Unpopular opinion, but I think it really didn't age that well compared to the E65. Put them next to each other and they look like at least two generations apart. The E65 uses certain shapes that are still relevant today whereas the E38 was at the pinnacle of what you could call evolutionary design. The basic shapes are still suck in the eighties and you can really see that. But apart from that - yes, it is very beautiful, very simple and reduced, very distinct and subtle. It's a pretty perfect design, it's just that it looks very dated compared to everything that followed with Bangle.
@@tobias_k01 how's this an unpopular opinion? e65 was super futuristic at the time, bangle really split bmw believers apart on that. e38, at least in my opinion, is somewhat of a classic beauty, the german automotive mona lisa of the 90s if you want.
@@tobias_k01 The E65 certainly looks more modern, but isn't that the problem? In the early 2000s and onwards, cars were forced to become bulkier due to a series of critical new regulations. The E38 was prior to that era and was therefore allowed to keep the leaner, muscular design of older BMWs, a design language that is absolutely timeless IMO. Even though Bangle was a bit radical, I don't think that all of the changes to the body style were his choice.
@@DjNikGnashers fair enough, I really like them both and I suppose it's down to personal preference. I just think the e46 moved the game on alot without ruining the looks. Probably why I own two 😂
@@themanipulator1 I found the E46 to be a lot more refined and modern. I just preferred the rawness of the E36, the lightness, and I actually love the boxy styling more. The E39 is my favourite BMW of the past 30 years though.
Most certainly the new 5 series I got an advert for during this. They're applying the stupid full height grills to it too now that were first seen on the 3/4 series. I dread to think what the 7 series is now going to look like when they butcher that too. Edit; I can't find the advert I saw or any other evidence that the new 5 series is going to have that front end (google image searches for new 5 series, 2021 and 2023, they all show the standard grill design on a face lift and new body respectively). What I can find suggests that it's just going to be a facelift for the next few years, not a full new car. Maybe I was just there at the right time to see the wrong premade advert released.
@J B Current one isn't bad, but the advert I got said 5 series and the car was a saloon with the 4 series full height grills, like giving someone a nose job by stapling the tip of it to their forehead. When trying to get it again now though I can't find anything about it, and another 5 series advert I'm just after seeing shows the regular front 5 series with a light facelift. I'm wondering if I got an ad that wasn't supposed to be or if they would go to the extent of having a separate front end for the Chinese market, but it was an English ad and I don't have anything to suggest I'm over there, all on my laptop is NI. If they backtracked the design after the reactions to the 4 series, deciding to extend the current one through a facelift, then good for them. Maybe the ad I saw was a mistake on their part, two UK 5 series ads ready for release but one meant to be scrapped that wasn't?
The grilles are utterly stupid on the new models, but China is a big market..... Maybe it's the rose tinted glasses of what was cool when I was younger but the E31 was stunning, the E38 was elegant although a little bland even at the time.
@@psions555 I agree.. I'm 35 and these cars was stunning way back when. Compared to a Fiesta or a dull Volvo 740 that we had 13 on a dozen of.. but now we have this And the X6 mehh
Agree, not only does it looks great, it is also possible to repair. Something BMW have forgotten lately, just to repalace a £5 gasket somewhere in the engine you will have to pay £5-10.000 for someone to dismantle half the engine bay to get at it.....!
E38, my all-time favorite car. Still my everyday car. Needs in old age some love (and money). But if that fits, you have a driving living room on the road.
They way you describe the driving experience sounds exactly like my E39 530i Touring. The balance BMW found between ride and handling during this period is just wonderful.
Had a 1996 E38 for around 3 years. Probably one of the best all round cars ever. The car had awesome road presence and the speed and power were fantastic. Everything worked perfectly. Effortless driving
@Richard Harrold There was a DOHC prototype version, called M72. Sadly, it never reached production, as BMW stated "the refinement levels were not up to their standards". I think they may have deemed not worth the extra cost to make this engine. I just wished they at least increased displacement to 6.0 liters, as Alpina itself did with B12 6.0. They got 430 hp out from that engine, which is amazing when you consider the 2-valve heads...Mercedes did get up to 408 hp from their M120 competitor (later dropped to 389 hp for better efficiency) but had to resort to 4-valve heads.
@Richard Harrold Indeed! And quite powerful to boot. Probably could match the 445-hp N73 that came later on, which had both 6.0L of displacement and 4-valve heads, but also direct injection.
@Richard Harrold How do you know? 😆 But NGL, I fear that engine and its fuel injection system too...I guess the amount of electronic complexity started in the E65/66 also reflects on the engines...or at least the V12, specifically.
@Richard Harrold I salute your bravery, sir. o7 😆 Ironically, your words amplify the impression of the vid: the Bimmers from the period (90's, as in when the generations first appeared) seem...better built, or at least built to last longer than the newer ones. But...such is with nearly all cars (not to downright say "literally all of them").
E38 BMW was made in the era of “the ultimate driving machine” then suddenly turbo cars became bastardised and BMW (along with other car manufacturers) is now in an advanced stage of amnesia.
At the age of 20 plus, they are not extremely reliable, even if maintained, but there is a lot worse out there when comes to automatics. Still, for reliability reasons I pick a manual when I can when comes to buying classic BMWs.
@@Anirossa The ZF torque converters are known for being exceptionally reliable. At least the ZF 6HP in my Jaguar is known for being very reliable as long as you change the transmission oil every now and then.
Thank you James. You get it! So many traditional media outlets and even some “influencer/entertainers” don’t. When compared to its intended function and customer base, it’s just right. That should be the true measure of a car.
My dad had one. Yes, quite a few hours were spent under it and a sizeable sum was paid for parts. This was expected and working on it brings both joy and frustration. Once sorted the car is absolutely fantastic. The power and the poise make long trips effortless. At 150km/hr the car isn't even breathing hard and you can just cruise (wherever such speeds are allowed)
A while back we had a client asking us to sell his e38 735i V8 manual for him. So they do exist actually. But I couldn't really see why. It was a wonderful car to drive, but all I could think while driving it was; this luxury experience needs a smooth autobox to make it complete. I wasn't the only one thinking it, because the thing was unsellable.. It still is one the most beautiful saloons ever build in my opinion. It really puts to shame the bmw designs of today..
