(First posted 8/6/2013; Rescheduled as a tribute to Karl Lagerfeld, who passed on earlier this week at age 85) — Pillowy, button-tufted seats and abundance of wood trim often conjure thoughts of full-size American cars of the Brougham era. In particular, Cadillac, Oldsmobile, and Chrysler were big fans of the button-tufted look on their top models during the 1980s. But don’t be confused, this is no “Fine Corinthian Leather”. These seats are those of–a BMW?
Yes, indeed. This is a 2000 BMW 750iL.
Obviously this is not your average BMW 7-series.
In addition to being an L7 limousine model, it’s a one-of-a-kind Individual model styled by German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.
Now the L7 alone was a unique model. With a wheelbase stretched to 131 inches, 10 inches longer than a standard 750iL and 16 inches longer than a standard-wheelbase E38, only 899 E38 7-Series L7 “limousines” were made from 1997-2001. All L7s were powered by the 750iL’s 5.4-liter V12 making 322 horsepower and 361 lb-ft of torque.
In 2000, one of those 899 L7s served as the canvas for famed fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld to put his mark on. Lagerfeld had previously special-ordered two other BMWs, including a 1992 E32 7-Series that was the very first of BMW’s “Individual” models offering extensive customization to the most selective of consumers.
The exterior color was achieved by painting Chestnut Brown Metallic over Gold Orange Metallic for a glowing effect.
The interior featured a special order chocolate-colored leather (button-tufted no less!) with orange piping and acres of real wood trim.
Among its other unique features are executive tray tables, a state-of-the-art (for 2000) rear entertainment system, in-door tissue dispensers and a James Bond-style safe, all separated by a limousine-style partition. It’s quite a unique car. This is how BMW does Brougham.
(BMW photos from onlycarsandcars)
The paint on this car is really cool.
Reminds me of the “fade” jobs on their motorcycles of the 70s-80s.
“The car so exclusive, none will be built!”
Oh how I miss the pre-Bangled Bimmers 🙁
Interesting, but bizarre, seeing pillow seats in a BMW makes my brain itch……does not compute…..
Man, button-tufted upholstery in a BMW, heresy! All it needs is thick mouton-pile carpet for a finishing touch.
The 1995-2001 7 Series is one of my favorite modern cars.
Agreed.
It needs fender skirts.
Never saw this before. I think the button seats work great with this generation 7-series (my favorite) and the colors that were selected. Don’t care for the stretch job; in L configuration there was already a ton of room in the rear seat.
Looks like Lagerfeld forgot to take his sunglasses off when choosing interior colours. Exterior colour is nice, but if you ding it, a re-spray ain’t gonna be cheap.
The whole idea just seems a bit unnecessary – if you’re going to spend big on a luxury limo, get a Bentley, Rolls or whatever – BMWs are sold as being for front-seat drivers, not back-seat passengers.
This one sneaked under the radar,I’d never heard of it before now.It looks a bit peculiar in the side view,the stretch between the doors doesn’t do anything for it’s looks.
BroughaMW.
Where are the whitewalls?
The Ultimate Broughaming Machine?
If it wasnt a limo I think I would have it. It just works for my appreciation of weird cars.
God, so much stuff going on here… I like the color a lot, and I normally hate trick paintjobs like this – especially from this car’s era (the chameleon paint on Mustangs and whatnot), like the seats and colors on the interior but not so much the orange piping, the plastics in the rear compartment look kinda chintzy but it might just be the lighting or an overly ambitious Armor All treatment, and the stretch look is funky/totally messes up the nice lines of this car, but it’s still cool since it’s a factory limo. I had no idea a BMW L7 of this generation existed, thought that was only a 1980s US-spec phenomenon.
I’ve ran across a few different E24 L6s lately…
Love it! This interior is my fantasy of what Olds or Buick should have been in the 1980s- high quality real leather, properly finished real wood in a modern body, but with that Broughamy style.
This is just wrong in so many ways although this generation 7-series is my favorite modern BMW.
Another belief exploded: I thought Lincoln was the only make involved with couturiers.
America has long been in the business of popularizing goods formerly the preserve of the wealthy, hence the Model T, large tract homes & alas, broughams.
Well, since Levi’s is about as fancy as my fashion gets, I think the Levi’s Gremlin should at least be mentioned along with the designer series Lincolns.
Hey, everything is designed by a designer – so go for it!
I had an Oleg Cassini Matador parts car in my driveway for a few years.
I wonder where that old E32 that Lagerfeld customized first is hiding nowadays. Anyone know?
There was a 1998 750iL L7 for sale here late last year. Factory RHD too, so probably the most rare variant. I’d never heard of the L7, so found it very interesting. There was fridge accessed via the rear seat centre armrest, it took up an enormous amount of space in the boot!
Interesting car. The paint is a nice custom effect, but to me the color of the leather clashes when you open the door and the orange piping looks tacky. Perhaps having color-coded door rubbers would have helped? Sure it would have cost lots of $$$ but I doubt it would have been a deal-breaker on a car like this.
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I’ve noted this trend. BMWs and Benzes are getting more and more plush and glittery; meanwhile, new Cadillacs have stark minimalist interiors. It’s like they’ve all switched sides.
He should have stuck to haute couture where his forte was…leave the brougham-ings to those who knew best how to do them.
Well, at least the throw pillows match the interior. So many times it seems that people become world renowned in one area, and that leads them to conclude they are now experts in everything. There is so much I already don’t know about what I am supposed to, thank God no one asked me to decorate their car.
I wonder if they still did these after the BMW-owned Rolls-Royce started production.
As a fan of L7, the band, I appreciate that name for this car.
L7, by the way, means square as in boring (because you can create a square forming an L and a 7 with your set of index fingers and thumbs).
A timely tribute to a fashion great; thank you!
Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but I think this interior looks very inviting; nice change from the sterility of most German car interiors. Is the paint lighter on the upper half of the car (like a dip-dyed shirt :)), or is just an effect of the light?