E38 future classics?

[kkingsley930]

Do yall think they are future classics or do you think they are doomed for extinction with the common problems/cost of repairs that comes with them?

[pizzaman09]

I feel like low mileage good condition ones will be classics. Kind of like how the 1980's Mercedes are classics.

The timeless design of the e38 already makes it a bit of a modern classic.

[shanecarmaster1]

Future classics may be pushing a little too far, but definitely a sweet spot for luxury barges and the best of the BMW's. I actually wonder about how many problems these cars have and if we'll ever run out of parts one day. lol

[Trasportador]

I think a highline 750 will end up being a full fledged classic, due to it's rarity. 10 years from now, folks will still be looking at these e38's as the 'golden' age of luxury and 'reliability'...

[Playdrv4me]

While I too think it's a stretch to consider these as future classics, I will say that I find it fascinating how much the enthusiast community for 1980s to early 2000s BMWs has swelled. The E30, E31, E34, E38 and E46 were the absolute pinnacle for BMW in my opinion. And unlike many other car brands, I've also noticed that owners of this sub-area of BMWs don't typically find themselves connected to the contemporary BMW as it stands anymore. I know I certainly don't look forward to any modern BMW product releases at this point. The new 3 Series is a step in the right direction, but recapturing the magic of that 20 year timespan will be difficult.

By comparison, Mercedes has had its share of ups and downs over the years, but still churns out some really desirable new product for both fans of young and old Mercedes cars. Mercedes collectibility factor also tends to be higher, though the same warnings of caution go for the W140 and R129 Mercs which are highly esteemed, but probably still not future classics the way we think of vintage Camaros, Mustangs, Alfa Romeos and such today.

[sigtwenty]

Doomed. They made a billion of these and are not desirable in that sense.
V12 may have a chance at some value but again nothing to go nuts for.

[Skinny Puppy]

It's no e31. Huge production numbers don't help anything. A classic in our eyes yes, but not in a collectors. The Alpina cars will rake it in though.

[Gator325525]

While I don't think it will ever have any collectible value, I would go so far as to say the styling alone will make it highly respected and appreciated for decades to come. The design is 17 years old and still looks modern and classy. In its stance, proportions and architecture, the car still manages to stay relevant well into the 21st century and I don't foresee that changing any time soon.

[KGB7]

In about 50 years if yours doesnt rust out by then.

And with so many parts out, there wont be any on the road in a very short time. We have a part out car every week, if you do the math we will have 10 cars on the road in as little as 10 years. Plus many cars end up in the junk yard as scraple metal before they get gutted for parts.

So seal your car in a bubble and call me in half a century.

[stig0000]

no chance, from the 80s onwards i think there isent a tru classic,

[burninator]

In about 50 years if yours doesnt rust out by then.

And with so many parts out, there wont be any on the road in a very short time. We have a part out car every week, if you do the math we will have 10 cars on the road in as little as 10 years. Plus many cars end up in the junk yard as scraple metal before they get gutted for parts.

So seal your car in a bubble and call me in half a century.

A car a week for 10 years is 5200. So you're saying there are only 5,210 E38's left, worldwide?

[chrisn7]

Interesting one this. Luxo barges don't have a habit of becoming classics, but it all depends on people like us. Whilst the enthusiam and reasonable demand for parts exists then the cars will survive. Provided support by forums like this remains available, new owners will still buy in to E38 experience just as we have.

[neep8]

Maybe not in the wide world, but I feel among BMW enthusiast they might.

I have noticed that a lot of times when someone posts there e38 in other sub forums they get a lot of reaction from other non e38 driving members. I see comments like "I have always wanted one", how nice the e38s look modded and slammed", and also thing like "eventually I am going to get one of those".

[kkingsley930]

It just amazes me that a car that is already 11+ years old still blends in among the vehicles of today. They might not be considered a classic
ever but none the less these e38s do have a pretty nice following and will remain special to many of us here on this forums probably until our deaths. Only we could find humor in the minor defects such as a crap cup holder and only we would understand that an exploding fan is just part of the e38 life.

