BC

I need to know if the iL is THAT much more roomy in the back.

Thanks,
Brendan

Jessa

Family used to have a 740i, mid-ninties model. I'm about 5"7, and spent lots of comfortable time sitting in the back seat. Haven't tried a 740iL for comparison.

They sold the car recently after more and more of its luxury features kept breaking. Stuff like the driver's seat controls and windshield wipiers would go out, and then be very difficult to diagnose, or "fix" themselves mysteriously.

Randy V

I have a '99 740 iL.

Yes, much more roomy - the rear doors are a full 5" longer than the sport (i) model.

Probably the only chance to show her off here, so:



Deeeep shine:

SL8GT

-iL is much more roomy in the back. The seats actually recline a bit as well. FWIW, sport package can be had with either -i or -iL, But tough to find in the -iL variant; get it if you can find one so equipped.

Brent 89-GT

We are on our second iL. Started with a '95 740iL, moved to a '98 750iL. I wouldn't buy a swb 740 personally, well....maybe the sport. The sport was never availible in iL to the best of my knowledge. The real 740i sport was introduced in '99 I believe. It has a lower final drive ratio, the larger wheels and tires (availible seperately) and sport seats. The suspension may have been stiffened slightly as well. I really do like the extra space of the L versions though.

I have always found even the non-sport models to be incredibly fun to drive. Our '98 750 is a monster and has the 18" forged sport wheel option which looks awesome.

The pitfalls are that the cars require a near 928 level of maint. Ours has had a recurring airbag fault light, at least 10 visits, and it is currently on again. Anymore I just ignore it until something else needs work. Still, my wife will NOT give up this car. I even tried to get her into a 2001 MB S600. Guess what, the BMW is still in the garage, the Benz is gone. As a bonus, it is the last good looking seven series. The new Bangle designed BMW's are the most hiddeous creations ever. I refuse to buy a new Bangle BMW, EVER!

SL8GT

Ummm, did a lot of searching for -iL with the sport package for my sister and for MY2001, BMW offered -->

Optional Sport Package, new to 740iL including:

Electronic Damping Control
18-in. wheels (different sizes front/rear) with performance tires.
Shadowline exterior trim.
Vavona redwood interior trim.

Highline option at extra cost including:

Midnight Blue or Orinocco BMW Individual exterior paint.
Euro Nappa leather interior in Ecru color (off-white), with blue or green piping, carpeting and accents.

Flint

You occasionally see the "protection" models on autotrader and such (the factory armored versions).. Once saw an early 90's 750 for sale, ad said "comes with spare wheels, engine." Hmmm... a spare V12...

Chuck Z

I had a 2001 740iL sport with 11,000 miles that was the biggest POS I've ever owned. Absoultely gorgeous car in Anthracite Gray with Black interior. More electrical issues than you could shake a stick at! The final straw was when at times it wouldn't start. Sometimes you would get in and turn the key and it was dead as a door nail. A few minutes later, it would start just fine. Numerous trips to the dealer and weeks at a time without the car until one visit we think they fixed it. After a few months of no problems we sold the car.

Brent 89-GT

Like I said, a near 928 level of maint on these cars. The newest seven series was even worse, at least initially. It seems like the only manufacturers that can get the electronics right are the Japanese. We had a '01 MB S600 and it was trouble from day one. We only put 6500 miles on that car.

They are gorgeous machines, just too complex for their own good. That is the price for the driving experience though, much like owning a Porsche IMO. Like the 928, everytime I drive the 750 I am impressed, such a sweet driving car. I just tolerate, begrudgingly, the problems knowing that the equivalent Lexus would absolutely put me to sleep.

So that brings up the extended warranty, GET ONE, sell the car when it expires.

BC

Wow. LOTS of great info guys. Lots here to think about. I knew that these cars had a bit of a problem with small, niggling issues that re-occure. I have not sat in the back of just an i, but I have seen up close an iL.
It seems a shame to buy such a big car, and not get the limo back seat.

For Chuck to say the car is a POS is a very big deal to me, as he has dealt with 928s for a very long time.

