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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" trunk (boot) lid, which
was derisively known as the "Bangle Butt" by critics.[1][2]
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.[1][2]
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).
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