Vehicle Details
- Year: 1987
- Make: BMW
- Model: L7
- VIN: WBAFG2418H1091459
- Mileage: 5,828
- Transmission: Automatic
- Title Status: Clean
- Color: Diamond Black Metallic
- Seller: 11JM
- Seller Type: Private Party (Facilitated by Dealer)
- Location: Oyster Bay, NY 11771
- Lot #: V-0013241
We are pleased to offer this 1987 BMW E23 L7 finished in Diamond Black Metallic over a Silver Gray leather interior. BMW’s original 7-Series executive sedan, the E23 was produced from 1977-1986 with the final models delivered in the U.S. for the 1987 model year. Based on the E23 735i, the L7 was a U.S.-specific luxury version of the E23 7-Series, featuring extended leather upholstery, power-operated and heated front seats, and a sunroof as standard. Equipped with an optional limited-slip differential, this final-year 1987 example was sold new from Five Towns BMW of Inwood, New York, and remained under the care of its original owner up until the seller’s acquisition earlier in 2021. A full service has been recently carried out including all new fluids and filters, a rebuild of the front brake calipers, replacements of the belts, battery, and much more. Easily one of the best-preserved examples on the market, this investment-grade L7 has traveled less than 6k miles from new and is now being offered for auction by its seller out of New York accompanied by the original books, tools, sales documents, and window sticker.
This L7 comes finished in Diamond Black Metallic with custom pinstriping and chrome trim outlining the windows, front grille, side moldings, and lower rockers. Other exterior details include quad halogen headlamps, fog lights, mudflaps, and twin chrome exhaust tips. The bodywork of the E23 was developed under BMW’s Design Director Paul Bracq with styling contributions from Manfred Rennen. The seller describes the finish to remain in excellent condition throughout, a testament to the car’s limited time on the road. Detailed images are provided in the photo gallery along with a clean CARFAX report. The factory-equipped TRX 1 light-alloy metric wheels remain dressed in their original Michelin tires.
Representing the most luxurious model of the E23 7-series, this L7 features special Silver Gray (0198) leather upholstery covering the seats, door pillars, door panels, dashboard, and hand-stitched armrests and center console. The power-operated front seats offer a memory function, heating elements, and power-adjustable headrests. The rear seats have a fold-down center armrest, individual headrests, and a rear window sunshade. Other interior amenities include climate control, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with driver’s side airbag, a two-position electric glass moonroof, an AM/FM cassette stereo, power-adjustable and heated exterior mirrors, and a heated driver’s door lock. The cabin remains in outstanding original condition with all gauges and accessories working properly.
This E23 L7 is powered by a 3.5L SOHC inline-six engine with Bosch Motronic fuel injection and Digital Motor Electronics. As much as 182 HP and 214 lb.-ft of torque are sent to the rear wheels through a 4-speed automatic transmission and an optional limited-slip differential. The transmission allowed for three separate driving modes selected by a knob on the center console including Economy, Sport, and manual selection of first, second and third gears. The L7 utilizes power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, an independent front suspension with double pivot struts, independent semi-trailing arm rear suspension, and hydraulic speed-sensitive power-assisted steering. A major service has been recently carried out in preparation for the next owner including an oil and filter change, new brake fluid, transmission fluid, a rebuild of the front brake calipers, replacement of the battery, a coolant system flush, new engine belts, a new air filter, and a new fuel filter.
This sale will include all original owners manuals, the original window sticker, build sheet, warranty sticker, the original invoice, purchase agreement, odometer statement, service contract declaration, copy of the certificate of origin, a toolkit, first aid kit, and a clean title. A true time capsule of a car, this final year L7 is undoubtedly one of the finest examples of the E23 7-Series. Do not miss the opportunity to add this outstanding BMW to your collection.
Auction Results
- Highest Bid: $54,000
- Auction End: Oct 05, 2021 08:23:38PM UTC
- Number of Bids: 25
Comments (43)
Bid in the amount of $54,000
Bid in the amount of $53,000
Bid in the amount of $52,000
Bid in the amount of $51,000
Bid in the amount of $49,000
Bid in the amount of $47,000
Bid in the amount of $44,000
Bid in the amount of $42,750
Bid in the amount of $41,000
Bid in the amount of $39,000
Bid in the amount of $37,000
Bid in the amount of $35,000
Bid in the amount of $31,000
@Sonoran_Motor_Sports greatly appreciate the interest. PCARMARKET informed me that they spoke with you and helped provide some more clarity. Hope you got the info you needed. You will not be disappointed with this L7.
