BMW 7 Series
Encyclopedia
The BMW 7 Series is a line of full-size
Full-size car
A full-size car is a marketing term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car. In the United States, the EPA uses "large car" to denote full-size cars....

 luxury vehicles produced by the German automaker BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...

. Introduced in 1977, it is BMW's flagship car and is only available as a sedan or extended-length limousine
Limousine
A limousine is a luxury sedan or saloon car, especially one with a lengthened wheelbase or driven by a chauffeur. The chassis of a limousine may have been extended by the manufacturer or by an independent coachbuilder. These are called "stretch" limousines and are traditionally black or white....

. The 7 Series traditionally introduces technologies and exterior design themes before they trickle down to smaller sedans in BMW's lineup.

E23 (1977–1986)

Models offered:
Model Engine Power Torque Built
PS kW hp at rpm N·m ft·lbf at rpm
725‡ 2494 cc I-6 150 PS 5800 208 N.m 4000 1977−1979?
728 2788 cc I-6 170 PS 5800 233 N.m 4000 1977−1979
728i 2788 cc I-6 184 PS 5800 235 N.m 4200 1979−1986
730 2985 cc I-6 184 PS 5800 255 N.m 3500 1977−1979
732i 3205 cc I-6 196 PS 5500 279 N.m 4500 1979−1986
733i 3205 cc I-6 197 PS 5500 279 N.m 4300 1977−1979
735i 3453 cc I-6 218 PS 5200 304 N.m 4000 1979−1982
735i 3430 cc I-6 218 PS 5200 304 N.m 4000 1982−1986
745i 3205 cc I-6 252 PS 5200 374 N.m 2600 1980−1982
745i 3430 cc I-6 252 PS 4900 374 N.m 2200 1983−1986
North America and Japan
733i 3210 cc I-6 179 132 177 5500 266 196 4000 MY 1978−1979
733i 3210 cc I-6 176 130 174 5200 255 188 4200 MY 1980−1981
733i 3210 cc I-6 184 135 181 6000 264 195 4000 MY 1982−1984
735i/L7 3430 cc I-6 185 136 182 5400 290 214 4000 MY 1985−1987,
L7 1986–1987
South Africa
745i 3453 cc I-6 286 PS 6500 340 N.m 4500 198?−198?
Note: ‡ For government agencies and on special order only


E32 (1986–1994)

The E32 was introduced in 1986, with the 730i and 735i featuring 3.0 L and 3.5 L straight-6
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...

 engines respectively, and a new, 5.0 L, 300 hp V12 engine
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....

 for the 750i. In 1992, 3.0 L and 4.0 L V8
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....

 engines were added to the lineup (730i and 740i). All models were also available in a stretched 'L' version, which had 10 cm of extra legroom for the rear passengers. This was last 7 series generation to be available exclusively with gasoline engines (in Europe).

Engine specifications and performance

Model Engine Code Engine Type Displacement (cc
Cubic centimetre
A cubic centimetre is a commonly used unit of volume extending the derived SI-unit cubic metre, and corresponds to the volume of a cube measuring 1 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm...

)
Power Torque Years made
730i M30B30 I6
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...

 12V 
SOHC
2986 188 PS
@ 5800
260 newton metres (191.8 ft·lbf)
@ 4000
1986–1994
735i M30B35 I6 12V
SOHC
3430 211 PS
@ 5700
305 newton metres (225 ft·lbf)
@ 4000
1986–1992
730i V8 M60B30 V8
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....

 32V
2×DOHC
2997 218 PS
@ 5800
290 newton metres (213.9 ft·lbf)
@ 4500
1992–1994
740i M60B40 V8 32V
2×DOHC
3982 286 PS
@ 5800
400 newton metres (295 ft·lbf)
@ 4500
1992–1994
750i M70B50 V12
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....

 24V
SOHC
4988 300 PS
@ 5200
450 newton metres (331.9 ft·lbf)
@ 4100
1987–1994

E38 (1994–2001)


The E38 generation (1994–2001) had a five-speed automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...

. The engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...

 variants in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...

 were 725tds, 728i, 730i, 730d, 735i, 740i (4.0 and 4.4 L), 740d and 750i (with a 5.4 L V12 322 bhp engine, as was used in the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph, produced from 1998 to 2002, was first unveiled on March 3, 1998 at the Geneva Motor Show. The Silver Seraph replaced the Silver Spur, which ended production in 1997....

).

