BMW E38 7 Series (1995-2002).
Description, technical characteristics and photographs.

3rd generation sedans BMW 7-series E38 luxury class was first introduced in 1995.

The BMW 7 Series was produced in the following variants: 725tdi, 730d, 730i, 735i, 740i, 740iL, 750iL, 740iL Protection and 750iL Protection. "Protection" cars are equipped with bulletproof glass, body protection parts and wheels that can be driven even when they are completely flat.

It should be clear right away: the car is not quite representative. BMWs are famous for their sportiness, therefore, if we talk about smoothness and noiselessness, the "seven" is somewhat inferior to competitors. The car even looks faster than its classmates: a low hood crowned with branded "nostrils" of the radiator grille, large windows.

Despite the big external dimensions not much space inside. The driver sits at all, as if in the cockpit of a fighter - he is surrounded by instruments and control buttons for auxiliary systems. The center console is traditionally slightly turned to face it.

At the same time, the car has all the necessary comfort elements, including power accessories, automatic seat adjustments and climate control. (Note: Prior to '98, most options were not included as standard)

The popularity of the "seven" from year to year was added by electronic "brains", according to which it was one step ahead of the rest of its competitors. Among the electronic filling is a dynamic motion stabilization system (DSC), and an adaptive automatic transmission (AGS), which allows you to change the gearshift algorithm depending on the driving modes, and electronic system ELM motor control.

Electronics also largely determines the characteristics of the suspension and active safety systems. For example, the NR body positioning system and the ASC automatic body stabilization system take care of passenger comfort while driving. ECS electronically controls the stiffness of the shock absorbers.

The 750iL version is additionally equipped with Park Distance Control, 5-speed automatic transmission, self-adjusting suspension, cell phone with voice dialing, heated front and rear seats, an audio system consisting of 14 speakers with a power of 440 watts and aluminum rims. The ventilation and temperature control system allows you to set a different climate for the driver and passengers in the front and rear seats.

The BMW 7 Series was also offered with a 13 cm stretch limousine body (740iL, 750iL) and a 38 cm stretch body (BMW 750iXL). All the extra space is given to the rear passengers, who can practically stretch their legs. Here, of course, luxury reigns. The chic "bimmer" has retained all the family advantages - excellent dynamics and handling. Thanks to the flagship V12, which develops 326 forces, the limousine accelerates to hundreds in just over six seconds.

In terms of smoothness, BMW engineers have found a compromise between handling and comfort. The car is smooth enough to meet the requirements of an executive class, and precise enough in response to please a driver who knows a lot about fast driving. Yes, you can drive on straight autobahns on any of the German flagships, but only BMW also behaves superbly on winding roads. A relatively stiff suspension is difficult to "break through", even if you drive at high speed into a serious pothole.

"Sevens", moreover, are equipped with several airbags for both front and rear seat passengers. What's more, the new Head Protection System, an inflatable umbrella that extends diagonally from the windshield pillar to the roof above the tailgate, protects the heads of front passengers. The safety of those who are located in the back is provided by airbags built into the doors. The car is also equipped with child locks, Dynamic Stability Control and built-in sensors that automatically open the doors and turn on emergency and interior lights in the event of a serious accident.

Specifications BMW E38

One of the federal channels still constantly broadcasts films of this kind. I won't say which one. I will only say that its name begins with "H" and ends with "TV". But times are changing - so are the "war chariots". Take the same "Boomer". A true lifestyle icon and a textbook for young people whose style is an elegant combination of a tracksuit and classic pointy shoes.

And then it's time to talk about the "seven" BMW in the back of the E38, which appears throughout the film as the fifth protagonist. They stopped producing this car almost fifteen years ago, but even now, hardly anyone will say that its design looks outdated. The car is big, impressive, formidable, still forcing respect on the roads. At least provincial cities. Moreover, the buyer of such a car will have, and even more than once, the opportunity to feel the aura of fear experienced by the elderly on the old Zhiguli as a reminder of the times when jeans and chewing gum were only gaining popularity in Russia. And this means that it is liked mainly by young people under thirty, dressed in tracksuits and continuing to click seeds, even going to binge. I'm serious! Look closely the next time a tinted window opens at an E38 at a traffic light, you're bound to see a young guy shaking husks onto the pavement.