Everything you said from 12:00 is exactly spot on 👏 BMW were the ones that helped usher in the era of the luxury SUV by introducing the X5 IN 1999. If only they knew how it would revolutionise the school run 20 years later!
I'm of the same mind, been driving an E38 for 16 years now and I've experienced the gamut of issues, I can assure you. Overall, I prefer this car on a road trip than anything else I've had. It has never let me stranded. These cars have maintainance requirements and as a knowledgeable owner over time, I'm willing to put up with it just to be able to drive this unique paen to automobile excellence.
Totally agree: a luxury car should be comfortable. I just got myself one of the most comfortable saloons of the 90's: a Citroen XM 2.5 Turbo diesel. Being an old French car it has its problems, yet drives great (the suspension system is overhauled). I love these big saloons and the BMW is one of the best and most stylish examples. Thanks for the video!
We live in a world of slipping beauty standards, and BMWs are reflecting that change in society. The older BMWs were timelessly beautiful... like Grace Kelly's face.
As an owner of a 2001 740i msport, I aprove of this video. As an owner of a 1995 540i6, 2001 540it and a 2002 X5 4.6is, I agree with most comments supporting the love for these classically beautiful cars
We had the E38 as a 740d as a company car in the late 90ties. Wonderful. Not so pretty as the E32 (my thought, I never loved the blocky sills), but so comfy and relaxed to drive... One of the last of the Grand Routiers without any claim of sportiness (forget the SPORT button). It was used mostly between Hamburg and Berlin and I never complained to do this route in that silent but fast car. I would like to have one today but it would not fit in my garage (ok, it would, but than I could not open the door...).
Irony is the fact im going to be buying one of these as soon as i get back to the uk 🇬🇧 Thanks for another brilliant and useful video, your channel has been brilliant to watch
ehhhhhh, a brand new one maybe. Any E38 on the road today has a rattle or two. That BMW plastic doesn't hold up over time in some sections and the weather seals also will eventually deteriorate. I should know, I've been replacing mine lol
I have 2 now, the Vanos M-Sport and the 1998 IL and both have their distinct driving characteristics engine-wise. I like the IL better than it's contemporaries of its day but My M-Sport is amazing!
You’re spot on about luxury cars today. They are not luxury at all. I have a 2000 740iL and it’s a beautiful cruiser, so much so that my passengers often end up asleep! Much smoother than our new C300!
I went to Danmark in mine E38 728 i in september last year ,it sat at 130mph for hours in germany in the night the fuel was good as well at 42 mpg it was so quiet . it is so quiet . cost me £2,800 3 years ago .and its still so mint . glazier green ,its still mint now the 6 cylinder is the best engine 2.8 all day .
The thumbnail itself is a feast to behold. It looks so simple that its simplicity is enough to make it beautiful. A lot more beautiful than the nihilistic one of today.
Driving a 1995 E38 730i v8 with factory manual gearbox in the winters here in Estonia. Perfect luxury car for winter. Car has driven almost 300 000 miles with its original M60 engine and still goes strong.
Had 2 of these back in the day, Bought the last one new in 2001, changed from an S Class and this car was soooo much better to drive back then, and my wife preferred the ride to the Merc, she got less car sick. It is unobtrusive and so comfortable it ran me all over Europe for 3 years I put 140,000km on mine, added inexpensive Japanese After market TV/DVD screens in the back for the young kids. Never went back to BMW after this model because the new 7s were so damn ugly. Build quality was also light years ahead of the 5 series.
I have a 1999 E38 740i, in metallic Orient blue, with the Sport package. The car has the same interior as the one Jay tested. Mine is dechromed and, has the great looking parallel spoked M sport wheels. I'm the 4th registered owner, having bought it from a good mate nearly 10 years ago. He was a very accomplished engineer and lovingly looked after the car. The car was orginally from Synters, in Nottingham and, they had ticked most of the extras boxes to showcase what could be specced for the car and was used as a demo. The standout for me was the Alpina suspension upgrade, that gave the car a fabulous lowered stance. A £69,000 car, in 1999, that I bought for £3000, in 2012. The friend I bought it from lavished attention on the car during his ownership and, I have tried to do the same during my stewardship. Cars can be very personal, emotional objects for owners and, the buying and costs involved in maintaining them can be based solely on those reasons. There's over 160, 000 miles on the clock now and, a number of electrical gremlins have come and gone. The headliner is needing replacing now but, I try and fix the necessarys, to keep the wheels turning! My friend had a mild tune done to the engine and, in Sport mode, the old girl can lift her skirts and get a bit of of a wriggle on. I still get a buzz out of turning the key and settling in for a drive whether long or short. Like others here, I have returned over 30 mpg on motorways and, considerably less around town! That 4.4 litre engine is at it's happiest and, most frugal, at a steady 90 mph. I've been from London to the Isle of Skye on one tank of petrol. Just today, I filled up with Super unleaded ( at £1.70p a litre!) and saw I had 520 miles available to me on the readout. Little things, like pressing the remote to unlock the car at night and seeing all the door handle lights slowly come to full brightness, make me smile. Who's ever groped for their cars door handle, while trying to get in on a pitch black night, in the 90's? It's things like that that make you love a car! Yes. I have spent money on my motor and, will probably continue to do so. Because, I think she's worth it. X
Honestly my most favorite car I have ever owned and I'm almost 40 years old was my 2000 740i w/M sport package... literally the pinnacle of BMW engineering.
Good video, by the way. I have been driving an E38 for 16 years now and I will always drive one until I pass. I currently have 2. My daily driver is a 2000 740i M-Sport, black on black w only 80k miles on it. I have an 1998 740IL in the garage for my 15 year old son to drive when legal w only 81 K miles on it. For safety, I don't have to worry about him getting T-boned, der panzerwagen will protect him. I marvel every day when I get in them to drive. Nothing better on the highway in my opinion.
With the sport transmission on the 740i M-Sport, it's sometimes nice to leave it in second gear for in town driving. Great acceleration when you need it...
Your Chanel does not get the viewership it disserves, id offer you the once in a lifetime chance to drive my NB mx5 but I don't think it's quite cool and rare enough for this channel haha. In all seriousness I love your videos and keep up the good work
I'm a subscriber and every once in a while I forget to check for new videos or for some reason I'm not alerted for them which results in me forgetting your channel exist, until I search for some review on a car which is less than likely to be featured on a lot of the hype focused reviewers/influencers and there you go again with another cracking review of a brilliant example of the car that I wanted to see.
