BMW used the L7 nameplate for two distinct luxury 7 Series-era offerings. The first appeared in the United States in autumn 1985, during the first-generation E23 7 Series. In that market, L7 stood for “Luxury” and the car was closely related to the European 735i Highline, but with additional standard equipment and a stronger emphasis on comfort and prestige. It was a rare, top-trim interpretation of BMW’s flagship sedan rather than a separate mechanical series, and it remained on sale only briefly before the original E23 7 Series ended production in 1986.
The L7 name returned with the E38 generation of the 7 Series. From 1997, BMW offered the L7 as an exclusive stretch limousine aimed at customers who wanted more rear-seat space and a more formal luxury experience than the standard long-wheelbase 7 Series. This later L7 was based on the 750iL and extended beyond the B-pillar, giving it a much longer body and a highly individualized, small-series character. BMW built it in limited numbers through 2001.
Because the nameplate was discontinued after the E23-era U.S. special and then revived in a very different form on the E38, the BMW L7 should be treated as a nameplate with multiple production periods rather than a single continuous model run.