E66

The E65/E66/E67/E68 model was the basis for the previous BMW 7-Series. It replaced the BMW E38 for the 2002 model year. The car was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2001, and was launched in Europe on November 17, 2001. It first appeared in the USA and other markets in the spring of 2002. E65 was the designation of the short wheel base version of the automobile, E66 of the long wheel base version, E67 of the bullet proof version and E68 of the hydrogen version.

The E65 generated much controversy, due to its radical styling and iDrive user difficulties, so customers rushed to purchase its predecessor, the E38, before it was discontinued. Nonetheless, the E65 broke records to become the best-selling 7-series iteration ever, especially after its 2006 facelift.

The arrival of E65 7-Series heralded a new styling era for BMW with the work of chief designer Chris Bangle, with its two-level rear end styling that features separate rear fenders with a "bustle-back" boot lid, which was derisively known as the "Bangle Butt" by critics.

Early production E65s were fraught with problems, the vast majority of which were caused by software issues, not least the lack of functionality of iDrive. BMW repurchased a substantial number of 2002 and 2003 7 series cars in the USA. Subsequent software updates have largely cured these issues. Furthermore, BMW of North America extended the factory warranty on all 2002 and 2003 model year 7 series cars sold in the USA to 6 years or 100,000 miles (160,000 km) from the original 4-year or 50,000-mile (80,000 km) coverage. The UK however was only covered by the standard 3 yr/unlimited mileage warranty on this model.

The E65/E66 were the only BMW cars that are available with the top of the line 6.0 litre V12 petrol and 4.4 liter V8 turbodiesel engines, respectively the BMW N73 760i V12 and BMW M67D44 745d V8 Turbodiesel models.

The 2008 United States MSRP for the BMW 7 Series was: $75,800 (750i), $78,900 (750Li), and $122,600 (760Li).

See Wikicars' comprehensive  Review.

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