For Sale: Bullet-Proof 2000 BMW 750iL
When friends and colleagues ask our counsel on whether or not to buy an older V12 BMW (it happened more than once) the standard answer is always an emphatic “no”. Most people cannot handle the idea of two ECUs (for twice the complexity and repair bills), and for the average Joe looking for a prestigious ride on the cheap (an oxymoron if there ever was one), a V12 BMW is bankruptcy on four wheels.
But when an ad for a car proudly touts the ability to withstand “ .357 MAG., 9MM AND .44 MAGNUM AND EQUIVALENT HANDGUN AND LIGHT SUBMACHINE GUN BALLISTICS“, suddenly it becomes very hard to ignore.
In armored car parlance, the ability to stop this level of small arms fire is known as “B4” protection. A car like the 750iL protection is mainly meant to protect against violent crime like robberies and car jackings. At the time of production, this was conceivably what most private citizens in dangerous locales would need. Nowadays, armored cars are more ubiquitous in dangerous locales, but so is the level of firepower and the severity of incidents. Mexican criminal elements (among other actors) now have access to military grade assault weapons, not to mention grenades and other weapons, and a B4 vehicle could be woefully inadequate. BMW offers a current model 760iL that can stop multiple rounds from an AK-47 or M4 type rifle – a sign of just how far things have come.
According to the ad, the 750iL comes with heated front and rear seats, a nav system, park distance control and of course, special wheels for the run-flat tires. The windows look suitably thick, a morbid reminder of just what this car is built for. At $36,500, the car is on the high side for a 12 year old BMW 7-Series, but the vendor is also willing to trade for a boat or an RV.
More by Derek Kreindler
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Because pulling out a pistol and shooting your new Genesis won't impress your friends in the same way this will!
As the owner of a 2002 E39 540iP Protection I can say that this is one great car. The extra weight is only 56kgs which has been compensated for by being a 4 seater instead of a 5 seater. The additional weight comes from the heavier glass (laminations of glass and polycarbonate) and the runflat wheels which allow the vehicle to drive for an hour at 80kph after the tyres have been shot out. The bullet-proofing is provided by Kevlar rather than thicker steel. In fact the front passenger windows do operate although the rear windows are fixed. The project is the result of a total re-engineering so that the car drives and handles like a regular 540. The engine is slightly more powerful, the drive-train has been beefed up and the suspension and brakes have been modified. This is one amazing car and is low maintenance - only had a viscofan and radiator replacement in the two years since I purchased it.Current odometer is 29000 Kms. BTW I live in Brazil which is why I have the car!