|
02-28-2013, 11:29 PM | #1 |
Administrator
42720
Rep 21,305
Posts |
BIMMERPOST Review: 760Li V12 and 25 Years of BMW V12s
BIMMERPOST NEWS BIMMERPOST Review: 760Li V12 and 25 Years of BMW V12s A quarter century of superiority By Matthias Knödler and Jens Meiners A quarter of a century ago, BMW turned the hierarchy in the luxury segment upside down: In March 1987, the second-generation 7 series (E32), itself a marvel of technology, got a range-topping V-12 engine. Rated at 296hp, it utterly humiliated the Mercedes-Benz W126 S class. The Stuttgart competitor managed to reach this level of power only with a non-catalysed version of the 5.6-liter V-8 - an engine which was lacking the smoothness of its 4.2-liter and 5.0-liter siblings. It wasn't BMW's first attempt at a V-12. In fact, two prototypes had preceded the engine that finally made it into production. As early as 1972, BMW set out to create a V-12 from two six-cylinder engines. The 5.0-liter engine, code-named M33, made 296hp - but it was way too heavy at 694 lbs: The project was stopped in 1974; shortly thereafter, work commenced on another V-12, the M66, this time based on a lighter, new generation of i-6 engines. A 3.6-liter V-12 and a 4.5-liter V-12 was built; the latter one made 271hp and weighed 606 lbs. Prototype engines were built, but due to an unfavorable political and economic climate, BMW went on to build a turbocharged 3.2-liter i-6 instead. It was offered in the E23 745i and later upgraded to 3.5 liters of displacement. At the time, BMW ran elaborate advertisements explaining why a turbocharged six was the preferable choice compared to a V-8 or V-12. But in 1982, the engineers went to the drawing board again. This time around, it was decided to start from scratch, instead of trying to elaborately weld together two existing six-cylinder engines. The M70 was created - a marvel of technology that weighs a mere 529 lbs and is so compact that it would fit into a current 1 series. Made from aluminum, it used two identical cylinder heads, it made 296hp at 5200rpm and 450 Nm lb-ft of torque at 4100 rpm - while providing a silky-smooth soundtrack that is not dissimilar to an in-line six and infinitely more delicate and sophisticated than a V-8. Down the road, BMW toyed with nuew different concepts, including a V-16, and actually built a prototype. A reaction to the 408 PS Mercedes-Benz 600 SEL? The M70, of course, made it into the 8 series; it was used in racing, and in heavily modified form, it powered the McLaren F1. BMW also built an X5 with a high-powered V-12; this engine was supposed to go into an M8, but it was decided the car was "too extreme". In its original form, the V-12 propelled the E32 7 series from standstill to 62mph in just 7.4 seconds; top speed was a governed 155mph. "We could have reached around 168mph," recalls an engineer, "but the tires weren't ready back then." There's another reason which is at least as worthy, and which is still sensitive today: The German auto industry's voluntary agreement to cut off top speed was agreed upon in order to avoid a discussion on a speed limit. The 750i was distinguished from the 730i and 735i by its wider kidney grille and according hood contour; there was a rectangular dual exhaust that recalled not only the kidney grille, but also the jet engines of the Concorde supersonic airplane; and there were specific, almost fully covered wheels. As the subsequent 7 series models with V-8 engines received the same grille, and as more commonplace wheel choices were added, the 750i and iL lost their visual edge. We got some time behind the wheel of an almost pristine 750 iL E32. It still fires up with a beautiful, sonorous sound. The interior styling oozes functionality and "German-ness". Most definitely a driver's car, its biggest letdown is the four-speed automatic which seems inadequate today. And truly comfortable it isn't, at least not with the unusually large wheels and tires on this example from BMW's historic collection. The E38 7 series, by contrast, still feels competitive today. More plush than the E32 yet beautifully restrained, it received an upgraded engine that makes 322hp from 5.4 liters of displacement. It is fast, precise, quiet and immensely gratifying behind the wheel. BMW did not provide an E65 760i for comparison, but we have vivid memories of a behemoth that was plagued with electronic overkill that culminated in the counter-intuitive iDrive system, a lack of a driver-oriented interior, and and an oversized body that discouraged dancing through twisty roads. Its direct-injected, four-valve N73 6.0-liter V-12, rated at 431hp, serves as the basis for the Rolls-Royce Phantom's 6.7-liter V-12. In the E65, it couldn't sparkle. We did get time behind the wheel of the current F02 760 Li - and, compared to the E38, it has completed the transformation from a driver's car to a plush sedan to be chauffeured around in. At 537hp, the twin-turbocharged N74 6.0-liter V-12 is ridiculously powerful, but the car is so big and heavy that you don't get much enjoyment from driving it outside of its natural habitat, which is the autobahn. The ultra-low effort steering and the playful electronic instrumentation did not endear it to us, either. The V-12 was most successful in its first iteration: Up to one sixth of 7 series production was equipped with the range-topping engine. That number has plummeted into the low single digits. Nevertheless, BMW remains committed: The V-12 has a future, we are assured by company executives. We can only applaud this commitment. "Efficient dynamics" is necessary, but not sufficient. |
03-04-2013, 06:19 AM | #2 |
Give '///M' Hell!