What a great review. I loved the E38 when it came out in the mid 90s. As a man is his twenties at that time I eventually ended up with the next best thing (looks wise), the E36 3 series followed by an E39 5 series. 2 decades (and many modern BMWs later) I still lust after an E38 as a weekend touring car!
I wholeheartedly agree with anything you said in this car. This is true luxury, what people think of today is merely showing off with somebody else's money.
I live in Sweden and just love these videos you make. I am myself owner of five cars. Two Lincoln Continental Mark V Diamond Jubilee Editions, where one in Diamond blue colour is in perfect shape and one jubilee gold colour that is under restoration. I also own an Lincoln Continental Mark IV Bill Blass edition that is in close to mint. I am second owner. But now to the point about Bimmers. I have an 1998 E39 528 panamabrown that is really unusual and it is a shadowline. That car I just drive during winter. At summer I have my E38 740i. A car that have never seen winter roads. I bought it for over four yers ago for a huge amount of money. In english pounds 8500. Today I am offered 12.500 pounds to sell the car. It will never happen. I will not find a car like this again. Before I bought the car I checked the car about everything. The car has been storaged all winters, sold new in Sweden and got 85789 miles on. Now I have owned it for four years and the car has just passed 93200 miles. And that in 23 years. Welcome to Sweden and drive it. I will be your host. The car is in the color royalrot and have brand new M37 rims. How do I post aphoto?
My parents purchased a 98 740iL back in 01, they loved the car and 8 years later purchased an 01 740iL to replace it. It's been a wonderful daily driver for them, they are still driving it today. It's amazing how many people compliment on the car. It's a looker, painted in royal red metallic.
Had exactly this one in dark blue. Oh what a beauty it was. I was so proud. When I picked it up at the dealership, I took a detour. Drove through a forest and stopped at the side of the road, smoking a cigarette ( the good ole days) and just stood there admiring the car from ten feet away.
This car was built at the end of the era when BMW and Mercedes built cars to last. The focus then became on recyclability and the financialization of the German auto industry was born. This is a car you can actually do repairs on. DIY will soon be a thing of the past as there is little to no serviceability on new vehicles. Older vehicles like this are quite green indeed. Consider the energy and resources it takes to make a new car. Especially a new car that will ultimately be recycled...in the not too distant future.
I would argue that the straight sixes are the most beautiful engines, so smooth and the sound !!! .......... whirrs and purrs; they sing to the red line vs quiet bass on the V8’s.
I started my fascination of BMWs with the V8s, e38 740iL and e39 M5. They were wonderful engines and never understood why people liked the I6s so much. Then one day I purchaseded a very beat up e36 328is and found out what everyone was on about. The BMW 6 cylinders are addictive to drive. They beg you to run up to the red line and are silky smooth while doing so. That beat up 328is convinced me that I needed to sell the M5 and buy an e36 M3.
@@johnpearson492 great story, we are all on a different journey. I originally had an E36 3.0 M3 and an E34 3.8 M5 in the 90’s. Both great engines with that hard edge that is addictive under acceleration. I’m guessing you’re American because you called the E36 iS. My favourite of all the BMW straight sixes is the 2.0 litre 24v 150 bhp which I don’t think was sold in the US. The small capacity makes it far and away the sweetest revving and it sounds the most musical. It doesn’t have the hard edge of the M cars, and the revs are much slower to fall off, but as an everyday car engine, it was one of my favourite ever. I had it in a few daily drivers including a Z3 and an E39 which for most people would have been too heavy a car for the engine, but I chose it with a manual because it was the nicest engine, and you were forced to use the use the gears and rev it through its range most of the time, which was a pleasure, though overtaking three or fours cars was always off the cards. People used to appreciate the charms of a straight six; so many British thoroughbreds used them, from Frazer Nash to Derby Bentleys, Jaguars and Astons. But few seem to to care today, capacity and power to weight seem to matter more and hardly anyone seems to have a musical ear. Many car exhausts it seems to me are tuned for loudness at every variable resulting in a blare rather than a tune much like the loudness wars in music mastering. A nice straight six, like the 90’s BMW’s gives you a bit of the V12 magic in a smaller physical and simpler engine. V8’s have their place of course, but to me they never quite have the same charm.
@@davidspropaganda You nailed it. I haven't driven a BMW 6 smaller than the 2.8 in the 328 but I agree it was actually much sweeter and more involving to drive compared to the bigger more powerful M3. It needed you to work for the power, not just rely on a big fat torque curve like most modern cars have. Indeed you guessed correctly I am American, the smaller displacement variants didn't usually make their way here, with the smallest 6 cylinder being in the 325. I'm just a fan of the I6, in a non BMW application, I had a Jeep Comanche with the phenomenal 4.0L I6, it wasn't a power house, more a low revving engine but it produced great quantities of silky smooth torque, and revved eagerly for such a larger heavy engine. I hope for all of us car lovers that like to be involved in driving, that there will always be a naturally aspirated 6 cylinder for us.
Best looking luxury sedan there is. You have to keep up on maintenance, Also knowing how to do work yourself is a big plus. I love my e38 and has never left me stranded..
I’ve owned four E38s in the past. Two 740s, a 750iL and a 728i Sport. Which did I think was best best as an every day car? Well, the 750 was an amazing piece of engineering, really smooth engine and fast but way, way too thirsty for me to live with. The 740s were fast as well and I could just about live with the mpg where on long runs 30 mpg was possible if I was careful. However, the best as far as I was concerned was the genuine ‘Sport’ 728i. I didn’t believe it myself when people said it could do 38 mpg at motorway speed...but it could! It really wasn’t that slow once up and running and was very stable/reassuring at high speed due the Sport suspension. I bought it with only 40k miles on the clock for £4K, drove it for 4 years to nearly 90k miles and still sold it for £3K. That was my favourite E38 !
Thank. You. The truth Not a typical 728 basher. People overrate the 740i so damn much. Especially in the facebook groups for this car. Is the 740 huge difference in performace to the 728? And what was the reliability and maintainence like on the 740i vs the 728?