In America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

, the models were sold as the 740i, 740iL and 750iL. The 740i and 740iL shared the same 4.0 L V8 engine in model year 1995, but the next year the V8 grew to 4.4L while stated power stayed at 282 hp, though torque grew from 295 lb·ft. Then again coinciding with the 1999 facelift, the V8's power again stayed the same but now torque grew further to 324 lbft, due to new variable valve timing. The 740iL is essentially a long-wheelbase 740i (the "L" is from the German word for long, "lang"). The considerably rarer 5.4 L V12-powered 750iL was only available as a long-body; there was no E38 750i in the US lineup. The E38 was the first car in the world to feature Xenon headlights.

The 750iL was BMW's flagship sedan. It was featured in the 1997 film Tomorrow Never Dies
Tomorrow Never Dies
Tomorrow Never Dies is the eighteenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the second to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Bruce Feirstein wrote the screenplay, and it was directed by Roger Spottiswoode. It follows Bond as he tries to stop a media mogul from engineering...

as the car driven by James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...

 (Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brendan Brosnan, OBE is an Irish actor, film producer and environmentalist. After leaving school at 16, Brosnan began training in commercial illustration, but trained at the Drama Centre in London for three years...

).

An E38 735i is the feature car in the 2002 film The Transporter
The Transporter
The Transporter is a 2002 French action film directed by Louis Leterrier and Corey Yuen and written by Luc Besson, who was inspired by BMW Films' The Hire series....

, starring Jason Statham
Jason Statham
Jason Statham born 12 September1967) is an English actor and former diver, known for his roles in the Guy Ritchie crime films Revolver, Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels...

.

E65/E66 (2002–2008)

The fourth generation was available in four different variants: the standard-wheelbase E65 (2990 mm, 118 in), the extended-wheelbase E66 (3130 mm, 123 in), the High Security version E67 and the hydrogen powered version E68. It dropped the manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...

 entirely.

The E65/E66/E67/E68 7 Series featured BMW's first of a kind iDrive
IDrive
iDrive is a computer system which is used to control most secondary vehicle systems in many current BMW cars. iDrive's user interface consists of a LCD panel mounted in the dashboard and a controller knob mounted on the center console....

 system, consisting of a video screen in the dashboard and a controller mounted on the center console that is used in a similar way to a computer mouse. Using a system of eight menus, most of the car's climate, audio, navigation, suspension and communication settings are controlled via iDrive. However, the system has been criticized by many automotive writers as being too complex and not intuitive enough.

"Active" Seat continuous passive motion technology was made standard equipment on the 750/760 models and included in the Luxury Seating Package with heated and ventilated seats for driver and front passenger on the 745 models.

The car was available in thirteen variants—of those, 11 were on sale in Europe, with five available in the U.S. since diesel models were not available there.
Engine Power Torque 0–100 km/h* Top speed
730i 3.0 L
Litér
- External links :*...

 petrol (gasoline) I6
170 kW 300 newton metre 8.1 s 237 km/h (147 mph)
730Li 3.0 L petrol (gasoline) I6 170 kW 300 newton metre 8.3 s 237 km/h (147 mph)
730d 3.0 L diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...

 I6
170 kW 520 newton metre 7.8 s 238 km/h (148 mph)
730Ld 3.0 L diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...

 I6
170 kW 520 newton metre 7.9 s 238 km/h (148 mph)
735i/735Li** 3.6 L petrol (gasoline) V8 200 kW 360 newton metre 7.5 s 250 km/h (155 mph)***
740d 3.9 L diesel V8 190 kW 600 newton metre 7.5 s 250 km/h (155 mph)***
745d 4.4 L diesel V8 242 kW 750 newton metre 6.6 s 250 km/h (155 mph)***
745i/745Li** 4.4 L petrol (gasoline) V8 245 kW 450 newton metre 6.3 s 250 km/h (155 mph)***
760i 6.0 L petrol (gasoline) V12
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....

327 kW 600 newton metre 5.5 s 250 km/h (155 mph)***
760Li 6.0 L petrol (gasoline) V12 327 kW 600 newton metre 5.6 s 250 km/h (155 mph)***
Alpina B7 4.4 L petrol (gasoline) V8 373 kW 699 newton metre 4.8 s 300 km/h (186 mph)


*0–62 mph

**Performance numbers for the 735i and 735Li are identical, and those for the 745i and 745Li are identical.

***All roadgoing BMWs have an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.

In America, only the 750i, 750Li and 760Li were available from BMW dealerships. The 730i, 730d, 740i, 740d Turbodiesel
Turbodiesel
Turbodiesel refers to any diesel engine with a turbocharger. Turbocharging is the norm rather than the exception in modern car and truck diesel engines...

 and their long wheelbase counterparts were available in the rest of the world, in addition to the short wheelbase 760i. Alpina B7 was available for order through BMW dealerships only in United States and Canada, everywhere else it was available through Alpina
Alpina
Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH is an automobile manufacturing company based in Buchloe, in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany selling their own cars, based on BMW cars....

 dealerships.

