Lucky Number 7

15 Sep Lucky Number 7

BMW’s 7-series flagship sedan has always been somewhat overlooked in terms of performance. When you think of BMW and performance, the most obvious choices all begin with the same letter — M. M3, M5, Z4M, BMW’s M division has always captivated the public and outperformed many of its rivals. Just because they don’t make an M7, though, doesn’t mean that the sized-like-a-freight-train 7-series should be discounted entirely. After all, we managed to get a 7 to haul some serious ass, and look good while doing it! For those who aren’t looking for a full-on M5 engine swap, there are always more mild options, such as the ones chosen by this black 7 that we’re currently working on.

As you can see from the pics above and below, the centerpiece of this setup is the exhaust. This time, Craig’s protege, Tom took the reins on this bad boy and managed to put out a work of stainless art so good that Craig wept a little. Too bad we didn’t get any pictures of that.

Along with the exhaust, we kept the gases flowing smoothly by adding a set of Supersprint headers for an E39 M5. As always, they’re coated by Swain Tech’s ceramic thermal barrier to keep the heat where it can be used best.

Keeping our view underneath the car, we also added a set of Bilstein springs and shocks for a little firmer ride and a little lower ride height. It still keeps it more or less stock on first glance, which is never a bad thing. After all, flashy is fun, but so are sleepers. To help prevent brake fade and keep the 7 stopping on a dime, we upgraded the brake lines to braided steel.

Moving from under to inside, we’ve only just begun to modify the engine bay and its occupants. We started out by giving the valve cover a fresh repainting, and followed that with a shiny new Zionsville aluminum radiator. Once again, keeping heat away from where it shouldn’t be is a definite must when it comes to upgrading a car’s performance.

These mods are all excellent choices for the beginning stages of car customization. This client’s next step — a supercharger — will only make this car even crazier, since everything else is already being upgraded in anticipation. It’s good to see a 7 series that isn’t Gold Wheels getting some modified love.