Now, with that all in mind, I also sat in a 99 lexus, which is also available many times with a CPO warrantee (as are 98 and up 740iLs).

The back seat (the reason I even am looking at these cars) was quite a bit tighter, though my main concern was the fact that my head hit the liner in the back. It seems that my knees did not specifically have alot of extra room back there, but they were not smooshed in any way.


Randy - Can I have a ride in the back of your 740iL? I'm not joking - I mean were so close.

I hate SUVs. I want a big sedan, but I really wanted a big hatchback (like the 928) but thats not going to work with the size of the back seats. This will be my wife's car, and I have always wanted a big german sedan.

Having two 928-like maintenance cars was not the plan, however. Is it in your memory, the few here who have 740iL experience, that once something is fixed *CORRECTLY* that it does not occur again?

Chuck - How did you fulfill your back seat requirements after the selling if your BMW?

Thanks alot everyone. Keep this going if everyone doesn't mind.

tuk_928

Hi All,
Enjoyed reading this thread as I came to Porsche through years of BMW ownership. Thanks for posting photos of your 7s. I have always enjoyed the 7-series cars but have stuck with the 5-series because until recently, they were less complex and more reliable than the 7s. Chris Bangle et al have changed all of that it seems. The "L" (Limo, right?) models are cavernous in the rear...your family and children will love it on trips. One of the only modern cars I can cross my legs in without having to contort myself in such a way that my foot is dipped and tucked under the front seat. IMHO, like others here, BMW's 7-series is equivalent in complexity to our beloved 928. Still, like Brent 89-GT said, there is the price to be paid for all of the "character" that BMW's big sedans offer.
Cheers,
Tim

Brent 89-GT

The problem is, todays mechanic is more of a parts changer than an actually "repairman". If they replace a faulty part with another one that has not had any sort of update, guess what, it will fail again. One part that baffles me is the center cupholder in front, poorly placed, $200 to replace and flimsy as all heck. If you are not very careful, you will be replacing it regularly. My biggest single issue with the E38 is the airbag system. I have had seat buckles replaced repeatedly to try and cure the light from coming on. I have had wiring harness's replaced in both front doors and I have had wiring repaired under the front pass seat. That is my single biggest complaint. I understand that the car has about 10 airbags but the system is fraught with gremlins.

My '95 was a little higher milage and had a few more actual mechanical problems. The lower control arms needed replacement at 60k miles, the ball joints were worn out, seemed kind of early for that. My wife had a heater hose blow on the road once, right after a spendy 60k check-up. It also had a few electrical gremlins.

I don't really mind taking the car in for service as our dealer hands out BMW loaners. The problem for me is that the nearest dealer is 150 miles from home. A good dealer, nearby, and the CPO warranty would make the experience worth it IMO. None of it has really been major stuff, just a little annoying in a $100k+ car.

Yes, the iL is MUCH more spacious than the LS400/430. The other option is the S-Class MB, they are quite roomy in back as well. I suspect that reliability is about the same, that was my experience anyway. MB offers "Starmarked" cars like BMW's CPO, something to consider. The BMW driving experience is a little better though IMO. I think the "airmatic" suspension on an S500 is a little squishy, though a nice set of Brabus wheels really sharpens them up.

Enrico

Also a previous BMW owner...3 & 5 series models. Minor problems with both, overall great experience long term with each. Drove a few 740IL's before settling on the E320. Nice acceleration and handling, but overall just too much car for our (wife's !) needs. BMW is losing my affection with the styling of the 745i and new 5 series!!!

Brent 89-GT

S-Class rear seat... This is the rare optional 2-place seating but, you can see the amount of space back there. That is with the drivers seat all the way back for my 6'3" frame.

MikeN

If it were me I would forget about both the BMW and Mercedes.....although I do like them....and start looking at an Audi A8L.......long wheelbase version version with Quattro.......beautiful car........

On my third new Audi as a daily driver.......all have been wonderful and reliable.......and will beat the crap out of either the BMW or Mercedes in
rain or snow. Just a suggestion......