I met this beast in 2006, but in even more extreme form - as a 745i. It was a 3.2 litre with a factory turbo and an intercooler. It was in possession of my service manager, when I ran the BMW dealership. The level of comfort on those wide seats and balloon tyres was exceptional.

@jtreut

Жыл бұрын

You beat me to the 745i comment. This is the one for J to get!

@gordonsimpson3235

Жыл бұрын

@@jtreut Great machine 745i, but LHD only

@capoislamort1613

Жыл бұрын

@@jtreut I second that! The 745i is the must have. The Ecu can be moded to increase the horse power into 300-500 HP conservatively with stock internals. Been a proud owner since 2006. Cheers!🥂👊🏿🎩

Really great to see my old car again 😀, I spent many hours restoring it back to its former glory. It does drive well, super rare in manual configuration!

Can’t believe I turned down an alpina manual one of these for £1500 20 years ago I kick myself every now and then for it,the smell of the interior is etched in my nostrils it’s exquisite

As you note at the end of this video, the E23 that really had a supercar heart was the South African market 745i - full M1 spec M88 twin-cam 24-valve engine with a manual. It even went racing - it looks comically huge and menacing on track compared to the Capris and stuff it was up against. The reason this car came into being was that BMW South Africa wanted a model with the performance of the European 745i - but as that was turbocharged, the turbo went where the steering column is on RHD cars. So South Africa just did as it often does and came up with their own local hot-rod! Other examples of South Africa doing its own damn thing were the Vauxhall FD Victor where they decided it needed a V8, and unlike the Gordon-Keeble Black Prince version here in the UK (of which only one was ever built - it existed until quite recently when it got broken up as a donor for a Cobra kit car), they didn't even use a GM engine but a Chrysler lump! Then there was Basil Green shoving V6s in Cortinas and V8s in Capris, Sierras and Granadas (leading Ford to market the Sierra XR8 there)... and for some reason their Rover SD1 2600 used the BMC E-series instead of the Canley lump everyone else got!

@5555petros

Жыл бұрын

I always loved the idea of racecar choices that came off the beaten path and out of left field.

@richardharrold9736

Жыл бұрын

@@5555petros yep, and all because the Euro 745i's turbo motor couldn't go in a RHD chassis (the turbo and steering column went in the same place). It was pretty successful too!

@5555petros

Жыл бұрын

@@richardharrold9736 Perfect companion to the Aussie 635CSi E24 race car.

@richardharrold9736

Жыл бұрын

@@5555petros heck of a lot bigger than the E24 though. Those are E12/E28 5-series platforms with a chunk of wheelbase chopped out.

@Eksistenssi

Жыл бұрын

Heck even here in automotive naziland of finland we had to use the south african models and their spec sheet as a legal reference of what is allowed to be fitted in. (the few oddball ones from smaller manufacturers weren't allowed as reference because of another stupid restriction of required production amount of atleast 500). Some blokes had to import the "official spec sheet" from BMW SA, i can't imagine how hard that must have been in the early days of internet at around millenium's end.

I used to sell these new when running a BMW garage in the 80's. Great long distance load haulers. I bought one back from a customer who had specc'd and bought new from me, for personal use. It was a Sapphire Blue 735i SE (with all the extras as standard - A/C, On board computer, Headlamp wash/wipe, TRX wheels/tyres, Rear Headrests, Sunroof, Cruise control, Electric seats etc.) It WAS a manual as per your test and also had a Limited Slip Diff. Very rare spec. Honestly, the car shrank around you with use, and didn't feel big (other than its capacity to take huge amounts of luggage and four people in luxury). A totally underrated car. I used to hurl the car around the Norfolk lanes like a 3 series....amazing car. Your mate may need to give the old girl a little top-end attention, she is blowing some blue smoke. But otherwise an excellent and unusual choice. I doubt that there are many left today.

@toooldclassics

Жыл бұрын

I completely agree. Although I don't miss the premium I used to pay in the early '90s for TRX tyres. The one aspect that used to let down my E28 M535i - Michelin TRX tyres in the wet..

Of all the many cars you've driven James, this is one of the ones I *want* the most.

