The Seven Project

Details

• The car began life as a 1998 BMW 750iL, finished in Arctic Silver with gray interior. Standard features included the 5.4 liter V12, 5-speed automatic transmission, and every option BMW could possibly think of (for the US market, at least).

Upon initial building, the motor will remain stock. Power from the V12, especially unfettered by the drag of the automatic, is as the folks at Rolls-Royce used to say, "adequate". Judge for yourself from the dyno graph (dyno readings taken with automatic in 3rd gear). The manual transmission's much lighter flywheel has also affected throttle response. "Quick" is an adjective one usually associates with race motors, or at least M3s... but the luxury-minded V12 now has throttle response not too dissimilar from the E46 M3.

Another significant modification is the custom UUC Motorwerks dual exhaust system of my own design. Utilizing a Hamman rear valance with cutouts, the exhaust is built with Reflective Sound-Cancelling (RSC) tuning elements from Corsa Performance and features quad 3.5" staggered tips. A front section replaces the catalytic converters with free-flowing Magnaflow units. Sound is mildly aggressive, barely an additional rumble inside the car and "F1 meets Talladega" sound at full throttle.

Additional powertrain goodies:

• UUC Motorwerks provides the height-adjustable Ultimate Short Shifter for that "snick-snick" feel.

• UUC Motorwerks also provides the lightweight flywheel and performance 280mm clutch.

• The Quaife differential works it's magic with proportioning the torque to either rear wheel as needed, turning the 3.15 gearset (the 750 was originally equipped with a 2.81). The gearing advantage alone will give a healthy acceleration improvement.

See the speed in gears chart.

Updates along the way:

3/2006 UPDATE: Changed to a 3.38 gearset. Nice increase in acceleration and response, insignificant effect on top-gear cruising rpm which still remains nice and low.

5/8/2006 Our first true engine modification will be to Extrude Hone the intake manifolds. [ CLICK HERE ] for pics. According to dyno tests from another tuner, this should net 42hp and 55lb-ft. Seat of the pants results are impressive. The additional power is definitely there, but what is even more beneficial is the additional high-rpm pull. With the standard manifolds, power fell off above 4500rpm, above that the engine was just making noise. Now, with the Extrude Honed manifolds, it pulls right up until redline, more and more power.

12/2006 UPDATE: Decided not to screw around with the superchargers and 6.0l conversion. The car runs too beautifully as it is.

3/2/2007 Fresh back from the machinist, the 60mm bored throttle bodies are works of art. [ CLICK HERE ] for pics.

• Suspension modifications are always something to be careful with. What is the intended use of the car? How much comfort to retain? What characteristics do you want to change? Well, let's be honest... a 750iL, no matter how tricked-out, is not a track car. Besides a single track session to try the old girl out, this will be a street car. As it came equipped with BMW's "magic" EDC (Electronic Damping Control) and DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) that actively changes strut/shock valving, it is already a decent handling car considering the size. There are two things to change that would 1) keep ride quality intact and 2) retain the EDC; those things are tires, anti-roll bars, and tuned springs. Using some obscure BMW parts from the European market, the anti-roll bar diameter is enlarged with perfect factory fit. Tires are upgraded to 20" Bridgestone Potenza S-03 (front:245/35-20, rear 285/30-20) wrapped around Forgeline VR3P wheels with body color-matched centers. Springs are a custom fitment made for UUC in Sweden.

• Stopping duty is handled by a set of UUC "UBK355" oversize calipers clamping monstrous 355mm two-piece rotors in front, 328mm in back.

• The Forgeline VR3P wheels are of a style and size appropriate to The Seven; 20"x9" in the front and 20"x10" in the rear.
Seriously beefy tires wrap them, Bridgestone Potenza S-03 (front:245/35-20, rear 285/30-20).

• Factory "sport" model sideskirts and Shadowline trim, along with clear front turn signals keep it all sharp-looking. All subtle and a little aggressive, but nothing over the top. "A whisper speaks louder than a shout" is the idea.

• Captain Kirk had a really cool chair, why shouldn't the pilot of this rocketship? Custom-fitted E46 M3 seats in black leather and black fabric centers complement the interior and give proper support for sporty street and track driving.

• Polk/MOMO audio components mimic the look of MOMO road wheels while producing audiophile quality sound.
• Custom UUC Motorwerks shift knob.
• A dual-display Westach gauge shows oil pressure and temperature in a single 52mm gauge.