The BMW 750iL is the car Q hands Pierce Brosnan’s Bond in Tomorrow Never Dies: a long-wheelbase E38 7 Series with a V12 engine, a rental car in the story and the most capable saloon of Bond’s 1990s. It is out of production, and a good one is now a classic worth looking for rather than a car to find at a dealership.
In the film
A 1997 BMW 750iL is given to Bond by Q, and Bond uses it, remote controlled, to evade Carver’s guards in a chase through a Hamburg car park. The car is used in the sequences set in Germany. One account notes that the 750iL and the R1200 motorcycle could be bought in a promotional deal at the time of the film. A Bring a Trailer page describes an Aspen Silver 750iL as the car that starred with Brosnan, and the catalogue records the licence plate as B-MT 2144.
The details of the 750iL
The E38. The E38 7 Series replaced the E32 in 1995 and was built in short- and long-wheelbase versions with V8 and V12 engines. The 750iL was the top variant, and BMW Classic describes it as having a 5.4-litre V12.
The long wheelbase. The L in 750iL marks the stretched body, with more room for rear passengers. It gives the car a calm, upright profile that suits a car given to an agent by a quartermaster rather than chosen by him.
Aspen Silver. The car in the story is silver. A silver saloon is a quiet colour for a loud chase, and that restraint is part of the appeal.
Owning it now
A V12 saloon of this age is a car for an enthusiast, not an appliance. At the time of writing, October 2026, one market tracker lists two 750iL examples for sale with a benchmark value of about US$19,200, and recent auction results we read showed a 2001 car selling at US$10,000 and a 2000 European-specification car at US$10,100. Condition matters more than the badge: a car that has been used and maintained is better than a cheap one that has not.
What to check. Ask for service history, look for any record of V12-specific work, and have the car inspected by a specialist before you commit. Running costs on a V12 are higher than on a V8 or six-cylinder 7 Series.
Where to look. The link on this page is an eBay Motors search for the E38 750iL; enthusiast auction sites such as Bring a Trailer also carry them and have a page for the model.
Specifications
| Model | BMW 750iL (E38 7 Series), 1997 in the film |
|---|---|
| Engine | 5.4-litre V12 (per BMW Classic) |
| Body | Long-wheelbase saloon |
| Film colour | Aspen Silver |
| Film plate | B-MT 2144 |
| Status | Out of production (E38 built 1995 to 2001); found second-hand |
Questions
What car does Bond drive in Tomorrow Never Dies?
A BMW 750iL, given to him by Q, which he drives and controls remotely. See more on the film page.
Is the BMW 750iL still made?
No. The E38 was built from 1995 to 2001, so a 750iL is a used purchase.
How much is a BMW 750iL?
At the time of writing, October 2026, recent sales we read were around US$5,300 to US$10,100, with a market benchmark of about US$19,200 for clean cars. Condition drives the price.
More cars and motorcycles are in vehicles, and the Pierce Brosnan page lists his other films.
