The BMW Generation E38 is the third generation of the
BMW 7 Series
The BMW 7 Series is a full-size luxury sedan manufactured and marketed by the German automaker BMW since 1977. It is the successor to the BMW E3 "New Six" sedan and is now in its seventh generation.
The 7 Series is BMW's flagship car and is on ...
luxury cars and was produced from 1994 until 2001. The E38 replaced the
E32 7 Series and was produced with petrol and turbo-diesel straight-six and V8 engines, along with a petrol V12 flagship model. Three
wheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels. For road vehicles with more than two axles (e.g. some trucks), the wheelbase is the distance between the steering (front ...
lengths were available — short (i), long (iL) and Limousine (L7).
The E38 was the first car available with
curtain airbags. It was also the first European car to offer
satellite navigation
A satellite navigation or satnav system is a system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning. It allows satellite navigation devices to determine their location (longitude, latitude, and altitude/elevation) to high pr ...
and the first BMW to offer an in-built television. The E38 was the first 7 Series to be available with a
diesel engine
The diesel engine, named after Rudolf Diesel, is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of the fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is a so-call ...
and the last to be available with a
manual transmission
A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission (mechanics), transmission ...
.
In 2001, the E38 was replaced by the
E65 7 Series.
Development
In early 1988, development began on the third generation of the 7 Series.
From 1988 to 1990 styling work was done initially under design director
Claus Luthe
Claus Luthe (December 8, 1932 – March 17, 2008) was a German car designer, noted for his design work on the NSU Ro 80, Volkswagen K70 and numerous seminal models from Audi and BMW. Luthe was a pioneer of aerodynamics and digital design within ...
(through April 1990, taken over by Dr.
Wolfgang Reitzle
Hans Wolfgang Reitzle (born 7 March 1949 in Neu-Ulm) is a German business executive.
Early life and education
After leaving his school in Ulm, Reitzle continued his education at the Technical University of Munich where he studied mechanical e ...
), when Boyke Boyer's concept design was chosen and further refined into production form.
In February 1991, the final production design for the new 7 Series was approved by the board 36 months ahead of scheduled start of production for 17 February 1994.
On 27 April 1993, German design patents were filed featuring a pre-production prototype as a design representation. Patents were later filed on 27 October 1993 in the United States.
Production
Production started on 23 July 1993 on pilot production models and US specification variants on 13 January 1994, with series production commencing in April 1994 for June 1994 domestic German launch with the 730i and 740i.
US-specification cars entered production in September 1994, for November 1994 launch. On 18 February 1994, the E38 BMW 7 Series was unveiled for the 1995 model year via a BMW press release. The 750i production began in November 1994, in advance of its January 1995 launch.
The production totals by model are: 728i- 38,000; 728iL- 7,000; 730i- 21,000; 730iL- 2,000; 735i- 21,000; 735iL- 5,000; 740i- 88,000; 740iL- 81,000; 750i- 8,000; 750iL- 15,000; 725tds- 9,000; 730d- 12,000, 740d- 3,000 and less than 500 each for the 740iL P, 750iL P, 750iL S and L7 models.
A total of 340,242 cars were produced.
The last E38 rolled off BMW's assembly line on 27 July 2001 to make way for the replacement
E65 7 Series.
Engines
Petrol engines
Diesel engines
Transmissions
A 5-speed
ZF 5HP automatic transmission was available on all models. In many markets, a 5-speed
manual transmission
A manual transmission (MT), also known as manual gearbox, standard transmission (in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States), or stick shift (in the United States), is a multi-speed motor vehicle transmission (mechanics), transmission ...
was available for the 725tds, 728i, 730i, and 735i, while a 6-speed manual was on offer for the 740i.
