Difference between E38's by year

[cam540]

A friend is looking for a E38 7 series and he would like to know what the difference is by each year, does anyone know?

uhh i know that clears and nicer rims were added for 2001 (last year)....woobiee's mom has a 7 from the first year they were made.....maybe he would know

[LowTech]

From another forum:

And here are some differences in model years as the E38 evolved:

1996
New 4.4 liter engine. Horsepower remained the same but torque went up from 295@4500 rpm to 310@3900 rpm. Standard steel sunroof changed, glass moon roof instead.

1997
Side impact airbags standard for front seat passengers. Navigation system became available but fitted into few cars.

1998
DSC became standard. HPS head airbags also standard and rear-seat side airbags optional. Navigation system more available. New AC control panel as well (although this was retrofitted to many pre-98 cars).

1999
Mild face-lift with scalloped headlights, crystallized tail lamps, door scoop illumination, and chrome strip on the trunk. The 4.4 liter engine receives VANOS variable valve timing and torque rises from 310 to 324. Updated side skirts without the round hole plugs for the jack. Sport package consisting of 18-inch rims, blackout trim, lower gear ratio, and vavona redwood interior trim became available on the 740i.

2000
Features as standard that were options before. Xenon lights, rain sensing wipers, headlight washer nozzles, Navigation, DSP stereo with cassette in the dash and 6 disk changer in the trunk. Sport package became available on 740iL/750iL models, sans the lower gearing.

2001
For the last year, they added body colored side skirts, and front and rear air dams (all were black until 2001) and crystal clear turn signals. Features as standard that were options before, Star tac phone with mayday system, 16 way comfort seats. After 9/00 production they changed to a wide navigation screen.

[L337E46]

Originally posted by LowTech@Jun 15 2003, 06:17 PM
From another forum:

And here are some differences in model years as the E38 evolved:

1996
New 4.4 liter engine. Horsepower remained the same but torque went up from 295@4500 rpm to 310@3900 rpm. Standard steel sunroof changed, glass moon roof instead.

1997
Side impact airbags standard for front seat passengers. Navigation system became available but fitted into few cars.

1998
DSC became standard. HPS head airbags also standard and rear-seat side airbags optional. Navigation system more available. New AC control panel as well (although this was retrofitted to many pre-98 cars).

1999
Mild face-lift with scalloped headlights, crystallized tail lamps, door scoop illumination, and chrome strip on the trunk. The 4.4 liter engine receives VANOS variable valve timing and torque rises from 310 to 324. Updated side skirts without the round hole plugs for the jack. Sport package consisting of 18-inch rims, blackout trim, lower gear ratio, and vavona redwood interior trim became available on the 740i.

2000
Features as standard that were options before. Xenon lights, rain sensing wipers, headlight washer nozzles, Navigation, DSP stereo with cassette in the dash and 6 disk changer in the trunk. Sport package became available on 740iL/750iL models, sans the lower gearing.

2001
For the last year, they added body colored side skirts, and front and rear air dams (all were black until 2001) and crystal clear turn signals. Features as standard that were options before, Star tac phone with mayday system, 16 way comfort seats. After 9/00 production they changed to a wide navigation screen.

, thanks lowtech!

[L337E46]

Originally posted by SpeedsterBMW@Jun 15 2003, 06:51 PM
, thanks lowtech!

yes thanks

[MrM3]

i thought they started in 1994 as a 1995 model but good info Lowtech also i think GPS first became an option in 1997, and the ppl who opted for it got a special 'illegal' feature where you could watch TV on the NAV screen while driving. this was only in 97 tho, and it mightve been disabled from the dealership when it was new, but it still has a built in TV tuner and a icon on the Menu screen so i'm sure activation is very simple and wouldnt cost you anything :P B)

they did, nothing changed till 96!

[L337E46]

Originally posted by SpeedsterBMW@Jun 15 2003, 06:54 PM
they did, nothing changed till 96!

Originally posted by L337E46+Jun 15 2003, 10:55 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (L337E46 @ Jun 15 2003, 10:55 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin--SpeedsterBMW@Jun 15 2003, 06:54 PM
they did, nothing changed till 96!

[/b][/quote]
please stop...its really gettin annoying

[L337E46]

Originally posted by SpeedsterBMW+Jun 15 2003, 06:56 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (SpeedsterBMW @ Jun 15 2003, 06:56 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>

please stop...its really gettin annoying [/b][/quote]
perdoname

[cam540]

Thanks!

[BlackTape]

2001 750il is my favorite 7 EVER the protection edition which my friends dad has bullet resistant windows and the car pulls like a TRAIN.

I would love one day to have a 2001 750 and put 20" Hamman HM1's and a nice exhaust with
a mad sound system... That is one SICK car