BMW 7 Series (E38)

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 (through April 1990, taken over by Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle), 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 the scheduled start of production for 17 February 1994. Patents were later filed on 27 October 1993 in the United States. ==Production==

Production started on 23 July 1993 for pilot production models; US specification variants entered pre-series production on 13 January 1994. Series production of the 730i and 740i commenced in April 1994 for the June 1994 domestic German launch. US-specification cars entered production in September 1994, for their November 1994 launch. On 18 February 1994, the E38 BMW 7 Series was unveiled for the 1995 model year via a BMW press release. 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. 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 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 traction control, Dynamic Stability Control (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, electric driver's seat adjustment and electric steering wheel adjustment. Double glazed windows were available (called "dual pane glass"). Bullet-resistant glass was used for the Protection model, with even thicker glass used for the Security model. Some sports models also included a shorter differential ratio and higher stall speed for the torque converter. This allowed for a 0– acceleration time of 5.9 seconds. ==In-car electronics==

The E38 was one of the first European cars to be available with satellite navigation, a system called CARIN jointly developed by BMW and Philips. 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 model called the L7. The wheelbase 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 12-cylinder 750iL , 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. 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. A breathing air system is also available which delivers air from a cylinder in the trunk, 750hL On 11 May 2000, BMW presented a fleet of fifteen 750hL models 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 . During the Expo 2000 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 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. 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) 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, 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. 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 starring Pierce Brosnan. 1998 facelift The E38 facelift (also known as Life-Cycle Impulse) models were introduced in the 1999 model year (produced from September 1998). The major changes are: • Revised styling for headlights and taillights. • 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 becomes standard on all 7 Series models. • Head airbags become standard on all 7 Series models. File:BMW 750iL E38 (8656790744) (cropped).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 (LEV) designation. This system required the use of a two-battery system. This electric catalytic converter had been fitted since 1995 by Alpina 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 (called Active Cruise Control) became available as an option. 2001 • 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 or TimePort mobile phone, with BMW Assist telemetry system. ==In popular culture==

In the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, the 16 E38 cars used during production were modified so they could be driven from the backseat, making it appear that Bond actor Pierce Brosnan 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 the 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. 2002’s The Transporter starred the 1995 E38 735i as co-star to Jason Statham. Rapper Tupac Shakur and Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight were gunned down in a black 1996 750iL. Shakur succumbed to his injuries but the car itself later was bid at auction in Las Vegas, Nevada, for $1,750,000. In the Russian cult classic road movie Bimmer, a 750i E38 BMW was used as the main vehicle. ==References==