128
Rep 1,328
Posts |
V12 or not, the E38 is the last 7-series I would consider superior to the contemporary S-class.
__________________
The 1 series M is the most badass, coolest, sickest BMW to debut since the 1988 M3. The E30 M3 finally has a successor. Please welcome the stupidly fast, wickedly tempered, awkwardly named, possibly perfect little son of a benchmark - Automobile Magazine, August 2011
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 06:35 AM | #3 |
European Editor
10757
Rep 22,992
Posts |
^^I agree. The e38 was such a nice car. BMW should have used the project Gold-Fish V16 motor back then. Maybe they will in a future up coming model. ?
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 06:54 AM | #4 |
OIF Veteran
253
Rep 2,106
Posts |
I am not a fan of the new 7 series headlights. Maybe it looks better in person.
__________________
Retired: '06 BMW E46 ///M3
Current: '08 BMW E60 DINAN ///M5, Interlagos Blue, SMG DINAN Stage 2 Suspension, Exhaust, Stage III Software, Front strut braces, Intakes, 13% Underdrive pulley, 3.91 Differential, RPI Scoops. |
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 07:30 AM | #6 |
Brigadier General
919
Rep 3,458
Posts
Drives: Harrop E90 M3
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Colorado Springs
|
As bad as the E65 was in terms of electrical issues, BMW still sold more of them than any other 7.
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 07:55 AM | #7 |
A family of bimmers
2796
Rep 7,754
Posts |
that e66 just looks so odd compared to the rest. Glad the new 7 has the bigger kidneys
__________________
2018 PB/Black G01 X3M40i | 699M | ZDA | ZPP | ZPX | Maxton front lip | X3M vents | 15mm Spacers | Diamond G20 style grills |
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 07:56 AM | #8 | |
First Lieutenant
40
Rep 309
Posts |
Quote:
Also loved the BMW films starring Clive Oven. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 08:28 AM | #9 | |
Captain
141
Rep 926
Posts |
Quote:
Also, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the E65/ 66 interior. It looks like a $80K car interior. The one on the F01/02 is just plain horrible. I mean I get the same interior on a 48K 528 that I can get on a 130K 760. That is just plain terrible
__________________
92 Mazda Mx6 (sold), 00 VW Jetta (sold),
07 BMW 335i (sold), 10 VW Jetta (sold), 14 BMW X5 35ix (sold), 18 VW Jetta (totaled), 19 Audi SQ5 (sold), 20 Audi S6 (sold), 22 Audi SQ5 |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 09:09 AM | #10 | |
General
359
Rep 18,218
Posts |
Quote:
It wasnt a perfect car, but they sold a lot and they stood out in a crowd.
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 09:17 AM | #11 | |
Captain
410
Rep 841
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
WHO'S THE BOSS
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 09:21 AM | #12 |
Major
781
Rep 1,113
Posts |
Great cars when working properly. They will bleed you dry through maintenance though.
__________________
2003 11/02 Steel Gray Metallic on Red M3 - SMGII - VF570 - SUPERSPRINT - KW - BBS - CSL ROOF SOLD
2015 09/14 Alpine White on Red 435i xDrive MPPK - Expensive black vinyl with special lettering. SOLD 2020 12/19 Mineral Gray Metallic on Black Vinyl interior M340i xDrive |
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 09:31 AM | #13 |
Lieutenant
42
Rep 441
Posts |
E38 was so fantastic. How is reliability on those?