Equipment
Safety features include
ASC+T ASC may refer to:
Educational institutions
* Anglican Schools Commission, Australia
* Andres Soriano Colleges of Bislig, located in Surigao del Sur, Philippines
* Agnes Scott College, Decatur, Georgia
Organizations Australia
* Australian Singin ...
traction control,
Dynamic Stability Control
Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a vehicle's stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction ( skiddi ...
(DSC),
headlight washers and auto-leveling low beam
xenon HID headlamps.
Side tubular airbags (called "Head Protection System") were fitted as standard equipment. "Active Comfort Seats" were introduced in 1998, to improve comfort and reduce fatigue for the driver and front passenger. This system uses two fluid-filled bladders which alternate in height.
Other equipment includes
Electronic Damper Control (called EDC III),
Park Distance Control (PDC), auto-dimming & power folding mirrors, power moonroof, power rear sunblind, rain-sensing wipers, dual zone or tri-zone
climate control
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is the use of various technologies to control the temperature, humidity, and purity of the air in an enclosed space. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. HV ...
, electric drivers seat adjustment and electric steering wheel adjustment.
Double glazed windows were available (called "dual pane glass").
Break resistant
laminated "security glass" was also available, which is known to delaminate. The delamination occurred with the Protection S357A option only, not with normal S352A dual pane windows.
Bullet-resistant glass
Bulletproof glass, ballistic glass, transparent armor, or bullet-resistant glass is a strong and optically transparent material that is particularly resistant to penetration by projectiles. Like any other material, it is not completely impenetr ...
was used for the Protection model, with even thicker glass used for the Security model.
The Sport Package included revised steering wheel, suspension, exterior trim and interior wood trim. Some sports models also included a shorter
differential ratio and higher stall speed for the
torque converter
A torque converter is a type of fluid coupling that transfers rotating power from a prime mover, like an internal combustion engine, to a rotating driven load. In a vehicle with an automatic transmission, the torque converter connects the power ...
. This allowed for a 0–97 km/h (60 mph) acceleration time of 5.9 seconds.
In-car electronics
![1998 BMW 740i Individual - Flickr - The Car Spy (14)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/1998_BMW_740i_Individual_-_Flickr_-_The_Car_Spy_%2814%29.jpg)
The E38 was one the first European car to be available with
satellite navigation
A satellite navigation or satnav system is a system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning. It allows satellite navigation devices to determine their location (longitude, latitude, and altitude/elevation) to high pr ...
, a system called CARIN jointly developed by BMW and
Philips
Koninklijke Philips N.V. (), commonly shortened to Philips, is a Dutch multinational conglomerate corporation that was founded in Eindhoven in 1891. Since 1997, it has been mostly headquartered in Amsterdam, though the Benelux headquarters i ...
.
The in-car entertainment (radio, audio system, satellite navigation, television and communications systems) are part of an automotive communication system called I-bus.
A multi-function steering wheel included controls for the audio, phone, cruise control and air recirculation.
Special models
L7
From 1997 to 2001, BMW marketed an extended wheelbase
limousine
A limousine ( or ), or limo () for short, is a large, chauffeur-driven luxury vehicle with a partition between the driver compartment and the passenger compartment.
A very long wheelbase luxury sedan (with more than four doors) driven by a prof ...
model called the L7. The
wheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels. For road vehicles with more than two axles (e.g. some trucks), the wheelbase is the distance between the steering (front ...
was extended by over the "iL" models, resulting in an overall length of .
Features included electrically adjustable rear seats, rear footrests, fold down rear trays, a fridge, rear television screen, video player and a fax machine.
Based on the 750iL with a 12-cylinder engine, the L7 has an electronically limited top speed of . The L7 was only available in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Europe, and 899 examples were built.
The 2000-2001 models had an optional "privacy window" glass partition to separate the driver from the rear passengers.