BMW 7 Series (E38)

However, to hell with sentimentality! The car is truly legendary, stuffed with innovations (by the standards of the time), which was, in addition, Frank Martin's personal transport in the film "Transporter". It may indeed be of interest to many. In one of the specialized Internet clubs, you will find crowds of people who are ready to part with their own granny for organs rather than with their E38.

But is this "seven" so good? And where did the young guys get executive class cars from? I'm not talking about grandmothers at all. I'll try to explain. The car in this body was produced until 2001. That is, any existing copy today is at least 14 years old. And given the cost of maintaining such an artifact, the number of advertisements for sale on electronic platforms is quite understandable. To find a fresher copy, we set the last three years of production in the selection criteria, and a half-thousand armada opens up to us. Price tags start at 150 thousand rubles. for rubbish on Latvian numbers and with a dubious history. I bet that under the putty of such a machine there will be a dozen nine-millimeter holes, and under the carpets - husks of seeds? The price ceiling rests at 750 thousand for copies in excellent condition with two or three names in the TCP. If only you do not trade in crime, keeping the stalls near the house in fear, then, I believe, you will come to a reasonable 450-470 thousand.

BMW 7 Series (E38)

What can you buy with this money? Lada Priora or Largus. And even Benlad. And five copies at once, one for each working day.

Well, I do not! The true fan will opt for the 5.4-liter V12 version of the BMW 750i. Judge for yourself: the M73 engine relies on a solid wheelbase, leather interior (perhaps brought to the state of subcutaneous, and yet), door closers and a BMW nameplate on the trunk, which, in the end, will push the neighbor to come to you one evening for salt or matches. But do not rush to run to the seller, waving a passbook. Because everything will not be as rosy as you might think.

Does "more powerful" mean "better"?

Most often, the 7th series of those years is found with engines of 4.4 and 5.4 liters under the hood. Both are good, resourceful, but also demanding consumables. The base 3.0-liter unit also comes across, but for such a heavy car it is frankly not enough. Of course, the more power in stock, the less strain the engine, dragging you around the city. Hence the larger resource of the larger motor. Given the runs for 300-400 thousand km, it would be wise to take a larger engine in order to insure yourself at least from a major overhaul while owning a battered "seven".

V12 engine under the hood of the BMW 7 Series (E38)

That is why today we are talking about V12. They say that he is a bright representative of those very "millionaires" about which legends are composed. I must admit that this seems to be true. In official testing, BMW launched the M73 on the stand. At 16,000 (!) rpm, he worked continuously for 32 days before he was stopped. And after such critical loads, the engine, as you probably thought, ate oil, like Joey Chestnut, the champion hamburger eater during his favorite pastime. But no. Having disassembled the unit, the engineers did not find critical defects in the gaps and put it into production.

At the same time - the best and at the same time the worst of all details. A very controversial unit. It's not even that any engine on the E38 is prone to overheating, which can happen both from flooded non-regulated antifreeze and from a clogged radiator, usually never cleaned over the years. And not even that the optimal period for changing the oil in it is 6 thousand km, despite the fact that the oil also requires strict adherence to the regulations and requirements for quality and viscosity. The real problem 750 is an expense. If you put an explosive charge on the gas pedal, triggered by touching your foot, and fasten your right boot to the seat to protect yourself from the temptation to drown, the consumption will still be at least 16 liters per hundred. Well, if you decide to attach a “Hooligan” sticker on the windshield and turn the engine to a cutoff, then a consumption of 30 liters will make you cry at a gas station.

You can, of course, convert the car to gas, but modern equipment, coupled with the installation, costs 60-70 thousand rubles, which means that by putting it on, you will eat “doshirakami” and radish for a couple of months and, most likely, will earn heartburn .

The interior of the BMW 7 Series in the back of the E38

There was also a problem with the gearbox. No, it's from Aston Martin and it's quite good, but it wasn't designed for the huge torque (490 Nm) that our V12 gives out. So, if you start driving aggressively, expect problems. , theoretically maintenance-free, but if the oil has not been changed in it, and the car has already accumulated more than 200 thousand km, then at each switch you will have a good kick, so by the end of the day you will get home with back pain. Therefore, when inspecting this machine, pay attention to the behavior of the “machine”. There is reason to doubt the smoothness of switching - feel free to bargain.