The BMW stylist Hans Muth told a group of us during a lunchtime discussion at the 40th anniversary celebration of the BMW R80GS that he and a couple other design team members stayed over a weekend one August when most BMW employees were on summer holiday to design the interior and dashboard of this first 7 series, finishing it in basically 2 days! He was responsible for the M logo (which he said was a paint swish of Texaco red, the sponsor at the time, next to Bavarian blue, leaving the purple where they mix), and the styling of the GS motorcycle which was partially inspired by the new at the time Range Rover.

Te fact that the car is the same length as a modern 3 series and slightly narrower just shows why the roads are so crowded and less space.

@tastypymp1287

Жыл бұрын

Nah, that's more to do with money printers going brrrrrrrrr with cheap cash for the prollies....

I never knew these were made in manuals. I really, really need one now. The epitome of class.

Love the angled kidney grille in that design, quite iconic.

@JamesSmith-qs4hx

Жыл бұрын

I agree - I wonder what all the Africans coming to Britain will make of it in years to come.

A friend of mine had one of these in the late 90’s. An orange one. Cruising through Blackpool in our late teens we felt cool as hell 😂 (it was an auto though if I remember correctly)

This is brilliant, way more entertaining and interesting than the testing of pointless hypercars

A friend of mine had a 333i ( a unique South African homologation) that as soon as it arrived, he removed the 3.2 engine and installed a brand new 3.5 crate engine. That car now lives in Portugal.

I had an e23 728i for years, still miss that car

Infinitely cooler than anything BMW makes today, that's not that difficult, is it? To me, the 1960s to 80s will always remain BMWs peak years, when they were the brand of fast and stylish (in understated German fashion, though initially triggered by Italian designer Michelotti) sports saloons and coupés. This 7-series is no exception to that, because what a handsome and comfortable car it is! Exactly what a big BMW saloon is supposed to be; wouldn't mind owning one at all.

@yuglesstube

Жыл бұрын

Also MB

@edtheduck6219

Жыл бұрын

The first BMW I ever drove was an E30 320i; it would definitely oversteer but that 6 cylinder engine was so smooth compared with anything else I’d ever been in. Whipped cream seemed rough in comparison. Amazing that the original 7-series is smaller than a current 3-series. It probably weighs less as well, which is why “only” 220bhp is good enough.

@JohnAdams-kc8wx

Жыл бұрын

100% sir

Hi Jay, You were obviously having a really good time with this car ! I did notice it is burning a drop of oil - specifically when you throttle it, not valve stem on over-run oil.

@jamesrobert4106

Жыл бұрын

I noticed the blue smoke. Glad you saw it too.

@paulking54

Жыл бұрын

Yep, bit blue when you put your foot down!

Love it. You hear virtually nothing about the classic big Beemers from this era so really appreciate the vid. Occasionally I got to drive the boss's 732i back in '81. Felt like a king in it

I STILL like these and would put out money for one in good shape. Unfortunatley in the US a stickshift is rare as hen's teeth, and I've never found one in good enough condition / reasonable distance to buy. The 7 has long since gotten too big for me (my 5 is bigger than I'd like), but these are sweet cars. I'd also consider the 745i in auto with the buffalo hides, just to be obscure.

This has brought back some great memories. My dads boss had one of these new in a light green, I remember my dad telling me and the heater switch came off and my dads boss went in to get it sorted. BMW told him it would be a month on back order. He was not impressed and he ended up having the one from a showroom car.

Great video. A German spec 732i 1984 model was my step mother's daily driver in the 90s it too had a manual gearbox. And the COOLEST steel wheels. I'd kill to have that car back.

I sat in the back of my uncle's 7series my dad had a mk4 Ford Cortina and it was like stepping into the future with quality and vibe . As a kid I didnt understand but now I do

From an age when BMWs were beautiful. As a kid there was a gorgeous black Alpina E23 in the next road to me. A striking car. What the hell was that Discovery driver thinking?

@Storm.Z.4u

Жыл бұрын

Discovery drivers are always idiots, and they always have issues, a common one being that they are angry that they can't afford a Range Rover so drive a Discovery.

@danentwisle8885

Жыл бұрын

@@Storm.Z.4u Ah right. I wondered where all my anger went. It did coincide with trading in my Discovery the other month for a new Range Rover. I did wonder about my new found state of serenity and good manners.

Lovely scare @14:00 😂. Another great review mate 🙂

The e23 and the w126 were so ahead of their time when they came out.

