BMW E38 740i Review - What Does Real Luxury Mean in a Car? 

One of the best looking cars they ever made.

Isn't that 7 series design just the most timeless shape ever? Still looks great!

Bmw at its peak. The e46, e39 and e38 were bmw at its very best. Stunning lines and proportions that still stand up today

This classic design trumps everything BMW has to offer today...IMO

The E38 is a fabulous machine in looks and quality and is everything a BMW should be. Incredible value with any engine.

So much more elegant than that HIDEOUS Audi you had at the start.

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.

Best looking 7 series ever. F01 owner.

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.

E38 with the sport package and black interior will forever be desired regardless of my wealth.

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.

Of course it's a Japanse import. Immaculate.

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

Yep, modern luxury cars should just be called technology cars instead

Torque converter automatics are really amazing. Sure they might not be as quick but they are smooth and reliable.

I can smell the leather true the screen , what a beauty and it seems well maintained

Love my e38. Had two, still have one sitting in the garage.

The E38 V8 is great but the V12 is at another level, it sounds and feels so good.

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..

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.

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)

Another great review. I am glad I found your channel. I think the 90s are arguably the best era for cars.

I always love the landscape you drive through another great video.

The V12 was the best. Smoothest engine ever

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.

Still to this day imo, the best looking saloon/ sedan ever

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!

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.👍🏽

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...).

Got to say, im in love with that interior, i think that those colors are probably the coolest for e38, i just love it.

One of the most iconic cars. Loved seeing Bond drive this round that car park remotely

I do like the look of the older BMWs

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!

The opening SUV shot had me worried and reaching for my sandals

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 📹!

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

I've never thought the e38 looks similar to the e32. They are distinctly different.

Liked before watching. The delivery of the content matching the smooth nature of the car. Best 7 generation.

One of my favourites .... thanks for posting.

Nice - on my second e38. Great car and cheap! Hard to find a good one now.....

Nice video! I have a 740i too with the same color combination and loving it. 438 000kms and still going strong

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

Review more older cars mate! Loved this review.

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!

I will be keeping my E 38 forever.

Now I'm on Bring A Trailer again. Damn you man!

Just gotta love how massive the wheels on those cars actually are already. (a wise design choice too imo.. looks good.)

My favourite overall 7 series. This and the one before it, were amazing.

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.

Great video Jay, very much tomorrow never dies!

Brilliant review 👍😎

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.

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 was very young when my grandpa had his last 750iL e38 the car was absolutely amazing

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.

omg ! the way you record your sound is brilliant, better than anyone

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

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

The E-38 is the most beautiful BMW, ever. Even the current 7 series can't touch it.

I dont ever want to have any other car. Im happy here

I adore my e39 540i with the same powerplant from the same year - ADORE

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

Had three of them, two V12s and a 4.4 V8. Lovely things.

I very nearly bought a 735i but opted for an S60 T5 instead. Always have loved the chiseled shape of these. I have a W220 S class now, but do still fancy one of these.

Cheers. Nailed it again.

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.

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 😂

Hi Jay, great analysis as always. In 2003 I had, for a short time, a 4.0 V8 740i auto and didn't really get on with it. In my opinion big luxury cars should have sufficient torque so that progress is effortless. I found with the 4.0 engine things didn't wake up until after 4-4500 rpm. Moved onto an S-type 4.2 which I loved the look of, but sadly lacking below 4000 rpm and somewhat harsh above it.

The Vauxhall omega in elite spec was a very good car too , my grandfather had many omegas. My favourite was a black 2002 2.6 v6 elite, an ex ministers car. I owned a vectra gsi 2.6 v6 which had the same engine, that was a nice car also.👍👌

Interesting point on the jaguar three speed - the V12 XJR-S with that gearbox apparently ran rings around the then new 928 when tested by Evo!

id really love to see ur take on a Lexus LS 400 and see how you'd compare the two vehicles

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.

Love this 7 series. I have an E39 5 and love it.

Beautiful cars one of best looking and my favourite bmw classic especially in individual spec and both silver & the rarer hellrot red colour👌

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.

totally agree .. if you want to waft about in luxury , a minimum 6 cylinders & traditional Auto-box is the way

Beautiful car although I don't trust any BMW V8 - N63 in particular 😂

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.

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!

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 👍

This is one of the nicest taxi's I've ever driven in - in Krakow Poland, where you can also find old Audi A8, Volga GAZ 24 and cars alike as cheap taxi

E38 did have, purple and calypsorot metallic. Those had really much options for outside and inside color. The dark brown interrior is best and I love calypsorot metallic outside color. I hope to find someday mint calypsorot again.

Nice, I have an e46 330ci with the exact same interior materials/trim combination and I always think it looks and feels really classy. But it's Steel Blue Metallic on the outside with the more rare posh wheels and body kit, not the tacky M Sport stuff, still a real head turner to this day.

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.

Still one of my favorite daily drivers. A wonderful piece of auto over the years.

I loved it when beemers were actually good Never buy or service at Sytner

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.

Gorgeous car! People refer to them as a Bond car. You can't beat Frank Martin for me though. 👨‍✈️

Brilliant review of a brilliant car, this is certainly still a great looking car, I am sure that these will live on with care for many years to come. Well done on this and these are so very much better on the eye than the new huge ugly grille ones! Thanks for this, great channel.

The last of the true BMW’S magic!

It's got the after market stereo that looks like the original from the later 2000 - 2001 models, it's got freeview TV nowadays. It's a nice upgrade.

Beautiful, classy lines.

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.

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..

Pre-facelift and clean! Great car

One of the few BMW models that I trully adore. Being said by an Audi fan.

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!

Good review.

E38 - a stunning vehicle. Always wanted a 750iL