Last week, a 2001 BMW 750iL crossed the virtual block on Bring a Trailer in a no reserve auction. When the clock finally ran out — after 30 minutes of spirited back and forth bidding between two users — the car sold for the pricey sum of $61,000 (not including BaT’s buyer’s premium of 5% or $7,500). In today’s Market Monday, I take a look at the market for the BMW E38 7-series to see if this result is indicative of a shift in the market for the Bavarian luxury car.

The BMW E38 7-Series, produced from 1995 to 2001, was available in North America in multiple trims, including the 740i, 740iL, and 750iL. The 740i and 740iL were powered by a 4.4-liter V8 engine, producing 282 horsepower and 324 lb-ft of torque. The 740iL featured a longer wheelbase for added rear-seat legroom.

The flagship 750iL came equipped with a 5.4-liter V12 engine, delivering 322 horsepower and 361 lb-ft of torque. All models featured a 5-speed automatic transmission, and electronically adjustable suspension was standard on the V12 variant.

Throughout its production run, the E38 introduced various technology and luxury features, including options like GPS navigation, a premium sound system, and heated front and rear seats. Safety advancements included front and side airbags, traction control, and stability control.

In 1999, BMW introduced a facelift, bringing minor exterior updates and revised interior options. Additionally, a Protection model with enhanced armor was offered. The sport trim on the BMW E38 7-Series features a lowered suspension for improved handling and a more aggressive stance. It includes unique 18-inch wheels, shadowline exterior trim, and a three-spoke M steering wheel. Enhanced seats and firmer suspension tuning provide a more dynamic driving experience. Production concluded in 2001, making way for the succeeding E65 generation.

You can’t mention the E38 without noting its connection to the James Bond movie franchise. The car appeared as the British spy’s primary vehicle in the 1997 film Tomorrow Never Dies and got a significant portion of screen time relative to the previous BMW product placement vehicle, the Z3. A rather exciting chase scene in a parking garage showcased the car’s remote-controlled driving capabilities, rocket launchers, tire-popping caltrops, electrified alarm system and tear gas. Tomorrow Never Dies made this car cool for a lot of kids in the late 90s, myself included.

Looking at the data for the E38 market overall irregardless of model, the graph depicts a familiar line from 2020 through 2024, with a peak in values driven by the pandemic with a period of sharp decline in 2024 as the market corrected. Of interest is the dramatic increase in value for 2025. Are we seeing a shift in the market or is some other force at play?

In this case, the BMW 750iL sale mentioned in the introduction drove average values up dramatically, much higher than those sales realized over the previous 5 years. Unusual positive or negative sales results relative to the most commonly realized price are called “outliers.” There were 6 total sales of E38 cars tracked by Classic.com for the period, with just 3 BMW 750iL models sold in 2025. The small data set means the outlier’s impact isn’t softened by volume. 

Why did this car do so well? It’s not the lowest-mileage E38 to sell recently, and it’s not even the lowest-mileage 750iL to sell at auction in the last 5 years. Being a Sport model with the associated upgrades plus its color combo of black on black with Shadowline trim likely had much to do with it.

Values for all variants of the E38 BMW have seen values increase over the last 5 years, with the 740i and 750iL besting the performance of the 740iL. The E38 is a big car already, and the long wheelbase of the 740iL may make it less desirable among potential buyers.

“But, Sean…” you say, “…the 750iL is also a long-wheelbase car too, so why does it do so much better?” Values for the long-wheelbase V12 powered model of the E38 are likely driven by rarity and the desirability of owning a BMW with 12 pots under the hood.

Aside from the most recent outlier, which set a 5-year record for the sale of an E38 BMW at auction, the market for the E38 has mirrored the overall collector car market for the most part. It’s important to use broad market valuations for a particular platform and its models as a guide. Condition, provenance, specification (options) rarity, mileage and many more variables have a significant impact on value for a particular vehicle.

Just because you own a BMW 750iL, doesn’t mean you’ll realize the market’s most recent sale price. That said, if you have an identical car to the one that was recently sold, you may want to have it appraised by a professional to ensure you’re well covered by your insurance in the event of a loss.

Here is likely upside for the BMW E38 7-Series, however. As I wrote in my recent market update on the Ferrari Testarossa, the RAD-era market hasn’t peaked yet. If you want one of these cars, I doubt they’re going to get any cheaper, especially good condition cars.

After having seen Joe Kaminkow’s beautiful home-build Aston Martin DB5 James Bond gadget car at Amelia Island, I am jonesing quite hard to build a Tomorrow Never Dies 750iL Bond car. I’ll just need to find one in Alpine Silver with a black interior.

Have a great week, everyone!

Wolf and Mare provides car finding, appraisals, and auction services for buyers and sellers of collector European cars. If you’re interested in acquiring an overseas car, give us a call or drop a line!