File:2001 BMW L7 (E38) sedan (2015-02-13) 01.jpg, L7 front
File:2001 BMW L7 (E38) sedan (2015-02-13) 02.jpg, L7 rear
File:1997 BMW L7 rear interior.jpg, L7 interior
Protection line
The armoured "Protection Line" vehicles were built from 2000 to 2001 and were based on the 740iL and 750iL models. Security features include body armor, bullet-resistant glass and run-flat tyres. An intercom system is provided to communicate with people outside the vehicle while the windows and doors are shut.
Security line
A High-Security version with protection up to
B6/7 was also available in Europe, known internally as the 750iL S. The additional security measures brought an additional weight of compared to the normal 750iL.
Features include explosive cord around the windshield allowing removal of the windshield facilitating escape
and hydraulically actuated windows.
A gas sensor can detect irritants like
CS gas
The compound 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (also called ''o''-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile; chemical formula: C10H5ClN2), a cyanocarbon, is the defining component of tear gas commonly referred to as CS gas, which is used as a riot control agent ...
and respond by turning the blower motor off, closing fresh air flaps and all windows.
A fire suppression system is triggered by either a button or the detection of extreme temperatures in the engine bay or the vicinity of the fuel tank.
A breathing air system is also available which delivers air from a cylinder in the trunk,
up to three firearms cases designed to fit a
Heckler & Koch MP5K
The Heckler & Koch MP5 (german: Maschinenpistole 5) is a 9x19mm Parabellum submachine gun, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch. There are over 100 variants and clones of the MP5, ...
were also optionally available
as well as spherical gunports in the doors.
750hL
![BMW 750HL front-left 2016 Shanghai Auto Museum](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/BMW_750HL_front-left_2016_Shanghai_Auto_Museum.jpg)
On 11 May 2000, BMW presented a fleet of fifteen 750hL's in Berlin.
Its twelve-cylinder
hydrogen combustion engine can be operated on both hydrogen and petrol. In operation on hydrogen, it delivers , accelerating from 0 to in 9.6 seconds and slowing the car to attain a top speed of .
The production of the hydrogen engine was integrated into the regular engine production at the Dingolfing plant. It differs from the conventional petrol engine essentially only in regards to the intake tract with additional injection valves for hydrogen. The hydrogen is stored cryogenically at a temperature of minus 253 degrees Celsius in a double-walled steel tank behind the rear seat back. The hydrogen tank holds 140 litres and allows an additional range of .
In addition, the 750hL has a fuel cell rated at at 42 volts. This is not used as a drive unit, but as an
auxiliary power unit
An auxiliary power unit (APU) is a device on a vehicle that provides energy for functions other than propulsion. They are commonly found on large aircraft and naval ships as well as some large land vehicles. Aircraft APUs generally produce 115&n ...
(APU) for power supply to the electrical system.
During the
Expo 2000
Expo 2000 was a World Expo held in Hanover, Germany from 1 June to 31 October 2000. It was located on the Hanover Fairground (Messegelände Hannover), which is the largest exhibition ground in the world. Initially some 40 million people were expe ...
in Hanover the vehicles were used as shuttles. From February to November 2001 the vehicles were part of the "CleanEnergy WorldTour 2001" in the cities of Dubai, Brussels, Milan, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Berlin. By November 2001 the 750hL had achieved a mileage of over 150,000 km. On the
Nürburgring
The is a 150,000 person capacity motorsports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It features a Formula One, Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a long "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around t ...
the 750hL recorded a time of 9 minutes and 53 seconds while powered by hydrogen.
Alpina B12
The ''Alpina B12 5.7'' and ''Alpina B12 6.0'' models were based on the BMW 750i and 750iL respectively.
Model year changes
1995
* E38 Production begins in 1994, for the 1995
model year
The model year (sometimes abbreviated "MY") is a method of describing the version of a product which has been produced over multiple years. The model year may or may not be the same as the calendar year in which the product was manufactured.
...
. Initial models were the 725tds, 730i/730iL, 740i/740iL and 750i/750iL.
