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Thread: E38 ride vs E32 opinions?

  1. #1
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    Question E38 ride vs E32 opinions?

    This is for those of you who have or have driven an E38 as well as the E32s. Would like to know your opinions.

    I used to have an 89 735i years ago and loved driving it every day, sold it in 2012 and did not get behind the wheel of an E32 until this past December after I spent 5k on the 750 to get it running and driving. By this time though, I had purchased an E38 about 2 years before (2016) and was in love with the drive of that machine, so sleek, so smooth and refined, all that for $550 that I paid for the car... Power comes in smoothly and lets off smoothly, in corners, the car barely leans, bumps are so sublime, and you dont feel the engine worth a damn. My M62 isnt running perfect, visible slight shaking, but you dont feel it at all in the car, as if it was off!

    Anyway fast forward again to December and now, Driving the E32 just does not feel as tight or as refined at all in comparison to the E38. I know they are 10 years apart in design, but they are not really drastically all that different. Again, my E32 has new suspension/shocks, motor and transmission mounts, all wear items replaced etc etc and yes, my 750 is still having handling issues, but even slow speed, around the neighberhood, the E38 feels like a tank in comparison.


    What do you all think?

    BMW 7er Website www.7er.com
    1989 BMW 735i Schwarz (sadly, sold) // 1989 BMW 750iL Cirrusblau Metallic // 1998 BMW 740iL Oxfordgrün Metallic // 2000 M5 Carbon Schwarz ///

  2. #2
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    My father had a 1998 750il, and I still think it's the nicest driving car I've ever driven. It had an insanely flat power curve and it was unimaginably smooth - the engine, transmission, and suspension all felt seamless. That's coming from someone who's owned an e46 5spd and three e32's - none of them really match up.

    What a shame they never released manual e38's in the states.
    1983 4-spd Mercedes 240d w/403k - Sold!

    11/87 E32 735iA w/45k - Daily Driver (finally!)

    04/88 E32 735iL - Parts Car

  3. #3
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    I've driven both E32's and E38's.

    An E32 in good condition today will never ride as well E38 in similar condition. The E38's are a whole generation ahead, with a more complex independent rear suspension, stiffer body and larger overall wheel diameter.
    Most E32's are old now, and the bodies get loose and creaky. I added a front strut brace to my 88 750iL and could feel the difference almost immediately! Even with new front suspension bushes, rears in very good condition and the factory 15" wheels and 60 profile tyres the LWB E32 only comes close to a well maintained E38 in terms of ride and handling. I drove 728i and 735i SWB with factory 16" wheels, and they're a big improvement over my 750.

    I also drove a E66 735Li and E65 745i and I'd have the 745i in a heartbeat if they weren't so complex and unreliable...


    Quote Originally Posted by SergeBMW View Post
    This is for those of you who have or have driven an E38 as well as the E32s. Would like to know your opinions.

    I used to have an 89 735i years ago and loved driving it every day, sold it in 2012 and did not get behind the wheel of an E32 until this past December after I spent 5k on the 750 to get it running and driving. By this time though, I had purchased an E38 about 2 years before (2016) and was in love with the drive of that machine, so sleek, so smooth and refined, all that for $550 that I paid for the car... Power comes in smoothly and lets off smoothly, in corners, the car barely leans, bumps are so sublime, and you dont feel the engine worth a damn. My M62 isnt running perfect, visible slight shaking, but you dont feel it at all in the car, as if it was off!

    Anyway fast forward again to December and now, Driving the E32 just does not feel as tight or as refined at all in comparison to the E38. I know they are 10 years apart in design, but they are not really drastically all that different. Again, my E32 has new suspension/shocks, motor and transmission mounts, all wear items replaced etc etc and yes, my 750 is still having handling issues, but even slow speed, around the neighberhood, the E38 feels like a tank in comparison.


    What do you all think?
    1988 E32 BMW 750iL Bronzitbeige "....4372381"
    2001 E39 BMW 530i Sport touring Cosmosschwarz "....GL80561"

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by CamE32 View Post
    My father had a 1998 750il, and I still think it's the nicest driving car I've ever driven. It had an insanely flat power curve and it was unimaginably smooth - the engine, transmission, and suspension all felt seamless. That's coming from someone who's owned an e46 5spd and three e32's - none of them really match up.

    What a shame they never released manual e38's in the states.
    You know, I feel the same way about the E38s, I don't think I have ever driven such a nice handling car as the E38 is. I let my coworker take it for a spin today during a break and he was amazed and even said the same thing!


    Quote Originally Posted by Zej View Post
    I've driven both E32's and E38's.

