BMW 750i (E65/E66 LCI) review: the flagship the range should have launched with
3.5/5motorssouq Editorial Team
The 750i is the E65-generation 7 Series to actually buy in Bahrain: the SMG and early-iDrive complaints that define the 745i are gone, the 367 hp V8 is genuinely quick, and the remaining issues — engine mounts, VANOS, cooling plastics — are well understood, affordable fixes for an experienced independent specialist. Check the optional air suspension's compressor if the car has it; that is the one item worth walking away from if it is already tired.
Pros
- Conventional six-speed automatic replaces the troublesome SMG unit
- 367 hp V8 gives genuinely strong, flagship-level performance
- Revised iDrive is meaningfully more reliable than the launch version
- Engine mount, VANOS and cooling issues are well understood and affordable to fix
Cons
- Engine mount bushings soften with age and cause a clunk over bumps
- Plastic cooling components share the whole E65 range's heat-related brittleness
- Optional air suspension compressor is a genuinely expensive failure if neglected
- Fuel consumption around 13 L/100 km reflects real V8 running costs
BMW effectively fixed the E65's biggest complaints in one facelift: the 745i's SMG gearbox was dropped for a conventional six-speed automatic, and the badge grew to 750i alongside a larger 4.8-litre V8 making 367 hp. The result is the car the range should have launched with — quick, smooth, and free of the drivetrain drama that defines its predecessor's reputation.
What still needs watching
The N62 V8's engine mount bushings soften and sag with age, producing a clunk over speed bumps that is easy to mistake for something more serious — it is not, and it is a routine repair. VANOS solenoid wear causes the same rough-idle symptom found across every N62-engined BMW of this era, and the plastic cooling components share the whole E65 range's brittleness in Gulf heat.
Cars fitted with the optional four-corner air suspension add one more item: the compressor and air struts wear out and are a genuinely expensive repair if neglected. A car sitting noticeably low at one corner is a five-figure warning sign, not a cosmetic detail.
Why this is the E65 to want
None of the above is unusual for a car of this age and complexity — what matters is that it no longer includes the SMG clutch and first-generation iDrive that make the 745i a gamble. A well-documented 750i delivers the performance and presence BMW intended for the range, at a price that undercuts a modern equivalent by a wide margin.