And we have a section dedicated to the German car. We will skip the three-pointed star from Stuttgart and focus on the Munich spinning propeller . But we'll go straight for a ride with the pinnacle of luxury, i.e. the 7th generation E38 series . And if you think it's not a legend, watch the Bond movie Tomorrow Never Dies , the first part of The Courier , the movie The Game or a Russian movie simply called Bavorák . And don't miss the short film Ambush from the BMW film series. When a car has the main role in four films and is also the car of Her Majesty's agent, then it is simply a legend.
The seventh series of the E38 generation was produced between 1994 and 2001, and a total of 340,242 cars were produced. In Germany, it was not produced in Munich, but in Dingolfing . In addition, it also left the gates of the factory in Toluca , Mexico. The appearance of one of the last BMWs with a moderate design was designed by Boyke Boyer , whose work was much remembered after Chris Bangle took over. Under the hood were inline six-cylinders , forked eight-cylinders and the top-of-the-line forked twelve-cylinder (it was also under the hood of the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph ). You could choose between a five- or six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic from ZF . However, the development of this generation began already in 1988. If you did not want a six-cylinder, you could also choose a version with a longer wheelbase, or even a real L7 limousine. Automatic xenons , a sound system with 14 speakers, 4 subwoofers and a 6 CD changer, satellite navigation , automatic two-zone air conditioning or an electrically adjustable driver's seat with three positions were a matter of course. In its final month on sale, the E38, clearing the way for its successor in 2001, saw record sales from customers unwilling to put up with the successor and its iDrive system.
Enough history, will I be like Pierce Brosnan , Clive Owen , or Jason Statham when I get behind the wheel? Well, I'd rather be myself, after all, not one of his E38s made it to the end of the movie intact. Which was a shame, because the E38, like the last BMW, has that wonderful shape with a low pontoon. Sure, the E39 hasn't been finished yet either, but it lacks the length that optically reduces the whole car. And I love the look, although die-hard BMW fans don't understand how I can prefer it to the E32 . It is quite possible that the influence of the mainstream and movies is also involved.
If I'm in the passenger seat, I can move it back enough to stretch my legs. Okay, I'll admit it's not the iL version, so no one will sit for me, but how many cars have you actually stretched your legs in? And I remember my 190 cm. The car is therefore amazingly comfortable , even for a normal sitting position. You can gently slide into the seats and feel comfortable in them like a large leather sofa. The softness directly pampers and spoils you. And it's unbelievably cozy here, mainly thanks to the low seating position and the high central tunnel. You will also find a phone in it, so you can practice scolding Helmut that he still hasn't delivered the foreign exchange statement for the last month to the director. They don't hug the seats so much in the back, but you won't feel cheated. It's also cozy here, the armrest cannot be missing, the belts wind up in the center of the seat, and you also have reading lights on the columns behind the head. That's when you go through piles of invoices and bills and check whether you'd rather fire your driver. And you know what? You should because it will make you lose the driving experience. And that would be quite a shame in the E38. All that remains is to move behind the beautifully thin multifunction steering wheel , adjust the mirror (by the way, it is very large and it displays the diodes from the parking sensor) and set off.
Don't expect Ferrari features, this is a German limousine and behaves like it. And what do we know about German limousines? That they are comfortable hybrids for autobahns, where they can quickly overcome distances of many kilometers, without in any way indicating a higher speed or tiring the owner. And the E38 is exactly like that, we'll just break it down more thoroughly because it's worth mentioning. Driving in it is amazingly calm , especially with the straight six. Its sound manifestation is ultumen. The parameters of the car's engine don't even allow you to crash into the seat. Nevertheless, the car reacts to stepping on the gas, only you can tell by the surrounding road, which moves to the rear-view mirrors much earlier. But so what, on a small country road, carousels with maringotka appear in front of us and the space to pass seems much narrower than the 1862 mm that our car has. Nothing happens, the car feels quite narrow, we enter smoothly and leave the swans behind. I just don't understand why the crew of the car waved at me like that, this is not a merry-go-round car after all… The road starts winding, but it has no effect on the calm behavior of the car. In the seventh row, you simply understand that this car is in a different class than a small three or a larger five . There are no leans (certainly also thanks to the great proportions), and BMW sticks to the chosen tracks with confidence. Trying to cause a skid seems like a blasphemous idea to me, so I'll focus on cracking another nut. If it's the weakest engine, shouldn't it be lazy and breathless? So far, the six-cylinder has not shown any problem with moving the 1.7 ton heavy car. On the contrary, the start was fast, almost imperceptible thanks to the car's calm demeanor, which distorted the impression. Today it may happen that you will not enjoy the car at all with the basic engine. However, BMW couldn't afford this for the 7 Series at the time, so you could buy a good car with a six-cylinder or a great car with a bigger engine. And I like it!
When it's time to park (I really don't get used to the handle on the pedal), I don't really want the seven. I don't see what I'd do with it, it's not suitable for racing, I don't tow trailers and I'd only drive air in it. But steering such a large, comfortable steamer along Czech roads has something to do with it. And you don't necessarily have to be an assassin, a secret agent or a courier.
##BMWAmbush##
Finally, we ask the owner a few questions:
Why did you choose this particular car, was it your long-term dream or a momentary decision?
It was a coincidence that it was in good condition for good money and met my criteria for a company car. I never liked the E38, but gradually I fell in love with it.
How hard was this car to get?
In good condition, it's a problem, there are clouds of wrecks .
How do you live with the car in normal traffic? And do you have it for pleasure or for daily use?
It's a company car.
What was the most interesting experience with your car?
Regular trips to Holland.
Are you planning any modifications or repairs on it?
At the moment the ABS is not working, which I plan to fix, otherwise nothing.
We thank the website Veteráni na Truc for arranging the test.
