The E38 BMW 7-Series made its debut in 1994 and was, quite simply, peak BMW. Considered one of the last of the elegantly styled BMWs, before the brand adopted the ‘flame’ surface styling, the 7-Series served as the flagship saloon throughout the decade. It stood out from its main competitors, gaining a reputation as a genuine driver’s car that adopted a more agile approach to road holding, offering perfectly weighted steering and a series of tremendous engines. When new, the car was lauded as one of the best luxury cars you could buy. To give you an idea of just how right BMW got things with the E38, sales actually went up when the model was discontinued. People flocked to get it before its somewhat more ungainly replacement rolled out of the factory. It was and still is a fiercely handsome car, but one with excellent driving dynamics and if looked after, bulletproof reliability.
This carefully maintained 730i has thousands of pounds worth of paperwork, full service history and evidence of a cherished lifestyle, with just two owners documented on the V5. These underrated, talented cars are one of the best-kept secrets on the market. Designed during a period prior to the overly dependent drivers aids and iDrive systems, the car maintains a happy balance of old-school excitement and modern dynamics. And the time to buy one is now. Clean, cared for cars like this example are getting increasingly hard to find and as such, prices are on the up. This 730i, with no reserve, could be your way into a sought-after club.
The first owner bought the car new from the BMW Coopers in Cobham and kept the car for 4 years. It was then sold to the current owner’s partner’s father, who maintained the dealer service schedule and took the time to document the work, repairs and spending of the car during his 17-year ownership. A quick glance over the paperwork shows at least £10K worth of expenses covering engine repair, radiators, tyres, suspension and servicing during his ownership. It has lived a life of privilege, wanting for nothing.
The car was then passed in late 2016 to the current owner, who has used it mostly as a leisure car, covering around 5K over 4 years. Such sparing use has resulted in a veritable time capsule of a car. A wheeled salute to how good BMW had it in 1995. Relocation to London, resulting in reduced use and the loss of covered storage, is the reason for its sale. The owner has stated that they would actively seek another example when the time is right and mentioned that he will miss the effortless power of the V8, BMW’s impeccable build quality and sumptuous interior. This is not a car being sold for gain, nor for a change into something else. It's being sold to ensure it lives on in the fashion it has become accustomed.
The car has a stack of carefully organised paperwork and has seen a fair amount of attention during the 4 years under the current owner’s possession. This includes invoices to support the fitting of a new catalytic converter and lambda sensor, work to both the front and rear suspension, a head gasket and rocker cover leak fix, a new battery and a recent health check with its latest service.
Prior to the work from its current owner, the previous two owners kept on top of the maintenance, with BMW service history, old MOTs and documented paperwork. It comes with a full service history, 14 BMW Service stamps and paperwork from a BMW specialist thereafter. The car has two keys as well as its original service book and owner’s manuals. The MOT is valid until September 2021.
The interior is striking with its combination of blue leather and contrasting polished burr walnut trim. BMW designed the E38 as a driver’s car, not just in terms of mechanical competence but also their driver-focused cabin design. The well laid out interior is a masterclass in ergonomics. The seats are in very good condition, with hardly a sign of wear or damage. The carpets, too, with the mats retaining their originality. This is a twenty-six year-old car, but slide into this cocoon of leather and wood and you wouldn't know it. It could be 1995 all over again, you just need a Filofax and Psion palm computer in the flocked glovebox! It's a simple, elegant, unfussy cabin that still fells fresh and tight. No bumps, no rattles, no missing or damage trim. It is exceptional.
The dashboard and facia are in good order, with minimal evidence of age. The instruments, dials, controls and switches are in good condition and all are functional, although the milometer digital reading is slightly corrupted. It's a common issue for pixels in this unit to 'die'. Its unfortunate, but there are specialists out there who can remedy this should you wish. The electric windows and sunroof perform as they should, with smooth and silent operation. The burr walnut finish has retained its lustre throughout and the door cards are in very presentable condition with no scuffs or damage.
The headlining is rip-free, although the rear section is sagging slightly. The steering wheel and gearstick are in good condition and fall to hand just as well in 2021 as they did for that excited first owner in 1995. All four door foot plates are in good condition with no unsightly scuffing. The boot is in good condition and is free from evidence of rough use. The tool kit is complete too, which is a rare find in and of itself.