    An E32 in good condition today will never ride as well E38 in similar condition. The E38's are a whole generation ahead, with a more complex independent rear suspension, stiffer body and larger overall wheel diameter.
    Most E32's are old now, and the bodies get loose and creaky. I added a front strut brace to my 88 750iL and could feel the difference almost immediately! Even with new front suspension bushes, rears in very good condition and the factory 15" wheels and 60 profile tyres the LWB E32 only comes close to a well maintained E38 in terms of ride and handling. I drove 728i and 735i SWB with factory 16" wheels, and they're a big improvement over my 750.

    I also drove a E66 735Li and E65 745i and I'd have the 745i in a heartbeat if they weren't so complex and unreliable...
    What front brace did you purchase? I thought of getting one as well but wasn't sure if it would really make any kind of improvement in handling. Glad to hear it does. Good to know it is not just my E32. I was getting a bit worried that something was off with mine but it seems not. I love both, but now that I get into the E32, I have to remind myself that it is a mid 80s designed car. The car itself handles fantastic, but just doesnt feel as refined for sure.

    I have yet to drive the E65s, been interested in maybe picking up a 750li or 760, but those 760s go for too much money right now. I know that the E65s are more headaches than the E38 lol, not sure if I want to venture into that.

    BMW 7er Website www.7er.com
    1989 BMW 735i Schwarz (sadly, sold) // 1989 BMW 750iL Cirrusblau Metallic // 1998 BMW 740iL Oxfordgrün Metallic // 2000 M5 Carbon Schwarz ///

  5. #5
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    I love the ride of the e32 much more comfortable than an e38. Handling wise stock for stock the e38 handles much better. Steering wise the servo steering in an e32 compared to an e38 feels much better, a lot lighter at low speeds and firm at highway speeds. If your not crazy about you ride try upgrading to sport struts
    Me E30 87/ 325i + F25 12/ M-Sport + E32 94/ 740i

    G/F’s E34 92/ 525iT + F48 18/ X1

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by SergeBMW View Post

    What front brace did you purchase? I thought of getting one as well but wasn't sure if it would really make any kind of improvement in handling. Glad to hear it does. Good to know it is not just my E32. I was getting a bit worried that something was off with mine but it seems not. I love both, but now that I get into the E32, I have to remind myself that it is a mid 80s designed car. The car itself handles fantastic, but just doesnt feel as refined for sure.

    I have yet to drive the E65s, been interested in maybe picking up a 750li or 760, but those 760s go for too much money right now. I know that the E65s are more headaches than the E38 lol, not sure if I want to venture into that.
    I bought an Ultra Racing Strut brace... the price was right.
    http://eng.ultraracing.me/Ultra-Raci...s-Code-TW2-178
    I don't think it makes it go around corners any faster, but it does feel a lot more solid and refined over uneven surfaces. Doesn't help that I'm running 17 inch E39 wheels at the moment, but I'm having the original 15 inch style 3's fitted with new tyres in the next week.
    1988 E32 BMW 750iL Bronzitbeige "....4372381"
    2001 E39 BMW 530i Sport touring Cosmosschwarz "....GL80561"

  7. #7
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    1994 750il, 1994 318i
    I own both, a 94 750il and a 96 740il. For me it's an evolutionary step. Not better or worse but certainly different from each other. I actually like the e32 interior better personally, the e38 will out-handle the e32 in all aspects.

  8. #8
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    I've driven a few e32s and e38s. The e38 is much more refined and taught, but that being said, I like driving the e32 soooo much more. Probably because it feels more raw and involving. Even in long wheelbase form it is a lot smaller than most modern cars. I've driven many BMWs from the early 80s to present and out of all of them I enjoyed the e34 and straight-six e39s the most. Then about 6 years ago I drove my first e32 and I was hooked. It's way different than an e38, but not in a bad way. As much as I loved the e34, the e32 feels so much better, especially on the highway. The e38 is a fantastic car but it doesn't have that classic feel of the e32 that I can't get enough of

  9. #9
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    I'd have to agree that yes, the E32 was probably the last of the "Classic" BMW feel and design and I absolutely love it. Im glad to hear that everyone is on the same page, it has been so long since I have driven an E32 since I sold my old one a while ago. The E32 is definatly much more of a feedback giving car, the E38 feels connected to the road, but engine/acceleration and everything else feels a bit more disconnected, more for comfort I imagine. Driving the E32 these past 2 weeks has made me realize that I have been wanting the E32 to be more like the E38, and that is wrong of me, as that will never be the case, and that is not a bad thing. I have since been enjoying it far more for what it is, even with its sloppy steering box that I have yet to adjust... lol

    I would love to get that strut brace, its going on my list of parts to purchase! I also noticed they have a lower bar brace as well, wondering if this will also fit all E32s. Will pick up both of these.

    BMW 7er Website www.7er.com
    1989 BMW 735i Schwarz (sadly, sold) // 1989 BMW 750iL Cirrusblau Metallic // 1998 BMW 740iL Oxfordgrün Metallic // 2000 M5 Carbon Schwarz ///

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