The pendant is good. The front aluminum multi-link keeps this two-ton Heffalump on the road amazingly, but it has one. When one element fails, it soon pulls all neighboring suspension elements with it into the grave. This is the same as if you were sneezed on, and you, having refused aspirin, fell ill after a week in intensive care. An annoying feature. Therefore, get ready for the fact that with a small breakdown, while the part ordered in the store is being delivered, you will have to walk for a week, holding on to your back, cursing the suspension and lamenting that you were beaten by the gearbox.

The interior of a car that was produced 20 years ago, even today looks decent

We consider expenses

The market is crowded with this kind of cars for several reasons. Firstly, there is no "past generation" of the "seven". After the release of a new one, the rest immediately turn out to be old ones, hence the loss in price. When a car depreciates in value by half or more, those who could not afford such a car "from scratch" lay eyes on it. Then they go to the limit of the entire resource, to a major service, after which they try to get rid of the car.

In a word, instead of a new B-class foreign car, of course, you can buy a 15-year-old "old woman", but is it worth it? Replacing 10 liters of oil in a box costs 8,000 rubles. The suspension requires the replacement of consumables, such as silent blocks of the rear levers (two of 1500 rubles each), bushings of the front stabilizers (two of 600 rubles each), stabilizer tips (two of 800 rubles each) every two years, even with careful driving. And we are talking about analogues of branded spare parts!

Add here the front (2600 rubles) and rear (1500 rubles) pads, which have a hard time with a car weighing two tons, steering linkage(7000 rubles) - another weak point, as well as the cost of work (about a third of each amount). Why is there a suspension, even iridium candles, of which there are twelve, cost 600 rubles apiece, and do not forget that this is a BMW. This means that it will not work here with a “10” key and a hammer to make overhaul motor, as in the Zhiguli. Most of the work will have to be done at the service station.

We are looking for an alternative

Have you changed your mind yet? Then the only reasonable solution against this background seems to be the purchase of the "seven" in the next body. Remember, this is the controversial one that Chris Bangle had a hand in? The car with it looks more modern, rather brutal, there are pneumatic elements at the back, and this is the best-selling 7th BMW series throughout its existence. You can choose a 4.4 engine, which, although gluttonous, like a sumo wrestler, still does not ruin you in two trips around the city, like the V12 on the E38. Having spent the same half a million on the purchase of the 7th series in the back of the E65, you will not bother pressing buttons, because there is an iDrive joystick that configures all the systems of the car. And the neighbor's salt will end much more regularly.

Generally speaking, what does a person really want when buying such a car? Manageability? Maybe comfort? Hardly. After all, then he would prefer a more affordable 5th series (for example,). Including in terms of ownership. Then, perhaps, ergonomics? Also incredible. In this case, why not choose Ford Focus or any other golf-class car that is not inferior in this criterion?

The point is still an unfulfilled dream, which, as you know, has no statute of limitations. But if it was formed by films based on the dashing 90s, then I have shocking news for you. Today, tough guys move mostly in large SUVs.

So there was one reason for the purchase, and it seems to be the most reliable. The reason is the girl. The one whose attention you are trying to attract, confess. But is it necessary to buy a "seven" BMW, a tracksuit and a gold chain? It would be cheaper and smarter to spend money on a bouquet of flowers and a dinner at a restaurant to win her over, right?

If you are simply a connoisseur of the German eternal, then there are several recommendations for you. First, don't be in a hurry to make a choice. This is the very purchase that cannot be made with the heart without connecting the mind. Be careful, be patient and wait for "your" copy. After waiting, do not rush to drive the car for service diagnostics, although this is a mandatory procedure that can save you a lot of nerves and money in the future. First, talk to the owner, understand who is in front of you and whether this person could keep such a car in decent condition. The owner who loves his car is almost always happy to talk about the problems that befell him and the decisions that had to be made to fix the problem.

