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Photos:
FOTO: BMW
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BMW 7 E38
BMW 7 E38
The E38 generation (1995-2001) had a five-speed automatic or manual transmission. The engine variants in Europe were 725tds, 728i, 730i, 730d, 735i, 740i (4.0 and 4.4 L), 740d and 750i (with a 5.4 L 322 bhp engine, as was used in the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
).
In the Americas, the models were sold as the 740i, 740iL and 750iL. The 740i and 740iL share the same 4.4 L V8 engine. The 740iL is essentially a long-body 740i (hence the "L" in the model name). The considerably rarer 5.4 L V12-powered 750iL was only available as a long-body; there was no E38 750i in the US lineup. The 750iL was BMW's flagship sedan.
A performance-enhancing sport package was available in the 740i as well; cars with this package are called the 740i Sport. A separate sport package was finally offered in the 740iL and 750iL in 2001, the final year of E38 production.
Features of the E38 7 Series included high-pressure headlight washers, auto-leveling Xenon low-beam headlamps, power moonroof, a six-CD changer with 14 speakers and four subwoofers, onboard navigation and rain-sensing wipers. Other features included an automatic climate control system with full left/right controls and a luxury seating packing that featured the Active Seat, an innovation in which a pair of bladders installed beneath the seatraise and lower the hips from left to right in order to impart a walking motion to the hips and lower back. The seat also included a 3-position memory system for the driver's seat, safety-belt height, steering wheel and outside mirrors. Front side airbags and a Head Protection System (HPS) were also standard. The car featured an all-leather interior with burl walnut trim.
The 5-speed automatic transmission came with Adaptive Transmission Control, Sport and Manual modes for responsive handling.
The base prices in 2001 were US$62,900 for the 740i, US$66,900 for the 740iL and US$92,100 for the 750iL.
740iL and 750iL Protection Line light-armored vehicles were built from 2000-2001, and cost US$99,100 and US$124,400, respectively. These models included body armor, bullet-resistant glass and run-flat tires (probably modeled after the 750i featured in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies).
A rare executive V12-powered stretch limousine was also produced, called the BMW L7.
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