drove one.  After which it became the benchmark with which I measured every single 4-door luxury car I've driven ever since, no matter how new a car it was up against.  It was my 2000 BMW 740i M-Sport.

The ol' girl always cleaned up nicely. Though there was always so much to clean...

 

Acquired back in 2006, I kind of stumbled on to it while actually looking for an 2001-2003 540i, but was astonished at the depreciation curve of the bigger Bimmer.  I came across one locally, drove it, and loved it. It was my first foray into life with German cars, and with which I quickly found out about the steep learning curve needed to live with one. Sure it had old navigation tech, and it wasn't as flashy as the (much maligned) newer E65 Bangle-designed 7-series was, but the E38 7-series was and remains handsome in a timeless manner. And it drove GREAT. I learned then and there what it meant to drive a teutonic highway cruiser with 324 lb/ft of torque on tap, that simply eats up the miles effortlessly, is agile enough to hold its own when the road demands it, and is comfortable to drive for hours on end. 

Are you kidding me? Having the means does not mean you have taste. For me, it's a no brainer. (Pic c/o @e38mylife)

 

 

For those who aren't BMW-philes, "E38" is the platform code for the 1995-2001 generation of the 7-series cars, otherwise known as the last of the classically styled BMW flagships in both shape and driving mannerisms.  It was offered in 740i and 740iL versions with a 4.4 liter V8, as well as a 750iL with a 5.4 liter V12.  The "L" denoted the long wheelbase cars, which provided limousine-like legroom in the back seat.  The last 3 years of the model run had an optional "M-Sport" package for the shorter 740i that truly made it the driver's alternative to an S-class or LS400 of the time. Differences between the standard and M-Sport versions were a firmer and lower suspension, 3.15 final-drive gearing and higher stall speed torque converter for quicker acceleration, 18-way adjustable sport seats, and a few styling touches inside and out like those hallmark style-37 wheels that bring awareness to its intentions.  The 2001 version in particular brought a few more exterior trim updates and is the most sought after version of the run.

Classic BMW interior design was driver focused, even in the big sedans.Still a nice place to spend time today.

The E38 7-series has also had it's share of Hollywood moments, staring as James Bond's ride in Tomorrow Never Dies and Jason Statham's getaway car in Transporter.  But often overlooked and underrated was the short film Ambush, part of BMW's "The Hire" series where Clive Owen shows off the dual-personality capabilities of the car.  They are all great fun to watch.

Q outfitted this one with a few more options than the factory allowed.

 

As for my original 2000 740i, I only kept it for a little over a year, but still managed to put over 20,000 miles on it during that time, commuting long distances to work and heading out of town on weekends with friends whenever possible. I sold it only because I had an opportunity to pick up something truly rare and special, which I'll get to in a future post. For me, the E38 was the right car at the wrong time of my life. But the impression that it made stayed with me ever since, and I always wondered if I would get back into one.

Fast forward another decade and a half, where the E38 has bottomed out its value on the used car market for years, and enthusiasts once again took notice.  There has been a recent uptick on the demand for the late model sport package cars, particularly in black. Sites like Bring-a-trailer, Petrolicious, and various YouTube channels have all waxed poetically about the last "great" BMW 7 series.  And since I convinced myself that it doesn't make sense in the current environment to plunk down a lot of money on another sports car right now that would just end up being a garage ornament, if the right 2001 740i Sport, in black, came around, I'd take a serious look.

And so one did: a 2001 black on black 740i M-sport with clean 2-owner history, with the last gentleman having looked after it for the past 17 years.  It is a high-mileage beast, spending most of its life as a San Diego to LA business commuter.  But as we know highway miles are the miles you want, since they are much easier on the car's components than life as an around town grocery-getter would be.  When I saw its condition I could tell this car lived a good life, and I was intrigued.  After researching that most of the big-ticket maintenance items were handled, it started to make more sense to me in adding it to my stable.  So after a few days I made an offer and drove it home, an owner once again of my favorite old school big body sedan.

Butting in from another era, and still demanding its respect.

Am I sucker for nostalgia? Sure. But more importantly I'm a fan of modern classics. And though the car was well kept and looks especially clean for its age, it doesn't mean there aren't some things that want for attention as any 20 year old car would. Luckily, this isn't my first, second, or third rodeo with sometimes finicky German car ownership, and I'm looking forward to this project to make it my own as I did with the others.  It felt like I had unfinished business letting the first 7 go, so I intend to make right by this one.  And right now we've got nothing but time, so let's get to it...