740i vs 740il

[Bluesman]

whats the difference between the two? I have to get an automatic for my wife and I am going to trade my 3 e28 535is and I already have an e34 and e39 I want an e38. Somehow the 740i seems sexier than a 740il am I crazy or what.

[jmbinion]

i know that the 740il has a longer wheel base than the 740i. other than that im not sure what is different

[pizzaman09]

The difference is the 740iL is 5.5 inches longer than the 740i. All 5.5 inches go to rear passenger leg room.

It is a heated debate but is would seem to me that people think the extra long side profile of the iL is sexier than the squished looking i. At least this is my opinion after owning two 740iLs.
Look at the pictures thread at the top of the e38 forum to see for yourself.

[Edwin NL]

If the I is a sport it also has a other diff (3.15 vs 2.86 for the IL) so it's quicker off the line

[Dylans3960ccs]

I don't like the 740i because: I don't like people hitting the back of my seat claiming that they have no room, they are typically more optioned out with things like: heated seats, window shades, and other things, and one of the main reasons I don't like it is because it looks too much like a crown victoria with it's "squished" rear window and that's just unacceptable when your older brother drive one, then again, maybe it's just me.

here's pics of them both



but they have an their own appeal

[Se73n]

Get an I, I have an iL and I wish I got an I, but don't get me wrong iL's are sexy.

[tommyb2b]

It really depends on what your looking for and what your budget is. If you want something more performance oriented get a 740I shorty sporty! That is if your budget warrants such a purchase because the sports are usually more expensive. If your going to be hauling people around get an IL! I have an IL and every time someone gets in the back they are blown away at the rear leg room! I always have like 7 people loaded up in my car so the IL is perfect

[sealbeach740]

I always have like 7 people loaded up in my car so the IL is perfect

7 people?? 2 in the front, 3 in the back, and what, the other 2 in the trunk?

[DriftGirl]

IL FTW

If u want a fast / short 4dr....get an M5

[2000bmwe38]

Il il il il il il il il no questions!!!!!

[grkman1]

To me the i as compared to the iL, if looked upon fast, even the newer ones look like a 5 series, while the iL definitely has a place of its own.

We took some friends to dinner this weekend, and when they got in the back seat of my iL, they just couldnt stop talking about how they had not been in a car with such a large back seat for years, and I said how nice it was to have people in the back wtihout having to pull the seat up for them.

I like my iL, and of course with the longer wheelbase you do get a smoother ride. The difference in performance is nil between the two even if its the sport vs the regular one, and I also like the idea of the better gas mileage. My 2 cents anyway. You have to decide based upon your personal preference. Good Luck

[farazl]

Only major difference is length UNLESS you get the Sport package which is purely cosmetic on the IL but on the i you get steptronic, 3.15 differential, higher stall speed torque converter, different gearing, lower front stance, stiffer suspension, Sport seats and....10-15 percent lower fuel economy.

[smackin]

I've changed my position on the 740i. I used to think, if you want a sporty ride and don't care about rear seat room, why not get a 5 series? Now, that I've spent some time in 5's, the front area is more luxurious in the 7. If you want that feeling up front but don't need the rear legroom, I think the 740i is a valid choice.

[mojocoggo]

This is the only reply anyone needs to read.

There is literally no difference except for the extra rear legroom of the iL. The sport vs. non-sport debate is irrelevant because it's just an appearance package. And not a single one of you can tell me that steptronic or a shorter differential, or a quarter inch lower ride height (which all of your cars have anyway due to blown shocks) is going to effect your lap times on the Nürburgring.

There is no point in getting the short wheelbase, unless you prefer its looks. They're the same car, neither is faster or handles better. If you're getting a huge pig fat disgusting 7 series, you might as well get the big one.

tl;dr: iL 7 series is best 7 series.

[Splitdog]

IL FTW

If u want a fast / short 4dr....get an M5

Exactly.

[paulmer]

iL is best, obviously. The lines on the SWB cars just look awkward, the LWB is just more natural. What's the point in going with a 7er if you want a short one?

[Jaaap]

The iL is so much more good looking than the i.

[neep8]

Gees, everyone always hates on the I's lol. Truth is the I Sport is a little faster, and the IL has more leg room in the back. If you want something more sporty get the I Sport, if you have kids or always have people in the back seat get the IL. Both are nice, but its really depends on what you want. This has been an sibling argument for some time now, and I am not one of those people that hates on either one of the 7's. I will tell you though the the whole "if you want a 4 door sporty or fast car get a 5 series" is crap. The 740i is a whole lot nicer and has more room. Just my opinion though.

[98blk740i]

I like them both. Living in the city, the i parks on the street and cuts turns a little better for me. I would appreciate the length of the iL more if it split the extra 5.5" between the back seat and the trunk.

[paulmer]

5 inches isn't going to make any difference parking..

[iDreadnaught]

Somehow the 740i seems sexier than a 740il am I crazy or what.

Nope, your not crazy at all bro

See now, some of you are going to make me have to defend my shorty
From someone that has driven both sport/non-sport, I prefer the sports ride to the non-sport. I also prefer my suspension to the SLS that was standard in most of the iL's around here when I was shopping.

It seems the e-haters towards i's only exist online and base their opinion on a drive in a poorly maintained i-sport. Two iL friend's have driven my car and said "I'll trade ya" after giving me back my keys. In the end, that feels better for me to hear than compliments about rear leg room. I'm a driver, not a rider. When it comes to speed, yeah the i is a "little" faster than the iL but the over ride feels more than a "little" better to me.

I read somewhere that a loaded iL had about 300lbs on an i (someone correct me if I'm wrong, I can't find the source). I live in Florida and don't need heated seats/steering wheel, and a lot of the options just don't appeal to me. Massaging seats would be nice but I don't have that either. I don't sit in the back seat so the rear legroom isn't a factor for me. The peeps that I haul around don't complain about leg room (it's a 7, not a civic people, seriously) although I don't exactly get the praise about space in the back that I would in an iL. But that's not my concern.

Basically this is an argument about personal preference. Define better? More options? Faster? The market value comparison of these cars with their different trims/options offered speaks louder than the personal opinions thrown around here. Choose which you prefer and in the end you'll be happy, which is the most important. I see the 740i sport as a rare, special car, and it took me much longer to find one than it would have taken to go and pickup one of the many iL's available around here.

And about the whole "if you want fast, get a different/smaller car" thing. I want a faster e38 ok?

The OP is trading in e28 535i's, either way is an upgrade and his wife would be more than pleased.

BTW If anyone with an iL will be in central FL anytime soon and want's to head to the track, by all means, let's go!

All that being said, sport vs non-sport/i vs iL, they are all great cars. Just adding some much needed dynamic to this conversation.

~Ed

[SEVEN40iL]

IL FTW

If u want a fast / short 4dr....get an M5

tl;dr: iL 7 series is best 7 series.

iL = Boss Status

[Loeborg]

I like my shorty. I'm usually the only one in it so the 5+ inches don't matter to me. I personally think it looks a little sportier. I used to own a 2 door Civic Hatchback with no A/C and I loved that car so it doesn't take a lot to make me happy.

[LasVegasE38]

iL all the way! With my seat all the way back and reclined pretty far, (i'm 6'4") even I can sit comfortably in the rear seat with plenty of legroom to spare. Plus, only the iL's came with the footrests I believe. (I could be wrong about that)

[GSXRliterbikz]

IL FTW. Chicks dig the long "wheelbase"