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2004 BMW 745Li
By Peter Bleakney
 You sense you're in for something special when firing up the 2004 BMW 745Li Individual. Insert the key fob in the dash receptacle, press the starter button, and the side bolsters of the supremely comfortable, infinitely adjustable, heated, ventilated and massaging driver's chair snug up against your body in a firm yet gentle embrace.
Welcome to BMW's take on the uber-luxury sedan.
If the "base" $103,200 745Li ("L" signifies long wheelbase) isn't enough for you, BMW offers the $9900 Individual package which enables the discerning buyer to personalize their thing with some extra bling. You can choose from a separate palette of exterior colors, and the interior is dressed up with a selection of special woods, metallic trim and bespoke leathers. Illuminated "BMW Individual" lettering on the scuff plates of each door jam remind you of your special station in life.
Whether you have a problem with the 745's controversial styling (read; bustle-butt trunk) or not, you can't argue with the fact the car make a major visual statement. This is a big, imposing, muscular, executive German express, and it looks like it eats lesser vehicles for breakfast. There's no feminine side to this design - no concessions to the PC crowd. My tester looked especially striking in it's deep "Carbon Black" hue, perched on the lovely 20" multi-spoked alloys which are part of the $3900 Sport Package.
 Factor in the Executive Package at $8200 and the $4900 Multimedia Package, and the bottom line swells to $130,100. Yes, that's alot of coin, but I was surprised by the number of people who, after experiencing this 745Li, pegged the car for alot more than that. It does feel worth every penny.
Initially, the 745Li challenges you with its quirky controls. Nothing operates in a "normal" manner here. Stubby levers sprouting from the steering column (gear select, turn signal, wipers and cruise) spring back to the center position immediately. To select reverse, push the gear lever up - drive is down. Select Park by depressing the button at the end of the stalk. The electromechanical parking brake is set by a button on the dash.
And then there's iDrive. There has been enough carping in the automotive press in the last few years about this complex driver/computer/vehicle interface to fill a wing of your local library. In response, BMW has installed a simpler version of iDrive in the new 5 and 6 series cars.
The 745 soldiers on with version 1.0, (with a few minor revisions for 2004). A large round controller (glorified mouse) lives on the centre arm rest, and by nudging, pressing or twisting it, the driver negotiates a myriad of menus that are displayed on the centrally mounted LCD screen. One controller to access entertainment, navigation, communication, trip computer and climate control functions is a worthy objective, but initially, it's a bit frustrating.
As with any computer system or program, you have to set aside some time and learn it. If you are computer savvy, it all starts to make sense pretty quickly. The problem BMW ran into was with its more traditional luxury car buyers who just wanted to throw their golf clubs in the trunk, head to the links, and not be bothered with all the techno-trikery.
After a few days I got the hang of iDrive. Most of the essential HVAC and stereo controls are on the dash and steering wheel anyway, so the distraction factor isn't too high. Some basic things, like switching from FM to AM or accessing pre-selected stations still requires too much knob twirling, but if you memorize a few simple voice commands, your hands never have to leave the wheel. Delve deeper into voice command-land, and you can make phone calls, get the sat/nav to find you the nearest Italian restaurant, or accidentally call BMW Assist, which happened twice on my watch.
Yes, it's all very cool and impresses the passengers, but ultimately, I don't think iDrive made my life any easier. The fact that BMW is now back pedaling on this technology seems to suggest they overestimated the gizmo-tolerance of their buyers.
 The long wheelbase Li allows for limo-like rear seat accommodation, and the iDrive controller back there works the TV and DVD functions of the aforementioned Multimedia Package. An LCD screen perches on the console between the two front seats. Powered privacy screens on the back and side windows will keep the great unwashed from peering in as you view local analogue (via antenna) TV channels or surf through the six DVD magazine that lives in the trunk.
The Logic 7 sound system is spectacular. While rock music sounds fine, it is really tuned to provide a wondrous orchestral experience, which in this car seemed wholly fitting.
It's easy to get star-struck with the all the luxury do-dads and techo-wizardry of the 745Li Individual, but perhaps the most impressive thing about this vehicle is its on-road dynamics. Look beyond the powered trunk lid, soft close doors and sybaritic appointments, and you have a car that goes, stops and handles with an alacrity that no vehicle of this size has any right to. The essence of BMW still comes through loud and clear.
The 4.4 litre DOHC, 32-valve, Valvetronic V8 puts out 325 hp @ 6100 rpm and 330 ft/lbs of torque @ 3600 rpm.. Under normal driving, the engine is barely audible, but a firm shove on the go pedal awakens the beast within, and a distant, muted howl indicates things are getting serious. Mated to a silky six speed automatic, the V8 wafts the big sedan to illegal speeds with a civilized urgency. Shifts are nearly imperceptible.
Two additional shift modes are available via a button on the wheel - Sport and Manual. A more aggressive shift map is dialed up for the former, and the latter mode enables the driver to shift manually using the buttons on the front and back of the steering wheel.
As would be expected, there is an alphabet soup of safety and driver assist features: DSC III (Dynamic Stability Control), DTC (Dynamic Traction Control), DBC (Dynamic Brake Control), CBC (Cornering Brake Control) and Dynamic Drive (Active Roll stabilization).
On the highway, the 745Li is a cocoon on wheels, tracking like a freight train and serving up a magic carpet ride. But never do you feel removed from the road or the driving experience. Attack your favourite set of twisties and the all-aluminum suspension, with the help of the two active anti-roll bars, transforms the big rig into a (albeit large) apex strafer. Body roll is a non-issue. The car takes a set and powers through in a controlled neutral fashion that is... well, gosh darn fun. A playful, long wheel base ultra-luxury sedan? Who woulda guessed.
 The icing of the cake is exceptional fuel economy. According to the on-board computer, I burned just 11 L/100 km of premium fuel over the week.
The 2004 BMW 745Li is a vehicle that at first challenges the driver, but the payoff more than offsets the initial effort of "learning" this car. Presence, supreme luxury, pace and remarkable dynamics make for a very special driving experience. In fact, I warmed up to this cosseting automotive lifestyle way faster than I expected. When my lottery numbers come in, it's going to be one of these and a Boxster S, thank you very much.
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