INSIDE LINE

BMW 7 Series

Coverage

  • BMW Recalls 32,084 2008-'11 Vehicles for Fire Risk

    News

    BMW Recalls 32,084 2008-'11 Vehicles for Fire Risk

    4 Ratings | 6 Comments

    Just the Facts: BMW is recalling 32,084 2008-'11 vehicles, including the BMW 7 Series, X5 and X6, because circuit board and water pump overheating failures can. . .

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  • Tuningwerk BMW 7 Series

    News

    Tuningwerk BMW 7 Series

    2 Ratings | 8 Comments

    Just the Facts: Tuningwerk upgrades the extended 7 Series to deliver 720 horsepower and 803 pound-feet of torque. It also shaves 264 pounds off the curb weight. . .

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  • BMW: What's New for 2012

    Features

    BMW: What's New for 2012

    22 Ratings | 40 Comments

    What's New for 2012: All Makes 2012 BMW 1 Series : There are no changes to the 2012 BMW 1 Series, though Bluetooth is now standard along with iPod/USB.. . .

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  • BMW 7 Series Target of Federal Probe After Complaints of Rollaway Incidents

    News

    BMW 7 Series Target of Federal Probe After Complaints of Rollaway Incidents

    6 Ratings | 7 Comments

    Just the Facts: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a preliminary investigation into an estimated 120,000 2002-'08 BMW 7 Series cars. . .

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  • Mansory Upgrades BMW 7 Series

    News

    Mansory Upgrades BMW 7 Series

    4 Ratings | 9 Comments

    Just the Facts: German tuner Mansory's Swiss arm is offering performance upgrades and aero body bits for the BMW 750i and 760 Li sedans. Mansory's aero body. . .

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  • 2011 BMW 740i Full Test

    Road Test

    2011 BMW 740i Full Test

    37 Ratings | 70 Comments

    We christened the 2011 BMW 740i by dumping an apple pie into its passenger seat ? accidentally, of course. The pie survived and was eaten, but not before its. . .

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  • Lumma Design Transforms BMW 7 Series

    News

    Lumma Design Transforms BMW 7 Series

    2 Ratings | 2 Comments

    Just the Facts: Lumma Design is offering a dress-up kit for the BMW 7 Series. Aero kit includes a front-end package that bundles spoiler, grille inserts, foglamps. . .

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  • 2011 BMW 740i First Drive

    Road Test

    2011 BMW 740i First Drive

    31 Ratings | 30 Comments

    The 2011 BMW 740i is the 7 Series that Goldilocks would have chosen. That is, if she were in the garage instead of the kitchen and three bears somehow owned BMW's. . .

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  • BMW 7 Series To Return to Production in Russia

    News

    BMW 7 Series To Return to Production in Russia

    2 Ratings | 3 Comments

    KALININGRAD, Russia ? BMW Russia President Christian Kremer said the Bavarian premium carmaker will resume production of the 7 Series here in 2010. The flagship. . .

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  • 2011 BMW 740i and 740Li To Debut at 2010 Detroit Auto Show

    News

    2011 BMW 740i and 740Li To Debut at 2010 Detroit Auto Show

    7 Ratings | 4 Comments

    WOODCLIFF LAKE, New Jersey ? BMW said it will begin selling the 2011 740i and 740Li sedans next spring in the U.S., featuring a version of the twin-turbocharged. . .

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  • BMW: What's New for 2010?

    Features

    BMW: What's New for 2010?

    7 Ratings | 1 Comment

    2010 BMW 1 Series : The only exterior change to the 1 Series for 2010 is a new exterior color: Deep Sea Blue Metallic replaces Monaco Blue Metallic. Changes. . .

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  • Locked and Loaded: BMW 7 Series High Security

    News

    Locked and Loaded: BMW 7 Series High Security

    0 Ratings | 0 Comments

    MUNICH, Germany ? BMW has unveiled its latest-generation armored flagships, the BMW 760Li High Security and 750Li High Security sedans. And we do mean "high security.". . .

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Overview

Every BMW 7 Series seems to be shuttling diplomats from one important meeting to another. Buy a BMW 7 Series and instantly you feel like the U.N. Secretary-General.

Sure it's great to ride in a BMW 7 Series, but what's kept them such desirable cars is how wonderfully they drive. From the very moment the first 7 Series replaced the previous range of large BMWs (the 3.0Si the best known among them) for the 1978 model year, it was apparent this was a big flagship sedan built for drivers.

That first "E23" 733i was larger than its smaller Bimmer brothers, but constructed very much like them, with a MacPherson strut front suspension and an independent rear suspension. And the BMW 7 Series was styled much like other BMWs, too, with clean lines and a bump along the center of the hood directly above the traditional twin-kidney openings in the grille.

The first-generation BMW 7 Series were powered by BMW's inline six-cylinder engines. In America, that was restricted to first a 3.3-liter six and later a 3.5-liter version. which changed the sedan's name to 735i. In some European markets, the first BMW 7 Series was also available as the 745i, with a turbocharger heaving into the big six.

In early 1987 the E32 second-generation BMW 7 Series arrived as a 1988 model in either 735i six-cylinder form or a new 750i powered by a 5.0-liter V12. In 1993 the six gave way to a new 4.0-liter V8 as the 7 Series base engine in the renamed 740i. And "L" at the end of any 7 Series name indicated a longer wheelbase. Compared to the E23, the E32 appeared lighter and more athletic and, for some, it remains the archetypical BMW 7 Series.

Another new 7 Series arrived for 1995 in the form of the utterly gorgeous E38 that was again offered in V8 740i and V12 750i form. The most controversial 7 Series, the Chris Bangle-designed, high-deck E65, showed up in 2002 equipped with the iDrive system controller. Again available in V8 and V12 guises, it remained in production until the new F01/02 BMW 7 Series went on sale for 2009.

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