What once was an embassy vehicle is now used for expeditions in the Arctic Circle thanks to a series of rally-inspired modifications
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The E65 has gone in history as one of the most controversial, yet successful generations of the BMW 7-Series. While the flagship sedan was designed as a comfortable cruiser, an owner of a facelifted long-wheelbase example from Prague in the Czech Republic used it as a base for an overlading conversion, ready to tackle on and off-road adventures.
The unique build is based on a 730d LCI which had two previous owners, having spent two years in embassy services. The current and third owner bought it with 540,000 km (335,540 miles) on the odometer and a broken transmission, so he probably got a great deal.
The E65 Overland is immediately distinguished from any other 7-Series thanks to the vintage Rothmans livery combining blue and silver shades with yellow and red graphics. Other visual modifications include the fitment of a roof-mounted tent, and four additional headlights positioned in front of the kidney grille. More importantly, the adventurous BMW rides on a new set of rally-inspired alloy wheels wrapped in grippy Yokohama Geolander tires.
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Fittingly for an overlanding vehicle, the E65 sits higher than stock thanks to a 2-inch lift. The front suspension has polyurethane bushings while the top mounts have been adjusted to fix the alignment issues caused by the increased ground clearance. The next step will be the fitment of a custom-made long-travel coilover suspension, set to further enhance the off-road capabilities of the lifted sedan.
The 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine remains mostly stock, but the emission control system has been removed for greater reliability, and power has been increased from the stock 228 hp (170 kW / 231 PS) to 282 hp (210 kW / 286 PS) courtesy of an ECU remap. The transmission has been fully rebuilt, receiving new solenoids and xHP stage 2 software in the process. Power is transmitted to the rear axle with the help of a limited-slip differential, although the owner plans to upgrade it to a Quaife Torsen LSD in the future.
The E65 Overland was put to the test in December 2023 when it traveled to Sweden and Norway, reaching beyond the Arctic Circle. This expedition proved to be a success, with the owner already planning more adventures with the modified German flagship. You can follow the project in the @E65Overland profile on Instagram, admiring the modified 7-Series in beautiful photos like the ones in the gallery below.
H/T to the owner for sending us information and photos of this special E65
