BMW 7 Series (E65)
| BMW 7 Series E65/E66/E67/E68 | |
|---|---|
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|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | BMW |
| Production | 2001–2008 |
| Model years | 2002–2008 |
| Assembly |
Dingolfing, Germany Rayong, Thailand Toluca, Mexico Kaliningrad, Russia |
| Designer |
Adrian van Hooydonk (1998) Chris Bangle |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Full-size luxury car (F) |
| Body style | 4-door sedan/saloon 4-door extended sedan/saloon |
| Layout | Front engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
Petrol 3.0 I6 3.6 V8 4.0 V8 4.4 V8 4.8 V8 6.0 V12 Diesel 3.0 I6 3.9 V8 4.4 V8 |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase |
E65: 2,990 mm (117.7 in) E66: 3,130 mm (123.2 in) |
| Length |
E65: 5,029 mm (198.0 in) (Pre-LCI) E66: 5,169 mm (203.5 in) (Pre-LCI) E65: 5,039 mm (198.4 in) (LCI) E66: 5,179 mm (203.9 in) (LCI) |
| Width | 1,902 mm (74.9 in) |
| Height |
E65: 1,492 mm (58.7 in) (Pre-LCI) E66: 1,492 mm (58.7 in) (Pre-LCI) E65: 1,491 mm (58.7 in) (LCI) E66: 1,484 mm (58.4 in) (LCI) |
| Curb weight |
730i: 1,805 kg (3,979 lb) 735i: 1,860 kg (4,100 lb) 740i: 1,895 kg (4,178 lb) 745i: 1,860 kg (4,100 lb) 745i: 1,985 kg (4,376 lb) (US) 750i: 1,910 kg (4,210 lb) 750i: 2,035 kg (4,486 lb) (US) 760i: 2,105 kg (4,641 lb) 730d: 1,900 kg (4,200 lb) 740d: 2,015 kg (4,442 lb) 745d: 2,040 kg (4,500 lb) 730Ld: 1,940 kg (4,280 lb) 730Li: 1,835 kg (4,045 lb) 735Li: 1,900 kg (4,200 lb) 740Li: 1,935 kg (4,266 lb) 745Li: 1,910 kg (4,210 lb) 745Li: 2,025 kg (4,464 lb) (US) 750Li: 1,950 kg (4,300 lb) 750Li: 2,065 kg (4,553 lb) (US) 760Li: 2,180 kg (4,810 lb) 760Li: 2,225 kg (4,905 lb) (US) E68: 2,385 kg (5,258 lb) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | BMW 7 Series (E38) |
| Successor | BMW 7 Series (F01) |
The BMW E65 is the chassis designation for the fourth generation 7 Series full-size luxury sedan produced by BMW. The E65 was the first BMW chassis series to use different chassis numbers for its several different variants such as the E66/E67/E68, which formed the Long-Wheelbase, BMW High Security and the BMW Hydrogen 7 models respectively.
Introduced at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2001 alongside the BMW E53 X5 4.6is, the BMW E65 7 Series replaced the BMW 7 Series (E38) after production of that model ended in July 2001. In order to produce the E65 7 Series and other future models the BMW plant at Dingolfing was retooled at a cost of approximately €500,000,000.
Upon release the new 7 Series was met with sharp criticism for its controversial looks as well as the steep learning curve presented by the new iDrive system. So unimpressed was the market with the new car that sales of remaining E38 stock increased markedly after the launch. Despite the initial quality problems and customer gripes the E65 7 Series became the best-selling generation of this full-size luxury sedan, further enhanced by a facelift in 2005.
After a 7-year production run the BMW E65 was replaced by the BMW 7 Series (F01) in late 2008.
Development for the BMW E65 7 Series began in early 1996, and production specifications were frozen in January 1999. The design of the BMW E65 7 Series was patented 16 November 2000; development ended in mid-2001. The car was first launched in Europe 17 November 2001 and then appeared in US and other markets in the (northern) spring of 2002. Early BMW E65 7 Series models had many problems mainly due to the functionality of the iDrive system and the associated electronics systems. Thus, BMW repurchased a substantial amount of 2002–03 7 Series cars in the U.S., and BMW of North America also extended the factory warranty on 2002–03 BMW E65 7 Series models from the 4-Year/50,000-Mile (80,000 km) coverage to the 6-Year/100,000-Mile (160,000 km) factory warranty. However, UK models were still protected by their original 3-Year/Unlimited-Miles warranty.
Under the direction of Chris Bangle, BMW's Design Chief at the time, the arrival of the BMW E65 7 Series heralded a new styling era for BMW. The design of the new car contrasted dramatically with the styling on the BMW E38 7 Series. The BMW E65 7 Series' two-level rear end styling with separate rear fenders for a "bustle-back" boot lid was derisively known as the "Bangle Butt" by critics. In fact, van Hooydonk's original sketch in 1998 for the BMW E65 was much more of a radical sleek fastback, but the final E65 profile was toned down considerably to a more conventional three-box sedan. Bangle was widely criticised for the radical departure of the styling from the BMW E38 7 Series. He was however supported by the BMW board of directors, who wanted to move BMW's image into the future. Dan Neil of The Los Angeles Times named the new 7-series one of the '50 Worst Cars of All Time', but Bangle argued that BMW’s established design language was exhausted. Despite the initially poor public reception of the two-level rear end, the design was later incorporated by Mercedes-Benz into the design of the W221 generation S-Class in 2006 and also by Hyundai in the fourth-generation Azera.
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