Wow, was this impressive! It is confirmed, this car is an E38 Euro 735i. The driver (main character) says so in one of his lines (while he is washing the car). Excellent photograpy/cinematograpy of this car (both interior and exterior). Note that this car has a manual transmision. Very rare I would imagine (even for a Euro model) - a manual has not been available on any US 7-series since `88-`89. The E38 735i in this move is also fitted with after-market wheels. I wonder if the sounds are real on this car. In the movie it sounds a little too much for an E38 735i - the engine screams/howls like crazy. I have my doubts these engine sounds are from this E38 735i - way too noisy (although it sounds awesome). Overall, amazing stunt drivng. Absolutely fantastic! Hard cornering, high speed-manuevers, slides, jumps, etc. Must See!
Judging from the headlights, it's not a 1999. In 1999, BMW mildly changed the headlights (the plastic covers have circular dips in the design vs. the `95-`98 straighter plastic covers). This is a `95-`98 E38 735i.
This is not an 735i. I can't remember exactly the year of it, but anyone can see its a pre facelift. If you watch the movie with directors commentary Jason tells you that This is a rebuilt 735. It has a V12 engine (750) and a manual transmission. It is one of a kind E-38 with V12 AND manuall transmission.
They also use 2 or 3 different cars in the movie. If you look closely at the seats sometimes it got regular seats and sometimes there is Sports seats in it. You can see it on the headrest.
I'd say it deserves five stars. It had a large role in this movie. The saddest part of this movie is when 'the thing' that happens to this car happens (don't want to spoil it, because it's a shock every time I see it :P).
In the movie they said it's a 1999 735i, but it's impossible, in 1999 BMW sell the restyling version of the 7er E38. (since end 1998, so MY 1999, if I remember well).
this movie lives from this car and the action scenes on the begining. The Car is very important car (VIC ). The story is't so nice with an another car.
As said above, the car is actually seen only for a part of the movie. It is blown before the middle of the movie or something like that. Unlike other major cars featured in the whole movie.
5 stars is a rating usually reserved for legendary cars and this film isn't exactly noteworthy (it stars Jason Statham for crying out loud). To me this car is less special than the one in Tomorrow Never Dies.
I wouldn't always try to identify the engine of a car in a movie by the noise it makes, you do know many movies redub the sound effects, so the noises used for car engines are often from something different to make it sound more powerful.
The V12 in the 8-Series I drove for a couple of years made a magnificent throaty howl when pushed hard -- quite different from the satin purr emanating during easy cruising.