When I was asked to review a BMW 7 Series equipped with a bodykit, large alloy wheels and a host of other modifications, I must admit that my first thought was: “Bet it looks terrible.”
Before you start accusing me of being presumptuous and unfair, let me explain. In my years as a motoring journalist, I have seen many modified cars, and the few occasions where the subject of my story was a large luxury saloon like a Mercedes-Benz S-Class or Audi A8, I was never impressed with what I saw.
Bodykits and luxo-barges don’t mix. It’s like trying to combine oil and water, or insisting that Formula One rivals Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton become bosom buddies. Limousines should be left as they are. If you really have to, slap on bigger alloy wheels and do no more.
Recently, however, I had a (slight) change of heart. The car which caused this was a BMW 740Li. It is owned by a lawyer who also happens to love modifying his rides. And where the exterior of his pristine 740Li was concerned, he went all-out with the mods.
Hamann was the aftermarket tuning brand of choice and local BMW specialist workshop, JuzzForCars, was the installer he chose to make his modification dreams come true.
The Hamann EVO bodykit comprises a front bumper and fenders, side skirts and rear centre moulding to accommodate four exhaust tailpipes. The entire package was paired with two Hamann spoilers – one for the boot lid and one for the roof.
The rims chosen were 22-inch Hamann Anniversary EVO wheels with a silver finish. While I have come across wheels of this size before, these beauties somehow look bigger. It could be the design of the spokes or their eye-catching finish. It might even be how they make the aftermarket brake kit look a tad small.
Mind you, the stoppers in question are not tiny – not by a long shot. Made by ARMA, the disc rotors measure 370mm up front and 345mm at the rear. They are paired with equally enormous callipers (6-piston and 4-piston respectively).
The ARMA brakes do their job impressively, bringing the nearly 1.9-tonne 740Li to a halt with consummate ease. The fact that they deliver effortless stopping power is good, because apart from the enhancements mentioned thus far, this limousine also boasts a souped-up engine.
Remember the Hamann rear centre moulding? The four tailpipes sticking out from it belong to a complete Supersprint exhaust system. Designed to replace the stock exhaust unit, it lets the 740Li’s turbocharged inline-6 motor breathe easier and sounds great as the revs climb.
The engine’s horsepower and torque outputs are further raised thanks to the ARMA carbon fibre variable valve intake and Juzz Power performance package (ECU tuning).
While the output of the car was never measured using a dynamometer, driving it at full throttle proved that this 740Li was delivering way more than the 315bhp it left the factory with. It seemed like other cars on the expressway were standing still.
Speaking of driving, the standard springs have been replaced by H&R lowering springs, which drop the car’s ride height for more stable cornering. The lower ride height is also the icing on the cake with regard to this limousine’s aesthetics.
The gorgeous bodykit, stunning wheels and drool-worthy brakes are complemented by a low-slung look that makes the heart of any mod aficionado beat faster.
Thump-thump, thump-thump. Thump-thump, thump-thump. Vrooooooooooooom!
+ EXTERIOR
Hamann Evo front bumper & side sills
Hamann Evo front fenders
Hamann Evo rear centre moulding
Hamann Evo boot lid & roof spoilers
+ INTERIOR
Hamann pedal set
Inpelle leather floor mats
V-Kool window film
+ ENGINE
Supersprint full exhaust system
Arma carbon fibre variable valve intake
AHP charge air pipe
Juzz Power ECU tuning
+ SUSPENSION/HANDLING
H&R lowering springs
Arma 6-piston callipers (front) & 4-piston callipers (rear)
Arma slotted brake disc rotors, 370mmm (front) & 345mm (rear)
+ WHEELS/TYRES
Hamann Anniversary Evo 22-inch wheels
Continental ContiSportContact 3, 265/30 R22 (front) & 305/25 R22 (rear)
