Type plate not required
The BMW 7-series of the E38 generation is praised by many as one of the most beautiful sedans ever. The design was sleek, understated and timeless, but did you know that you can tell by the fog lamps which variant you have in front of you?
It is precisely the modesty of the 7-series from the 90s that makes it so beautiful in 2022. With the E38 you couldn’t really tell whether you were dealing with a modest 728i or a thick 740i, apart from the possible type plate. Top model 750i – with V12! – got a thin layer of chrome on the vertical bars of the grille, but to see that you also have to be in good hands.
There were never visible exhaust tips on this model from the factory. Instead, BMW hid the exhausts neatly on both sides behind the sleek, smooth rear bumper. Now compare that with the latest 7-series. The M760i stands out not only with the M Sport package, which is also available on the other versions, but also with a whole host of M logos, huge wheels, striking brake calipers and huge trapezoidal exhausts. Subtle, you know…
And yet … there was also a way to say something about the engine with an E38 without a type designation. For that we don’t have to look at the back, but at the front. More specifically to the fog lamps, which are hardly noticeable due to their location in the wide air slot in the bumper. With a 7-series on petrol, these lamps are a few centimeters wider than with the diesels, regardless of the type of power source or the year of manufacture. Undoubtedly this has to do with the available space, perhaps in the context of the turbo that the 725tds, 730d and 740d all have. If you now have an E38, you should therefore pay attention when replacing fog lamps: not everything fits! If you don’t have an E38, this information is of no use at all. Although it is a nice story of course.
Diesel
Petrol
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl