The exciting Unveiling of our Exclusive BMW 7 Series Hearse

Walter C. Parson Funeral Directors are absolutely thrilled to reveal the latest addition to our fleet – the only BMW 7 Series hearse in the UK.

Combining the very best of German engineering and Italian design flair, it joins our fleet of 11 matching BMW 7 Series long wheelbase limousines which serve our 12 branches across Devon and Cornwall.

John Ware, Managing Director of Walter C. Parson, explained the story behind the new hearse during a launch event held at Ocean BMW Plymouth on 19^th December 2023.

“Our project began in July 2019 when we started to look for alternatives to stretched limousines. Our previous fleet were based on an Australian Ford Falcon which had been discontinued. We approached BMW, Mercedes and Audi to look at their long wheelbase saloon cars – they needed to be wide enough to seat three passengers comfortably in the back.

The service we received from Ocean BMW was absolutely first class. They said “let’s check it’s the right car for what you need first. Would you like to borrow one?”. They loaned us a short wheelbase 7 Series for a week and then brought down a long wheelbase version from BMW UK for a second week, which we used on funerals. The leg room, comfort and quality was light years ahead of what we were used to and our clients loved them.

Over the following four years, we purchased 11 long wheelbase 7 Series limousines which are now in service across our 12 branches. It was a big risk to move away from the traditional 7 seater stretched limousines, but we’ve never had so many positive comments about the fleet and haven’t looked back.

We then came across BIEMME Special Cars near Verona in Italy who were making a hearse based on a 7 Series. After making some enquiries, Stephen Ware and I visited to look around the factory and discuss the finer details before we decided to take the plunge.

We needed to find a donor car, a short wheelbase 730d xDrive, which is quite rare in the UK.

We set Ocean BMW the challenge of finding us one during the time of supply issues for all manufacturers following Covid lockdowns – it could be any colour as it would be re-sprayed, but had to be the exact model. They managed to find a brand new one in grey with a dealer in Scotland and they agreed to swap it for a car which they had in stock so we could purchase it.

In November 2022, Shaun Harrison and I drove the donor car to Italy to be converted to our chosen specification, including bright LED interior lighting, an electronic coffin loading device and four wheel drive. Following a six month conversion and a three month battle with the DVLA to get the vehicle registered as a hearse in the UK, we collected what was to become “WCP 1” in September 2023.

Walter C. Parson are now the proud owners of the first BMW 7 Series hearse outside of Italy and the only one in the UK. It is the 21^st BMW hearse that BIEMME have made and we’ve achieved this for almost the same price as much smaller alternatives available within the UK. The Italians call it the “Big Girl” and at 7 meters long I’m sure you can see why!

We are absolutely delighted with what we’ve achieved – a huge step forward in comfort and quality for our clients.

Ocean BMW Plymouth have been a great support to Walter C. Parson in their quest to improve their fleet and in hosting our launch event. We hope that the partnership between our two businesses will continue for many years to come.”