Beware of cars whose wheels are shod in summer winter tires, as well as those who bought a "German", and then traveled for three years and only changed the oil. In practice, this means that all parts that have exhausted their resources will have to be changed by you. And also avoid people who, for unknown reasons, are selling a car after a couple of months of ownership. Be vigilant and pragmatic. And better - buy something simpler and fresher.

This is one of the best and, alas, the last successful model BMW 7-Series, according to its owner. A powerful German engine makes her take off. The body is made in such a way that all passengers feel comfortable and free. And the driver can only enjoy driving.

The agony of searching
It all started after the sale of another car (Renault Laguna second generation). Needed a car. The criteria are as follows: definitely a sedan (station wagons, hatchbacks, etc. have already got it). The color is either black (close to it) or white (white night), you see, interesting extremes. Decent condition of the car. Oh yes, since my work is related to business and very often I have to meet people with prosperity, I didn’t want to fall into the dirt on my face. The choice fell on the BMW family.

And so the search began, how many doubts there were, how many temptations there were to spit and buy some kind of small car, and how much advice there was from relatives and friends, they say, why do you need this BMW, not to mention the 7-Series. But, spitting on everything, I decided that I would buy the car that will make my soul sing in unison with its engine.

The search was relatively long. Three weeks without a car! It was horror. During this time, I looked at seven BMW 3-Series (E46), five BMW 5-Series (E39) and I will not lie that there are about 20 variants of the BMW 7-Series (E38). It was torment, not a single car evoked emotions in me. I looked at engines and 3.0 TDI, and 4.4i, and many, many things.

Friday. Another raid on cars was completed with nothing. Gathered home, but still I decided to call the last marked number. We agreed to meet. We are standing with my brother in the Novinok district at a gas station. A car appears. It doesn't just ride - it flies, the sound - it was something, chic 18-inch wheels. She was just great!

V-shaped eight with four valves per cylinder
Believe me, I'm not one of those people who drool over tsatski, but I was just shocked at the feeling that I would buy it. We started to look - the engine rumbles, the box is super, the suspension does not rattle. The owner admitted that the car was hit on the right. He took his brother as an expert on technical parts. He gave the go-ahead (although even if he had not approved, I would have bought it anyway).

Ride, I realized that just buy. A little bargain, agreed that the owner removes it from the register tomorrow. It was the most sleepless night of my life. It's Saturday. Decor. That's it, I'm the owner of the BMW 7-Series!

So what did I get. BMW 7-Series (E38) 2000 Modification - 3.5iL, where L is Long (long base). Dark blue color, R18 wheels. Equipment - seats with electric adjustment, separate climate control, CD changer, seat memory, on-board computer and many other things, you can't remember everything.

Under the hood is a V-shaped eight with four valves per cylinder, 235 “horses”, 344 H m of torque and acceleration to hundreds in 8 seconds. Believe me, starting a car weighing 1885 kg at such a speed is super.

When I first got behind the wheel of this car, I could not believe that it was all mine. Because it's a legend. This is a BMW 7-Series - because the car is really cool!

On the way home, I tried not to drive, because I do not know the car. But the car just asks: well, a little more, we’ll overtake that one and that’s it. I know the attitude of the majority towards BMW drivers. But, dear friends, these cars are really pushing for something.

Service cases
Arriving home, went to the local service. I had to replace the rear brake hoses, steering tip on the left, stretch marks and the pendulum bushing. The owner also said to change the oil and filter.

Went a week later to the official service. They said the same thing, and also recommended replacing the radiator and cooling pipe. In general, I like the "officials"! They have a replacement pipe, because it tears and lets out liquid. I took a screwdriver, loosened the clamp and tightened it, but they could not do it. They looked through the entire radiator, where they got what flows from there, they did not understand. Anyway.

Maintenance cost (all spare parts are German, Belarusian ruble):
Brake hoses - 75,000 rubles;
Steering tip - 243,000 rubles;
Stretching at the back - 198,000 rubles;
Oil, 8 liters - 840,000 rubles;
Oil filter - 8 c.u. e.;
Air filter - 12 c.u. e.;
Rear brake discs - 400,000 rubles;
The cooling system was also purged and antifreeze added - 430,000 rubles.
Total: 2,356,000 rubles, or 270 c.u. e. Outboard also began to knock, replacement and work cost 490,000 rubles.
Consumption of this unit: city - 10-13 liters per 100 km, depending on the driving style. In congestion, the largest is 13.4 liters.
On the highway at a speed of 120-160 km / h - 8.8 - 10.3 liters, no more.

