Powertrain families
B48 petrol I4 · B58 petrol I6 · N63 petrol V8 · N74 petrol V12 · B57 diesel I6 · plug-in hybrid
7 Series (G11/G12) — Sedan
2015–2022
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- G11
- Production
- G11 production from 2015 to 2022
- Body style
- 4-door sedan
- Platform
- longitudinal layout · rear- or all-wheel drive
Body variants
7 Series → G11/G12 → Sedan
7 Series G11/G12: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected sedan fits into the family.
G11/G12 paired a deliberately familiar luxury-saloon shape with one of BMW's largest engineering changes of the period. Its Carbon Core body structure combined steel, aluminium and carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic to reduce weight while retaining the space and equipment expected of a 7 Series.
The standard-wheelbase G11 and longer G12 supported petrol, diesel and plug-in-hybrid derivatives, as well as six-, eight- and twelve-cylinder engines in selected markets. Gesture control, remote parking and a display key drew attention at launch, but body length, drivetrain and production phase remain the practical catalogue divisions.
G11 and G12 use separate standard and 140 mm longer bodies even though some markets sold only the long car. Plug-in hybrids, the V12 M760Li and later 48-volt derivatives have their own mass, fuel and electrical data. The visually extensive 2019 update also altered engines, driver assistance and digital interfaces, so it forms a firm specification boundary.
2015–2022generation lifecycle
2body branches
6engine/drive families
10range designations
G11/G12factory 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.
Length5,098 mm
Width1,902 mm
Height1,467 mm
Wheelbase3,070 mm
Luggage515 L
Fuel tank46–78 L
Seats5
Doors4-door sedan
| Body | Code | Production | Doors / seats | Length | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sedan | G11 | 2015–2022 | 4-door sedan / 5 | 5,098 mm | 515 L |
| Long-wheelbase Sedan | G12 | 2015–2022 | 4-door long-wheelbase sedan / 5 | 5,238 mm | 515 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 / 740i / Li | 2015–2022 | B48 / B58 petrol | 258–340 PS | 8AT | RWD / xDrive | Global range | The new BMW 7 Series |
| 750i / 750Li xDrive | 2015–2022 | N63 V8 | 450–530 PS | 8AT | RWD / xDrive | Global range | The new BMW 7 Series |
| 725d / 730d / 740d / 750d | 2015–2022 | B47 / B57 diesel | 231–400 PS | 8AT | RWD / xDrive | Europe | The new BMW 7 Series |
| 740e / 740Le | 2016–2019 | B48 + electric motor | 326 PS system | 8AT hybrid | RWD / xDrive | Global range | The new BMW 7 Series |
| 745e / 745Le | 2019–2022 | B58 + electric motor | 394 PS system | 8AT hybrid | RWD / xDrive | Global range | The new BMW 7 Series |
Factory designations
730i · 740i · 750i · M760Li · 725d · 730d · 740d · 750d · 740e/745e · Le/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.
Electrification
Mild- and plug-in hybrids are separate derivatives; combustion-engine output must not be substituted for total system output.
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
- G11: 5,098 mm × 1,902 mm × 1,467 mm
- G12: 5,238 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.
Carbon Core generation
G11 and G12 launched, followed by plug-in hybrids and M760Li.
Major lifecycle update
The LCI changed the front design, engines, assistance systems and digital interfaces.
Extensive lifecycle update
New exterior design, powertrains, assistance systems and digital interfaces entered production together.
Production end
The two-wheelbase generation transitioned to the single-wheelbase G70.
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
G11G11 was the standard-wheelbase sixth-generation sedan with a Carbon Core mixed-material passenger cell and up to 130 kg lower mass than its predecessor. Engines/drive: B48 petrol I4, B58 petrol I6, N63 petrol V8, N74 petrol V12, B57 diesel I6, plug-in hybrid.
Long-wheelbase Sedan
G12G12 added 140 mm of wheelbase to G11, reaching 3,210 mm and supporting Executive Lounge, Li, M760Li and plug-in-hybrid derivatives. Engines/drive: B48 petrol I4, B58 petrol I6, N63 petrol V8, N74 petrol V12, B57 diesel I6, plug-in hybrid.
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
- G11 — Sedan; G12 — Long-wheelbase Sedan
- Range designations
- 730i, 740i, 750i, M760Li, 725d, 730d, 740d, 750d, 740e/745e, Le/Li derivatives
- Powertrain families
- B48 petrol I4, B58 petrol I6, N63 petrol V8, N74 petrol V12, B57 diesel I6, plug-in hybrid
- 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 (G11)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 G11/G12 bodies, Carbon Core, powertrains, chassis and digital technology.
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: Kārlis Dambrāns ; cropped, advertising undrawn and levels adjusted by uploader EurovisionNim, CC BY 2.0 · 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