2002 BMW 745Li

The featured BMW 745 Li boasts a prestigious background, having been first registered in 2002 to the Sultan Qaboos of Oman. For over two decades, it was cherished as part of his esteemed vehicle collection, gracing the streets of London with its elegant presence. Throughout this time, it was meticulously maintained, spending the majority of its days sheltered in dry, heated storage—a testament to the Sultan's dedication to preserving its pristine condition. The blue velour seats were a one-off special order by the sultan making it a true one of one example. 

Despite its royal origins, the BMW 745 Li saw limited excursions on the open road, amassing just 18,000 miles during its time with the Sultan. This translates to an astonishingly low average annual mileage of a mere 1,125 miles.

In 2021, the vehicle embarked on a new chapter as it transitioned into the possession of its second owner. While its usage experienced a modest increase, with an average yearly mileage now hovering around 1,159 miles, it remains an exceptionally low figure for a luxury automobile of its calibre.

The vehicle is ULEZ compliant and drives superbly. The tyres have done less than 1,000 miles. The vehicle boasts optional extras of a rear sun blind, automatic lights, self levelling suspension, park distance control, automatic rain sensor, cd player and cd autochanger. A special Bluetooth module has also been fitted behind the scenes to enable music streaming through the factory idrive. The car was also optioned with dynamic drive which makes a huge difference in minimising body roll, it means the car literally hugs the road.  All mentioned functioning correctly. 

Finished in Oxford Green Metallic, the paintwork on the 7-Series presents extremely well thanks to the low mileage and warm, dry storage it received for the majority of its life. 

At the front of the car the headlights are crystal clear with no damage to the lenses, and the chrome grilles and bumper insert have a bright finish. The bonnet aligns with the wing rails as it should, and the windscreen is free from any noticeable scratches or chips.

Looking down all 5.17 metres, the car is nice and straight apart from one very small ding just below the driver’s side rear door handle. The doors align as you would expect, with an equal gap, and the windows, seals, and chrome trims are all excellent.

The rear end is just as good as the rest of the car; the lights are all in good order, the badges are free from tarnishing or discolouration, and the original Wood BMW dealer number plate is still in place.

Fitted with the original ‘Style 93’ double seven-spoke alloy wheels, these are all in excellent condition and have recently had a new full set of Michelin Pilot Sport 5 tyres fitted.

As you can imagine, the BMW’s interior is in excellent condition, with just 25,517 miles covered. The plush blue velour seats are all in good order, with no signs of damage or excessive wear and operate correctly on the electric side of things. The velour interior was a one-off special order, not normally available and with all other 7 series being standard with leather, making it a true ‘one of one’ 7 series. The door cards are also in good condition, although there are a few very minor scuffs on the lower section of the driver’s side, but these are minimal.

The dashboard was specked with real cherry wood trim; this is all in good condition and follows around onto the door cards and centre armrest. All of the switchgear presents well with no real signs of wear and works correctly. The instruments are also working as you would expect, with no warning lights displayed. When the car was ordered, aside from the excellent standard features that came with the luxury 7-series, there was a car phone included, cruise control, even cup holders, and not forgetting the innovative iDrive infotainment system. The centre storage armrest has a button to make it chilled (fed from the aircon). Not quite a fridge but a nice feature. 

Throughout the cabin, the carpets are in excellent condition, and these have been protected with a set of factory mats in grey, followed by another set of black mats for extra protection. Inside the large boot area, again, the carpet is superb; under this, there is a full-sized spare alloy wheel with what is probably the original Pirelli tyre fitted. There is also the jack and wheel brace, and mounted to the underside of the boot lid is the original first aid and tool kit.

Fitted with BMW's new at the time N62 engine, the 329bhp and 332lb-ft, 4.4-litre V8 was said to be capable of taking this huge luxury saloon from 0-60mph in just 6.3 seconds and a restricted top speed of 155mph.

The car fires up perfectly without hesitation and sounds incredibly smooth. There have been no issues reported with its running.

The 4.4-litre V8 is coupled to a six-speed automatic gearbox. This has a silky smooth change going up and down the gears which can also be selected by using the mounted steering wheel buttons.

With any luxury saloon, comfort is key, and the suspension does a wonderful job of soaking up the road, especially with traction control and Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) as standard. Stopping the 1984.92kg BMW is a breeze with 348mm front discs and 345mm rear discs.

We note the key fob correctly locks the vehicle however will not unlock the car meaning you have to use the manual key. This in turn triggers the alarm until the key is inserted into the dashboard. The owner tells us that the key fob on an e65/66 charges itself when plugged into the ignition and on a long journey.

Upon inspecting the paperwork file that accompanies the BMW, you'll discover all the necessary handbooks are included. One thing of significant importance is the multiple invoices showing the car has been regularly serviced and taken for MoT inspections despite its minimal annual usage.

The car's MoT is valid until 11th July 2024. You will notice that there was an advisory for perished tyres and, as mentioned earlier, these have now been replaced with a new set of Michelin Pilot Sport 5. The most recent service was carried out on 12th July 2023 at 21,877 miles.

Luxury saloons such as this BMW 745Li were often used by high-flying businessmen who wanted something powerful and comfortable to fly up and down the motorway, resulting in high-mileage cars.

This is certainly not the case for this cherished 2002 example. With just 25,517 miles, the BMW is perfect to go straight into a collection or be enjoyed by the new keeper.

Let's face it. With an estimated price of between £8,000 - £12,000, the new owner will be getting an amazing luxury German saloon at a fraction of the cost when new.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.