After the 750i powered by the V12 engine, the eight-cylinder model BMW 740i was the second most powerful version of the BMW 7 Series E38 first launched in 1994. A supplementary price of some DM 15,000 enabled the customer to enjoy a stretch version of the 740i with a longer wheelbase. The additional 14 cm primarily benefited the passengers sitting in the rear and the BMW 740iL therefore frequently found service as a chauffeur-driven limousine. In the autumn of 1995, BMW increased the displacement to 4.4 litres but continued to retain the model designation unchanged.