The 2003 BMW 7 Series Is the Most Controversial BMW Ever Made
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- Опубліковано 3 лис 2021
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BMW 7 Series review! The E65 and E66 BMW 7 Series is the most controversial BMW ever made. Today I'm reviewing the V12-powered BMW 760Li, and I'm going to show you all the quirks and features of this wildly controversial BMW -- and I'll show you why it was such a big deal back when it came out. I'll also drive the E66 760Li to show you what it's like on the road.
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The longest running controversy on this channel has been Doug's 2 t-shirt style. ...
Pretty sure it's so he doesn't sweat through the outside shirt, that's why I do it sometimes when it's hot out.
He’s said that he does it so he doesn’t sweat through and get the owners interiors gross, since he doesn’t use the AC when he reviews the cars because it would blow on the mic
@Scroto T Baggins not sure, might've been a Q&A on More, when he still used that channel. i do remember hearing him talk about it though
He’s a sweaty boy
I'm pretty sure at this point Doug makes sure to always wear 2 t-shirts because even when he was new into reviewing in his early videos i remember people pointing it out and asking why he wears 2 t-shirts. Since that day, he always wore 2 t-shirts. I'm sure he does it to embrace the meme haha
"The most controversial car BMW ever made."
/me laughs in i3.
iX 😂🤮
@@jonathanluttner9832 **Laughs in G80 M3**
@@joeyjoejoejrshabadu UA-camr
Hilarious 😂
Well that was a one off car. The 7 is iconic...
Every time I see this white 7 series, first thing that comes to my mind is "Every day im hustlin" by Rick Ross!
This is so true 😁
745, white-on-white, that's fuckin' Ross
Man of culture right here lol
uncle used to own a 7 series like this one in white, one of the primary reasons he got it is due to the fact he saw rick ross wit one.
True
Dang I remember when my classmate’s dad got this car. He was a VERY hard working man, loved his family to the ends of the earth. His wife supported him, and he showed IMMENSE respect to his family. They owned a business or something. They pulled up one day and we were like WOAH. He was NEVER pretentious about it. He was always thanking people for complimenting his car, and he never let it get to his head. Good man :) Probably why I love BMW’s… because of him Lol he set a great example, just because you drive a nice car, doesn’t mean you’re better than anyone else
So you're saying he was unlike 95% of all the other BMW owners?
BMW is 🗑
Go tell that dude . Give him his flowers now while he alive
Alot of people who drive bmws and Mercedes think they shit dont stink and majority of them think they better than others still.
He sounds like a good person. But say that to most of the other BMW owners and literally all tesla owners (douchebags).
The good old day when the headlights are bigger than the grill
🤣🤣🤣
Lol.
So sad it's the opposite now I can't stand these new massive grills :(
True
I wonder if this car he reviewed has the might vision option
This car was such a massive leap forward technologically speaking when it came out. Also, I don’t know of many cars that have better rust-proofing than the E65 7 series. In the Midwest, you notice this sort of thing when most cars that are 7-8 years old have rust starting. I’ve never seen an E65 with rust yet.
A little french car, the first gen Renault Twingo has a zinc treated body... Literally rust proof, and there's a lot of them here still driving around at 30/20 years old (mind you, i live on the coast, so occasional seaspray is not unusual)...
Yeah you do notice. It's also highly dependent on how the well the owner took care of the car too. Most rusty cars I see in Northern Illinois are hondas and American cars. It's almost always civics, trailblazers, and rusted out jeeps.
yeah but too bad E65 is a litteraly nightmare for long term reliability
That's because none of them lasted long enough to become rusty
@@MrJustapersn lol
You forgot a quirk: the rear passenger mirror cannot only be folded up and down but also swiveled left and right.
The first Lemon Zest mobile yo!
This really was a game changing car at the time. It looked and felt like the future. I remember my dad picked one of the earliest models up and it was a V8. Boy was that the most expensive car to maintain ever. The thing I think was missed is how absolutely incredible the interior styling was. The materials, the fit and finish and the new way of addressing the interior was in my opinion the biggest leap from my perspective. Even the door locks had this nice matte finish. The cup holders and the seat controls all felt very premium. It was a true departure from previous generations. The top lighting panel too that felt super premium. I wish they had better power trains but I think a lot has to do with the pioneering drive-by-wire tech used in the car.
Yeah controversial as it was it immediately made the S-Class at the time, which came out only 2yrs prior, feel suddenly old. I always sorta liked the styling of this generation 7, I thought it had great road presence, and while not my favorite it’s still better looking than the current 7 imo. Also this generation still retained that athletic BMW spirit being more enjoyable to drive than the two generations of 7 that followed.
I can second that especially with the expensive to maintain part my parents had a 2003 745Li and after the transmission was replaced at 77k miles the alternator went out the day it was given back from the dealer in 2007.
@@kidfoodieusa3806 as much as I loved the car I feel like my dad must have absolutely detested the problems that came with that first gen. Funny thing is I think BMW really ironed all of that out pretty well. We recently picked up a 740Li and it’s been absolutely bullet proof. Service costs are practically nonexistent
BMW, 2003: controversial styling at the rear, 2020: controversial styling at the front
@@premanyoutube4725 no
As a Mercedes fan, the front doesn't look that bad on the 2020 7 series
@@TheRealestTopG I mean the mercedes front end isn't that much better
Doug bias against bmw cars
@@05council49 which model are you talking about
The E65 forums are going nuts, Doug’s finally reviewing their car
*E 65 owners a few weeks from now*
"87,000 miles, 3 owner, only 1 accident and minimal maintenance every 3 years, $75,000 I know what I got, ask Doug"
😂
Doug's take are like high-honors now.
Loool
They can exclaim in between their early bird dinners and naps
@@kenniboii192 lol lol lol
I remember reading an interview with Chris Bangle and he said that he was happy that his design provoked emotions like that and how some people would walk up to the car and secretly touch it. It may not have been the prettiest car, but it was certainly striking and helped bring BMW into the modern era, especially with the cars that followed like the Z4, 6-Series, X3 and more.
Chris bangle is incredibly underrated. I just bought a 1 series, and it looks incredibly fresh for its age - while I remember very well the criticism it got when it came out
Is no-one else surprised that Doug said that he was 14 when this came out, making him only 31 years old!
I never actually thought about it but I would've guessed he was at least 40.
Yup, I am shocked.
Same here I thought he 40-45 lol I’m 35 tho
He's 33, DOB May 22, 1988. Surprised me too when I learned of his age, especially since that means he's only 8 days older than I.
@@kayrokk that’s crazy
Doug: This is the most controversial BMW ever made.
New 3/4 series: Hold my big ass grill
BMW Ix says hello
New 2 series has entered the chat
You guys are too young to understand how controversial this car was. The technology was weird and all new and the design language was a complete separation of normal BMW design language.
@@patrickmason6971 ok mr serious 🧐
@@MotorTorq_ZA 🤣🤣At least the ‘21 bmws that aren’t M’s like the M340! Don’t have as big grills as the M3 per say
A friend of mine pre-ordered one, when it was not yet in the showrooms. Man, was he surprised. He wanted his old one back, immediately.
Well, that was dumb!
It was a piece of crap.
I liked it be cause my passengers could not just begin touching and trying to change system...😀😀. Nice car overall
Why ?? He obviously knew how it looked before buying…. and they ran fantastic when new. Soooo it was nothing but a massive upgrade. Makes no sense, he goes through the effort to get it quick/early, then hates it 🤨
@@MartinAston00 this is the internet, where lies sell😄😄
I actually like the Bangle design with hindsight. The Bangle designed 6 series is one of my favourite modern BMWs, especially as an M6. However, the interior design of this 7 series has not aged well. So much plastic everywhere and the glossy wood cheapens it immensely. Think it’s taken a lot of time for BMW to improve their interiors to their current level of quality.
I find the 7 series of this era really pretty, the Bangle rear end quite attractive and suits the car well overall. The 6 series Bangle rear tho, I hate it. It didn't worked at all as coupe imo.
I see what Llamanator1 is saying. The bangle butt is very ugly, but there are some who do like it ....
Yes the interiors in slightly used condition are not my favorite
I used to think Bangle BMW’s are ugly, until they released the new 3/4 series with those nostrils. Now I kinda like Bangle BMW’s design.
I actually like the interior, it has aged very well. It doesn't look that different from later models of different series.
I've been a BMW tech for 15 years and I have always loved E65s. Yes they're a pain in the ass but I love the look and this vehicle pioneered technology used today... when you work on them, you see how different they are from any other of the bmws of that generation and that just adds to its charm.
How do you mean? I thought the e60 was quite similar, just a bit smaller.
Apparently the car automatically starts playing "Everyday I'm hustlin" whenever you drive into Miami
It tries to hide its controversial past too.
Rick Ross made a video on that song with the 7 in it. Back then people loved itBMW fans hated it. LCI is gorgeous though.
He's even driving the cartel white color.
Doug's into distribution
745 white on white thats phucing Ross
Idk about it being the most controversial 7 series, I’d look up the 2023 model
???
Looks like a rolls Royce almost
Those new headlights are really going to appeal to the Asian market 😑
Looks kinda like a Mirai with kidney grilles
As always, the enormous grille ruins everything
Doug's description of this car's controversy and how everyone talked about it back then, reminds me A LOT of the new M4 / 4 series when it came out
I remember when I was in college back in the day (when this car came out) and my father's friend had a white one just like this one in the video and my mind was blown 🤯 !! He was nice enough to allow me to sit in it and I felt like I was in a Spaceship. Till this day, it still looks great to me. The styling and design language of this car aged very well in my eyes. They kept true to this look up until the recent one that came out a couple of years ago with the super big kidney grille. Dope ass car 👌🏾 (but that iDrive knob would drive me crazy for overcomplicating the simplicity of everything).
Although controversial, this car technology wise was ahead of its time. So many of these new features are now standard in our modern cars almost 20 years later
Yeah. But, they didn’t work back then… not for long that is.
Ahead of its time, just not quite refined.
Just Implemented way better... It’s like they didn’t even get feedback from previous model 7 series owners before they implemented this drastic change. They made it easier for customers to choose an S-class instead.
Let me add that I have a 2010 3 series and almost everything from this car is in my car down to the illustrious on the buttons 😂
That's how the 7-series is, same as my 1990 750iL, throttle by wire etc
Ha I remember being a valet in 2003 and parked this car. I had to be given a quick class by a co-worker on how to drive it with that shifter. Lol. Was an amazing car back then.
haha i remember that new shifter .. a challenge for everyone lol .. a great car nonetheless!!
try 2008 to 2010 max
I’ll never forget working at a bmw dealer when these came out, everyone was talking about how they had the most computers in any car ever made.