Bid in the amount of $30,001
Additional content has been added to the listing gallery.
Bid in the amount of $25,000
@11JM Thank you, and yes any service records that you can provide will be very helpful as we’re interested.
We’re experts on the E23 chassis and the biggest vulnerability to these 7’s is the heater core as when it goes based on both age and mileage it means it coolant flooding the front floor boards. Carpet has to be removed and the dash ripped out up o the fire wall to just to access the heater… and that’s even to say if new parts are available to replace it. We purchased the last one in the world (at the time) out of Munich about 15 yrs ago at the expense of $1,000.00 for the part alone. I would imagine by now they might have more inventory of these components but who knows.
All said, that is why I asked about the a/c, since all these components are interlinked under the dash. The best thing an owner can do during their ownership of an E23 is to do coolant flushes every 2yrs regardless of miles. We do them annually on all our BMW’s of this vintage. The reason… OEM BMW coolant preserves the heater core components. So any coolant service records you can provide the better. We would be horrified to have to remove this perfect leather dash…. so just trying to gauge the level of stewardship this 7 will need moving forward.
Thanks!
@Sonoran_Motor_Sports yes I can get a copy of that added before the auction ends. The car was throughly inspected and all fluids were drained and replaced before starting and road testing.
@Sonoran_Motor_Sports the AC is ice cold!
@Selo hi and thank you for the question. It was used periodically until the mid 1990’s. It was then stored on a tender in a garage free of moisture and UV plugged in to a tender. It was started periodically.
Prior to sale we did a long list of preventative maintenance as mentioned in the listing.
Feel free to send me a private message if you would like to speak in more detail.
Can you also comment on what in particular that was done to the car to bring it “out” of storage… and is there documentation to this servicing for review? Assuming no, since that would likely be in the auction’s photo library… . ? Thx
@11JM,
What a time capsule!
With the extremely low miles, I'm curious as to the pattern of miles put on the car. Was it stored for years at a time, and if so, what were the circumstances? Were fluids drained? If not, was it started or driven every few months? Was there a battery maintainer and a climate controlled storage area? What do you mean when you say it was properly stored?
BEAUTIFUL example of an E23 L7! I have an original dealer training packet and brochure for this car, along with a tv and print magazine advert schedule for the months following it's launch (I collect vintage brochures as a hobby, and stumbled across this from a former BMW sales rep from a dealership in FL)
While I'm not looking to sell it, if the buyer would like to see it, I'd be happy to send photos of all the stuff over to go with their killer car!
good luck to everyone!
Bid in the amount of $20,000
Bid in the amount of $15,250
Bid in the amount of $15,000
Bid in the amount of $12,750
@artdiver Hello. Thank you for the interest. Yes the tires are original, and amazingly in amazing well-preserved condition. We left it that way in the anticipation of this car becoming part of a preservation collection. If the car were to be driven at speed or long distance we would highly recommend changing them out. A preventative service was carried out prior to sale that comprehensively went through the entire vehicle ensuring that aside from the tires it is extremely road worthy. I will add that the AC is ICE cold!
Am I reading this right? The car was stored? I'm guessing the tires are original?
Bid in the amount of $12,500
Bid in the amount of $12,000
Bid in the amount of $10,000
Bid in the amount of $8,000
Bid in the amount of $7,500
Bid in the amount of $6,000
@Sonoran_Motor_Sports The A/C is ice cold! Works excellent. Thank you for the interest.
@worldmotorsports Hi Bo, The underside photos are in the gallery. I am a collector that has a dealer license so these are one-owner titles. I acquired this along with the 300SD ending on Tuesday from the same original owner. They were both properly stored since being taken off of the road in the original owners garage from WestHampton. They are exceptionally clean and there is nothing to complain about here. I invite you to come see in person if that is at all possible.
Hello everyone and welcome to the auction for this L7. A preservation piece such as this is the true yearning for enthusiasts and collectors. This is absolutely one of the best if not THE best L7 in the world. Not many of these existed and this is certainly an opportunity not to be missed. I am here to arrange private showings and answer questions. Best of luck.
Would like to know how the a/c system is functioning as well.
Are you guys selling it for the original owner ?
Hi guys any undercarriage pics ? Did this car live in Monticello it’s whole life ?
Thanks Bo