* V8 models use a Nikasil bore coating, which experiences failures in countries with high sulfur petrol (''see
M60 article'').
* DSC III (
Dynamic Stability Control
Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a vehicle's stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction ( skiddi ...
) becomes optional on the 740i/740iL and 750i/750iL.
* 740i/740iL models use
differential ratio of 3.15, compared with 2.92 for following years.
* Standard equipment includes dual-zone
climate control
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is the use of various technologies to control the temperature, humidity, and purity of the air in an enclosed space. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. HV ...
, electric front seats with a three-position memory for the driver's seat, front-seat
side tubular airbags, a six-disc CD changer, and
satellite navigation
A satellite navigation or satnav system is a system that uses satellites to provide autonomous geo-spatial positioning. It allows satellite navigation devices to determine their location (longitude, latitude, and altitude/elevation) to high pr ...
.
1996
* 728i and 735i models introduced.
*
M62 engine replaces
M60 for V8 models. The
capacity on 740i and 740iL engines increases from 4.0 L to 4.4 L.
* An S-EDC electronic sports suspension, onboard TV and
satellite navigation system
A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit in outer space. Except for passive satellites, most satellites have an electricity generation system for equipment on board, such as solar panels or radioisotop ...
offered as options.
1997
* Front passenger
head airbag
An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate extremely quickly, then quickly deflate during a Traffic collision, collision. It consists of the airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and a ...
s introduced. In late 1997, E38 7 Series and
E39 5 Series became the world's first cars available with side impact head airbags. These are known as "Inflatable Tubular Structure" or "Head Protection System", and were available as optional equipment. These airbags are designed to offer head protection in side impact collisions and also maintained inflation for up to seven seconds for rollover protection.
* The 750iL (actually a re-badged 740iL) is extensively featured in the 18th James Bond film ''
Tomorrow Never Dies
''Tomorrow Never Dies'' is a 1997 spy film, the eighteenth in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions and the second to star Pierce Brosnan as fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode from a screenplay by ...
'' starring
Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brendan Brosnan (; born 16 May 1953) is an Irish actor and film producer. He is best known as the fifth actor to play secret agent James Bond in the Bond film series, starring in four films from 1995 to 2002 (''GoldenEye'', ''Tomorrow ...
.
1998 facelift
The E38
facelift
A facelift, technically known as a rhytidectomy (from the Ancient Greek () "wrinkle", and () "excision", the surgical removal of wrinkles), is a type of cosmetic surgery procedure used to give a more youthful facial appearance. There are mult ...
(also known as Life-Cycle Impulse) models were introduced in the 1999
model year
The model year (sometimes abbreviated "MY") is a method of describing the version of a product which has been produced over multiple years. The model year may or may not be the same as the calendar year in which the product was manufactured.
...
(produced from September 1998). The major changes are:
* Revised styling for headlights and tail-lights.
* 740d model introduced, powered by the 3.9L
M67 V8 twin-turbocharged diesel engine.
* 735i and 740i engines upgraded to the "technical update" (TU) version of the
M62, featuring variable valve timing on the intake camshaft (single-VANOS).
* 728i engines upgraded to the "technical update" (TU) version of the
M52, featuring variable valve timing on both camshafts (double-VANOS)
* Sport Package (ZSP option code) released, including M Sport suspension, Style 37 "M Parallel" alloy wheels, Contour seats and shadowline exterior trim.
* DSCIII
electronic stability control
Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a vehicle's stability by detecting and reducing loss of traction ( skiddi ...
becomes standard on all 7 Series models.
*
Head airbag
An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate extremely quickly, then quickly deflate during a Traffic collision, collision. It consists of the airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and a ...
s become standard on all 7 Series models.