Soon after, they came in droves for service, they would be sitting in the shop with wires coming out from every orifice for diagnostics/testing etc.
9:11 there is still a wireless phone in the first tray of the center console, there is also a small slot to put your sim card in, 20:30 you can also pull the rear passenger mirror and swivel it left and right, pretty quirky. AND just to flex, mine has the fridge and another pair of ceiling vents 😎
Take a shot of tequila every time Doug says “controversial”
3 minutes in and I’m permanently blind
im drunk
Take a shot of any energy drink everytime he starts a sentence with "AND ..." and you'll start flying after the video.
why garbage tequila
drunk already
i gotta say they certainly made it look futuristic, that doesn't even look like a design made in the early 2000s, it looks more like 2010-2015
The design has aged really well.
That's why I bought one in 2014 it was an 05' executive car previously owned this car definitely scaled me to the next level of opportunities
Ziggy Z bro u r right exactly as u said
Stevie Wonder would agree...certainly.
Thats the thing. This car couldve been designed yesterday, its quite timeless after you get over few minute details; for example the rear lights.
Great review Doug, as always. Thank you.
I’m pretty sure the two arrows next to the eject button are for changing tracks/presets in entertainment mode - not requiring messing with idrive controller
"Reviewed by Doug DeMuro""
* value shoots up by 50%*
Amazing how that works for him.
So like 10k instead of 5k. These are so cheap (not the v12s)
Its at 1200 on c&b right now
My father was fortunate enough to make some extra money in 2003 and he was so excited about hunting for a large sedan he always wanted. Brought back good memories of helping him look, this, the S-Class, and the A8 L. He ended up with the A8 L as it featured a lot of the same features but came in at a lower price, and oh boy it was so cool. I wasn’t very old and I’ll never forget the size of that backseat and the amazement when I saw things like heated rear seats and a mirror for the backseat as well. What a great little time trip back to some fun memories. And some less so, like him putting 80k miles on a $80k car from 2004-08 and selling it for $22k. Or the hilarious electric issues he got like the car sitting there completely turned off, empty and randomly turning the radio on at full blast. He went away from the German cars after that and drives a Toyota now after having his fun and then wanting something rock solid. But wow what a trip back! Thanks Doug.
Should have gone with a lexus lol. Live and learn.
And that's why you was only "fortunate" enough to have some money almost two decades ago... horrible with money.
@@jaekn he just moved on to more reliable cars 🤷♂️🤷♂️ could’ve bought more German cars if he wanted but saw the investment issue
@@jaekn and hows your money looking bud? I doubt you have it “Like That” lol
@@iiipercenterpatriot4266 naa, too boring
Doug, you should know that this BMW 760, and the 745 had an option called "Comfort Access" which gave you the option to unlock/lock the door with a touch of the door handle, and you could start the car without the key.
During this time, a friend of mine got a BMW 535GTi with the golfer-butt trunk. From what I understood, this was built on a 7 series short frame due to the size. I remember when I first saw it, strikingly beautiful yet unique looking. Thanks for the video, Doug.
I’m 28, and I’m not ashamed to say I have always loved the “Bangle Butt” design, especially the split LED tail lights. As a bit of a cars and electronics geek, these were some of the first automotive LEDs I had ever seen, which I thought was really cool, and I still think they look quite elegant today.
I also think BMW’s interior design during this era was impressively timeless.
The E65 was a sales success, easily surpassing its predecessor. So really...no need to be ashamed. Many people liked it and put money where their mouths were.
i don’t mind the design also. nothing controversial in my eyes but, if the tail lights weren’t split from the trunk and connected with the rest, it might looked better imo
Magnitudes less elegant than the E38!
Always loved it too when i was a teenager!
I'm 39 and I _hated_ this and any other Bangle design from the moment I laid eyes on it. And I strongly suspect most people who like it today were either very young when it came out, if born at all, or just didn't like BMWs up to that point. And of course, if you only compare it to other cars of its era, it's not as bad - but BMWs used to be quite good looking up to that point, and all of that ended because an American, of all people, was in charge of the new look.
I clearly remember thinking "Dear god! I'm finally making a decent amount of money but now I can't buy a BMW because all new models will look like shit for the foreseeable future!". And that's exactly what happened. I don't know the numbers, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was mostly the foreign market that was responsible for the E65's success. American taste and regulations had A LOT of influence over German carmakers in the past 20 years and I dare say it made them worse. Gah, I get angry just thinking about it...
I grew up with this car. My mom got rid of it about 7 years ago now. She loved it. The funny part is the drivetrain never gave her a single issue but it was always the little electronics and sensors etc. that made the car a nightmare to live with.
I own a black 2008 730d. It's the engine to go for. M57 is bulletproof and gives you minimal problems. And later facelifts look much better.
They suffer from electronic gremlins
@@warrengeew yeah, mine is a 2005 730d, face lift. With everything on. Heat an cooled seats, fridge, etc. Went out yesterday an did 374 mile round trip, no problem, 34mpg.
@@1GQ_gent no they don't, everyone says this shit. If your battery isn't good, the car has a paddy an throws its toys out of the pram. If you get gremlins, put a new battery on.
