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Thread: James Bond's 1997 BMW 750iL [E38]

  1. #1
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    James Bond's 1997 BMW 750iL [E38]

    Hi all,

    I am currently researching the cars used in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies. Can anyone tell me any behind the scenes information, like how many were used and for what purpose or if indeed they were 750iLs. At this link, someone says they were rebadged 740s.

    http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_1869-BM...-E38-1997.html

    How can one tell?

    Information on the Z3 used in GoldenEye and the Z8 used in The World is Not Enough is also welcome, unless you want separate threads for that but I don't see the point!

    Thank you!

    BMW33333

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    I think there were in car shots that show non 750 interior items like non wood lights and not real 750 leather. I thought it was a rebadged 735...
    ---- Processing Individual ----
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  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by xboss View Post
    I think there were in car shots that show non 750 interior items like non wood lights and not real 750 leather. I thought it was a rebadged 735...
    +1... The interior was not nice enough to be a 750. Don't know what it actually was.
    See my E38 parts for sale on eBay: click here!
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  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by xboss View Post
    I think there were in car shots that show non 750 interior items like non wood lights and not real 750 leather. I thought it was a rebadged 735...

    Sorry, but what exactly do you mean about non-wood lights?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by BMW33333 View Post
    Sorry, but what exactly do you mean about non-wood lights?
    A real 750 has chrome wood c pillar lights and wood / chrome map light. The other sevens have plastic colored ones.
    ---- Processing Individual ----
    Z1XX Upholstery
    Seats front and back in Epingle / leather englishgruen,
    As Schl.Nr. B9EG.
    Front seat backrest in Montana Englishgruen (No. 8 174 861)
    Other interior equipment as for Volleder Nappa englischgruen,
    Schl.Nr. P5EG

  6. #6
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    Mostly 740s, I think there may have been a couple 750s. Oddly enough, they use a fake V8 sound as well.

    17+ cars were used I think.

  7. #7
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    The cars used were non-Euro-spec 740iL, badged as 750iL. The production used a total
    of 17 vehicles, nearly all were at least damaged, many completely destroyed.

    One of the survivors, pictured below, allowed the driver to be completely concealed
    during driving, seeing ahead through mirror-mounted cameras and corresponding
    screens. The conversion took some 950 hours and even then, driving was exceptionally
    difficult because of the limited, non-3d vision. Apart from the remote control, all other
    gadgets the car featured were operable, as has been the case with most
    James Bond gadgetry.






    About the Z3, two pre-production models were used, each built entirely by hand and
    in secret until the film premiere at a cost of 500'000 German mark (probably about €250'000).
    Interesting bit, while filming in Puerto Rico, a local paper actually photographed one
    of the Z3 but nobody knew what it was, assuming it to be made specifically for the film.

    Not much to say about the Z8. Minor screen-time and a quick end by
    helicopter-mounted saws.

    I hope this helps.
    Last edited by 7E38; 02-17-2017 at 05:21 AM.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by BMW33333 View Post
    Sorry, but what exactly do you mean about non-wood lights?
    The V12 has wood covered lights on the rear C pillars that matches the other wood trim inside the car...which also has a 2nd button to turn "soft" (mood) lighting off/on that can shine from the lower side of the light onto the C pillar (many call them "porn" lights). This "soft" mood lighting is like the two amber lights that shine down on the front center console from the overhead console up by the sunroof switch and front interior map lights:

    Quote Originally Posted by Sobek View Post
    These are 'porn lights', with the light strip at the base and wood grain finish;




    The V8s & I6 e38s are the same color as the headlining material...and don't have the "soft" mood down lighting:



    Last edited by Qsilver7; 02-18-2017 at 02:04 PM.
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  9. #9
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    Thank you for this, you people sure know your stuff.

  10. #10
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    Is there a YouTube video or sound clip that I can compare sounds to?

    Also, how can you tell the car is US spec?

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    Quote Originally Posted by BMW33333 View Post
    Also, how can you tell the car is US spec?
    Blinkers work as running lights, number plate surround on the back is for the 30.5mm x 15.5mm US/Canada-size plates, same front the front plate holder, which holds the absolute worst attempt at a German number plate imitation of any major motion picture.

    TomorrowNeverdies.jpgbmwss1.jpg

    https://youtu.be/qKAME9fAA-4
    Last edited by 7E38; 03-08-2017 at 06:33 AM.

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    I wonder why they used a North American-spec E38 if the movie was shot in Europe...
    1995 525i 5-speed - Thread

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    Because 'Merica ... ??



  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by dannyzabolotny View Post
    I wonder why they used a North American-spec E38 if the movie was shot in Europe...

    You and I both, mate. I don't know if all 17 were NA-spec but it wouldn't make sense to mix... as it wouldn't make sense to use non-EU versions.
    Last edited by 7E38; 03-10-2017 at 04:00 PM.

  15. #15
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    Is scott1999 still around? I see he owned one of the film-used cars. Perhaps he knows more information than is already out there?

  16. #16
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    Hi there.

    I run E38registry.org, and I've also been trying to figure that out.

    There is a video out there that shows one of the cars used for the backseat driving; it's at the BMW museum in Munich.

    I'll look for it.
    Own an E38? Add it to the E38 Registry!

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  17. #17
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    Thanks so much! Much appreciated.

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    Quote Originally Posted by MrCi View Post
    Hi there.

    I run E38registry.org, and I've also been trying to figure that out.

    There is a video out there that shows one of the cars used for the backseat driving; it's at the BMW museum in Munich.

    I'll look for it.

    This one?

    https://youtu.be/ruNyGf9f_MM?t=16m44s

  19. #19
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    That was awesome actually. Looks so funny. The steering wheel turns and there's no one in the driver's seat.

  20. #20
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    Did anyone find scott1999 by any chance?

  21. #21
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    Nope, but I dug up the VIN for his car:

    http://www.e38registry.org/tomorrow-never-dies-740i/
    Own an E38? Add it to the E38 Registry!

    http://www.e38registry.org/

  22. #22
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    Thank you so much for your help!

  23. #23
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    Sorry for the double post, but I find it interesting that his car is made in June 1994 and the film came out three years later.

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    Quote Originally Posted by BMW33333 View Post
    Sorry for the double post, but I find it interesting that his car is made in June 1994 and the film came out three years later.
    The M60 is the real hero of the film, it survived 3 years of UK sulfur-rich fuel and still outran a W126.

    I spotted an I6 E32 in the parking garage as well.
    Last edited by XAlt; 06-02-2017 at 10:46 AM.

  25. #25
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    Remember my dad telling me he was at Brent Cross shopping centre in London and they had signs up saying there be loud noises. Gun shots etc as they were Filming the car park scene there.

    Anyone who knows Brent Cross car park will recognise it in the film

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