In one of the first demonstrations of hands-free driving, a remote-controlled E38 BMW 750iL lit up the screen in Tomorrow Never Dies from the James Bond series. As iconic as this action scene was (see the video below), we guarantee you’ll have more fun driving the E38 yourself. This peak of the 7 Series nameplate had it all, from its near-perfect proportions to its posh interior, excellent performance, and tidy handling. It felt and looked lithe, whereas the Mercedes S-Class of the time – the overengineered W140 – was overly bulky and purely focused on occupant comfort.
The E38 had many new technologies, such as an integrated television and available curtain airbags, but it was nowhere near as mystifying to operate as its successor, the E65. The V8 and V12 engines were silky smooth, with well over 300 hp in the case of the V12 750iL. It was thirsty, though, and the V8 in the 740i was good enough that it made the V12 seem superfluous.
Like any big BMW, the E38 is expensive to maintain and won’t deliver Lexus LS-like reliability. Some fragile suspension components and timing chain failures for the V8 are among the issues owners faced, but when everything was working, it was a superb sedan.
Now that even the newest E38s are over 20 years old, you can pick up used examples for very little. This year already, we spotted a 2001 740i that sold for $20,500. Last year, a gorgeous Alpina B12 5.7 LWB went for $70k, but this is a much rarer E38.