@@michaelbamber4887 I wish more ppl knew this, I have one and it runs great but glemins but a new battery does trick
The facelifted version of this is one of my most favourite BMWs. In fact, I love the Chris Bangle BMWs' facelifted versions, especially since they were available during my childhood, and the V10 in the M5 and M6 during that time... ❤️
I have owned a 7 series just like this one for about 15 years now, and what doug failed to tell you is that it is one of the coolest cars EVER made, the amount of technology in it is outstanding for a car that was designed in the LATE 90s and early 2000s! And he also failed to tell you that the infotainment is actually REALLY easy to learn, after owning this car for like a week you can get the hang of it real fast. Thats my take on the video
Is it a good idea to buy one in 2022?
what if you don't want to Learn your car? Sorry but if it's a modern and not intuitive, it's a fail from me. We had my wife's BMW for years and I never got the memory seat thing to work. Still, my favourite car is the roofless landrover I've had for 42 years, doesn't have self cancelling indicators - great by me.
@@lalebustani1558no don't
I've just bought a 7series E65, in 2023, if its kept in good condition, theres no reason not to, it'll be a classic.
Sir you being an owner for 15 years must share your views on it as many of us here watching are possible buyers. Your opinion matters.
Doug is having a stroke describing the idrive system.
yup
The first gen iDrive wasn’t very easy to understand. The second gen in my 2011 E90 323i was much easier to use.
I’d have a stroke just trying to use the I-Drive system.
And describing it wrong.
18 years old and it still has the best rear window shade setup ever!
Except it broke if you sneezed at it….
thats something to be proud of is it? 😂
My car's 19 years old and has the same rear sunshade ... well, except you have to ask a front-seater to put it up or down.
Switching the radio is easy, two arrow buttons next to the CD eject button. You even showed them a few times in the video Doug!
I remember the "ski sack" being an option on a new 1989 VW Jetta I was looking at then. I remember it could replace the plastic back panel in the center armrest when folded down to let you put your long (and wet) skis and poles in the trunk, extending into the passenger compartment but keeping the wet and cold out. Hadn't seen it on another car until now!
My parents had an Audi a4 that had the same thing
Doug: "Five steps to change a radio preset!"
Me: presses button on steering wheel once, "Not that hard."
Sure, assuming you know what position all your presets are in. Steering wheel button only goes next and previous, so if you're hunting for a preset it could take several presses. And of course the passenger has no steering wheel to use.
Ah, you have won the rare direct reply award.
@@AspireGMD 😄 I'm just as surprised as you!! 😄
@@AspireGMD For Doug it was irresistible lol
@@DougDeMuro the oassenger is not touching the radio in my car. Its a passenger
Ah, just as I was about to admit my immeasurable disbelief that throughout filming of this video the car didn't throw a check engine light, it did at the end.
I was not disappointed.
Did I miss something? When did the check engine light come on? I really wanted to see that
Haha I have the 2009 version and believe it or not, no check engine lights 😂
@@humzauddin105 2009? Weren't these made for model years 2002-2008?
I love the E65 rear design - after all it was something someone had to do, and the weird lighting setup was corrected to please larger audience in the facelift model, which no one can call ugly. Bangle was definitely after something not many understood but later.
6 series has the exact style but suited it better
Doug saying “this” is like people who say “like” a lot 😂😂
Or "dude"
"The 2003 BMW 7 Series Is the Most Controversial BMW Ever Made...and here's why I love it"
@T a t s u h i s h a©🌹 really?! On Doug's review 😂 you know you've made it when sex spam makes it on your channel comments 👏🏾
Car reviews love them, car reviews with female review sex scam in comments section, even better 😉
It has a horrible infotainment system and it's not pretty...big news !! it's on cars and bids for sale 😂😂 Doug is not the best car salesman
Hey Doug
First of all this vehicle DID came with a proximity key option, pretty rare but it’s existed.
Second those wheels also been shared with the Alpina B7.
I think those are actually Alpina wherls.
@@machtschnell7452 Yes but the 760 came with those wheels also
I'm not sure they are shared with the Alpina B7, they remind me of the Alpina Z8 wheels but the are 15 spokes and I think Alpina 20 have always had 20 spokes
@@gaby8583 u are correct Alpina b7 has the signature multi spoke rims n these I agree look like the Z8 wheels
My grandpa owned a similar 2002 7 series and he was always overwelmed by the iDrive system. He always needed me or my brother to access the main IDrive menu, he just alwas had it on FM Radio. I have many warm memorys of this car and we went on lots of vacations in it, it has soo much space we ve had 4 people and our german shepherd + cargo in it. As Doug said it had many odd features and you had to adobt to it, but my grandpa loved it especially for its reliance and its spacious design. We had no major problems or car shop bills with it, until the engine just out of the blue decided to stop working alltogether when we were on holiday... But this was after 8+ quiet years of ecsessive use as main car, it served well.
The second I saw the taillights I was like
"That's the oracle from gta!"
Even though these are money pits, I see these driving around quite often probably powering through multiple malfunction messages.