@@djyems1021 The 740i is faster in a straight line. There is no doubt about that. But, in the real world, you can only use that performance difference under hard acceleration for a few seconds. Then, you have to back off either because of traffic or the road making it too dangerous or by which time you are massively breaking the law. I won't say where (which country) I was but I was once very close to missing an air flight very early in the morning. In my 728i Sport I drove for over 30 mins at a sustained 125 mph. I would not have been able to drive any faster in one of the 740i that I had previously had.
I had an E38 1999 740i for about 10 years, it is a real classic. Double glased windows for soundproofing, a 4.4 V8 with a map controlled thermostat. It ran perfectly at 109 °C with no problem.
I bought my 728 earlier this year and I love it! Lots of thumbs up a traffic lights, and I've already had two offers to buy it! I've always had old Saab 95's but saw this, and was very impressed with the look of it - Orient Blue over Cream. The build quality is excellent, the 2.8 engine is perfectly adequate for me, (I don't drive like an idiot), and the drive is superb. The only criticism is that the Sat Nav is visually less clear than cheap stick-on varieties....but then so are Saabs. A lot of these cars have been 'got at', with tinted glass, outsized wheels, body kits etc. (Avoid) Look for fuel tank rot, (a bit tricky) and radiators leaking on the front R.H. side (fairly easy to replace with a relatively cheap plastic part). Apparently they eat tyres. Expect to pay £5,000+ for a good example. Predictably, try for a simple low mileage, with full history, and you should have no problems. P.S. Bought mine from Paul @ Auto Classics, Northampton. He's a BMW nut and a good bloke. (There's one up there at the moment...looks good!)
totally agree with this guy, one of best v8s in the world, I've driven 2001 740i for a while, in Los Angeles, it's mechanics car, n he still owns it with 150.000 miles approx. good car no doubt
I remember when i was 18 and the look on the officers face after pulling me over seeing a small kid drive this behemoth around. I didnt understand at the time, but now i do based on the fact that this car commands presence and is more than just a car
You got me envious driving that enviable machine! I know it is a year later since your video, but not long, South Africa must be a market from which my ownership of the brilliant E38 will come. Great video 📹!
Love that shape and plenty a good tune played on an old fiddle and will still be going when 95%of the Chelsea tractors are dead and buried look forward to more luxury videos 👍
Thanks for posting a review of this legendary car. However, the BMW E38 was also a technological marvel in its time, especially the 750IL. It was the world's first car to feature side curtain airbags and one of the world's first cars to feature a GPS satellite navigation system, among many other features. These were really some of the best-built cars of their time. Regards from a BMW L7 owner (750IXL)!
Brilliant review, my E38 was easily the best car I've every owned, fast comfortable luxurious really nice to drive and looked the part! Miss it dearly, definitely don't miss 13mpg!
Don't know what version E38 you had but having owned a 740i sport I get 18 on short journeys and at motorway speeds long distances will do over 30mpg...... I've had 2l petrol 4 cylinder cars doing not much more !
@@owenb1t5014 It was a low mile 735i! Was pretty good on the motorway but cold city driving it wouldn't drop or go above 13mpg, great car and worth every penny
One of the best looking cars they ever made.
Unpopular opinion, but I think it really didn't age that well compared to the E65.
Put them next to each other and they look like at least two generations apart.
The E65 uses certain shapes that are still relevant today whereas the E38 was at the pinnacle of what you could call evolutionary design. The basic shapes are still suck in the eighties and you can really see that.
But apart from that - yes, it is very beautiful, very simple and reduced, very distinct and subtle. It's a pretty perfect design, it's just that it looks very dated compared to everything that followed with Bangle.
@@tobias_k01 Very fine answer and response. Respect
@@tobias_k01 how's this an unpopular opinion? e65 was super futuristic at the time, bangle really split bmw believers apart on that. e38, at least in my opinion, is somewhat of a classic beauty, the german automotive mona lisa of the 90s if you want.
@@tobias_k01 The E65 certainly looks more modern, but isn't that the problem? In the early 2000s and onwards, cars were forced to become bulkier due to a series of critical new regulations. The E38 was prior to that era and was therefore allowed to keep the leaner, muscular design of older BMWs, a design language that is absolutely timeless IMO. Even though Bangle was a bit radical, I don't think that all of the changes to the body style were his choice.
Agreed
Isn't that 7 series design just the most timeless shape ever? Still looks great!
The e23 was better looking.
@@spudmckenzie4959 you are not wrong but as far as "modern" BMW shapes go.... E23 had the meanest angled nose I love it.
FACTS
@@spudmckenzie4959 The e9 was even better looking.
Bmw at its peak. The e46, e39 and e38 were bmw at its very best. Stunning lines and proportions that still stand up today
I almost agree, but I always preferred the E36 to the E46.
@@DjNikGnashers fair enough, I really like them both and I suppose it's down to personal preference. I just think the e46 moved the game on alot without ruining the looks. Probably why I own two 😂
@@themanipulator1 I found the E46 to be a lot more refined and modern.
I just preferred the rawness of the E36, the lightness, and I actually love the boxy styling more.
The E39 is my favourite BMW of the past 30 years though.
If it was possible to buy a brand new e39 I would pick that over anything in the current line up
@@themanipulator1 Indeed. That model just oozed quality, refinement, and style.
This classic design trumps everything BMW has to offer today...IMO
Most certainly the new 5 series I got an advert for during this. They're applying the stupid full height grills to it too now that were first seen on the 3/4 series. I dread to think what the 7 series is now going to look like when they butcher that too.
Edit; I can't find the advert I saw or any other evidence that the new 5 series is going to have that front end (google image searches for new 5 series, 2021 and 2023, they all show the standard grill design on a face lift and new body respectively). What I can find suggests that it's just going to be a facelift for the next few years, not a full new car. Maybe I was just there at the right time to see the wrong premade advert released.
@J B Current one isn't bad, but the advert I got said 5 series and the car was a saloon with the 4 series full height grills, like giving someone a nose job by stapling the tip of it to their forehead. When trying to get it again now though I can't find anything about it, and another 5 series advert I'm just after seeing shows the regular front 5 series with a light facelift. I'm wondering if I got an ad that wasn't supposed to be or if they would go to the extent of having a separate front end for the Chinese market, but it was an English ad and I don't have anything to suggest I'm over there, all on my laptop is NI.