@rahulmandala4930

Жыл бұрын

Both of them were awesome flagships! Such charming style

@marco7563

Жыл бұрын

yeah much like tesla nowadays

I was a proud owner of this model in NZ. It had been imported from Germany so it was a left hooker. NZ drive on right. This car was very nice. Ducaro directional tires, independent suspension. I enjoyed owning it.

This car is so cool it should be parked in a freezer not a heated garage ! Awesome video and content James.

I love these. A few years ago they could be bought for not a lot! The reason why the 745i (turbo) wasn’t available in RHD was because the steering would be in the way and no space for the Turbo, hence why in SA they used the M88.

my grandfather bought a 728i in 1981 and drove it till it was worthless still very iconic

Wonderful review. Shame we can’t have a modern version of this car (instead of the bloated, numb, successors to this car).

What a fantastic car! I am glad you enjoyed it so much. Not the prettiest 70/80s BMW, but certainly one of the best if not the best. The post-1982 cars (LCI) are even better thanks to multiple improvements, including a standard AC.

My 735 would do about 26 mpg without trying. It was possible to get better than 30 mpg. Aerodynamics were not a strong point on the E23, however the efficiency of the engine seemed to make up for that compared with other cars of the period.

just saw the discovery almost drive into you, very funny. I am a South African and the old 535i and 735i are legendary

A former collegue had this old 528i of same generation. racing green, golden rims, yellow headlights and beige leather interior. I thought it was so cool.

I was driven in one of these as a teenager although it was the automatic version. The owner later swapped it for a slightly newer 732i which he claimed performed just as well and drank less fuel due to the more modern 4-speed auto. Such a pleasure to see this rare example and it such good condition too!

The editing glitch made me chuckle :) Man, I love your videos.

Looks like that 735 is ready for some valve guides.

@dm5374

Жыл бұрын

More like a Nikasil issue. Worn valve guides smoke with your foot off the pedal, not on.

I loved this episode for several reasons: 1. I'm a South African and know the local 745i story well 2. My dad had a 728 in period 3. This is what classic car content should be like. I'm sick to death of the zillion dollar restored and collectable culture that seems to permeate today.

@baltvdb

Жыл бұрын

I couldn’t agree more.(reason 3 only)

I totally relate with you JayEmm. The only car I owned and regretted selling is my E34 535i. It was such a delight to drive. So planted, so cool. I wish I didn't need the money back then.

@tiago422

Жыл бұрын

Agreed on that ! I miss mine so much event after replacing it with a m5 3.8 . 535i great great e34 .

@toooldclassics

Жыл бұрын

I miss my E28 M535i with the dogleg box ☹️

@johnj3577

Жыл бұрын

I agree, my e34 was a lowly 520i and I replaced it eventually with an e39 540i, but always felt the steering and handling, especially the way it settled into and tracked through turns, was better in the e34. Great car.

You are really nailing these videos these days. Interesting car delivered just about right.

I'd imagine those SADM 745i would be an utter joy to drive. Especially with that M1 engine. Much like the Mercedes 500E. You wouldn't know it's something special until you put your foot down.

@dm5374

Жыл бұрын

I drove a 745i and I can say that the power came on ...a full second or more after you put your foot down. Not exactly ideal.

my father had exactly the same (735i, dark blue , 1980, fully equipped except leather). was a great car. Driving was similar to the Jaguar S-type with the 3.8 engine, I had as toy. I love both.

Lovely car, a much more interesting buy than the old 3 series he'd been looking for.

Ahh, back when BMW built actual drivers cars that also looked stunning would love an M5 from that era

Nice old car. Thanks for showcasing these cars always fun to learn the history. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

I have always loved these cars. I still have the sales brochures for 733i and 320i from 1977 that my parents picked up all those years ago. In the USA we only got the 733i...detuned for emissions, of course....until 1985 when the 735i took its place for the last few years of production. In 1987 my family had a white with blue leather 84 733i automatic. It was beautiful but a real dog to drive. My dad had a friend with an 83 model. Black with tan And, a 5 speed! What a difference! I got it to clean and detail one weekend and was allowed drive it around a bit. Compared to our lazy automatic, the manual would just hike up her skirts and go! Break the tires loose pulling out from a side road....check. Mildly Drift around corners... check, check. At 17 years old why I was allowed to drive it and how I didn’t wreck it, I will never know.

@alexbiro262

Жыл бұрын

I had a euro spec 728i 80' e23 4 speed when I was 16-18 but of course I wrecked it, what a great car that was.

