BMW 7 Series (E65)

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 2006.