If they backtracked the design after the reactions to the 4 series, deciding to extend the current one through a facelift, then good for them. Maybe the ad I saw was a mistake on their part, two UK 5 series ads ready for release but one meant to be scrapped that wasn't?
The grilles are utterly stupid on the new models, but China is a big market..... Maybe it's the rose tinted glasses of what was cool when I was younger but the E31 was stunning, the E38 was elegant although a little bland even at the time.
@@psions555 I agree.. I'm 35 and these cars was stunning way back when. Compared to a Fiesta or a dull Volvo 740 that we had 13 on a dozen of.. but now we have this And the X6 mehh
Agree, not only does it looks great, it is also possible to repair. Something BMW have forgotten lately, just to repalace a £5 gasket somewhere in the engine you will have to pay £5-10.000 for someone to dismantle half the engine bay to get at it.....!
Best looking 7 series ever.
F01 owner.
The E38 is a fabulous machine in looks and quality and is everything a BMW should be. Incredible value with any engine.
Absolutely, it is so sad that good condition and low km ones are so hard to find nowadays, at least where I live.
@@evokki0075 GMS Cars always have great e38s and e39s in concourse condition.
@@tcaudiobooks737 GMS Cars in Surrey is really really damned overpriced.
E38, my all-time favorite car. Still my everyday car. Needs in old age some love (and money). But if that fits, you have a driving living room on the road.
So much more elegant than that HIDEOUS Audi you had at the start.
"nice" he said xd
They way you describe the driving experience sounds exactly like my E39 530i Touring. The balance BMW found between ride and handling during this period is just wonderful.
Had a 1996 E38 for around 3 years. Probably one of the best all round cars ever. The car had awesome road presence and the speed and power were fantastic. Everything worked perfectly. Effortless driving
Of course it's a Japanse import. Immaculate.
The E38 V8 is great but the V12 is at another level, it sounds and feels so good.
740i sport is a very different beast to the 740i, it's so much better. But that V12 though...
@Richard Harrold There was a DOHC prototype version, called M72. Sadly, it never reached production, as BMW stated "the refinement levels were not up to their standards".
I think they may have deemed not worth the extra cost to make this engine. I just wished they at least increased displacement to 6.0 liters, as Alpina itself did with B12 6.0. They got 430 hp out from that engine, which is amazing when you consider the 2-valve heads...Mercedes did get up to 408 hp from their M120 competitor (later dropped to 389 hp for better efficiency) but had to resort to 4-valve heads.
@Richard Harrold Indeed! And quite powerful to boot. Probably could match the 445-hp N73 that came later on, which had both 6.0L of displacement and 4-valve heads, but also direct injection.
@Richard Harrold How do you know? 😆
But NGL, I fear that engine and its fuel injection system too...I guess the amount of electronic complexity started in the E65/66 also reflects on the engines...or at least the V12, specifically.
@Richard Harrold I salute your bravery, sir. o7 😆
Ironically, your words amplify the impression of the vid: the Bimmers from the period (90's, as in when the generations first appeared) seem...better built, or at least built to last longer than the newer ones.
But...such is with nearly all cars (not to downright say "literally all of them").
E38 BMW was made in the era of “the ultimate driving machine” then suddenly turbo cars became bastardised and BMW (along with other car manufacturers) is now in an advanced stage of amnesia.
Lol true 👍 I love NA engines . Got my e92 m3 with low miles and love it its been good to me and I take good care of it
Torque converter automatics are really amazing. Sure they might not be as quick but they are smooth and reliable.
At the age of 20 plus, they are not extremely reliable, even if maintained, but there is a lot worse out there when comes to automatics. Still, for reliability reasons I pick a manual when I can when comes to buying classic BMWs.
@@Anirossa The ZF torque converters are known for being exceptionally reliable. At least the ZF 6HP in my Jaguar is known for being very reliable as long as you change the transmission oil every now and then.
@@Punisher9419 I see, just had bigger issues with the 5HP-18 that's need replacing a few times
Love the ZF8 in my M140i, and I have every reason to trust it's reliability.
Really? I thought reliability wasn’t one of their strong points I suppose it depends on the manufacturer.
E38 with the sport package and black interior will forever be desired regardless of my wealth.
Agreed, I have both the blk in my M-Sport and the sand beige in the IL. The black looks timeless and the other doesn't age as well.
I can smell the leather true the screen , what a beauty and it seems well maintained
Yep, modern luxury cars should just be called technology cars instead
Thank you James. You get it! So many traditional media outlets and even some “influencer/entertainers” don’t. When compared to its intended function and customer base, it’s just right. That should be the true measure of a car.
My dad had one. Yes, quite a few hours were spent under it and a sizeable sum was paid for parts. This was expected and working on it brings both joy and frustration. Once sorted the car is absolutely fantastic. The power and the poise make long trips effortless. At 150km/hr the car isn't even breathing hard and you can just cruise (wherever such speeds are allowed)
The V12 was the best. Smoothest engine ever
A while back we had a client asking us to sell his e38 735i V8 manual for him. So they do exist actually. But I couldn't really see why. It was a wonderful car to drive, but all I could think while driving it was; this luxury experience needs a smooth autobox to make it complete. I wasn't the only one thinking it, because the thing was unsellable..
It still is one the most beautiful saloons ever build in my opinion. It really puts to shame the bmw designs of today..
Nice video! I have a 740i too with the same color combination and loving it. 438 000kms and still going strong
This e38 in the video had just 28,000 miles at time of shooting on October 19th 2020
Everything you said from 12:00 is exactly spot on 👏
BMW were the ones that helped usher in the era of the luxury SUV by introducing the X5 IN 1999. If only they knew how it would revolutionise the school run 20 years later!
Love my e38. Had two, still have one sitting in the garage.
I'm of the same mind, been driving an E38 for 16 years now and I've experienced the gamut of issues, I can assure you. Overall, I prefer this car on a road trip than anything else I've had. It has never let me stranded. These cars have maintainance requirements and as a knowledgeable owner over time, I'm willing to put up with it just to be able to drive this unique paen to automobile excellence.
Got to say, im in love with that interior, i think that those colors are probably the coolest for e38, i just love it.
