BMW E38 Interior Options

Surely, being the BMW's flagship of the '90, the E38 7 Series delivered plenty of luxury-oriented options for its buyers to choose from. 

Note: We will not get boring by covering the basic equipment, widely available on most cars. Instead, we will emphasize on the rarest, most desirable options when it comes to this gen of 7 Series. 

The following presentation is meant to provide a general view and does not aim to cover absolutely all technical information, which we strongly suggest to be consulted via https://www.e38registry.org/options/.

1. "Picnic" Tables - P462A

This is probably one of the most desirable option when asking most E38 enthusiasts. Your rear compartiment does now have an executive feel to it. 

Along with the "picnic" tables, you automatically get the vanity mirrors (illuminated) and a tablet (instead of the usual storage pocket), which can be found at the bottom of the passager seat. 

If you would like to equip your beloved E38 with such pieces of luxury, be aware that prices for a second-hand set have sky-rocketted, sitting at around 1.500USD (if in good condition).

Around 5000 sets have been produced. 

2. Swivel Tables, Fridge, B-pillar mounted Phone - S940A 

As if the "Picnic" Tables were not enough, BMW also designed a set of swivel tables, coming out of the rear armrest. 

Rarity-wise, around 175 sets of swivels were ever made, making them (almost) impossible to find and extremely pricey to buy - around 2500USD. 

They did also come with a wood insertion instead of plain leather.

The swivel tables were part of a package that also included 

• In-car fridge equipment
• B-Pillar mounted phone 
• Roof mid   

3. Chromeline package - S345A

Chromeline package did include:

• Chrome door sills
• Chrome-trimmed speaker grilles
• Wood shift knob with leather sides and chrome trim
• Chrome hazard and lock button surrounding trim
• Chrome door lock caps
• Chrome door lock pin surrounding trim
• Roof grab handles with chrome trim and wood

The exterior door handles were also chrome, in E38s produced prior to 9/98

Basically, once equipped with this package, your E38 gets a little bit more flashy, but stays in line with the '90s understanding of luxury.

4. Massage/ Active seats

*Make sure to check for this button to see if your desired E38 is equipped with this.

4. Active rear seat

In order to assure the true confort of the rear passengers, BMW did have to offer a rear active seat (and, of course, also heated).

This allowed for a back and forth setting, while also taking care of your lower back via an active lombar support.

You can easily tell if an E38 has this option by looking for the controls, visible at the bottom of the rear seat.  

5. Active rear climate control

This allowed for the rear-seated executives to set the climate to their desired temperature, considered to be a must-have by many. 

This is not a very rare option, as most well eqquiped E38s did have this. 

The basic air vents look like this:

6. Rear TV

The rear TV option on the BMW E38 was the epitome of luxury tech in the late '90s and early 2000s—a feature that turned the backseat of the 7 Series into a mini entertainment lounge. Designed with high-profile passengers in mind, this system wasn't just a gimmick; it was a groundbreaking option that added a serious "wow" factor to an already sophisticated car.

While the technology may seem dated now, the rear TV option on the E38 is a charming reminder of how forward-thinking BMW was at the time. It's a sought-after feature among enthusiasts and collectors, adding a layer of nostalgia and uniqueness to these cars. If you're lucky enough to find an E38 with the rear TV still functional, it would probably cost you a small fortune - they sell at around 2000USD. 

There were actually 2 types of rear TV

One that is basically connected to the front screen and does the exact same thing (Fond Monitor), and one that actually allowed the passangers to watch movies - VHS Style.

7. Multifunction Rear Armrest

At first glance, it looks like a well-designed, leather-covered armrest, perfectly complementing the sumptuous rear seating. But flip it open, and you're greeted with a treasure trove of controls and options that make riding in the backseat of an E38 feel like flying first class.

It allowed the rear passengers to simply grab the integrated phone and answer their business calls while being chauffeured around. You'd also find controls for the TV, radio and rear sunshade making the backseat a mobile entertainment hub.

It also featured front seat controls. This means you can push the front seat forward or tilt it to create more legroom in the rear—a feature that screams VIP treatment. Imagine being chauffeured around, stretching out in the back while casually adjusting the seat in front to suit your comfort.

This feature wasn't just a gimmick—it was designed for executives and dignitaries who wanted maximum space and control while traveling. It's rare to find this option on today's cars, even in the luxury segment, which makes the E38 all the more special. 

8. Active Cruise Control (ACC)

Not really an "interior" extras but surely worth mentioning, this very option allowed the car to keep its distance from the following car, making it an incredibly useful feature for long-driving experiences. 

This was the first BMW to offer such technology and it was pricy - very few were equipped with ACC and now it is almost impossible to come by one. 

There were some used retrofit sets for sale, priced at around 2000USD

The ACC eqquipment contains:

• ACC Sensor
• Wiring
• ACC Cluster

9. Rear compartment Fridge

The BMW E38 7 Series (1994–2001) had a Rear Cool Box / Refrigerator as one of its most distinctive and luxurious options—much more commonly specced than on the E39. It was tailored to match the E38's executive rear-passenger focus.

Unlike the E39's passive cool box, the E38's rear fridge was a true refrigerator, as it had an independent cooling system separate from the vehicle's climate control. Some units included a compressor-based mechanism (often manufactured by companies like Indel B or Webasto for BMW), capable of genuinely refrigerating contents — not just mildly cooling them.                                                                                              

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E38's vs E39's Fridge option