Yes. Just yes!! The best car reviewer around mate

beautiful car, been in love with these since watching Nothing But Trouble as a kid

I had one of these, a 1981 735i automatic in cashmere gold and 20 years later i still regret selling it. It was a WONDERFUL car!

Had a 1985 735i, lovely car, yet again another one I should have kept!

What a stunning motor all these years later!!! 😍 Lovely!

I’ve been fallowing you for a while Now ! Cheers ! Great great video ! And I love those old bimmers. I’ve tried them All and own some of them . They are addictive

I learnt to drive in one of those plus a first gen renault 5 and a Bedford van,It was pretty damn confusing 😂

LOVE this Where did it all go wrong with cars...

@stevedickson5853

Ай бұрын

Net zero

This car is from the era when BMW was the ultimate driving machine with its iconic legendary naturally aspirated “ creamy “straight six engine. Now those days are long gone with all new cars having the same muted engine sound, mapped fake exhaust and computer wizardry soulless engine with dangerous bhp and performance. I absolutely adore these old school BMW when “ M division “ meant Motorsports rather than today’s M that stands for Marketing! 😅

@papa_pt

Жыл бұрын

Their straight sixes are still great. For me the biggest loss is the completely shit steering feel and feedback since switching to EPS in 2011

@richardharrold9736

Жыл бұрын

@@papa_pt the last good BMW six was the N52. Everything since has been turbocharged, shit sounding and catastrophically unreliable.

@papa_pt

Жыл бұрын

@@richardharrold9736 I used to think that way until I drove a tuned n54. B58 actually sounds pretty good and is way more reliable than n54/n55, if not more reliable than n52

@richardharrold9736

Жыл бұрын

@@papa_pt I can't stand turbocharged engines. Hate how they sound, hate the mushy throttle response, hate the lumpen power delivery.

@papa_pt

Жыл бұрын

@@richardharrold9736 latter two are almost non existent in the B58. I ended up embracing the big power and silly group b sounds like turbo spool and blow off valve on my wagon. NA motors still have their place (only GT3 and Z06 are left) but turbo 6 life is much better than the initial position of hatred I had for it

Great.....memories of my manual 732i which I exported Down under. It was let go early this century, fool am I?!

Lol that edit when the RR cut across the corner

@richardharrold9736

Жыл бұрын

LRD4 not RR ;)

A truly great car and terrific video about it. Excellent stuff

Great video as always!!! "Dentist chair" made my day... 😂

I had one of these in 2.8 form, and they drive really well 👍

Dad used to have 728 with manual sunroof and I met the car having Soviet cars only experience…needless to say more. Memories….

I love this review! I own the Highline version offered to North America the 1986 L7. Mine does not have the manual 😢 which does make a huge difference in the driving enjoyment of this vehicle.

My daily is a E38 728I I SOLD MY E28 Wich was also very nice ,but the 38 is still modern .has 8 airbags ,its just a nice place to be .i have a 5ltr granada pirrana south Africa import .its ok in a straight line .

That is fabulous.

Some guides or valve seals and it's a dream for life.

14:02 that made me laugh. range rovers being range rovers lol

@richardharrold9736

Жыл бұрын

It's a Land Rover Discovery 4, not a Range Rover.

The South African 745i had an M88 motor, what a gem that was...

I had a 1981 735i as an oldtimer, had a dogleg gearbox. Rotted away unfortunately, but what a great car. Strangely the engine in my 1981 model looked different to this engine

I honestly do believe that when my M340i xDrive reaches the end of its PCP deal, if I don’t just keep it I will return to what I used to drive years ago; much older BMWs. They had class, luxury through being just what they were and not because it was loaded with loads of of tech most of which never gets used. And they had breeding. Looked at the LCI G20. Good God the interior is hideous even compared to my pre-LCI G20. Comparing both to my old E38 7s and the E32 also really highlights what we’ve lost. Finding a good one may be the way forward.

@ImperatorSeanus

Жыл бұрын

I felt the same, owned an e46 330ci manual and for some reason traded it for a 2014 c220d, nice and comfortable cruiser but so boring after the e46. Always lusted over something 80’s and when this popped up I couldn’t stop myself and haven’t regretted it!

My favourite 7 series is the e38, a 2001 740i msport individual. Great looking car.

@tastypymp1287

Жыл бұрын

The zenith of the 7 series.