In US:
  • 2002–2005 745i: 4.4 L V8, 325 hp.
  • 2002–2005 745Li: 4.4 L V8, 325 hp.
  • 2006– 750i: 4.8 L V8, 360 hp.
  • 2006– 750Li: 4.8 L V8, 360 hp.
  • 2004–2006 760i: 6.0 L V12, 438 hp.
  • 2003– 760Li: 6.0 L V12, 438 hp.
  • 2007– Alpina B7: 4.4 L V8, 500 hp.

2006

The 7 Series was facelifted for 2006 with a restyled front and rear and a larger range of engines, the N62B48.

The twice-refreshed 7 Series sports a new taillight and reduced height for the trunk lid. The front headlight and the kidney grille was also raised somewhat, as well as a new front air dam and fog light assembly.
Engine Power Torque 0–100 km/h* Top speed
750i 4.8 L petrol (gasoline) V8
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....

270 kW 490 newton metre 5.9 s 250 km/h (155 mph)**
750Li 4.8 L petrol (gasoline) V8 270 kW 490 newton metre 6.0 s 250 km/h (155 mph)**
760Li 6.0 L petrol (gasoline) V12
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....

327 kW 600 newton metre 5.6 s 250 km/h (155 mph)**


*0–62 mph

**All roadgoing BMWs have an electronically limited top speed of 250 kilometre per hour. This limitation does not however apply to the GCC specification models.

The 4.4 L V8 was replaced by a 4.8 L unit producing 367 hp and 361 lbft . The new model with the enlarged engine is now known as 750i and 750Li (for the long wheel-base model). The 750i and 750Li replace the 745i and 745Li in all world markets. The 745d, powered by a 4.4 L turbodiesel producing 329 hp has replaced the 740d. As before, a six-speed automatic transmission with Steptronic is standard on all models.

2007

In 2007 the 7 series received minor updates both inside and out. On the exterior, new wheel designs were made available and power folding mirrors became standard. On the inside, an update to the iDrive system (but still no RTTI: Real Time Traffic Info) was also made standard. 2007 also saw the installation of an auxiliary input for connecting an audio source. Engine options remained the same as with the 2006 model, but the short wheelbase 760i, was no longer available for the North American market.

Hydrogen 7

BMW plans to offer a car that runs on both petrol and hydrogen, to be called the Hydrogen 7. Since the infrastructure for refueling a hydrogen fueled engine is not widely available, the V12 engine
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....

 also runs on petrol. Drivers will be able to switch what fuel they are using with the push of a button. However, only 100 units have been built up to now for a limited edition. For example, the mayor of Munich, Christian Ude
Christian Ude
Christian Ude is the current mayor of Munich. He is a member of the German Social Democratic Party.Additionally, until 2009 he was a member of the board of directors of the football club TSV 1860 München....

, received one of them. BMW has also developed a newer, more efficient hydrogen combustion engine, now on par with some of the most efficient diesel engines.

High Security

BMW also built armoured versions of the 7 series vehicles. The models have protection levels VR6/VR7. Security features include laminated windows, carbon fibre reinforced armour plating, under body armour, emergency front windscreen exit, lowered door windows, run flat tires
Run flat tires
A run-flat tire is a pneumatic vehicle tire that is designed to resist the effects of deflation when punctured, and to enable the vehicle to continue to be driven at reduced speeds , and for limited distances of up to 100 miles , or even 200 miles depending on the type of tire.-...

.

Self-parking system

BMW has developed a parking-assist technology that can automatically park the car while the driver stands outside and watches as the internal robotics park it using a combination of sensors. A prototype of the system has been completed and was recorded using a BMW 730i.

F01/F02 (2009–)

The 5th generation F01/F02 came out January 2009. The F01/F02 heralded the introduction of the ZF 8-speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...

. Five variants are showcased at debut, the 750Li, the 740Li, the 750i, the 740i and the 730d.

Numerous engines also power the 7 Series worldwide. BMW offers diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...