Yup and sensors and dash light problems
Of course all my 7's had electronic gremlins and major transmission issues along with leaks looks on everything it's personality was evil the middle of the night malfunctioning in desert heat unreliable
@@1GQ_gent Man i jus litteraly got rid of my beautiful 7 series the looks was everything but the mechanism works was a nightmare from the blown headgaskets and the failed transmisson issues also the power went out from not programming the 🔋 had way to many issues with them bmws than i can afford😌 they are VERY unreliable cars in the long run unfornaturely
And they still look good 🤦🏾♂️
my dad had an e38 7series that HE BEAT to death lmao
I'm talking trips to the sahara every year, no service at all, literally nothing worked on it and BMW even programmed the infotainment screen to be disabled and only do radio because of how broken everything was. But mechanically, if you ignored the engine knocking, immense fuel consumption to to a MAF disconnected and the random leaks that seemed to appear and disapear, it fucking went, it didn't want to die !!!
It lasted about 17 years and the transmission finally went out, we sold it for 600 euros to some guy that was passionate about e38s and wanted to renovate it. He came back a few months later with it purring like new and he painted it black, was so nice to see it finally received the love it desserved !
Im gonna try to buy an e38 in the future because it just looked so good and drove so nice !
I am shocked at how well preserved this specific 7 series is, just beautiful condition. The tech in these is still really good which tell you how advanced they were back then. I really liked that the interior was totally different from the lower models, something you don’t see anymore.
Hi some corrections to this video
1. The radio change channel down with 1 button on the stering wheel and 1 for changing up.
2. The phone as you say with a ugly panel our car has a 2 system phone system 1 front and one back and both systems has a cordless phone in thr front its under the radio/cd press the button and it slide out and in the back it is in the mittle consol where our fridge also is installed.
+ you can talk to the car about who you want to call and you also can get in the clima control simply to say it soooo easier it dosnt get.
We aldo have electric adjustable seats in the front and ALSO IN THE BACK + AIR suspension and no hanging back then it pump it up.
3. Also the key is never put into the car it is just for having a place to put the key my key never leave my pocket and each of the 2 keys remember all settings from last drive so when i unlock eith my key it positions my seat and passenger seat and radio station and Vol. And the same when wifey does drive. Soo 2 memory possitions for each key.
I did have the E38 before and it was the prettiest but the E65 is another world of luxus driving.
My is from 2003 and live in denmark where all cars rust but there is 0% rust in ours so what they did it really worked 18 years and drive like it was new no bad sounds like in a 5 year car normaly have sooo i ❤ it 100%
Have a post-facelift model 750LI. iDrive grew on me (and later models added matching leather). But I'm glad I never had to use it for navigation.
How many times are you going to say "Controversial"?
Doug: Yes
The amount of time he says "controversisal" is controversial.
I was watching older Dougs and realized there has been a slight Flanderization throughout the years. Younger Doug was way less Doug and it felt like vacation to me.
That’s the best way to put it
T H I S ! ! !…
and it seem like his arms get longer every year 😅
Yeah that’s fair but also Doug is a brand now. Gotta sell it
Back then the “Quirks” were actually quirky.
@@supersecularboypants they were! Once everything becomes quirky, nothing is quirky anymore 😄
I just discovered this channel.
This man must have some Italian roots, I've seen Italians hand gesturing less than Doug has
@7:30 If I'm not wrong, you can change radio presets using the left-right key next to eject key next to CD slot visible @8:11.
And let's not forget the optional refrigerator behind the central rear armrest (replacing the ski-sack).
Just happy the cup holders didn’t bring much controversy.
Not sure if its an option, but mine are heated and cooled, whichever the climate control is on. Along with the center console!
@UClZFgQQy2Tp9koY5d9hCYEw you just summed up my thoughts on my 750i completely
Both front an rear cup holders were broken on my e38 when I got it. I got working assemblies and now have to tell passengers not to use them
@@hughesj how do e38 cup holders function? They pop out in some over engineered fashion in guessing lol
Unlike my W211 lol
I still remember to this day, the 2002 DC auto show I was 13. The BMW section was absolutely flooded with people waiting to get their close up with the new 7 series. I waited for probably 30 minutes to get my turn to sit inside, I was absolutely amazed at the tech this thing had compared to literally everything else at the show. I mean this car blew my mind, I still remember seeing that phone dial pad slide out of the dash and thinking this was legit James Bond's car. Funny how that stuff sticks with you.
This was in early development during production of Tomorrow Never Dies, with the movie being a test bed for BMW.
@@jmin8400 yup such a cool car for the time, and styling controversy aside, it was a game changer for how mmi displays would evolve in the car industry.
Nice video! Please make a Doug Score for the Volvo 240 DL wagon ... may be your shortest video ever LOL
Good review. I remember all the drama !!
The climate menu is hilariously complex and over-engineered. Absolutely insane.
even in iDrive 7 they still love to over engineer the climate control stuff. they moved the 'hot/cold' vents thing to the idrive climate menu. you can change the intensity of the auto climate program for each seat. wholly over engineered.
Seriously just make hot cold on button menus that was over kill
Having owned an e60 5 series with the first gen iDrive, the journalists we're absolutely full of shit. It was certainty a departure from the norm, but it took like 2 days to get used to and I actually still prefer it to any touch screen system I've owned since. They just didn't give it enough time.
The bmw I drive is the signal most copied automotive feature in the world
@@xanksnap1457 good to keep the wife from bitching that it's to cold or hot on here face and feet
For better or worse, Chris Bangle has probably had more influence over the last 20 yrs than any other designer
His work definitely stood out. 😏
Not only those designs were bad, but they also aged very badly. Sorry Chris.
@@skf2 I think the E60 (5er) was 10 years ahead of its time. It looks really fresh today.