File:BMW 750iL E38 (8656790744).jpg , Pre-facelift front
File:BMW 740iL E38 (5500335572).jpg, Pre-facelift rear
File:1998 BMW 740i Individual - Flickr - The Car Spy (16).jpg , Pre-facelift interior
File:2001 BMW 728i Automatic 2.8 Front.jpg , Post-facelift front
File:2001 BMW 728i Automatic 2.8 Rear.jpg , Post-facelift rear
File:BMW 750iL - Flickr - The Car Spy (9).jpg , Post-facelift interior
1999
* The 750 now includes Electric Catalytic Converter, or "E-CAT", assemblies.
Heating coils inside the catalytic converter assemblies are electrified just after engine start, bringing the catalyst up to operating temperature very quickly to qualify the vehicle for
Low emission vehicle
A low-emission vehicle is a motor vehicle that emits relatively low levels of motor vehicle emissions. The term may be used in a general sense, but in some countries it is defined in air quality statutes.
Different groups of people ("go greens", " ...
(LEV) designation.
This system required the use of a two-battery system. This electric catalytic converter had been fitted since 1995 by
Alpina
Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH & Co. KG is an automobile manufacturing company based in Buchloe, in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany that develops and sells high-performance versions of BMW cars.
Alpina works closely with BMW and ...
to their B12 5,7 E-KAT saloon based on the BMW 750i, as it had been developed jointly by Emitec, Alpina and BMW.
* From March, features such as Xenon headlamps, rain-sensitive windshield wipers, headlight washers, GPS navigation, and upgraded audio became standard for US models.
2000
* Display for satellite navigation upgraded in September to 6.5 inch 16:9 screen.
* Navigation upgraded to MKIII in September, therefore maps for satellite navigation switch to
CD format.
* A radar-based
adaptive cruise control
Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is an available cruise control Advanced driver-assistance systems, advanced driver-assistance system for road vehicles that automatically adjusts the vehicle speed to maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead. As ...
(called Active Cruise Control) became available as an option.
2001
![98-01 BMW 7-Series](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/98-01_BMW_7-Series.jpg)
* Cosmetic changes including body-colored side skirts and bumper facias (previously black), clear turn signal lenses (previously amber).
* Sport package becomes available on 750iL.
* Additional standard equipment, including a Motorola
StarTAC
The Motorola StarTAC, first released on January 3, 1996, is often assumed to be the first ever clamshell (flip) mobile phone. Technically, however, NEC had been releasing flip phones on NTT Docomo's PDC Mova network long before 1996, namely the ...
or TimePort mobile phone, with
BMW Assist
BMW Assist (also branded as MINI Assist) is a telematic roadside assistance service offered by BMW. BMW Assist is similar to GM's OnStar or Mercedes-Benz mbrace services as they both use the cellular network and Global Positioning telemetry to ...
telemetry system.
Film
![007-BMW](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5d/007-BMW.jpg)
In the 1997 ''James Bond'' film
Tomorrow Never Dies
''Tomorrow Never Dies'' is a 1997 spy film, the eighteenth in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions and the second to star Pierce Brosnan as fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode from a screenplay by ...
, the sixteen E38 cars used during production were modified so they could be driven from the backseat, making it appear that Bond actor
Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brendan Brosnan (; born 16 May 1953) is an Irish actor and film producer. He is best known as the fifth actor to play secret agent James Bond in the Bond film series, starring in four films from 1995 to 2002 (''GoldenEye'', ''Tomorrow ...
was controlling the car using his mobile phone. The car type is actually a BMW 740iL but they were
re-badged as the 750iL. One survives today and can be seen at exhibition “TOP SECRET” at Museum Industriekultur, Nuremberg.
Besides the E38 saloons, BMW also supplied a $14,000
R1200C motorcycle. BMW received the rights to use movie clips from the film in its multimillion-dollar campaign, and during the 1997 holiday season they offered a special promotion that included the R1200C with the purchase of the 750iL.
References
{{BMW cars: 1980s to 2000s
E38
Cars introduced in 1994
2000s cars
7 Series (E38)
sv:BMW 7-serie#E38