First impressions of the car suggest a careful ownership profile, with even panel fit, equal panel gaps and no signs of damage. There are no significant dents or scuffs observed on the panel work and no signs of corrosion developing on the body panels.
The doors all open and close with no obstruction and maintain that reassuring feeling of solidity when you shut the door. Structurally the car is in very good condition, with the engine bay, sills, arches, inner wings, door frames and boot well in decent order. The floor pan is solid, with the tops of the suspension mounts looking good.
The paint has been well preserved, with an even coverage and no signs of overspray or poor repair.
The bonnet and front edge of the wings have a small collection of stone chips, a few have been touched up. None of the exposed chips has penetrated the metal, meaning no corrosion to worry about. Again, it's evidence of how well it's been looked after - these chips have been treated in an instant. There are a handful of blemishes, such as a little lacquer damage in places, with the odd minor scratch of the paintwork. But it’s generally free from damage. The boot edge shows a small number of touch up paint dabs too, but the rest of the door edges are free from paint damage. Let's not ignore than this car has done over 100,000 miles of driving. It's picked up some life in that time, and that's okay. Nothing here, as you can see from the pictures, detracts from the overall impressive way in which this E38 carries itself.
The alloy wheels, which are in good condition, are straight and look more than presentable, with only minor signs of kerb scuffs. The Goodyear tyres are in decent condition and well within the limits of legal tread and are all under 10 years old. The spare has never been used.
The bumpers are in good condition, with a little damage to the chrome embellishment and the odd minor scuff observed on the front item. The edges of the windscreen display a little laminate damage, but all the glass is in good condition with no chips or unsightly scratches.
The door seals are in good condition but the gutter rubber seal shows signs of perishing, with the door glass rubber showing similar signs of wear. The body trim is in good condition, with no significant issues, but while the rear lights are in good condition, there are signs of condensation inside the lens, which may suggest a crack or perished seal. If you truly are fastidious about these things, they're all still available from BMW directly. However, what's there now doesn't impact the function of the car at all.
The M60 3.0-litre V8 engine started without hesitation, with no unwanted noises or ticking coming from the engine, with no erratic idling or excess smoke. Once the engine got up to temperature, the exhaust condensation dissipated quickly. The brakes perform well and the steering operates seamlessly and quietly. The BMW’s cosseting ride is maintained by the decent damping and suspension which are said not to emit any unwanted noises when the car is in motion. There's no 'shimmy' either, which the E38 can fall victim of.
The engine presentation is good, with a clean engine bay and evidence of regular maintenance. The exhausts are in good condition, with no signs of leaks or damage. The cooling system is said to be fully functional and the car doesn't overheat, with the radiator appearing to be in decent condition. The automatic gearbox functions well with no reported slippage, just silky smooth changes as you press on.
It's a a torquey, powerful engine with an impressively smooth automatic transmission bolted to the back of it. As such, this E38 is a joy to pilot. It glides along the road with seemingly unending pace. The cabin is whisper quiet, even on the move. Sportier models with their big alloys and low-profile tyres look good, but they lose what this car has in terms of comfort. Yet, because of the effort that was put into the chassis design, it's still a fun old thing to thread through the bends. It's a car for the driver as much as the passengers.
The E38 represents astonishing value for money – but like all quality products, you need to keep on top of the maintenance. This car is set up for you in that respect. You're not bidding on a car that needs work, or that has potential hidden issues. Instead, you're bidding on a car that has been cared for, a car that has been on the receiving end of unlimited attention. If you want one, it's this one. It has to be. So few have been cared for like this.
It is more than a generously equipped luxury car with an opulent interior – it offers almost everything one will ever need in a car. With this benchmark luxury car, BMW forced its rivals to ditch the lumbering executive car template and adopt BMW’s perfect balance of style, comfort, driving experience and pace. For these reasons, a well-maintained example, such as this, is not something you want to miss out on. Come on, it's no reserve, you could bag yourself an incredible bargain that will make the neighbours think your numbers have come in. Class, as they say, never goes out of style...
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NO RESERVE! - 1995 E38 BMW 730i
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