I wish he didn't. Why was a German company using an American designer anyways?
@@skf2 really? his designs were way ahead of his time. especially the 5 series of his era. they still look relatively modern to this day. the e class of the same era looks way outdated
We got the BMW E65, and that’s where our love for bimmers started. Nine bimmers later, and we still love them, even after owning a few Mercedes, and many other car/suvs/trucks makes and models.
The 3-series design that followed this 7-series was so popular that on the cover of a car magazine it showed a picture of the 3-series with the title "3-series spared!".
At least Mr. Bangle listened to the owners and auto reviews of the time.
Good review Doug. 👌
The E38 actually had adaptive cruise as well, it was a very rare option.
But how do they scan the speed of the cars around? Some kind of proximity sensor?
@@987ntn ultra sound or beam sensors have been around for ages
Wtf, I need a E38 with adaptive cruise now
@@Kevin-mr7jv I just want one with the V12
@@Kevin-mr7jv my aunt had a E38 750 with ACC. LOVED that car until some drunkard hit it and totaled it. That car was the pinnacle of German engineering.
You can change radio presets from the steering wheel buttons, as well as the d-keys on the head unit. You don't have to press to confirm mode selections unless you start from the menu, and after a software update even that was selectable by pressing and holding the knob down in the menu mode. Also, in decades of owning multiple of these cars, I have NEVER EVER had to use climate screen, except for curiosity, and once per season to adjust the "feel" temperature, as the "auto" mode is perfect, and "Max AC" and "Defrost" buttons took care of the excessively hot and cold days. Additionally, for people who don't like going through menus - the car has a perfectly fine voice control system that works. Also, the bangle butt being ugly is a matter of opinion, even if the majority think it's ugly - there is plenty of people who liked it, and to me it looked good from day one, and still looks good. This car and its technologies is still giving most of TODAY'S cars a run for it's money, especially with how cheaply you can purchase one of these now. The infotainment system still sounds better than 99% of what you buy today, and once you retrofit Bluetooth - has all the functions that you'd use anyway in the 2021 model cars... This car was good, still is good, and I still own one, thoroughly enjoy it, and don't plan to get rid of it.
This dude is clueless. Also, the bangle butt was copied by Mercedes, Toyota, Nissan,
The infotainment system sounds very flat and muffled. Like almost ALL BMW OEM sound systems. But then again, they make cars, not sound systems. Also by retrofitting bluetooth, you do not get everything that 2021 cars have. Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, Screen Mirroring etc etc :)
@@powersoundcyprus couldn't disagree more on the system sounding "flat and muffled"... I don't know what "BMWs" you had misfortune of listening to, but all the ones I owned with an exception of the base E46 sounded amazing, and certainly better than any other brand of car I've ever been in. Also, I didn't say "get everything you get in a 2021 car" - I've said "use everything you'd use in a 2021 car", which for me is Bluetooth playback and calling. All other stuff is chafe and is not necessary to have a great infotainment system.
@@AlecKristi I agree, although I drove my cousins new 2021 S90 T8 with the Bowers and Wilkins sound system with the 32 speaker setup and it completely blew me away, everything else that has always sounded really good now sound Okay.
@@NudelKungen. logic 7 in this car is just on another level even in 2021
my dad had the facelifted E65. 2008 750i black on black, sport package, short wheel base.
I still remember the three spoke sport steering wheel looking 10x better than the 4 spoke.
The facelift got rid of the line on the trunk and imo really kicked off the newer BMW styling that you see everywhere now
And yet it is the most sold chassis code through the 7 series history. Looks like success to me I love it
Correct, the same I could say for the G70 too,controversial now but later people would accept it
Doug: "I'm going to review your car before we list it on Cars and Bids"
Owmer: "Awesome!"
Doug's summary includes the phrase "fatal flaws"
Owner: "Wait a minute..."
@@yungboicontigo9278 wow bro... triggered much?
@@kennethatteberry6757 I guess the car IS pretty controversial huh?
@@kennethatteberry6757 lol his name should tell you everything you need to know
I’m sure the current owner has experienced these flaws first hand, it becomes a fun game of ‘which error code next’ followed by ‘how much will it cost to fix’
The irony of Doug talkin about ugly styling is not lost on me.
@PewDeiPei exactly. All the E3x people are ancient and I’m 40. Those cars off that era were so so generic. Every damn car looked l the same.
I've always admired the E65/E66 with the V12 from afar. I used to have visions of purchasing this car with personalized plates that read: 76er
I had the old original Idrive in a 2005 5 series and it was pretty briliant in my opinion. The knob always knew where the end of the menu was and it just stopped scroling once you got to the end of the list. Then to get to different sections by moving the whole knob was also great, because I didnt have to look anywhere for even a split second, you grab the knob, move it and boom you are there. Better then finding a particular button in a mesh of 6 buttons. It also supported split-screen, I could have navigation on half of the screen and the radio on the other half for example. The iDrive in the 5series was different than the 7series but I really liked it. Much more than the infotainment in my current 2015 jaguar. That one just sucks, its slow, it doesnt support showing two things at the same time and every time I want to do something I have to take mye eyes of the road.
Why is NOBODY calling Doug out for NOT SHOWING US THE DAMN EXHAUST SOUND ????
Probably because it's a V12 powered luxury car, and the exhaust sound is not the point. It's probably also too quiet to showcase anyway.