__________________
2009 BMW M3 E92 6M AW/FR
Eibach Springs + H&R Front Sway + LUX AE + LCI Taillights + BMW Performance CF Spoiler + Bastuck Clubsport Exhaust |
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 11:41 AM | #15 | |
Major
98
Rep 1,318
Posts
Drives: Toy
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Oahu, Hawaii
|
Quote:
+1. This is my favorite 7er!
__________________
Sold - 2014 F01 750Li xDrive CBM M-Sport
Sold - 2013 E92 M3 SS w/ ZCP l ZPP l 2MK l 6NR l 752 Sold - 2009 E92 335i LMB M-Sport Sold - 2003 E46 M3 LSB SMG |
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 11:54 AM | #16 |
Major
781
Rep 1,113
Posts |
My father has an E38. The car has suffered every issue under the sun, but keeps on going. From bad MAF sensors (both), Waterpump failure resulting in loss of entire cooling system, 2 alternators, transmission failure, intake manifold gasket issues, several window regulators, E-CAT issues, defective ABS pump (several instances). And then you have the dreaded front end shimmy that resulted in the replacement of every major front-end suspension component, only to return again a few years later. Not to mention the electrical gremlins.
That being said, the active seats and EDC suspension, along with the gobs of torque from the M73n always seem to put a smile on my face.
__________________
2003 11/02 Steel Gray Metallic on Red M3 - SMGII - VF570 - SUPERSPRINT - KW - BBS - CSL ROOF SOLD
2015 09/14 Alpine White on Red 435i xDrive MPPK - Expensive black vinyl with special lettering. SOLD 2020 12/19 Mineral Gray Metallic on Black Vinyl interior M340i xDrive Last edited by greekcs; 03-04-2013 at 01:59 PM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 01:06 PM | #17 |
Enlisted Member
2
Rep 38
Posts |
I haven't noticed a single F01/02 V12 on the road and I only saw 1 or 2 E65 V12s. The E38 750i wasn't quite so rare but these V12s definitely seem to be dying out. With the power per liter of displacement that we're seeing in newer turbocharged engines, you would need 6 wheel drive to begin to put down the power you could make from a 6.0L V12.
Hell, those numbers listed from BMW V12s through the E38 were laughable. BMW's next iteration of 4 cylinder engines will put down more power. |
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 02:47 PM | #18 |
Private First Class
12
Rep 139
Posts |
I agree, its so beautiful. I dont know what happened with the models that came after it. E38 is the most beautiful 7 series ever.
__________________
09 E92 M3
2011 Ducati 848 |
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 03:39 PM | #19 |
Major General
5695
Rep 5,305
Posts |
Not last, only. There's no way the one prior was better than the W126 Benz, as the W126 was probably top 5 cars benz ever built and solid as a rock.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 05:12 PM | #20 |
.
46
Rep 385
Posts |
I don't know why they don't do something to make the 760 look special. Even the S600 has some distinct features, let alone the beautiful (and very expensive) S65.
Also, I remember the 760 being one of Car and Drivers most expensive cars to own per mile. It cost like $1.50 to drive per mile due to its insane depreciation rate. And the high end of the their scale topped out at around $0.85, so you know something is wrong there.
__________________
2012 F10 535i
2013 E70 X5M 2007 E92 335i - sold |
Appreciate
0
|
03-04-2013, 11:29 PM | #21 |
Private
4
Rep 64
Posts |
The E38 is simply timeless. Ours still looks like new despite its 200,000+ miles and ridiculously expensive maintenance order. Although we now have many newer cars in the household, the E38 never fails to put a big smile on my face.
|
Appreciate
0
|
03-05-2013, 08:38 PM | #22 |
New Member
2
Rep 24
Posts |
My Mom had one of the first 1988 750iL's in the United States. It was a fantastic car. Black with natur interior. I remember either the brochure or the owners manual that stated an unrestricted top speed of 184 mph. Does any one else remember that or have the original?
My Mom then had a 1990 750iL, a 1994 750 iL, a 1996 750iL and a 2000 750iL. All fabulous cars and I should have been arrested in each of them. |
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|