And now a little about relationships
You know, a strange feeling arises when you drive this car. Suddenly you notice that everyone is looking at you, yes, yes, that’s all, she catches the eye, they notice her. She looks like a fit athlete in an expensive suit. At the first command, the car is ready to take off: 235 “horses” are enough for any start and overtaking, and the dynamics are such that it’s just a plague. It picks up speed from both 30 km / h and 160 km / h easily and quickly, and kickdown is something incredible (when you press the pedal to the floor, release and press again, and then this - what a catch!).

Since the second generation was discontinued, it was decided to release the third generation of the legendary Seven, this is the BMW 7-Series e38. This model was shown to the public in 1993 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and the following year it went into production. After 4 years, a restyled version was released, which was produced until 2001.

This is a luxury car that was not weak competition from the W140 from Mercedes-Benz. Now, despite the years, it still remains expensive, but only in terms of maintenance, the initial cost is low.

Exterior

The model has a good appearance even now, but still it lacks some notes of modernity. Installed narrow headlights with circles, having a halogen filling. The long hood of the car received a wide stamping and it is also one with the original grille. The bumper of the car has plastic inserts and chrome parts, as well as fog lights at the bottom.

The side of the sedan has small wheel arch extensions and small stamping lines, both at the top and bottom. In the middle there is a molding decorated with a chrome insert. Also, chrome is present on top as a window trim and, in fact, this is where the interesting details on the side end.

The back of the BMW 7-Series e38 flaunts a long trunk lid, and there are also oval lights with halogen filling at the back. The rear bumper also has a plastic molding. Since we're in the back, let's take a look at the trunk. It is not bad here, its volume is 500 liters and it is decent.

sedan dimensions:

• length - 4983 mm;
• width - 1862 mm;
• height - 1435 mm;
• wheelbase - 2931 mm;
• clearance - 120 mm.

There was a Long version, which was 141 mm longer and, accordingly, had a longer wheelbase. On all other planes it is the same.

Salon

The interior decoration is not bad, it is certainly not the best by modern standards, but still stylish. Power-adjustable leather seats were installed, the same in some trim levels could be located at the back. There is a lot of free space, there are no complaints about this. In general, the entire interior is trimmed with good leather, and will also please with the use of high-quality wood.

How chic the back row will be depends on the configuration, the regular version will flaunt its climate control and a large armrest in the middle. The BMW 7-Series e38 Long version will receive two folding tables with a cup holder and another footrest.

The driver's seat has a leather 4-spoke steering wheel, on which there are buttons, with which you can control the radio and cruise control. The instrument panel, in principle, is not surprising, it has large analog sensors and a small on-board computer. There is an analog speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge and oil temperature.

The center console received two rectangular air deflectors in the upper part, and under them there is a head unit. The radio is a cassette, but even then it had a small square display on the right. Below we are greeted by a large separate climate control control unit, there are any functions that you may need.

The tunnel also has a lot of wood and leather, its initial part has a large gear selector. In the same area is the alarm button, there is also an ashtray. The large armrest has a huge niche for small things, but there is also a phone into which you can insert a SIM card and use it.

The doors are of very high quality, they are sheathed in leather, have wooden inserts, as well as niches for small items and the so-called pocket. In general, the salon is not bad even for modern times. Even then, the interior had 10 airbags and a 440-watt music system.

Specifications BMW 7-Series e38

This car has 9 engines in the line, there are both diesel and gasoline. It is noteworthy that a diesel engine was not installed on Long. Let's take a closer look and start with diesel engines.

