A wondrous white BMW 740iL, seen in the far east of Beijing in 2013. The big Bimmer was a bit dusty but otherwise in a very fine shape. It is always great to see one of the greatest German limousines ever on the road in China.
The third generation E38 BMW 7 Series was made from 1994 until 2001. The L was the long-wheelbase version, stretched in the middle by 140 millimeter to 3070 millimeter. The 740iL was powered by a 4.4 liter naturally aspirated V8 engine with an output of 282 hp and 440 Nm. The motor was mated to a 5-speed automatic.
The E38 BMW 7 Series was not officially sold in China but quite a lot cars arrived via the gray market and other misty channels. BMW only started officially selling the 7 Series in 2004 (E65).
The interior was in a similar shape as the exterior, with luxurious beige leather and brown wood panels on the center tunnel. But the best part was:
The original car phone! These phones are rarely functional these days because everybody has a mobile phone or two. I have seen lots of E38’s with the phone removed and likely thrown in the garbage bin, but in this car it still sits in its original holder in the center armrest. The phone alone has museum quality!
The E38 was probably the best looking 7 Series BMW has ever made, and will ever make. Current safety regulations no longer allow a bonnet so low, and current designers lost all their creativity by drinking too much carrot juice and such shit like. What a beautiful car, even the alloys are a work of pure industrial art.
May we remember the E38, and may this white one ride the streets of the Chinese capital for a many years more.
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