Totally agree: a luxury car should be comfortable. I just got myself one of the most comfortable saloons of the 90's: a Citroen XM 2.5 Turbo diesel. Being an old French car it has its problems, yet drives great (the suspension system is overhauled). I love these big saloons and the BMW is one of the best and most stylish examples. Thanks for the video!
Love the E38. My friend has a 1996 740i unmolested version. Amazing car even for today's standard. Did a vid on it a while ago now.👍🏽
Very Nice car!
I do like the look of the older BMWs
We live in a world of slipping beauty standards, and BMWs are reflecting that change in society. The older BMWs were timelessly beautiful... like Grace Kelly's face.
One of the most iconic cars. Loved seeing Bond drive this round that car park remotely
As an owner of a 2001 740i msport, I aprove of this video.
As an owner of a 1995 540i6, 2001 540it and a 2002 X5 4.6is, I agree with most comments supporting the love for these classically beautiful cars
Just gotta love how massive the wheels on those cars actually are already. (a wise design choice too imo.. looks good.)
Yes. "Radial Styling 32". Best looking wheels on e39 and e38 IMO.
They would look small on modern 7 series, they're 18s.
We had the E38 as a 740d as a company car in the late 90ties. Wonderful. Not so pretty as the E32 (my thought, I never loved the blocky sills), but so comfy and relaxed to drive... One of the last of the Grand Routiers without any claim of sportiness (forget the SPORT button). It was used mostly between Hamburg and Berlin and I never complained to do this route in that silent but fast car. I would like to have one today but it would not fit in my garage (ok, it would, but than I could not open the door...).
Irony is the fact im going to be buying one of these as soon as i get back to the uk 🇬🇧
Thanks for another brilliant and useful video, your channel has been brilliant to watch
Liked before watching. The delivery of the content matching the smooth nature of the car. Best 7 generation.
To me the most iconic spec I would love is the James Bond spec in rare aspen silver
I'll bet the e38 is quieter than the Audi SUV.
Modern cars tend to have really bad tire noise when the asphalt is rough.
ehhhhhh, a brand new one maybe. Any E38 on the road today has a rattle or two. That BMW plastic doesn't hold up over time in some sections and the weather seals also will eventually deteriorate. I should know, I've been replacing mine lol
I own a 1995 E38 and, it's the only car I've owned that makes me look forward to a drive.
As I am now 67, I think that says something.
I have 2 now, the Vanos M-Sport and the 1998 IL and both have their distinct driving characteristics engine-wise. I like the IL better than it's contemporaries of its day but My M-Sport is amazing!
You’re spot on about luxury cars today. They are not luxury at all. I have a 2000 740iL and it’s a beautiful cruiser, so much so that my passengers often end up asleep! Much smoother than our new C300!
I went to Danmark in mine E38 728 i in september last year ,it sat at 130mph for hours in germany in the night the fuel was good as well at 42 mpg it was so quiet . it is so quiet . cost me £2,800 3 years ago .and its still so mint . glazier green ,its still mint now the 6 cylinder is the best engine 2.8 all day .
The thumbnail itself is a feast to behold. It looks so simple that its simplicity is enough to make it beautiful. A lot more beautiful than the nihilistic one of today.
Driving a 1995 E38 730i v8 with factory manual gearbox in the winters here in Estonia. Perfect luxury car for winter. Car has driven almost 300 000 miles with its original M60 engine and still goes strong.
Pizdec. Impressive.
Nice - on my second e38. Great car and cheap! Hard to find a good one now.....
Had 2 of these back in the day, Bought the last one new in 2001, changed from an S Class and this car was soooo much better to drive back then, and my wife preferred the ride to the Merc, she got less car sick. It is unobtrusive and so comfortable it ran me all over Europe for 3 years I put 140,000km on mine, added inexpensive Japanese After market TV/DVD screens in the back for the young kids. Never went back to BMW after this model because the new 7s were so damn ugly. Build quality was also light years ahead of the 5 series.
Still to this day imo, the best looking saloon/ sedan ever
I have a 1999 E38 740i, in metallic Orient blue, with the Sport package. The car has the same interior as the one Jay tested.
Mine is dechromed and, has the great looking parallel spoked M sport wheels.
I'm the 4th registered owner, having bought it from a good mate nearly 10 years ago.
He was a very accomplished engineer and lovingly looked after the car.
The car was orginally from Synters, in Nottingham and, they had ticked most of the extras boxes to showcase what could be specced for the car and was used as a demo.
The standout for me was the Alpina suspension upgrade, that gave the car a fabulous lowered stance.
A £69,000 car, in 1999, that I bought for £3000, in 2012.
The friend I bought it from lavished attention on the car during his ownership and, I have tried to do the same during my stewardship.
Cars can be very personal, emotional objects for owners and, the buying and costs involved in maintaining them can be based solely on those reasons.
There's over 160, 000 miles on the clock now and, a number of electrical gremlins have come and gone. The headliner is needing replacing now but, I try and fix the necessarys, to keep the wheels turning!
My friend had a mild tune done to the engine and, in Sport mode, the old girl can lift her skirts and get a bit of of a wriggle on.
I still get a buzz out of turning the key and settling in for a drive whether long or short.
Like others here, I have returned over 30 mpg on motorways and, considerably less around town!
That 4.4 litre engine is at it's happiest and, most frugal, at a steady 90 mph.
I've been from London to the Isle of Skye on one tank of petrol.
Just today, I filled up with Super unleaded ( at £1.70p a litre!) and saw I had 520 miles available to me on the readout.
Little things, like pressing the remote to unlock the car at night and seeing all the door handle lights slowly come to full brightness, make me smile.
Who's ever groped for their cars door handle, while trying to get in on a pitch black night, in the 90's?
It's things like that that make you love a car!
Yes. I have spent money on my motor and, will probably continue to do so.
Because, I think she's worth it. X
Honestly my most favorite car I have ever owned and I'm almost 40 years old was my 2000 740i w/M sport package... literally the pinnacle of BMW engineering.
The last of the true BMW’S magic!
Good video, by the way. I have been driving an E38 for 16 years now and I will always drive one until I pass. I currently have 2. My daily driver is a 2000 740i M-Sport, black on black w only 80k miles on it. I have an 1998 740IL in the garage for my 15 year old son to drive when legal w only 81 K miles on it. For safety, I don't have to worry about him getting T-boned, der panzerwagen will protect him. I marvel every day when I get in them to drive. Nothing better on the highway in my opinion.
