Which German Limo Would You Daily? 1997 BMW 740iL vs 2004 Mercedes-Benz S600

Whenever I think about buying a new car as a daily driver, I quickly remember just how much vehicle you can buy for a fraction of even the cheapest new cars, if you’re willing to put up with some age. Thanks to the beauty of depreciation, big, German executive cars can be easily found for less than half the price of a new Corolla. These two are prime examples.

Last Friday’s cars weren’t weird—on their own, at least. But together, they seemed like a strange pairing. In fact, the vehicles shared virtually one thing: The letter “P.” The lightly rusted Studebaker Lark VI was painted in a lovely shade of pink, while the Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer had a name that started with the letter P.

Though I preferred the off-roadiness and the quirkiness of the Pinzagauer over the Lark, there were 463 of you who didn’t agree, which was enough for the Studebaker to take the win. Not terribly surprising, I guess, seeing as how the pink sedan was cheaper and it actually ran and drove.

When I learned I’d be writing today’s SBSD, I knew of only one district of Craigslist worth going to: The Pacific Northwest. I feel like the region is a bit of a hidden gem for window-shopping for cheap cars, as it’s just as diverse as California’s selection, and just as rust-free. But not as picked-through, since Seattle isn’t known as the driver’s capital of the world. Here’s what I found.

1997 BMW 704iL — $9,500

Engine/drivetrain: 4.4-liter V8, 5-speed automatic, RWD

Location: Victoria, BC

Odometer reading: 132,000 kilometers (~82,000 miles)

Operational status: “Like new”

This generation of 7 Series—the E38 body style, for the nerds—is arguably the most iconic of all the big BMW sedans. Its simple, monolithic design was the last of its kind for the brand before its design studio was helmed by the now-legendary Chris Bangle, who totally revamped the lineup with, at the time, highly controversial vehicles.

Let’s dissect the name of this car. The 7 obviously stands for the model, and “40,” in this case, gives away which engine is under the hood. While it originally represented the 4.0-liter V8 under the hood, this 1997 model was the first year to get the bigger 4.4-liter version, making 282 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The i stands for fuel-injected, while the L denotes this model as a long-wheelbase model.

Even without the L in the badge, it’s pretty easy to spot the longer-wheelbase 7 Series model of this generation—all you have to do is look at the rear door. If it’s weirdly elongated compared to the front, you’ve got yourself some extra legroom. The beautiful green paint on this model looks to be in great shape, as do the “M Parallel” multi-spoke wheels. The interior, meanwhile, looks to be in weathered (but good) shape, and there’s even a car phone, which probably hasn’t worked in decades.

According to the seller, this 740iL comes with new tires and a new timing chain tensioner, which is a nice addition. They describe it as “like new,” which is pretty good for a car that cost over $60,000 new, and is now listed for $9,500.

2004 Mercedes-Benz S600 – $9,500

Engine/drivetrain: 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12, 5-speed automatic, RWD

Location: Portland, Oregon

Odometer reading: 137,000 miles

Operational status: “Not perfect,” but “pretty darn nice.”

If your tastes lean more modern, let me present to you this 2004 Mercedes-Benz S600. This big Benz came from the next generation of German limousines, when manufacturers began to move away from subdued and boxy designs to more streamlined and curvy.

While this isn’t my favorite-looking generation of S-Class, this top-tier version got a set of lovely chrome monoblock wheels that round out the profile nicely. Plus, this one is painted in an actual color (red), which makes this car extra special, seeing as how virtually every S-Class I’ve ever seen is painted in some shade of black or silver.

The biggest selling point in this car is denoted by the “600” in the name, which signals the mighty engine under the hood. There are 50% more cylinders here than in the BMW, and 200% more turbochargers. Power from the boosted V12 here is vast: 493 hp and 590 lb-ft, enough to dust the BMW with ease.

With all that extra power comes added complexity, of course. Thankfully, the seller’s been meticulous with maintenance, replacing stuff like the coil packs, spark plugs, intercooler pump, radiator, water pump, blower motor, trunk motor, a/c compressor, and engine control module within the last 30,000 miles. More recently, they’ve also replaced some ball joints, sensors, drivetrain mounts, and fluids. But as I’ve learned the hard way, lots of recent maintenance does not always mean a reliable car down the line—something that’s especially true with 20-year-old German cars.

So which one would you rather have? The stately, subtle green BMW or the turbocharged, red-painted Mercedes powerhouse? Both are very much up my alley, so I won’t be upset, no matter which one you go for. So please, follow your heart.

Top graphic images: Craigslist sellers