The BMW 7 Series E38 started life with eight-cylinder and twelve-cylinder engines. In 1996, the product range was complemented with two new six-cylinder models in the form of the BMW 728i and 728iL. Optimum dynamic power was supplied by the four-valve engine generating 193 hp, familiar from the 328i and 528i. The outstanding economy of the 728i facilitated its development into one of the most successful models in this model series.