@@rpsmith2990 how do you actually know which one is on the streets both is “750”Li but some are V8 some v12
BECAUSE IT'S V12, BUT IN ELECTRIC!!!
750 was v8 760 was v12. Not that difficult Elijah
@@almatatov9269 I wonder how fast it truly was with all the weight
I’ve had this car, amazing drive, but guzzles gas like a monster and any repairs on this car is just…hectic
Nice! I actually always thought that it was beautiful and awesome, but I'm not surprised about the gas and repairs..
Make a since o have 650I I was thi k of upgrade to 750 or 760
I remember seeing one of these when I visited Monaco when these were new. Really had quite a presence. I’ll never forget seeing that V12 badge and just saying “holy cow”.
I remember a clients grandparent had one of these new the day it came out in black and they came to pick him up in it, I was struck by how strange the rear end was, it was such a departure from their previous design language! I couldn't help but stare! lol
We had this car for 12 years. Here's one of the things i want to mention:
The iDrive, in my experience, was not horrible. You got used to changing the stations with the knob and going to your presets. The screen always started with the FM screen, it wasnt a big issue.
About the venting. You didnt mention there are buttons on side to change where the air blows. Never dealt to go in iDrive and change it, always used the buttons. The Auto mode worked perfectly on it and, when needed, we just changed it to blw on front window. Thats it. IT WAS NOT HORRIBLE as you say it now.
We should never take those so called car enthusiasts opinions seriously i just enjoy watching the cars nothing more
You are correct but from the perspective of a lot of customers it was. Anything that isnt 100% intuitive and "Always like it has been" draws heavy criticism from many customers.
Sometimes people don't like big changes.
Sprogis
@@slowanddeliberate6893 Yeah like never, people are so stupid that they don't understand what is best for them. Like people are literally crying C8 Z06 is not push rod anymore
When this hit the streets in 2002, it was untouchable.
Even exotics that cost well into the 6 figure range couldn’t hold a candle to it.
It changed the direction of not only BMW, but the auto industry in general. Every flagship had to catch up to it.
a candle to it in what way?
Untouchable because it was so ugly... lol then the ones who did buy it, spent their time driving to dealership to get it fixed, you've clearly never owned one nor have you worked on one to know how bad these are. Fanboy to the max lol.
@@Nismoleb89 LOL bmw fanboys are so cringy..."Even exotics that cost well into the 6 figure range couldn’t hold a candle to it. "...like what the fuck? 🤣🤣😂😂
@@ginaryan2093 Innovation.
@@Nismoleb89 Actually, I’ve been in and driven several. They are high-maintenance just like any other cutting-edge car, but still a remarkable vehicle for it’s time.
I have an 08 550i I love it. The Idrive is not perfect but bangle worked out the bugs. I can navigate it pretty good
i was one of the people that loved these when they came out, working at a dealership in 2014 they were my go to vehicles to drive customers around, pick up other lot guys etc
The holy grail of cars in the hood, with giant chrome rims and 90 day tags parked on the street next to subsidized housing projects.
"There's a little button for SMD"
LOL
That took me far too long and I disappointed myself.
Lmfao 😂
Not sure if you've ever seen or heard of the Australian XF Fairmont Ghia? (1985-88) It had 5 cigarette lighters! It also had full 'space age' digital instruments, automatic oscillating heater vents and a stereo that looked like your cool 80's uncles full rack system! It would be funny to see you review one of these cars if you are ever in Australia or NZ, and if you can find one that hasn't rusted to dust!
It's interesting that the 760li did not have the rear seat entertainment. I loved that weird flip/fold screen mounted on the centre console with the idrive on the arm rest..
As a technician that works at a German vehicle specialty shop this is probably the first E66 I've seen where all the electronics are still working. Talk about an electrical nightmare to work on.
If it had the comfort access(keyless entry) doors then they probably wouldn't have worked. That was the hardest part to repair on my E65.
@@Frikoo Still a big problem on the F series cars. It blows people's minds when you tell them they have a drivetrain malfunction because their $500 door handles are shorting.
In Australia, we called these Bangle Butt BMWs “taxis” because at the time, many taxis had these raised boots so that they could put an ad on their back.
ok
@@mijnnaamisaaron you okay bro? loser?
@@desire_002 Never let fear stop you from asking something you don't understand or know.
@@mijnnaamisaaron cooe
@@mijnnaamisaaron cope
Meh, I think the car has aged well and still looks very modern. Today's tech has actually caught up to the car. The iDrive on this car is really not that difficult compared to the tech in today's autos.
I was 15 abs huge fanboy when this came out but I was like wtf but in person I learned to love it... styling was ahead of its time. I ended up owning 2 e60 550s among other bmws but the e60 is also bangle butt hated but I love those too.
Chris Bangle didn’t survive his designs… the tech problems didn’t help… btw, you can pick’em up cheap cause the tech/repairs were hella expensive… on top of it being expensive anyway.
Yeah these were pieces of shit but they had some cool little gadgets. I actually think it still looks halfway modern as old as it is.
A friend of mine had one of these, but a 740 while we were in high school and I had an Audi A8 4.2 petrol from the same time (D3). His car had way more things in terms of tech features and slightly more power (mine had more power stock, but he had put some chip to increase his), but my Audi was a better drive, was much simpler to use, and was much more reliable (the only real issue I had, although quite significant, was with the air suspension, whilst his dashboard was like a Christmas tree from warning lights most of the time. Still, we loved both of our cars and they sure were a valuable lesson moving forward.
@@chynacash3138 they still hold up their looks tbh
“Hella”
The soft close I missed that part and welcome lights
the amount of times doug said “radical” is terrifying
Have you been radicalized?
The car was radical for its time. Just in a terrible, radical way.
He's secretly a Ninja Turtle
After driving this car, many have decided to make a pilgrimage to Syria
You mean you didn't know..
Doug's the type of guy to say radical?
My parents bought one when they were new and my mom made my dad return it and get another 5 series because it was too complicated for her. She kept putting it into reverse on accident because of the weird column shifter. It wasn't just a column shifter, you had to push it up to go into drive and down to go into reverse, so if you've ever used a column shifter in any other car you think pull down a few clicks to go into drive but pulling down makes you go backwards. I absolutely loved it though, I was 16 at the time and I think I drove it more in the week or two we had it than my parents did lol
it is the easiest shifter ever... literally the first day I got in a E66 I knew how to put it into drive and reverse its common sense LOL
@25:16 that effortless acceleration to speed. Looks so smooth, like it advanced rather than accelerated
When you will go to I-drive settings and turn on the "sport" you will add to handling at lest 2 points. On steering wheel you have sport for transmission, but sport for steering and suspension were hidden in settings - could be assigned to the star button as I remember. I had 2003 760i couple years ago. And it drives on twisty roads better than e39 wit M-package suspension. It drives faster and sharper. Even when we were comparing with e60 M5 (on the road, not race track), we were driving pretty close together.
Climate control for rear seats were available too, as an option, which this car don`t have. But it was - two separate climate zones for rear seats with two climate panels on the innerliner.
For rear seats there was in option, an entertainment system with separate screen and own I drive.
This car have few other interesting features too. First Dynamic bixenon with lighting direction change with steering wheel. Windshield whippers angle were changing depending on speed and whippers wear. First car with optical fiber for multimedia.
V12 had few other features which V8 don`t have. Alcantara inneliner, more wood in interior. Wood trim dedicated only for V12. Leather on dashboard...
This was a great car, the best in its class, much farther then all competitors. After that car I bought Mercedes V12 which was a one generation newer (2007). And even after one generation Mercedes wasn't even close to quality, handling, comfort, entertainment and this gorgeous seats.
Yeah this car itself is a legend. My father owned BMW 745Li 2004 back then and it was Loaded. The approximty key he mentioned is wrong we never needed to insert the key to start, some models just didn't have that option. Also in 2004 they change iDrive to have 2 more buttons next to it "Menu and Favorite" and there was no need to press it twice to confirm. Also there was a seek/next channel button next to the CD so I don't know we didn't he mention it.
Driving this car is something out of this world and it was fast and agile with respect to its size and weight, even it had rear wheel steering as option aka integral steering. Our car had the top rear ac vents and rear refrigerator and Siemens phone in rear armrest and front drawer. For the AC you can literally see the option to change where the air come from that bar with arrow actually is something unique that let you adjust precisely how much air you want that area to push. Ambient lighting all around and I think it is very beautiful car and paved the way to the cars we see today. Yes alot of mechanical/electrical problems but when it's working it's like a dream!!!
A trick for shades is to hold rear shade button and it will open/close all the shades together.
@@MS7.7 exactly. The key insert crap showed he didn't do much research on this video...or he desperately wanted more "quirks and features" lol
@@oumaniac This also doubled as Obd2 info. When I took the car to the dealer they insert the key in the car and it will store all the information, mileage and any error codes if present on the key. Then they put the key in the computer to see all the information. That was amazing!!
TLDR: confusing car
@saillupus - Thanks for taking the time to make this comment. Good info!
My friend, a software technician, had to stop his 5 series every time he wanted to change some aircon setting :p
I actually love this 7 Series ONLY. When I was a baby I watched Jimmy Fallon and Queen Latifah in TAXI (2004) and seeing that red getaway 760Li running on those shiny Lowenhart 22''s rims made me fall in love with this car. It's the only 7 series I liked
I own the 2006 Version of this (BMW 760 i) Its Black on Black. It does turn heads when driven.It has been very challenging to maintain & repair as a European Automotive Technician.
I work as a mechanic and one of my loyal customers has one of these. It’s really high mileage. It has around 186,000. Apart from leaking oil all the time all the electronics actually still work. I owned a more modern 335i at this car had more much more fuses.
I've had two high mileage e65s. One was at 240k, other was at 210k miles. Both had oil leaks. Some type of rubber plug by power steering or alternator leaks. Both had bad valve stem seals. Both through up codes for secondary air injection and cat codes. Both still drove amazingly well! Great cars!
This car has probably the most comfortable seats I have ever had the pleasure of sitting in as a passenger. You literally set it up to perfect comfort.
And the least perfect gear shifter IN EXISTENCE.
I was in a training in a BMW dealer, I sat in the back seat, I fell asleep immediately 😅
Drove a 90's S600 mercedes that thing was so comfortable i nearly cried lmfao
The gear changing mechanism is awsome becouse if you one hand for something you can still upshift-downshift with only one hand.
' . . .if you bent the headrest you could get more lateral support to keep your head in place'. Because owners of Bimmers usually had heads that were screwed on. Cheers.