The fourth-generation 7 Series introduced iDrive and a long list of electronic firsts, from active anti-roll bars to a parking brake worked by a button. Its styling by Adrian van Hooydonk under Chris Bangle was a clear break with the conservative E38. The 760i used the first production V12 with direct injection.
BMW 7 Series (E65) at a glance
| Maker | BMW, Dingolfing |
|---|---|
| Production | 2001–2008 |
| Body styles | E65 and long-wheelbase E66 |
| Designer | Adrian van Hooydonk, under Chris Bangle |
| Shown | Frankfurt Motor Show, September 2001 |
| Wheelbase | 2,990 mm, 60 mm more than the E38 |
| Dimensions | 45 mm longer, 38 mm wider and 60 mm taller than the E38, 15 kg heavier |
| Gearbox | six-speed automatic, the first in a production saloon |
| Firsts | iDrive, active anti-roll bars, adaptive headlights, electric parking brake |
| Engine of note | N62 V8 with a continuously variable intake manifold |
| V12 | 760i, the first production V12 with direct injection |
| Successor | F01 7 Series, late 2008 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the E65; the German article was not available.
History of the BMW 7 Series (E65)
Development
Development began in early 1996. In early 1997 Chris Bangle gave a brief to BMW’s Munich studio and to DesignworksUSA, and after a competition between 20 designers Adrian van Hooydonk’s proposal was approved in the spring of 1998. Production specifications were frozen in January 1999, 34 months before the market launch, the design was patented on 16 November 2000 and development ended in early 2001. The car was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2001 and went on sale in Germany in November. The Dingolfing plant was retooled for it at a cost of about €500 million.
Design
The E65 marked a departure from traditional BMW styling, and the board wanted the company image moved forward. Van Hooydonk’s first sketches of 1998 were a fastback even more radical than the production car. The “flame surfacing” treatment contrasted sharply with the E38’s conservative lines, and the long boot lid earned the nickname “Bangle Butt” from critics, although many argue the styling kept the car looking modern for years. The car was 45 mm longer, 38 mm wider and 60 mm taller than its predecessor, on a wheelbase 60 mm longer, yet only 15 kg heavier. Inside, BMW moved the gear selector to a steering column stalk, replaced the handbrake with a dashboard button and put the seat controls on the inside of the raised centre console; unlike most BMWs since 1975, the centre panel was not angled towards the driver.
Technology
The V8 models used the new N62 engine, the first in the world with a continuously variable-length intake manifold and BMW’s first V8 with Valvetronic variable valve lift, with conventional throttle butterflies kept as a backup. The E65 and E66 were the first saloons with a six-speed automatic, using ZF 6HP26 units on most models, 6HP19 on the 730i and 6HP32 on the 740d and 745d. iDrive ran on VxWorks with navigation built on Windows CE for Automotive, controlled by a central knob; early versions were criticised for complicated menus. Maps came on CD at first and moved to DVD in March 2003 along with a faster processor and new Menu and Customisable buttons; dedicated radio and track buttons and a brighter 8.8-inch screen followed in 2005. Other firsts were active anti-roll bars with a hydraulic servo in the middle of the bar, adaptive headlights and bi-xenon lights, and an electric parking brake that could apply itself in stop-and-go traffic or when the ignition was switched off.
Design and features
- iDrive: climate, navigation, telephony and car settings gathered under one controller, a BMW first.
- Active anti-roll bars: a hydraulic servo in the middle of the bar counteracts body roll without spoiling the ride.
- Electric parking brake: the first car in the world with a button-operated parking brake that applied itself.
- N62 V8: the first engine with a continuously variable-length intake manifold and BMW’s first Valvetronic V8.
- Radical interior: column gear stalk, seat controls on the centre console and a panel that faced straight back.
BMW 7 Series (E65) versions
- 735i, 740i, 745i: six- and eight-cylinder petrol models, the 745i with the N62 V8.
- 750i and 750Li: V12 flagship on the standard and long wheelbase.
- 760i: the first production V12 with direct injection.
- 730d, 740d and 745d: the diesel models, the 740d and 745d with the ZF 6HP32 gearbox.
- E66: long-wheelbase version sold alongside the standard E65.
The E65 replaced the 7 Series (E38), and its iDrive system was carried into the 5 Series (E60) and the 6 Series (E63). More cars are in the BMW collection.
Sources
- BMW 7 Series (E65), English Wikipedia: development, design, iDrive, technology
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