1. The base diesel and almost all other engines are 6-cylinder in-line engines. The first has a volume of 2.5 liters and it gives out 143 horsepower and 280 units of torque. Passport expense 11 liters in the city.
2. The second unit received a volume of 2.9 liters, and it already produces 184 horsepower, and the torque is 360 H * m. It will consume 1 liter more.
3. The third unit is a copy of the previous one, but its power has been increased by 9 horsepower, but the torque has increased by 50 H * m. This slightly improved the dynamics, but did not affect the consumption in any way.
4. The latest BMW 7-Series e38 diesel is already a 3.9-liter V8 and it already has 245 horsepower and 560 units of torque. Consumption of about 15 liters.

You can see the dynamics in the table above, and we are moving on to gasoline engines.

1. The first engine received 2.8 liters of volume and 193 horses, and the torque is 280 H * m. Consumption is about 14 liters of AI-95.
2. The 3.5-liter V8 produces 235 horsepower and 320 units of torque. It consumes as much as 18 liters of gasoline.
3. There is the same engine, but already giving out 238 horses and 345 units of torque.
4. Another V8 in the line is a 4.4-liter unit and it produces 286 horsepower and 440 units of torque. Consumption is also in the region of 18 liters.
5. The last engine is the legendary V12, which produced 326 horsepower and 490 H * m of torque. About 20 liters he will spend in the city.

Suspension and gearbox BMW 7-Series e38

The model received a fully independent suspension, which is a two-lever system in front and a system with 4 levers in the rear. The chassis is soft, but not very reliable on our roads, since the upper part is made of aluminum. Ball joints will have to be changed after 100,000 kilometers, and silent blocks change every 50,000 kilometers.

Suspension in some trim levels can be pneumatic.

The units are paired with a 5-speed or 6-speed mechanical box gears, depending on the motor. A 5-speed automatic transmission is also offered. All boxes transmit power to rear axle. The brakes are fully disc, and they are ventilated at the front.

Price

This machine is no longer sold new, but it can be easily found on secondary market in almost every major city. On average they sell for 300 000 rubles, but there are options for 500 000 rubles. You get for this relatively little money a premium car with a lot of quality.

It is better to buy this model not for the average amount, but for 500 thousand and above. The bottom line is that most cars on the secondary market are in a terrible state. The model is reliable, but age has taken its toll, so you have to invest anyway, and parts are very expensive.

We do not recommend taking it with the last money, but if you really want more money than you need and if you don’t feel sorry for them, then buy it. She will please you with many things, the car is excellent, but unfortunately, a little old and very expensive to maintain.

Video review of the BMW 7-Series e38

The 3rd generation of BMW 7-series sedans, which received the E38 index, debuted in June 1994, replacing the previous "seven" E32. The design of the new BMW flagship has been determined previous model: low hood topped with branded "nostrils" of the radiator grille, large windows. The workmanship of the body has been brought to perfection, and the gaps between the body panels have become minimal.

The same quality is inside: the interior is made in a typically German strict and restrained style, the center console is slightly turned towards the driver. He sits as if in the cockpit of a fighter - he is surrounded by instruments and control buttons for auxiliary systems. But, unfortunately, there was not so much free space for the front riders, by the standards of the class.

The main attention was paid to the passengers of the second row - there was so much space that even a tall person could safely cross his legs.

Passenger comfort was taken care of by the NR body control and the ASC automatic body stabilization. The ECS system electronically controlled the stiffness of the shock absorbers, which, of course, affected the comfort in better side. The ventilation and temperature control system made it possible to set a different climate for the driver and passengers in the front and rear seats.
All "sevens" had decent basic equipment, which included power accessories, a multifunction steering wheel, an audio system, ABS, an on-board computer, a standard alarm system with an immobilizer, etc. But one of the richest was the BMW 750iL. In addition to the above, it was standardly equipped with a Park Distance Control system, a 5-speed automatic transmission, a self-adjusting suspension, a cell phone with voice dialing, heated front and rear seats, an audio system consisting of 14 speakers with a power of 440 watts, a navigation system, an onboard TV and aluminum rims.
The choice of additional options was limited only by the imagination and material capabilities of the customer. Here are just a few of them:
*Sportpacket M (sports seats and steering wheel, special interior color, birch or walnut inserts, 18" alloy wheels), except 740iL and 750iL;
*more advanced head unit with CD reading capability and Hi-Hi system;

*Shadow-Line (no external chrome);

* Chrome-Line Interiur (chrome inserts in the cabin);

* monitor for rear passengers;

*additional cellular telephone for the rear row of seats.

