Pristine One Owner 750Li Sedan

As with the other top-shelf, full-size luxury sedans, the 2008 BMW 7 Series sits at the top of the premium car food chain, a great white shark in a tank of mostly pilot fish. Performance, luxury, space and high-tech features are found in great abundance here. This one-owner 750 Li represents BMW's finest 8-cylinder motorcar with a long-wheelbase chassis for impressive stretch-out space in the back seat. Of course, none of that dilutes the BMW driving experience, which is still among the finest in the automotive world. Despite its size, this 7 moves like a much smaller car and will bring a grin to your face every time you slide behind the wheel.

Finished in brilliant Black Sapphite Metallic paint, which is really the only proper finish for a big German cruiser like this, the 750 Li casts a big shadow. Elegantly proportioned and with BMW's signature dogleg rear window, it's instantly recognizable as the Ultimate Driving Machine. On a car that stickered for nearly $100,000, you know that finish quality is impeccable, and thanks to the expert maintenance of a dedicated single owner, it remains extremely nice today. The black paint is free of swirls and polish marks, and there are notably few chips and nicks, even on the nose and behind the wheels, suggesting that the owner was also careful. There are no signs of damage or repairs, and the magnificent black finish is deep, uniform, and glossy, befitting the flagship BMW sedan. And despite its controversial looks from designer Chris Bangle's pen, it has aged well and today seems less unusual thanks to wide acceptance of the influential design. The big Bimmer is not about being pretty, it's about being impressive—perhaps even intimidating—and this one scores big in that department.

European sport sedans have never been famous for their glittering chrome, but the BMW uses it here and there to emphasize its shape and break up the large chunks of black. The traditional BMW twin-kidney grille is ringed in chrome, and there's a single strip running horizontally across both bumpers. The trunk also features a polished strip that extends into the tail lights, drawing the eye but not overpowering the design. All the brightwork is in excellent condition with no signs of pitting or deterioration, and the BMW logos front and rear remain glossy and bright. The big headlights are not only powerful, but scratch-free and crystal clear. Again, this is a very well preserved automobile.

Power has always been BMW's strong point, and the 4.8 liter V8 under the hood doesn't disappoint. With 367 horsepower and a matching 360 pounds of torque, the 32-valve V8 moves the big sedan effortlessly, and you will routinely find yourself going 10-20 MPH faster than you thought. At part throttle, it feels electric motor smooth, but when you open it up, great gushing V8 sounds seem to emulate from all around you, and the car hurtles forward with a ferocity belying its size. With expert factory maintenance since it was new, this car runs as well as the day it came home with the lucky original owner. The engine bay shows signs of good living, and there's no dirt, dust, and definitely no rust or corrosion on any of the components, as this car has lived its life in the warm, dry south. BMW likes black and silver plastic shrouds over the engine, so the enticing internals can't be seen, but the engine bay is clean and 100% OEM. The car starts instantly with a quiet whirr from the starter, and idles so smoothly you won't even feel it. Yes, for $100,000 you get some very impressive hardware.

The transmission is a quick-shifting 6-speed automatic that seems perfectly matched to the engine's power curve. High-speed cruising is effortless with a deep overdrive, but bury your right foot and it will drop down two, or perhaps even three gears instantly and hurl the car forward like a slingshot. The sophisticated BMW suspension never puts a tire wrong, delivering a sublime mixture of performance and comfort that the 5.5-inch wheelbase stretch does little to erase. Massive disc brakes and every safety and performance-enhancing electronic aid you can imagine are standard, including adaptive cruise control which maintains a pre-set distance between you and the car in front of you. Wheels are huge 19-inch alloys wearing 245/45/19 front and 275/40/19 rear Pirelli P-Zero Rosso radials.

The interior is all about true luxury, and the creamy Beige Nasca Leather is spectacularly comfortable. The driver is rewarded with a comprehensive dashboard and an array of controls for virtually every function you can imagine. The BMW I-Drive system was revised, and works better than earlier generations. The back seat is impressively huge, bordering on limousine-like, and you'll feel like a million bucks if you spend any amount of time back there. Luxury features like heated power seats, a powerful entertainment system, integrated Bluetooth, navigation, and every other electronic gizmo you can imagine. The leather is in excellent condition, with age-appropriate wear on the driver's seat, but little wear anywhere else. That lovely strip of light burled walnut extending across the dash adds some warmth to the efficient Teutonic interior, and everything is 100% functional with no issues. Under that uniquely styled deck lid, you'll find a spacious trunk that will easily handle a week's worth of luggage.

Documentation includes the original window sticker, owner's manual, maintenance and warranty booklets, reference guide, and even a BMW road atlas.

The downside to big luxury cars like this is massive depreciation. With a $90,505 sticker price only three years ago, the price on this car reflects how badly these big cruisers take a hit when they roll off the lot. But that's good news for you, because this is a lot of car for not a lot of money. It delivers all the BMW features and luxury at a fraction of the original MSRP, and the driving experience remains undiluted. Loaded with options and expertly maintained, this is a car that has many years of driving pleasure still ahead of it, and there's something about a BMW that makes them so popular with enthusiasts. You'll look forward to your commute, and long trips are effortless. Take this one home and discover what the Ultimate Driving Machine is really about. Call now!