When you think about automotive fun in 1997, thoughts turn to Germany — and South Carolina.
That’s where BMW builds cars these days.
In recent months, I’ve had a chance to drive three very different 1997 BMWs: the Z3 2.8 roadster, the M3 sedan and the 750iL sedan. The first two are new entries for this model year, while the 750iL shares space atop the BMW lineup with the similarly priced 840Ci.
Here’s a brief look at each car:
750iL
Quite different from the exuberance of the Z3 2.8 or the tuner-enhanced M3 sedan, the 750iL is all about luxury. The $93,700 750iL (along with the $94,700 840Ci) is where BMW revels in its own excesses. First off, the car has a 5.4-liter, 322-horsepower V-12 engine. Fuel economy is poor at 15 mpg in the city.
The car comes with all manner of BMW special systems to improve driving and increase safety: dynamic stability control, electronic damping control, parking distance control. That system, PDC in BMW parlance, is a neat touch. Front and rear sensors emit ever more urgent beeps as you approach things that you don’t want to hit.
Leather, wood, trunk-mounted, multi-disc CD player, cellular phone, sunroof, five screens to keep the sun out of the rear passenger area — it’s hard to imagine anything this car lacks.
On the road, the V-12 is capable of amazing things, such as moving this 4,553-pound machine from zero to 80 mph in 6.7 seconds. Handling is quite nice, and the 750iL can seat five people comfortably.
Of course, for this price, a person could buy a Z3 2.8, a M3 sedan and probably still have enough left over to get the cheapest BMW, the 318ti hatchback.
