1999 BMW 750iL

Highlights

• 5.4-litre V12 engine
• Low mileage
• Peak 90s luxury and waftiness
• Enough gadgets to satisfy James Bond
• All the options ticked

Overview

How can you tell whether your car is in the upper echelons of automotive luxury? A good start would be having stereo controls for the rear passengers, as well as adjustable rear seats and plenty of legroom. So you can direct your smartly dressed chauffeur in complete comfort. And in the 90s, a carphone was obligatory on any luxury car worth its salt, but how many could boast not only a CD changer in the boot, but a minidisc changer too?

The list of desirable accessories continues: double glazing, an analogue TV screen, deep-pile carpets, rear footrests, veneered picnic tables. And then we come to this car’s signature piece, its V12 engine. At 5.4 litres, it has plenty of grunt to power this admittedly heavy car to a very respectable turn of performance. The 322 bhp and 361 lb ft put it well ahead of your average 90s saloon.

So far ahead, in fact, that a certain British secret agent was equipped with one by Q, with the ability to be drive from his mobile phone. During filming, this particular trick was achieved by rigging up a steering wheel, controls, and video screen in place of the rear seats.

The car for sale here was imported from Japan and registered in Feb 2022. It remains in good condition throughout, with its bright white paint and refurbished alloy wheels. The interior shows a few signs of use, but nothing unusual for a car of this age. Even the double glazed windows remain well sealed.

If you want to relive the experience of luxury 90s motoring — or if you simply need to catch a few bad guys — then this 750iL is surely the car for you.

History and documentation

• Declared manufactured in 1999
• First registered in the UK 1 Feb 2022
• Imported from Japan
• Service history prior to import unknown but the car received an extensive service upon arrival in the UK
• Original owner’s manuals in Japanese
• Collection of invoices and old MOT certificates
• One key
• Current MOT with no advisories expires 8 Feb 2025
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear
• Private plate not included in sale
• Registration mark V242 OVX

Interior

• The interior of this BMW is a study in 90s opulence, with all the options you could dream of
• Black leather upholstery throughout
• There are some signs of light use, with the driver’s seat being a little faded
• Front and rear heated memory seats
• The leather continues onto the door cards and centre console, with veneered trim pieces
• Wood and lacquer retains a deep shine
• The carpets appear to be in good condition
• Multi-function steering wheel
• Cruise control
• Air conditioning
• TV/satnav screen on the dashboard — the TV is analogue
• Original BMW carphone still present
• The rear passengers are provided with controls for the stereo as well as their adjustable seats
• Vanity mirrors in the back of the headrests
• Rear sun/privacy blinds
• Electronic rear windscreen blind
• Inlaid picnic tables
• Footrests and deep-pile BMW floor mats
• Storage bins and ashtrays in all four doors
• Black Alcantara headlining clean and tidy
• A small interior trim piece is missing from the offside rear window frame
• One roof handle has been replaced and is light grey, instead of black with veneer trim
• Spacious, fully carpeted boot to the rear
• There is some light staining to the boot carpet
• Complete, original toolkit stored under the bootlid
• The bootlid is electronically operated, with soft close
• Spare wheel stowed under the boot floor — a 16-inch BMW cross spoke wheel
• The boot also contains a BMW six-CD changer, and a Pioneer six-disc minidisc changer

Exterior

• This BMW’s splendid white paintwork gives the car an imposing road presence
• The paint remains in good condition throughout, with no significant scratches or chips that we could see
• There are a few small stonechips to the front of the car
• Some small areas of lacquer peel on the bonnet
• The body panels look well preserved, with no obvious dents or damage, and no corrosion reported in the wheel arches
• 18-inch alloy wheels, with genuine BMW floating hubcaps fitted
• Wheels refurbished in Jun 2023, finished in BMW Orbit Grey, with new tyres fitted at the same time
• One tyre replaced in Apr 2024
• BMW badges present and correct, though the front badge is a little faded
• The headlights look clear and bright
• Double glazed windows
• No signs of damage or leaks reported in the double glazing
• Electronic sliding/tilting sunroof, said to be in fully working order and free from leaks
• The underside of the car looks very clean for its age

Mechanical

• 5,379 cc V12 petrol engine
• Produces 322 bhp and 361 lb ft
• Five-speed automatic transmission
• Rear-wheel drive
• Engine bay clean and tidy
• Underneath, there is a little surface corrosion on the suspension components, nothing unusual for a car of this age
• When the car was imported it was serviced in Dec 2021, this included new upper and lower suspension arms on all four corners, an engine oil and filter change, and a new coolant hose
• In Feb 2024 both rear shock absorbers were replaced, along with the alternator, and front wheel sensors
• The electric self-levelling suspension is said to be in full working order
• The vendor tells us that it starts and stops well, and settles down to a barely audible tickover
• The exhaust system is said to be standard
• No warning lights reported

Summary

While smooth-running V12 engine is almost worth the price of admission alone, the opulently appointed interior and imposing styling offers a glimpse into the decadent world of 90s luxury motoring. Buy this and you will surely feel like the king of the road.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Truro in Cornwall.