A Radwood-era BMW that’s rather unique: a factory-turbocharged BMW 745i.
Sold only in Europe, the turbo 745i was powered by either a 3.2-liter inline-six mated to a 3-speed auto or a 3.4-liter inline-six backed by a 4-speed auto, depending on the year.
Although the seat leather has seen…
Such cool cars, and even though it's a 7 and they're "big", these cars really aren't that much larger/heavier than my E28 5 so dwarfed by anything BMW now for our market.
I originally meant this as a joke, but maybe it’s not now that I pulled up the numbers.
There’s a new Nissan Altima sitting in my driveway–review/live thread coming soon–but let’s look at the tape.
Nissan Altima length: 192.9 inches.
Euro-spec E23-chassis BMW? 191.3 inches. (The U.S.-spec car checks in at 197.4 inches.)
The Altima has a longer wheelbase: 111.2 vs. 110.0 inches.
I know, right?
I didn't even know this existed, which makes me want the car all the more.
I've known a few guys who've owned them, including one or two that did a manual transmission swap. They're cool cars.
Just another cool tidbit, the 745i available in South Africa didn't come with a turbo M30 but an M88/3 like what you would get in an M635CSi or European E28 M5 (predecessor to the S38 that we got in our M5 and M6 here). Basically an M7.
In reply to adam525i :
There's at least one e23 7 series in the US that's had an M88/3 engine swap in order to make an M7 replica.
If I'm not mistaken, this had a K27 turbocharger, like such other German cars as the Porsche 930 and the Audi Sport Quattro. BIG turbo, big bearings, heavy compressor and turbine wheels, lag measured with a calendar.
10-4 on the car sizing. Stuff is BIG now. And it's amusing to think that the wheels on that 745i were "big", too.
(BMW 745i: Setting the precedent that the last two numbers of a model can be anything BMW wants it to be, if it's turbocharged)
stuart in mn said:In reply to adam525i :
There's at least one e23 7 series in the US that's had an M88/3 engine swap in order to make an M7 replica.
That intrigues me.
In reply to David S. Wallens :
I know a guy who lives in California who did the conversion, I'm pretty sure there's a few others out there.
Cars have definitely grown enough that some of the old "big" stuff doesn't seem all that large at this point. An E23 was a big car for its era. But compared to modern stuff, they're not. A modern 7 series is downright huge in comparison, coming in at 15 inches longer than the US spec E23 and 21 inches longer than the non-US version. The current G70 7 series is also 4.5 inches taller and 6 inches wider on top of being a whopping 2500 lbs heavier (and pushing 6000 lbs in the heaviest form).
Size-wise, the E23 is about the size and weight of a modern Camry. A fairly large sedan, but not a massive battle tank.
Yeah I remember these. very very cool. It actually seems like a fair price considering the crazy prices of some rad era stuff these days.
And funny we are all thinking about the size. the first thing I thought is it's basically the size of a modern 3 series.
And ditto to Pete's comment about the numbers. at least the first number made sense, now that I even don't get.
Actually had one of these for a short period. A friend pulled in my driveway and asked if I'd be interested in buying one. Was his step dads who had recently passed away and was sitting in the back yard... I said not really, I was doing red block volvos at the time.. It was Only a few blocks from my house so I looked at it and struck a deal. The motor had previously been rebuilt and the car ran great. Cirrus blue paint was faded but the car was solid and interior clean... It was so grey market that it didn't really exist. Got the NY title in my name and it showed it as a 635.. I moved it along to a 7 series collector from buffa!o, A retired nys trooper came 7 hours to Poughkeepsie with a trailer and off it went... No clean red block Volvos around any more so now I'm on about my 28th assorted BMW... Have a 2002 530i msport e39 and recently got a 93 525 e34 sedan which to me is a slightly smaller 7. Just sold my 98 328 e36... Loving the vintage bimmers now.. The old ones are the best they ever built
Tomwas1 said:Actually had one of these for a short period. A friend pulled in my driveway and asked if I'd be interested in buying one. Was his step dads who had recently passed away and was sitting in the back yard...
When I first read that, I thought his recently deceased dad was sitting in the back yard? 
Lol. A weekend at Bernie's moment.
I was curious how the asking price aligned with Hagerty's values, but what I found most interesting was the difference in value between grades:
Was a pretty cool ride, dashboard adjustable driving lights and the rear seat back was adjustable also. Nice Powerful road machine...
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