2001 740i vs. 2001 740iL

[malexander1050]

I know the major difference between the (2) 7 series is the extra leg room in the back. I would like to know if the is any other differences between the 740i and 740iL? I own a 2001 740i and it's a great car...never have driven the 2001 740iL. Someone told me the 740i handles better than the 740il...Is this true? Please share your thoughts between the 2 versions.

[AwesomeIsLuke]

Are either of them sports?

The 740i sport > 740iL sport > 740iL non-sport > 740i non-sport

That's my opinion at least.

[spazzboy]

Luke is right

[malexander1050]

No...mine doesn't have the sports package...

Maybe that's the question I should have asked. My 2001 740i has tons of power, performance and handling...Better than the Audi A8 I sold last year.

[AwesomeIsLuke]

No...mine doesn't have the sports package...

Maybe that's the question I should have asked. My 2001 740i has tons of power, performance and handling...Better than the Audi A8 I sold last year.

If you don't have a sport, then the handling will be pretty much the same, almost no noticeable difference (assuming both suspensions are in good condition).

[ncbimmerkid]

"iL" sports do have EDC ( which I'm not sure it if works good) but "i" sports don't... any one on here with EDC cause id like to know if theres a noticible difference with it on and off?

[7series98]

Well....if you have a iL then you are super mega ultra cool, but if you don't your still super cool..... and iL's have more fun

[AwesomeIsLuke]

Well....if you have a iL then you are super mega ultra cool, but if you don't your still super cool..... and iL's have more fun

Agreed

[e30luv318i]

Well....if you have a iL then you are super mega ultra cool, but if you don't your still super cool..... and iL's have more fun

hahaha! soooooo dead on!

[pizzaman09]

Well....if you have a iL then you are super mega ultra cool, but if you don't your still super cool..... and iL's have more fun

Right on!

[Bexar80]

Having owned both, the i did handle noticeably better in tight "S" turns and fast curves. However, the iL is no slouch and I have grown to love it more. If I ever feel the need for a better handling car it will be a 550i or M3 and leave the 7s to what I call "exciting comfort."

An iL with proper wheels (no tinny basket weaves) has more presence on the road than the i and oozes class. The i just does't seem to stand out as much. I only say this because I've had the chance to watch both my cars be driven by others.

[IcemanBHE]

IL sports EDCIII is ok. Untill you have to fix it. Then you prayed you would have gotten the I sport.

[Bexar80]

Replacing shocks, even the EDC's are small coins compared to buying the car new. A used car is what it is, used and so a better value. Keep that in mind and the sting from the price of parts will not be so bad.

[mein 7ner]

Well....if you have a iL then you are super mega ultra cool, but if you don't your still super cool..... and iL's have more fun

740ILs rule!!!

[robshaw]

EDC makes a huge ride difference. The cars shocks go rock solid and makes you feel like your driving a much more sporty car. As far as handling goes I would say yes, EDC makes a big difference. Mines an i not an iL.

[rrsp4u]

I have an 01 740il with Steptronic and EDC.
Love it!!!!!!!!!
Put it on and use the steptronic and your in a classy race car.
J

[njdjh2o]

yes, the iL stands out, compared to the i, I love them both. If I can get my hands on a parts car i sport, I would basically swap all the part from the sport to the il to make one perfect car.

[Ezzyme]

The i has 19 ft turning radius, the iL a 20 ft turning radius. Nothing can be done to make the iL more nimble outside of shortening the wheelbase - buy an i.

[4liter]

The i's have it!

[cazal740i]

I drove my friends Mike`s 2001 740Il today for 75 miles and He is stock height and on OEm 18` Mpars...What a drive!!!!..I was telling him wha a night/day difference between my 7 and his. His suspension felt Floaty and Very Smooth........but I perfer my 00`Sport with stage2 H&R/bilstein and 20`Softlines Sporty Firm and tight...Like my women

[tommyb2b]

Im happy with my IL its a great ride and thats all I really ask for. Im not racing it so I dont worry about it being to sporty lol!

[Kiyoskia]

Any other major differences between the two?

[AwesomeIsLuke]

The i has 19 ft turning radius, the iL a 20 ft turning radius. Nothing can be done to make the iL more nimble outside of shortening the wheelbase - buy an i.

A 5% difference in turning radius is not enough reason for me to downgrade to a short-wheelbase. The only time that difference is helpful is for parking. I didn't buy my car so I could park it. And yes, there are plenty of things that make an iL more nimble. Coil overs and strut bars just to name a couple.

Any other major differences between the two?

Only if you have an i sport.

[pizzaman09]

None of you would be complaining about turning radius if you drove my Oldsmobile, and you would not be saying the iL has a soft suspension either if you drove my Olds. The 740iL to me is a giant sports car and has a very good turning radius.

I really agree with the others, the iL has a lot more presence on the road.

[Qsilver7]

... any one on here with EDC cause id like to know if theres a noticible difference with it on and off?

Your question as to EDC being OFF or ON is one of the big misconceptions about EDC (S-EDC). It is ALWAYS on.

S-EDC is an electronic & automatic system that is constantly receiving data from the various sensors around the car which sends them to the EDC control module, which then sends that data to the four dampers to choose from THREE damping parameters...(soft/medium/hard)..."soft" being the COMFORT mode & "hard" being the SPORT mode. In the span of a few miles where you may leave your driveway, then hit a stretch of twisty winding mountain roads, then move on to a stretch of freeway that's straight as an arrow but has some undulating sections and some sections with lots of expansion joints...the car can go from soft (comfort mode) to hard (sport mode) to medium...back to comfort mode....all without the driver ever doing anything but pressing the accelerator pedal and keeping their hands on the steering wheel.

The switch on the dash only locks out the soft (or comfort) setting which allows the medium damping parameters to be the base damping characteristics...and as driving conditions or the driver becomes more aggressive...the hard (sport) damping parameters kick in sooner.

As far as the SWB vs LWB (short wheel base -vs- long wheel base)...once all the subjective opinions are removed from the equation...you're left with logic and the obvious facts of how the car is optioned.

A longer wheel base inherently has visual and handling tendencies that are different than a shorter wheel base and vice versa. LWB cars will absorb road imperfections differently (smoother) than a SWB car due to the dynamics (laws of physics) of a longer wheel base . Just as the adjective "nimble" will apply or score higher on an objectivity scale for a SWB car. When you throw in the conventional lowered and sport-tuned suspension of the SWB sport pkg...and the electronically controlled (EDC) suspension...and possibly the dynamics that rear self-leveling system (if so equipped) adds to the car's overall stability...you can add pro or con to the list of variables these set-ups bring to handling, drive-ability, ride comfort, etc.

In the end, its really not about which is better or worse...its all about individual desires. Look at the obvious characteristics that each model brings to the table and decide personally which one suits what you're looking for or desire...then choose and move on.