With the sport transmission on the 740i M-Sport, it's sometimes nice to leave it in second gear for in town driving. Great acceleration when you need it...
@@photoviva8245 I put the transmission in Sport mode every time I get in it. Enjoy!
Your Chanel does not get the viewership it disserves, id offer you the once in a lifetime chance to drive my NB mx5 but I don't think it's quite cool and rare enough for this channel haha. In all seriousness I love your videos and keep up the good work
One of the best luxury car ever. You are also absolutely spot on regarding comfort and tire sizes... I love my E38 with its 16" wheels and /60 tires 😂
Now I'm on Bring A Trailer again.
Damn you man!
Bring a Trailer is just overpriced bullshit.
I'm a subscriber and every once in a while I forget to check for new videos or for some reason I'm not alerted for them which results in me forgetting your channel exist, until I search for some review on a car which is less than likely to be featured on a lot of the hype focused reviewers/influencers and there you go again with another cracking review of a brilliant example of the car that I wanted to see.
Another great review. I am glad I found your channel. I think the 90s are arguably the best era for cars.
What a great review. I loved the E38 when it came out in the mid 90s. As a man is his twenties at that time I eventually ended up with the next best thing (looks wise), the E36 3 series followed by an E39 5 series. 2 decades (and many modern BMWs later) I still lust after an E38 as a weekend touring car!
I will be keeping my E 38 forever.
I've never thought the e38 looks similar to the e32. They are distinctly different.
I wholeheartedly agree with anything you said in this car. This is true luxury, what people think of today is merely showing off with somebody else's money.
I live in Sweden and just love these videos you make. I am myself owner of five cars. Two Lincoln Continental Mark V Diamond Jubilee Editions, where one in Diamond blue colour is in perfect shape and one jubilee gold colour that is under restoration. I also own an Lincoln Continental Mark IV Bill Blass edition that is in close to mint. I am second owner. But now to the point about Bimmers. I have an 1998 E39 528 panamabrown that is really unusual and it is a shadowline. That car I just drive during winter. At summer I have my E38 740i. A car that have never seen winter roads. I bought it for over four yers ago for a huge amount of money. In english pounds 8500. Today I am offered 12.500 pounds to sell the car. It will never happen. I will not find a car like this again. Before I bought the car I checked the car about everything. The car has been storaged all winters, sold new in Sweden and got 85789 miles on. Now I have owned it for four years and the car has just passed 93200 miles. And that in 23 years. Welcome to Sweden and drive it. I will be your host. The car is in the color royalrot and have brand new M37 rims. How do I post aphoto?
The opening SUV shot had me worried and reaching for my sandals
Yes I had my sick bag at the ready
I dont ever want to have any other car. Im happy here
My favourite overall 7 series. This and the one before it, were amazing.
My parents purchased a 98 740iL back in 01, they loved the car and 8 years later purchased an 01 740iL to replace it. It's been a wonderful daily driver for them, they are still driving it today. It's amazing how many people compliment on the car. It's a looker, painted in royal red metallic.
i love it when i see how good the interior is, especially them seat so bulky and comfy
Had exactly this one in dark blue. Oh what a beauty it was. I was so proud. When I picked it up at the dealership, I took a detour. Drove through a forest and stopped at the side of the road, smoking a cigarette ( the good ole days) and just stood there admiring the car from ten feet away.
This car was built at the end of the era when BMW and Mercedes built cars to last. The focus then became on recyclability and the financialization of the German auto industry was born. This is a car you can actually do repairs on. DIY will soon be a thing of the past as there is little to no serviceability on new vehicles. Older vehicles like this are quite green indeed. Consider the energy and resources it takes to make a new car. Especially a new car that will ultimately be recycled...in the not too distant future.
I always love the landscape you drive through another great video.
i was very young when my grandpa had his last 750iL e38
the car was absolutely amazing
I would argue that the straight sixes are the most beautiful engines, so smooth and the sound !!! .......... whirrs and purrs; they sing to the red line vs quiet bass on the V8’s.
I started my fascination of BMWs with the V8s, e38 740iL and e39 M5. They were wonderful engines and never understood why people liked the I6s so much. Then one day I purchaseded a very beat up e36 328is and found out what everyone was on about. The BMW 6 cylinders are addictive to drive. They beg you to run up to the red line and are silky smooth while doing so. That beat up 328is convinced me that I needed to sell the M5 and buy an e36 M3.
@@johnpearson492 great story, we are all on a different journey. I originally had an E36 3.0 M3 and an E34 3.8 M5 in the 90’s. Both great engines with that hard edge that is addictive under acceleration. I’m guessing you’re American because you called the E36 iS. My favourite of all the BMW straight sixes is the 2.0 litre 24v 150 bhp which I don’t think was sold in the US. The small capacity makes it far and away the sweetest revving and it sounds the most musical. It doesn’t have the hard edge of the M cars, and the revs are much slower to fall off, but as an everyday car engine, it was one of my favourite ever. I had it in a few daily drivers including a Z3 and an E39 which for most people would have been too heavy a car for the engine, but I chose it with a manual because it was the nicest engine, and you were forced to use the use the gears and rev it through its range most of the time, which was a pleasure, though overtaking three or fours cars was always off the cards. People used to appreciate the charms of a straight six; so many British thoroughbreds used them, from Frazer Nash to Derby Bentleys, Jaguars and Astons. But few seem to to care today, capacity and power to weight seem to matter more and hardly anyone seems to have a musical ear. Many car exhausts it seems to me are tuned for loudness at every variable resulting in a blare rather than a tune much like the loudness wars in music mastering. A nice straight six, like the 90’s BMW’s gives you a bit of the V12 magic in a smaller physical and simpler engine. V8’s have their place of course, but to me they never quite have the same charm.
@@davidspropaganda You nailed it. I haven't driven a BMW 6 smaller than the 2.8 in the 328 but I agree it was actually much sweeter and more involving to drive compared to the bigger more powerful M3. It needed you to work for the power, not just rely on a big fat torque curve like most modern cars have.
Indeed you guessed correctly I am American, the smaller displacement variants didn't usually make their way here, with the smallest 6 cylinder being in the 325.
