09/27/2026
From Industrial History to Cascade Pines: Crossing the Mountains in a 2020 BMW 750i xDrive
For drivers living in Central Oregon, crossing the Cascade Range is a regular ritual. Whether heading into the Willamette Valley for business, catching a flight out of PDX, or spending a weekend in the city, the journey demands two completely different skill sets from an automobile: effortlessly navigating tight urban grids and conquering winding, high-elevation mountain passes in absolute comfort.
We took this blackout 2020 BMW 750i xDrive into Portlandās inner Eastside before pointing the hood east to run the mountain passes back to Bend. Living with this executive cruiser across both worlds proved why a flagship luxury sedan remains the ultimate long-distance touring machine for the Pacific Northwest.
Echoes of 1928: The Fire Alarm Telegraph BuildingParked along NE 21st Avenue, the 750i sat beneath the towering radio mast of one of the city's most unique surviving architectural relics: the Portland Fire Alarm Telegraph Building. The Cityās Emergency Nerve Center: Constructed in 1928, this fortress-like brick structure was engineered for one critical mission: to serve as the bomb-proof, fireproof central dispatch headquarters for the city's emergency communications.
The Gamewell Telegraph Era: Long before 911 phone networks existed, Portland relied on a network of over 750 red Gamewell pull boxes mounted to street corners. When someone pulled a lever on a street corner, an electrical pulse shot through subterranean wires directly into this building. Inside, floor-to-ceiling brass telegraph registers punched ticker tape and rang bells, alerting dispatchers who then "tapped out" local engine houses across the city.
The Steel Lattice Mast: As wire telegraphs gave way to two-way radio dispatch (broadcasting under callsign KOB647), the massive steel antenna rising above the roof beamed emergency signals across the valley.
Modern Executive Stance: Set against the weathered 1920s brickwork, the heavy bronze doors, and the industrial radio tower, the restyled 2020 BMW 750i looked right at home. The facelifted G12 chassisādistinguished by its prominent upright twin-kidney grilles, slimmer headlights, and gloss-black Shadowline trimādelivers undeniable executive presence without shouting.
US-26 & Mt. Hood: The True Driverās Cockpit
Leaving the city streets behind, Highway 26 climbs rapidly out of the lowlands and into the dense evergreens of the Mt. Hood National Forest. Slipping behind the thick-rimmed M-Sport leather steering wheel, the car shifts personality from an ultra-quiet town car into an agile, long-legged mountain crosser.
523 HP TwinPower Turbo V8: Under the long hood sits BMWās upgraded 4.4-liter TwinPower Turbo V8, producing 523 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. Heading up sustained mountain grades toward Government Camp and across the Warm Springs corridor, acceleration is instantaneous. There is no hunting for gears or high-RPM engine whineājust a quiet, relentless wave of boost that makes overtaking slow logging rigs and RVs completely effortless.
All-Weather xDrive Composure: Mountain passes change in minutes, shifting from dry valley pavement to rain-slicked mountain tarmac. Backed by intelligent xDrive all-wheel drive and active adaptive air suspension, the long chassis stays flat and composed, carving damp sweepers with sports-sedan precision.
First-Class Touring Cabin: Settle into the multi-contour sport seats, activate the seat warmers, dial up the purple ambient interior lighting, and let the chassis eat miles. BMWās Live Cockpit Professional keeps navigation telemetry directly in the driverās eyeline while sweeping through forest corridors.
Dusk in the High Cascades
Pulling off the highway as evening mist rolled through the timberline revealed the rear profile of the 750i in its element. Wet asphalt, deep forest greens, and the glow of the full-width three-dimensional LED light bar highlight the wide, planted stance of the German flagship.
Many drivers assume an SUV is mandatory for the commute between Central Oregon and the valley. But an executive flagship sedan delivers superior aerodynamics, sports-car chassis dynamics, and a level of ride comfort that high-riding crossovers cannot duplicate. It transforms a three-hour mountain haul into the most relaxing drive of your week.
Ready for the Road at Auto Kings
The exact 2020 BMW 750i xDrive featured in this cross-mountain run is fully detailed, inspected, and available now on our showroom floor
Whether you need a 500+ horsepower executive cruiser for weekly trips over the pass, a heavy-duty diesel hauler, or an open-road performance machine, visit Auto Kings in Bend or Redmond to see this 750i in person and take the keys to your next grand tourer.
