Powertrain families
N54/N55 petrol I6 · N63 petrol V8 · N74 petrol V12 · N57 diesel I6 · ActiveHybrid
7 Series (F01/F02) — Sedan
2008–2015
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- F01
- Production
- F01 production from 2008 to 2015
- Body style
- 4-door sedan
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive
Body variants
7 Series → F01/F02 → Sedan
7 Series F01/F02: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected sedan fits into the family.
F01 softened the experimental edges of its predecessor without returning to an analogue past. The design became more restrained and iDrive easier to use, while turbocharged engines, an eight-speed automatic and a denser network of cameras and driver-assistance systems moved the flagship forward technically.
F01 and long-wheelbase F02 covered the main global range, joined by market- and protection-specific derivatives. xDrive and ActiveHybrid 7 widened the choice of drivetrains, so two cars with the same outward body length can still differ greatly in engine, transmission, suspension and electrical equipment.
F01 and F02 retain the 140 mm wheelbase distinction, with F02 concentrating the gain in the rear compartment. xDrive, ActiveHybrid 7 and the V12 760i/Li have different driveline, cooling and mass data; Protection derivatives are special-production vehicles. The 2012 LCI also changed engines and eight-speed-transmission coverage, making build month essential for parts and specifications.
2008–2015generation lifecycle
2body branches
5engine/drive families
9range designations
F01/F02factory code
longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drivearchitecture
Sedan: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length5,072 mm
Width1,902 mm
Height1,479 mm
Wheelbase3,070 mm
Luggage500 L
Fuel tank80–82 L
Seats5
Doors4-door sedan
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | F01 | 2008–2015 | 4-door sedan / 5 | 5,072 mm | 500 L |
| Long-wheelbase Sedan | F02 | 2008–2015 | 4-door long-wheelbase sedan / 5 | 5,212 mm | 500 L |
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented sedan applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 730i / 730Li | 2008–2015 | N52 / N54 petrol I6 | 258–272 PS | 6AT / 8AT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW 7 Series |
| 740i / 740Li | 2008–2015 | N54 / N55 petrol I6 | 320–326 PS | 6AT / 8AT | RWD / xDrive | Global range | The new BMW 7 Series |
| 750i / 750Li | 2008–2015 | N63 V8 | 407–450 PS | 6AT / 8AT | RWD / xDrive | Global range | The new BMW 7 Series |
| 760i / 760Li | 2009–2015 | N74B60 V12 | 544 PS | 8AT | RWD | Global range | The new BMW 7 Series |
| 730d / 740d / 750d | 2008–2015 | N57D30 | 245–381 PS | 6AT / 8AT | RWD / xDrive | Europe | The new BMW 7 Series |
| ActiveHybrid 7 | 2010–2015 | N63/N55 + electric motor | 354–465 PS system | 8AT hybrid | RWD | Global range | The new BMW 7 Series |
Factory designations
730i · 740i · 750i · 760i · 730d · 740d · 750d xDrive · ActiveHybrid 7 · Li derivatives
Petrol engines
Inline and V engines are grouped by engine family, displacement, induction system and emissions specification.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- F01: 5,072 mm × 1,902 mm × 1,479 mm
- F02: 5,212 mm × 1,902 mm × 1,479 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
F01/F02 launch
The fifth generation launched with both wheelbases, followed by the V12 760Li.
Hybrid, xDrive and LCI
ActiveHybrid and xDrive broadened the range before the lifecycle revision.
Lifecycle update
The facelift revised engines, transmission coverage, lighting, assistance systems and cabin electronics.
Production end
F01/F02 production ended as G11/G12 introduced Carbon Core.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Sedan
F01F01 was the standard-wheelbase fifth-generation sedan, with turbocharging across much of the range, Integral Active Steering and later optional xDrive. Engines/drive: N54/N55 petrol I6, N63 petrol V8, N74 petrol V12, N57 diesel I6, ActiveHybrid.
Long-wheelbase Sedan
F02F02 extended the F01 wheelbase by 140 mm to 3,210 mm and carried Li, 760Li, diesel and ActiveHybrid market derivatives. Engines/drive: N54/N55 petrol I6, N63 petrol V8, N74 petrol V12, N57 diesel I6, ActiveHybrid.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- F01 — Sedan; F02 — Long-wheelbase Sedan
- Range designations
- 730i, 740i, 750i, 760i, 730d, 740d, 750d xDrive, ActiveHybrid 7, Li derivatives
- Powertrain families
- N54/N55 petrol I6, N63 petrol V8, N74 petrol V12, N57 diesel I6, ActiveHybrid
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW 7 Series (F01)Wikipedia contributors
English-language secondary overview of the generation, body programme, powertrains and production chronology; key claims are cross-checked against the factory sources below.
- 02The new BMW 7 SeriesBMW Group PressClub
Official F01/F02 launch, chassis, drivetrain and specification material.
Notes and limitations
- Standard, iL/Li and the single G70 body are different body-level records; Executive or Highline equipment does not create a new body.
- Output, transmission and equipment depend on market and production date and require VIN-linked, dated factory literature.
2 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: OSX, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; wikimedia commons 1,800 px derivative downloaded; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026