I'm just a fan of the I6, in a non BMW application, I had a Jeep Comanche with the phenomenal 4.0L I6, it wasn't a power house, more a low revving engine but it produced great quantities of silky smooth torque, and revved eagerly for such a larger heavy engine. I hope for all of us car lovers that like to be involved in driving, that there will always be a naturally aspirated 6 cylinder for us.
Best looking luxury sedan there is.
You have to keep up on maintenance, Also knowing how to do work yourself is a big plus.
I love my e38 and has never left me stranded..
I’ve owned four E38s in the past. Two 740s, a 750iL and a 728i Sport. Which did I think was best best as an every day car?
Well, the 750 was an amazing piece of engineering, really smooth engine and fast but way, way too thirsty for me to live with.
The 740s were fast as well and I could just about live with the mpg where on long runs 30 mpg was possible if I was careful.
However, the best as far as I was concerned was the genuine ‘Sport’ 728i. I didn’t believe it myself when people said it could do 38 mpg at motorway speed...but it could! It really wasn’t that slow once up and running and was very stable/reassuring at high speed due the Sport suspension.
I bought it with only 40k miles on the clock for £4K, drove it for 4 years to nearly 90k miles and still sold it for £3K.
That was my favourite E38 !
Thank. You. The truth Not a typical 728 basher. People overrate the 740i so damn much. Especially in the facebook groups for this car. Is the 740 huge difference in performace to the 728?
And what was the reliability and maintainence like on the 740i vs the 728?
@@djyems1021 The 740i is faster in a straight line. There is no doubt about that. But, in the real world, you can only use that performance difference under hard acceleration for a few seconds. Then, you have to back off either because of traffic or the road making it too dangerous or by which time you are massively breaking the law.
I won't say where (which country) I was but I was once very close to missing an air flight very early in the morning. In my 728i Sport I drove for over 30 mins at a sustained 125 mph. I would not have been able to drive any faster in one of the 740i that I had previously had.
I loved it when beemers were actually good Never buy or service at Sytner
The E-38 is the most beautiful BMW, ever. Even the current 7 series can't touch it.
I had an E38 1999 740i for about 10 years, it is a real classic. Double glased windows for soundproofing, a 4.4 V8 with a map controlled thermostat. It ran perfectly at 109 °C with no problem.
One of the few BMW models that I trully adore. Being said by an Audi fan.
Beautiful car although I don't trust any BMW V8 - N63 in particular 😂
I bought my 728 earlier this year and I love it! Lots of thumbs up a traffic lights, and I've already had two offers to buy it! I've always had old Saab 95's but saw this, and was very impressed with the look of it - Orient Blue over Cream. The build quality is excellent, the 2.8 engine is perfectly adequate for me, (I don't drive like an idiot), and the drive is superb. The only criticism is that the Sat Nav is visually less clear than cheap stick-on varieties....but then so are Saabs.
A lot of these cars have been 'got at', with tinted glass, outsized wheels, body kits etc. (Avoid) Look for fuel tank rot, (a bit tricky) and radiators leaking on the front R.H. side (fairly easy to replace with a relatively cheap plastic part). Apparently they eat tyres. Expect to pay £5,000+ for a good example. Predictably, try for a simple low mileage, with full history, and you should have no problems.
P.S. Bought mine from Paul @ Auto Classics, Northampton. He's a BMW nut and a good bloke. (There's one up there at the moment...looks good!)
totally agree .. if you want to waft about in luxury , a minimum 6 cylinders & traditional Auto-box is the way
Had three of them, two V12s and a 4.4 V8. Lovely things.
totally agree with this guy, one of best v8s in the world, I've driven 2001 740i for a while, in Los Angeles, it's mechanics car, n he still owns it with 150.000 miles approx. good car no doubt
Gorgeous car! People refer to them as a Bond car. You can't beat Frank Martin for me though. 👨✈️
Yeah before he started driving those passats with leather...
I remember when i was 18 and the look on the officers face after pulling me over seeing a small kid drive this behemoth around. I didnt understand at the time, but now i do based on the fact that this car commands presence and is more than just a car
You got me envious driving that enviable machine!
I know it is a year later since your video, but not long, South Africa must be a market from which my ownership of the brilliant E38 will come. Great video 📹!
Love that shape and plenty a good tune played on an old fiddle and will still be going when 95%of the Chelsea tractors are dead and buried look forward to more luxury videos 👍
One of my favourites .... thanks for posting.
id really love to see ur take on a Lexus LS 400 and see how you'd compare the two vehicles
Great video Jay, very much tomorrow never dies!
I would have to do something about the Japanese spec number plates which cheapen the look.
Old is Gold
Review more older cars mate! Loved this review.
omg ! the way you record your sound is brilliant, better than anyone
Thanks
Thanks for posting a review of this legendary car. However, the BMW E38 was also a technological marvel in its time, especially the 750IL. It was the world's first car to feature side curtain airbags and one of the world's first cars to feature a GPS satellite navigation system, among many other features. These were really some of the best-built cars of their time. Regards from a BMW L7 owner (750IXL)!
He said those things in the video
@@danjones6279 if he did, then that's good!
@@madhanaekanayake2187 maybe watch the video?
@@madhanaekanayake2187 maybe watch the video?
E38 - a stunning vehicle. Always wanted a 750iL
Yeah I agree one of the best looking BMW's. Personally I think its a tie between the E28 and this one.
Still one of my favorite daily drivers. A wonderful piece of auto over the years.
Brilliant review, my E38 was easily the best car I've every owned, fast comfortable luxurious really nice to drive and looked the part! Miss it dearly, definitely don't miss 13mpg!
Don't know what version E38 you had but having owned a 740i sport I get 18 on short journeys and at motorway speeds long distances will do over 30mpg...... I've had 2l petrol 4 cylinder cars doing not much more !
@@owenb1t5014 It was a low mile 735i! Was pretty good on the motorway but cold city driving it wouldn't drop or go above 13mpg, great car and worth every penny
@@owenb1t5014 Are you related to Boyd Beattie?
I had a 1996 750iL. One of the best cars I ever owned.
Love this 7 series. I have an E39 5 and love it.
Still as stunning today as it was when new. Beautiful car❤
my
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Relax.......
My father had an earlier '95 car with.. the 6 speed manual taken from the M5. Still the best looking 7 to date. Great review!! p.s it was a LHD car