On The Street In NYC: BMW E38 7er
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img ADLX ::: e38 BMW 740i
PRIME examples of the mid-90s/early 00s BMW 7-Series are getting to be as common as llama sightings on Fifth Avenue.
Sadly, BMW’s e38 generation (1995-2001) 7-Series sedans, generally speaking, are used, abused, and tossed to the next owner who wants a flash car but can’t or won’t pay for upkeep. And given that these 7ers have plenty of electronics that go wrong – from the soft-close trunk to the early gen. in-dash GPS – we can just imagine how many basket case 740i/740iL/750iL sedans there are on the roads.
Above is a ’99-’01 post-facelift gold 740i. Cosmetically, it’s a find. Gold was more commonly featured on the e32 generation (1987-1994) and didn’t accentuate the later 7′s contours as nicely, but, it’s still sharp.
The ’99 facelift’s subtle effects shine here, too – particularly how the trim beneath the headlamp housings perfectly outlines the two sets of spherical headlights.
All told, a prime 7 in a prime city in prime condition.
About the Author: Gunnar Heinrich is publisher of Automobiles De Luxe online and is executive producer of the Automobiles De Luxe Television series on PBS member station CPTV.
E | Jun 17, 2010 | Reply
Looks like an original 750i. Nice painting, hope the wheels are original as well..
E | Jun 17, 2010 | Reply
(ok 740i, but it looks like the v12 version because of the full chrome grill which was exclusively for -and to distinquish- the 750i)
John85 | Jun 24, 2010 | Reply
“Sadly, BMW’s e38 generation (1995-2001) 7-Series sedans, generally speaking, are used, abused, and tossed to the next owner who wants a flash car but can’t or won’t pay for upkeep.”
Not sure if it has anything to do with what you’ve just said, but here some “interesting” numbers:
338 BMW 7-Series E38 were “cash-for-clunkered”. 128 740i, 196 740iL and 14 750iL.
88 were 1995 740i and 71 were 1995 740iL. The 1995 740i/740iL E38 still had the troublesome 4.0 NIKASIL V8 engine. However, it must be noted that 41 1997 740iL and 47 1998 740iL were also CFC’ed.
So does that mean that the 4.4 V8 engine isn’t any more reliable than the 4.0 V8? Not exactly, but as you mentioned “these 7ers have plenty of electronics that go wrong – from the soft-close trunk to the early gen. in-dash GPS [...]” so maybe the 4.4 powered 7ers were the sort of “fair condition” examples you see on the Ebay Motors for sale for $2,500 with an advertisement that says:
“Priced to sell quickly! Metallic green 1998 BMW 740iL that needs some TLC! 246,348 miles on the clock! Engine runs sweet and does NOT overheat! Transmission shifts smoothly, AC blows ice cold!!! But the airbag light is on, sunroof works, but the headliner is saggy. The glovebox lid is missing and the leather seats are stained, no central hubcaps and the clear coat is peeling, but nevertheless, the car still works fine!”
As of 2010, the trade-in value for a 1998 740iL in fair condition is $2,775 and a 1998 740i also in fair condition fetch for around $2,525 according to the KBB.
So along comes the government and says:
“Look, according to the KBB, the trade-in value for your high mileage crummy 1998 BMW 740iL is $2,775, but we can pay you $3,500 if you trade-in for a brand new BMW 328i”
It’s obvious the owner of the crummy E38 will accept the government’s offer and lease a brand spanking new E90.
So the owner will have downgraded from a 7-Series to a 3-Series… so what? At least the former 740iL owner traded for another BMW.
Mind you, during the program BMW was offering a 4,500 “eco credit” for the 335d. So… $3,500 for the 740iL plus $4,500 of BMW’s eco credit, that’s $8,000 off the original price of $43,900… Very, very tempting.
That is the sad reality of the E38 these days.
Brad Maxey | Jul 21, 2010 | Reply
Once again, a beautifully designed German from the mid-1990s that is good looking but lacking when it comes to quality. The E38 along with the E46 3 series are two of the best looking BMWs ever made if you ask me. Is the current 7 series better? It’s ugly. Post face lift it has improved but it’s still too much of a glitzy pachyderm to really be a true BMW in my book and I find it interesting that BMW and Merecedes in their stiff competition pull some of these stunts when it comes to decisions about their models. When Mercedes came out with the W140 S-class just ahead of the E38 it was a score for BMW because the Mercedes flagship sedan was an embarassing over-sized, clumbsy looking car, the E38, sleek and more in tune with the times. Next, Mercedes produced the W220 which seemed a reaction to the bulk of the W140 (a response to the E38′s cleaner lines?) and then what does BMW do but come out with that even uglier lardy 7, the E65-E68. With BMW’s current back tracking on display with the arrival of the new 5 series which has a comfortingly familiar BMW pre-Bangle look,I hope we get something again as beautiful and refined as the E38. I actually think it’s the best looking BMW of the last 20 years.