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.
Photography Courtesy Iconic Preferred Cars
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 some better days and the paint sports a few blemishes, according to the ad, this 745i–a later 3.4 model–holds a clean vehicle report and is said to run well.
In fact, this BMW is noted to have been owned by a BMW service facility owner for the past 15 years.
Find this 1985 BMW 745i Turbo for sale by Iconic Preferred Cars for only $10,919.
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.
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