There were versions with a base extended by 140 mm, indicated by the letter L.

But the longest "seven" in the back of the E38 was the L7 model. It was built on a BMW 750i base extended by 390 mm.

The space behind the front seats has been completely redesigned: a partition appeared that separates the driver from the second row of seats, its own audio system, DVD player, especially valuable wood and high-quality leather were used in the decoration.

Both long-wheelbase "sevens" could be produced in a lightly armored (class B4) version, called "Protection". They were equipped with bulletproof glass, parts that enhance the security of the body, and wheels with the ability to ride after a puncture or lumbago.
The range of engines was simply huge: 725tds (very rare and produced only 2 years), 728i, 730d, 730i, 735i, 740d, 740i, 750i. All motors met Euro-3 standards. Even the smallest 3 liter six-cylinder diesel engine could accelerate to hundreds in 8 seconds, with a top speed of 220 km/h.

What can we say about others powerful engines, and even more so about the flagship 5.4 liter gasoline V12 with the factory index M73 B54, which has 326 horsepower and accelerates a two-ton sedan to hundreds in 6 seconds. The maximum speed, electronically limited, reached 250 km / h.

The motors could be aggregated with a five-speed manual or automatic transmission.
Almost immediately, sales began in the United States. For the Americans, the most powerful "sevens" were offered - 740i and 750i and their long-wheelbase versions. They can be distinguished by different optics and trunk lid.

The main reason for the success of BMW in the back of the E38 was that the Bavarian engineers managed the almost impossible - a compromise between handling and comfort.
The popularity of the E38 from year to year was also added by auxiliary electronic systems, according to which it was one step ahead of other competitors. Among the electronic filling is a dynamic motion stabilization system (DSC), adaptive automatic transmission gears (AGS), which allows you to change the gearshift algorithm depending on the driving modes, the electronic engine management system ELM.

Another trump card of the car was outstanding safety. The car body had programmable deformation zones. All "sevens" were equipped with several airbags for both front and rear passengers. New system Head Protection System, which is an inflatable umbrella that unfolds diagonally from the windshield pillar to the roof above the tailgate, provided head protection for passengers sitting in front. The safety of those who were seated behind was provided by airbags built into the doors.

Also, the car was equipped with locks that block the doors from opening by children, the Dynamic Stability Control system and built-in sensors that automatically open the doors and turn on emergency lights and interior lights in the event of a serious accident.

In 1995, the tuning studio Alpina released the most powerful and technologically advanced "seven" -.

Around the same time, the equally eminent Hamann and Schnitzer studios offered their "charged" versions of the E38.

In September 1998, the car underwent a slight restyling, during which the front of the car, the interior changed slightly, a chrome strip appeared above the number on the trunk.

Now it is possible to install the Sportpaket M on the 740i version. One of the engines, the 4.4-liter V8 M62, has undergone a light upgrade: new dual-vanos valves have appeared. Power and torque have not changed, but their peak began to be achieved at lower speeds.
In 2000, based on the BMW 750iL, a hydrogen-powered concept car was built, called the 750hL (CleanEnergy Concept).

The standard V12 engine has been converted to run on hydrogen. The car had a 140 liter hydrogen tank refueled at -250°C and could travel 400 km without refueling. Acceleration to hundreds took 9.6 seconds, the maximum speed was 226 km / h.

During tests at the Nurburgring, the lap time was 9 minutes 53 seconds. After testing, ten 750hls were sent on a world tour to demonstrate the capabilities of hydrogen units.
"Seven" in the back of the E38 was very popular in Europe and even starred in films: in one of the parts of the "James Bond" - "Tomorrow Never Dies", and the cult film by Luc Beson "The Transporter". Residents of Russia remembered the car for the no less cult film "Boomer".

The BMW 7-series E38 was produced until July 2001, when it was replaced by the new seven BMW E65 / 66 2002 model year, marking the arrival of a new era in design. Prices for the most affordable BMW 728i with manual transmission in recent months in Germany started at 95,300DM (about 48.000€).