The BMW behind the second-gear story is most likely the E38-generation 750i and 750iL, powered by the 5.4-liter M73 V12. BMW documented second-gear starts in two situations: stop-and-go driving and its winter program. The available service information does not say the engine’s torque caused that behavior. And the E38 was not BMW’s final V12 generation overall; BMW later used V12 engines in the E65 and F01 7 Series.
Which BMW V12 does the story refer to?
The most plausible match is the E38 750i and long-wheelbase 750iL, fitted with BMW’s M73 B54 V12. BMW Group Classic gives the E38 750i production period as September 1994 to July 2001 and lists the engine as a 5,379 cc twelve-cylinder V-engine. BMW says more than 9,000 750i examples were produced before the 2001 model change. BMW Group Classic: BMW 750i (E38)
BMW’s historical account describes the E38 V12 as a 5.4-liter engine rated at 326 hp. The E38 750i paired it with a five-speed automatic transmission featuring adaptive control. BMW’s retrospective says development sought about 13 percent better fuel efficiency than the predecessor, alongside lower emissions and greater refinement; that is BMW’s stated comparison and development aim, not an independent test result. BMW Group PressClub: The BMW V12 engine—25 years of a unique success story
How much torque did the M73 make?
BMW Product Engineering’s September 1995 M73 B54 service bulletin gives peak torque as 361 lb-ft (490 Nm) at 3,900 rpm. That figure is the engine’s maximum torque output at the specified engine speed; it does not, by itself, establish how the transmission launched the car. BMW Product Engineering, M73 B54 service bulletin (September 1995)
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Power figures vary slightly by source and unit convention: the 1995 bulletin states 322 hp (240 kW) at 5,000 rpm, while BMW Group Classic lists 240 kW/326 bhp at 5,000 rpm. These are the figures as each source reports them, rather than a single reconciled horsepower number.
Why could an E38 start in second gear?
BMW’s automatic gearbox service description identifies programmed operating conditions for a second-gear start. It describes two distinct cases, with different purposes: a stop-and-go strategy aimed at comfort and a winter program intended to improve drivability on slippery roads. BMW AGS Adaptive Gearbox Control System service description
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| Situation | What BMW describes | Intended benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Stop-and-go traffic | After a defined sequence of shifts and a complete stop, the system can remain in second gear. The second-gear start is cancelled if the throttle pedal exceeds a threshold or the selector is moved to P, N or R. | Comfort in repeated stop-and-go driving. |
| Winter program | The transmission starts in second gear and uses lower shift points. | Improved drivability on slippery roads. |
Those are transmission strategies, not evidence that the M73’s 490 Nm peak torque compelled the car to launch in second. The documented behavior depends on operating conditions and program logic; BMW’s cited service material does not connect it causally to engine torque.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Was the E38 the last BMW V12?
No, not if “last” means the final V12 used anywhere in BMW production. BMW’s V12 history also describes later V12-powered E65 and F01 7 Series generations. The cited material does not establish the exact final BMW V12 model or its production end date, so the E38 should be described as one notable BMW V12 era—not the definitive last one.
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