I had the pleasure of being able to sit in a new 7 Series a few months ago and take in all of the new technology and innovations that it offers, at a price just south of six figures. It is truly an amazing piece of craftsmanship, from the feel of the materials to the integration of the infotainment buttons/screens. I did the obligatory button push/door slam/seat space tests and came away thoroughly impressed at what BMW has been able to do to the 7 Series in the last thirty plus years.
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For those that are unfamiliar, the 7 Series was first offered in 1977 as BMW’s first real attempt at going after the upper crust of sedan segment. Known as the E23, it was followed by the E32, E38, E65/66/67, F01/02/03, and the current G12. The E23 was the first BMW with a drivers-side airbag, ABS brakes, fuel/trip computer, and a service interval system that calculated mileage/RPM/driving style to determine when and what service was needed/how much less the owners wallet would weigh after leaving the service bay. I currently own the final version, which today would be referred to as the Life Cycle Impulse(LCI) version of the E23(1983-86/early 87).
A little over 3 years ago, I flew up to the Bay Area and picked up a two-owner 1985 735i with the ultra-rare Getrag 265 5-speed manual transmission. As a father with a daughter who loves ballet, I decided that this was the closest that I would get to Euro Delivery for the next decade. The trip back to San Diego was trouble free, except for a known leaky clutch slave cylinder that I had to occasionally feed with a splash of brake fluid.
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The feel of the steering, smell of the leather, sound of the M30 straight six and touch of the real wood put a big smile on my face the whole way home. Why did I pick this car—you might ask—given the plethora of models available for under $3k that are faster, lighter, less complex, and more fuel efficient?
The answer is because I am still reaping the benefits of buying a car that was on the technological cusp of innovation three decades ago. It offers a lot of what the new 7 does today, in a 1985 package. This includes room for the family, long haul comfort, unprecedented safety and handling while allowing me to enjoy the BMW ownership experience for less than the tax on a CPO 1 Series.
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I hope that the new owners of 2016 7 Series models take the time to really get to know their new rides and appreciate all of the technology that they offer. When you own a car that is on the cutting edge, it has the potential to feel new longer and consequently take a longer time to feel out of date. After thirty years, my car is definitely old, occasionally cranky, and its owner is dreading the next smog test, but on the whole I am happy to be driving a rare piece of BMW history. It is my hope that the second and third-plus owners of the new 7 will be able to appreciate 2016 tech in 2046.