[pizzaman09]

By comparison, Mercedes has had its share of ups and downs over the years, but still churns out some really desirable new product for both fans of young and old Mercedes cars. Mercedes collectibility factor also tends to be higher, though the same warnings of caution go for the W140 and R129 Mercs which are highly esteemed, but probably still not future classics the way we think of vintage Camaros, Mustangs, Alfa Romeos and such today.

I suspect the R129 will become a classic just like the R107. We just don't look at 90s cars yet as classics or vintage because they can still be easiy bought at your local used car dealer. Now adays 80s cars are looking like classics, in 10 years the 90s car most likely will look like classics too.

A 1980s Caddillac Devil looks like a classic to me but a 1990s one does not. I suspect this will change once less of them are on the road. The same goes for our e38s.

[Route 66]

These E38s still turn heads.

[campsteag]

Doomed. They made a billion of these and are not desirable in that sense.
V12 may have a chance at some value but again nothing to go nuts for.

sigtwenty how could you!!

[voodoomelon]

I believe 339,000 E38s were made. They will probably never be a true classic, however its definitely a classic in my eyes.

[Kiyoskia]

327,560 E38's were made...



By Market:
EUR 202537
IDN 503
MEX 24
THA 791
USA 123705

By Model:
725tds 9053
728i 38947
728iL 6816
730d 12336
730i 20876
730iL 2137
735i 21481
735iL 6963
740d 3450
740i 88853
740iL 91431
750i 8559
750iL 15759
L7 899

By Motor:
M51 9053
M52 28086
M52TU 17677
M57 12336
M60/1 23013
M60/2 45724
M62 163004
M67 3450
M73 25217

only we would understand that an exploding fan is just part of the e38 life.

Non-E38 owner: "Who in their right mind would design a car with an exploding fan?!"
My response: "The Germans...but only with help from the Dutch."

[KGB7]

A car a week for 10 years is 5200. So you're saying there are only 5,210 E38's left, worldwide?

Not world wide. We dont know how many are still on the road in US, and how many are on the road world wide.
Many US cars that were mass produced in the 70 are now classic but very few of them exist, and they became classic over a decade ago.

Any car can become classic if you wait long enough.

[voodoomelon]

What percentage of E38s do you guys reckon are still on the road? Less than 50%? I have no clue.

[Jamesbond740il]

Who knows, but with as many problems with the motors and transmissions, there probably won't be very many left, but there will be tons of parts because nobody in there right mind who isn't a DIYer will pay to have the engines and transmissions fixed, cool for me because I'll find a ton of them at junk yards

[Dylans3960ccs]

I think these cars will be classics, almost in the same way that the camaro and many muscle cars are today. The reason muscle cars are classics today is because the people who grew up around them and anyone who liked them back then still want them today, if the people who grew up around these cars and anyone who liked/like them now still want them in the future, then they could be classics. Though, not all classics fetch a lot of money.

[zink]

The E30, E31, E34, E38 and E46 were the absolute pinnacle for BMW in my opinion.

how could you replace the E36 with E46!! the E36 is the absolute pinnacle and if you notice, the E38 does draw some lines from it.

[QUOTE=Only we could find humor in the minor defects such as a crap cup holder and only we would understand that an exploding fan is just part of the e38 life. [/QUOTE]

Soo true! after my E38 fan exploded, i would talk to ppl about it really feeling it's just part of the E38 life while everyone listening to me thinking i'm mad as hell to be still having the car and just going thru that experience ...lol.. i mean seriously, try explaining how the fan exploded mid traffic on with all the bang and hood tear to other car owners and see their faces/expressions!!

E38 will be a classic to the consumers who see it as that; may be small percentage but still classic.

[Rachelse38]

So it's now 2018. Our 2000 740il is turning 19 soon. We are second owners since 2008 and 68,000 miles. Now with 182,000 miles on the clock, it still takes our breath away. A modern, beautiful classic. Our mechanic calls it the nicest 740 in town. As he should, as we are great customers! I've kept detailed repair records and it has cost $0.21 a mile to maintain it and keep it leak free. It's the wife's commuter car and I still look forward to driving it every weekend. We love the car and it has become part of the family. I was pleasantly surprised recently when the insurance company agreed to replace the recently cracked $1400 windshield instead of totaling the whole car. I only hope it becomes a collectible, but if not, we'll continue to drive it and enjoy it for years to come.