The BMW 735iL was the long-wheelbase version of the E32 7 Series, created to give BMW’s flagship sedan more rear-seat space and a more chauffeur-oriented character. It arrived for the 1988 model year, following the launch of the second-generation 7 Series, and was positioned above the standard-wheelbase 735i as a more spacious and more formally luxurious interpretation of BMW’s large executive car. The added wheelbase was used primarily to improve rear accommodation, while the car retained the brand’s traditional inline-six layout and understated, classic 7 Series styling.
In BMW history, the 735iL belongs to the era when the 7 Series was evolving from a driver-focused luxury sedan into a broader flagship line with distinct long-wheelbase and high-luxury variants. The E32 family also introduced important changes for the series overall, including greater refinement and a clearer separation between standard and extended-wheelbase models. For buyers who wanted the prestige of BMW’s flagship without moving up to the V12-powered 750iL, the 735iL offered a balanced middle ground.
The 735iL remained part of the E32 range through 1992, when it was replaced by the 740iL as BMW moved the long-wheelbase six-cylinder role toward its new V8 generation. That makes the 735iL a relatively focused nameplate rather than a long-running badge, but it has an important place among enthusiast circles for representing the final years of BMW’s classic straight-six 7 Series flagship. Its clean styling, extended proportions and traditional mechanical character make it one of the more distinctive 7 Series variants of the 1980s and early 1990s.