
BMW 7 Series E38 Engines -The Complete UK Guide
Every engine fitted to the E38 7 Series -from the 2.8-litre M52 six-cylinder to the 5.4-litre M73 V12, including the M60 and M62 V8s and the M57 diesel. Real UK costs, honest failure data, and BMW's first V8-powered luxury saloon. Backed by genuine UK specialist data for 2025.
Explore E38 EnginesBMW 7 Series E38 Engine Codes -The Complete Database
Every engine fitted to the E38 7 Series specifically -from the entry-level 728i to the flagship 750i, including BMW's first V8 diesel in the 740d.

Overview
BMW 7 Series E38 -Overview
The third-generation BMW 7 Series (E38) was produced from April 1994 to July 2001, replacing the E32 and later succeeded by the E65.
Designed by Boyke Boyer, it was the first 7 Series to offer a diesel engine and the last to offer a manual transmission. Three wheelbase lengths were available -short (i), long (iL) and the exclusive Limousine (L7). The E38 was the first car available with curtain airbags and the first European car to offer satellite navigation. The engine range included straight-six petrols, V8s, a V12 flagship, and turbo-diesel six-cylinder and V8 engines.
Key Facts
Platform
BMW E38
Predecessor
BMW 7 Series E32
Successor
BMW 7 Series E65
Sibling body styles in this generation
N/A -E38 is the sole body code (i, iL and L7 wheelbases)
Market Intelligence
The E38 7 Series generates steady UK specialist enquiries, concentrated on the 728i, 740i and 750i as these classic luxury saloons enter collector-car territory.
Best & Worst Engines

Thin-Data Summary
“Thin-Data Fallback mode -one paragraph: The E38 7 Series offers a wide range of engines, but the M52B28 (728i) is the most economical and reliable six-cylinder choice -193 PS, smooth and well-supported, though the M52's plastic water pump impeller and VANOS system require attention. For V8 buyers, the M62TÜB44 (post-1998 740i) is the pick -286 PS with VANOS, improved over the earlier M60 which suffered Nikasil bore wear issues on high-sulphur fuel. The M73B54 V12 (750i) delivers 326 PS of effortless power and is considered one of the most reliable engines in the range, though it's expensive to maintain and thirsty. The M67D40 (740d) is BMW's first V8 diesel -245 PS and rare, but complex. The M51D25 (725tds) is the entry-level diesel with 143 PS, but is underpowered for the E38's weight. For most buyers, the 728i (M52) or post-1998 740i (M62TU) represent the best balance of reliability, performance and running costs.”
Who it's for:

BMW 7 Series E38 -Ownership Economics
The E38 rule
A £2,000–£3,500 M52 recon against a £1,500–£5,000 E38 sits at 40–233% of the car's value. On a sub-£2,500 high-mileage example, that brushes our 70% BMW threshold -we'll honestly tell you to walk away. Against a well-kept £4,000+ example, the same recon drops to 50–88% -assess carefully. For V12s and rare V8 diesels, the calculus is different: these are future classics where maintenance costs are part of the ownership experience. Value the car first.
Common Problems

E38 Engine Replacement Costs -By Engine and Condition
No Generation variance from the Engine Page baseline -no dedicated Engine Pages exist for these families yet, so baseline figures are drawn from the EM_Proprietary_Data Table A. Labour hours estimated at 10–14 hours for six-cylinder engines, 12–16 hours for V8s, and 14–18 hours for the V12 and V8 diesel due to additional complexity.
Core Variants
Diesel & Petrol Lineup
Scope note: All variants listed are E38 7 Series only. The 730i was produced 1994–1996 and replaced by the 735i. The 740i received a 4.4-litre M62 in 1996, replacing the 4.0-litre M60. The 750i V12 was produced throughout. The 740d (M67 V8 diesel) was introduced in 1999 and is the rarest E38 variant. Long-wheelbase (iL) and Limousine (L7) variants share the same engine range.
Market Intelligence
Most Requested E90 Engines (2025)
Most Requested E90 Variants
Average E90 Replacement Cost
Most Common E90 Failures
FAQ

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UK Engine Replacement Services for E38
covering every variant from 728i to 750i and 740d, with supply-only or full supply & fit available nationwide.
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