Generation Gap: BMW 7 Series Edition

"Amoore100" (amoore100) 11/04/2015 at 20:42 • Filed to: Generation Gap, BMW 7 Series

1

30

Welcome to Generation Gap where we ask you about your favorite generation of a certain multi-generational car nameplate. Then, explain why your choice is right to the rest of us uneducated folks.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Last week we did the ultimate German luxobarge here on Generation Gap, today we have its sportier cousin, the BMW 7 Series. If S Classes were renowned for quality and luxury, 7 Series have long been known for more driver involvement and excitement, even in a chauffeur status car...however, for which generation of 7 Series is this most true?

The options:

First Generation [1977 - 1986] E23

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Second Generation [1986 - 1994] E32

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Third Generation [1994 - 2001] E38

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Fourth Generation [2002 - 2008] E65-8 and facelift

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Fifth Generation [2008 - 2015] F01-2 and facelift

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Sixth Generation [2015 - Present] G11-2

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

bob and john > Amoore100 11/04/2015 at 20:46

5

third gen. they just look so fucking classy.

plus:

Steve in Manhattan > Amoore100 11/04/2015 at 20:57

2

Brother-in-law has a 3rd gen - after rebuilding the top end because the guy who leased it didn’t do oil changes, it soldiered on. Near 300K now, it still lives.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Amoore100 11/04/2015 at 21:04

1

2nd gen with v12.

Mark Arnold > Amoore100 11/04/2015 at 21:10

1

Sure, the E38 had fame from Bond and Transporter... but the E32 had Speed Zone.

Jagvar > Amoore100 11/04/2015 at 21:11

3

Mmm...

touring the brook - now with ZHP! > Amoore100 11/04/2015 at 21:26

1

This is just going to be a E38 love session. My vote goes to the second generation (E32) with the V12.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Amoore100 11/04/2015 at 21:35

2

OG for me.

PS9 > Amoore100 11/04/2015 at 21:39

1

That’s...a lot of wheel gap. BMW building a rally model of this thing?

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Amoore100 11/04/2015 at 21:40

1

whoever voted 4th gen should be beat to death with their own shoes

 > Amoore100 11/04/2015 at 23:07

2

E38 hands down.

Amoore100 > bob and john 11/04/2015 at 23:51

1

Mmm, they are nice but I personally prefer the under-appreciated second gen...dem L-shaped taillights! :3

Amoore100 > Steve in Manhattan 11/04/2015 at 23:51

1

Nice! Turns out old German cars are pretty reliable after all given you maintain them...

Amoore100 > pip bip - choose Corrour 11/04/2015 at 23:52

1

YES

Amoore100 > Mark Arnold 11/04/2015 at 23:52

0

Yay! more E32 love :D

Amoore100 > Jagvar 11/04/2015 at 23:53

0

Quite nice indeed.

Amoore100 > touring the brook - now with ZHP! 11/04/2015 at 23:54

0

I totally agree! E32 is best 7 series. E38 a close second, but E32 does it for me.

bob and john > Amoore100 11/04/2015 at 23:54

3

the L-shaped tail lights are nice

but the whole 3rd gen... it straddle that line from looking too modern and looking too old. its unique enough to distingush itself, yey understated enough to blend in with the crowd.

and it just has a presence (esp if lowered and lightly linted) that the 2nd gen simply didnt.

pre 3rd gen screams: i’m a fan of old BMWs.
4th gen and newer: i wanted the most expensive BMW
3rd gen: hello. I am here to ruin you day. politely. but you still wont be able to move

Steve in Manhattan > Amoore100 11/04/2015 at 23:57

2

Yes - he had to throw a lot of (expensive) parts at it during the early 2000s, but it paid off.

Amoore100 > bob and john 11/04/2015 at 23:58

0

Lol true. I guess the third gen has a bit of diminished appeal for me since one of the seniors at our school had one in somewhat ok condition and it sort of just blended in with all the Camrys and Accords...

Amoore100 > Steve in Manhattan 11/04/2015 at 23:59

1

Well, that’s how used car ownership goes for pretty much any and every old European car...

Amoore100 > PS9 11/04/2015 at 23:59

0

RALLY ALL THINGS :D

Amoore100 > itranthelasttimeiparkedit 11/05/2015 at 00:01

0

Especially pre-facelift. Unless they plan on making one of these:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

I would personally prefer an E32 Ute though.

bob and john > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 00:03

1

thats the great part. incognito...until its not :D

I would love to get one and install cut-out on the exhaust. then shut it down in ‘quiet’ mode, and start it up in loud...just to REALLY piss off the neighbors

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 00:03

2

Prefacelift E38 is best E38

Steve in Manhattan > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 00:21

2

I drove it recently - still pretty tight but for some rear looseness, but that was probably me.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 02:38

1

E23, for two reasons:

1) The model my grandparents brought back from Germany back in the late ‘70s. Mine’s a bit beat up, but I still have it almost 40 years later.

2) Duh...

To be honest, I’d rather have a 5 series over a 7 series any day, but if I had to drive a 7 the E32 would be my choice. Make mine a South African 745i (M88/3 and 5MT), although I don’t know how many of the 17 built are still around.

Amoore100 > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 11/05/2015 at 02:49

0

Awesome casting! Vive la LaLD! Yes, stick shift is a huge plus but as you say, E32 is hard to beat. I think E32 is best as well, kind of a sweet spot between the old and new; shame MT versions are rare at best and likely nonexistent in reality...

Amoore100 > bob and john 11/05/2015 at 03:24

0

like this:

:D

bob and john > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 03:28

1

id love a V8 S80 for the exact same reasons XD

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Amoore100 11/05/2015 at 08:34

1

That is really really well done (at least from that picture)