, straight 6, V8
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....

 and V12
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....

 motors. An all-aluminum 3.0-liter straight-six cylinder diesel engine produces 245 hp. The peak torque figure of 540 newton metre comes in at 1,750 rpm up through 3,000 rpm. Its 194g/km emission figure is class-leading for conventionally powered luxury cars, as is its 38.7 mpg fuel consumption figure.

BMW switched from a MacPherson strut
MacPherson strut
The MacPherson strut is a type of car suspension system which uses the axis of a telescopic damper as the upper steering pivot. It is widely used in modern vehicles and named after Earle S. MacPherson, who developed the design.-History:...

 front suspension to a double wishbone design for improved handling. The F01 is also available in a bulletproof
Bulletproof
Bulletproofing is the process of making something capable of stopping a bullet or similar high velocity projectiles e.g. shrapnel. The term bullet resistance is often preferred because few, if any, practical materials provide complete protection against all types of bullets, or multiple hits in the...

 version.
Model Engine Code Engine Type Displacement Power Torque 0–100 km/h·s) Years made
760Li N74B60
BMW N74
The N74 a V12 engine built by BMW in Munich, Germany. As of 2009 it is the company's flagship engine in the 7-Series, only being offered in the Li long wheelbase variant....

V12
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....

 48V
5972 cc 544 PS @ 5250 rpm 750 newton metre @ 1500-5000 rpm 4.6 (aut
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...

)
2009-
745i/745Li 750i/750Li N61/N63 V8 32V 4395 cc 408 PS @ 5500-6400 rpm 600 newton metre @ 1750-4500 rpm 5.5 (aut
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...

)
2009–
740i/740Li N54 I6
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...

 24V
2979 cc 326 PS @ 5800 rpm 450 newton metre @ 1500-4500 rpm 5.7 (aut
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...

)
2009–
730d/730Ld N57 I6
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...

 24V
2993 cc 245 PS @ 4000 rpm 540 newton metre @ 1750-3000 rpm 7.2 (aut
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...

)
2009–
740d N57 I6
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...

 24V
2993 cc 306 PS 600 newton metre @ 1500-2500 rpm 6.3 (aut
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...

)
2009–


In April 2009, BMW announced plans for a 760Li, which will be BMW's new flagship model. The 760Li will be equipped with a twin-turbocharged V12 producing 544 horsepower, which will propel the car from 0 to 62 miles per hour in 4.6 seconds.

In 2010, all-wheel-drive (BMW xDrive
BMW xDrive
BMW xDrive is BMW's four-wheel drive system that powers the X1, X3, X5, X6 and 2006 and later xd and xi 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series models. BMW confirmed it has ....

) became available on the 7-series.

Improved iDrive

The new F01/F02 is equipped with a more intuitive iDrive
IDrive
iDrive is a computer system which is used to control most secondary vehicle systems in many current BMW cars. iDrive's user interface consists of a LCD panel mounted in the dashboard and a controller knob mounted on the center console....

 system with a full featured web browser.

ActiveHybrid 7

The BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid
BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid
The BMW Concept 7 Series ActiveHybrid is a concept vehicle developed by BMW and presented at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008. It is BMW's first mild hybrid and second hybrid concept vehicle after the BMW Concept X6 ActiveHybrid, BMWs first full hybrid revealed at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show...

 was unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008. In August 2009 BMW announced the production versions of the ActiveHybrid 7, together with BMW ActiveHybrid X6.

The 2011 ActiveHybrid 7 is a mild hybrid
Mild Hybrid
Mild hybrids are essentially conventional fossil-fuel vehicles equipped with a large electric machine allowing the engine to be turned off whenever the car is coasting, braking, or stopped, yet restart quickly...

 and features a 0.4-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. The electric motor is combined with BMW’s 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 and new 8-speed automatic transmission to accelerate from 0 – 60 mph in just 4.7 seconds. Estimated EPA fuel economy is 17 miles per US gallon (7.2 km/L) city and 26 miles per US gallon (11.1 km/L) for highway, which represents almost an 18% improvement over the non-hybrid 750i/Li.

US sales began in June 2010 with a base MSRP price of $103,125 for the ActiveHybrid 7 and $107,025 for the long wheelbase ActiveHybrid 7L. The ActiveHybrid 7 qualifies for a $900 U.S. Federal Tax Credit
Hybrid tax credit
The U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 established a federal income tax credit of up to $3,400 for the purchase of new hybrid vehicles, purchased or placed into service after December 31, 2005. Vehicles purchased after December 31, 2010 are not eligible for this credit...

.

Production and sales


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK