Comparison tests 1991 AMuS Comparison Test - BMW 750iL V12 (E32) vs Mercedes 600 SEL V12 (W140)

[Rolf]

The first battle of the German V12 Uber saloons from BMW and Mercedes in April 1991. Can the mighty 300kW (408PS) 600 SEL topple the current champ, the 220kW (300PS) 750iL?

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Great article @Rolf
Written by the unsurpassed/acclaimed Gert Hack.

 

[J.E]

The 600 SEL still is a fast car for today's standards, while the 750iL isn't.

0 to 100 km/h in six seconds is not quick for a for a modern day V12, but 0 to 100 km/h in six seconds is not shabby at all even for today's standards. Hate to say this, but the BMW was probably slow even for 1990's standards. 300 hp and 450 Nm of torque and still needed 8 seconds to reach 100 km/h? Come on...

 

[dalab]

The biggest problem with the W140 is that it was the epitome of the car for old people or the biggest "S" for old people of all, "dad's car" even a year ago when I was already 20 years older than when it came out, I had the opportunity of one used for $19,000 but still felt like it was more for someone 65 or older

 

[duesy]

The glorious days of auto magazines (tears).

 

[Rolf]

The 600 SEL still is a fast car for today's standards, while the 750iL isn't.

0 to 100 km/h in six seconds is not quick for a for a modern day V12, but 0 to 100 km/h in six seconds is not shabby at all even for today's standards. Hate to say this, but the BMW was probably slow even for 1990's standards. 300 hp and 450 Nm of torque and still needed 8 seconds to reach 100 km/h? Come on...

That particular test car was not the best of shape as original 750iL tested in 1987 against 560SEL was a fraction quicker dipping below 8sec.

But this was slow as even the Golf GTi 16V with only 102kW did 8.1sec from 0-100km/h in 1985.

 

[dalab]

Although don't take away a micron of its aura, I considered that the 750i lacked spiciness, the 300 hp were fine, but I don't remember anyone complaining at that time, now, when the W140 came out with almost 400 hp, I realized (although that did not hurt the E32 at all), which was too good at everything and was fashionable

 

[Merc1]

1988 BMW 750iL: An Automobile for the Ages

From the Archive: BMW drops a 300-hp V-12 in the 7-series, creating the sedan of choice for when money is no object.

www.caranddriver.com

M

 

[Mick Briesgau]

A fine example from the days BMW where well designed, elegant, sporty and goodlooking cars.

 

[J.E]

Impressive performance numbers for a sedan in 1988. Probably one of the fastest sedans in the world at the time.

 

[klier]

That V12 weighs less than a current PHEV 3er! By quite a margin.

 

[Matski]

That V12 weighs less than a current PHEV 3er! By quite a margin.

The V12 engine might, but once you've built a LWB 7-Series around it, it's heavier...

C&D G20 330e base curb weight: 4039lbs
C&D E32 750il curb weight as per article: 4247lbs

... not a lot though.

 

[Rolf]

Those pleated leather seats in the E32 7-series were so comfortable and probably better than many modern cars seats. They had amazing adjustment on the rear seats for a car than came out in the 80s. They were much more comfortable than the springy seats on the earlier W126 S-class models, which was fixed in the 1986 FL where they also got the pleated leather seats.

 

[dalab]

Incredible the passionate reflection transformed into almost poetry of the drivers of the 750 in the way they describe it in the report, it reminds me why we all felt the same about it, shows that it was a car that was going to change everything