@ImperatorSeanus

Жыл бұрын

Really wanted an e38 740/50i car for ages, mainly because of Bond and The Transporter but just couldn’t stop going back and looking at this on Car & Classic so I knew it was the one!

Always love your views

Proper made car and well comfy. All the older bm's are. They are fantastic and a joy to drive,also great over by bumps and are just right on them fat profile tyres. I want an auto one cos they're perfect for cruising. No need for a manual in something for cruising. I want one now.

The autos are actually really good and very underrated. They drive lovely and smooth and have plenty of torque. You also have a selectable gear too. They were blummin great them old Autos. These are cruisers so it's not lacking without a manual box. It also affects the sound and I want one. An auto by the way. The roads aren't a racetrack so it's just perfect for me.

Beautiful car one of BMWs best!

One of the most beautiful BMWs ever. Quit reliable engine, but... As to see in the video, the valve shaft seals are the major cause for the famos BMW Bavarian colored smoke. ;-) In the old times, this was absolute common. A great car, even by today's standard.

@14.02 "WHAT THE.................." ,LOL

Gorgeous!

stunning car in the day & still looks incredible 42 years on , James love your choice of Luxobarges!, The Discovery looked close ! Great video James !!

i have a 1985 735i i bought in 1989 still use it great car, i also have the 745i turbo he is correct on all he says

That disco was close! 😮

Is it just me or does the space in front of the gear lever look perfect for a smartphone?? Also I literally couldn't tell which bit was the bluetooth head unit so good job to whoever made that thing.

@johnchurch4705

Жыл бұрын

You can buy them on eBay..

Thanks J! 🙏🙏

Love the E23. I have an 84 745i turbo here in the US that was gray-market imported back in the day. I also have an E32 88 735i 5 speed in my garage. Cool cars.

Pure class. Fair play to him 👌

The South African version now makes sense of my mate from SA being obsessed with the 7 series. He ended up with a 750i and used to wear out a set of tyres on track days with it.

I still have the original 5 page report of the BMW 745i published in the July 1983 edition of CAR magazine. This period represented a time when BMW was a manufacturer of superior driving machines! That no longer holds true. The 745i cost ~ $190-$200K in todays money. 213 kw, 340 N.m from a 3.6L DOHC engine. Engine, Gearshift, interior; all were upgraded from the then 735i. according to our stats, back then, in this price range your alternatives were the Mercedes 380 SEC, Jaguar XJS, Porsche 928S and Porsche 911 Cabrio.

@ImperatorSeanus

Жыл бұрын

This car came with the 1980 Dec-Jan edition of AutoCar with a full review of a similar car, really interesting to read what the journalists said about it back in the day!

😯 The black Range Rover (14:02) nearly put it in the paint shop! 😅

Many fond memories of one of these, being 17 with long hair and holey jeans.. The Police used to pull me all the time. You could tell they were surprised when I pulled over and passed my documents. (my boss's car) I was a nanny at the time. The kick down when 17 years old was addictive. straight over on roundabouts was prob my fav thing after females at the time.

@Smegmeister

Жыл бұрын

A Manual! Wow

I drove a blue auto 20 years ago, and it was my first experience of driving an “old” BMW.

Loved your "What the.....(bleep!)" comment at 14 minutes in - thanks to the muppet, in the Discovery, driving on your side of the road! Best watch out for BV65 OJF if you live in that area - feel free to name check if recognised, lol, as everyone deserves their fifteen minutes of fame! 😂

That edit where the oncoming Disco cut the corner! LOLS

I just bought myself an m90. Im very excited

My grandpa (a Mercedes man) was swayed by one of these - a '82 728i built here in South Africa at the Roslyn plant. In 1987 the valves went one day on a trip to Cape Town from Bonnievale and he traded it in for a W124 at the next town on the road (I think Riviersonderend on the N2).

Sean is cool. We like Sean.

My Grandad had the legendary 745i here in South Africa, he regretted letting that go till he passed.

This was my first car in 2002. It would cut off sometimes and I would have to pop the clutch to turn it back on lol. Had a few harrowing experiences. It leaked oil and gas, and water through the sunroof like a siv. My dream is to find one in decent shape and get it to mint condition now that I can afford it.

14:00 😂

The E23 is a fabulous car

Great video on a very unusual car. You need to try a BMW 2002tii with the mechanical fuel pump. The start of the great BMW’s

one of my fav cars

Beautiful car