BMW 7-series I (E23) gallery (1977–1986)
BMW's inaugural flagship sedan that established the 7 Series badge and challenged established luxury rivals with advanced electronics.
Introduced in 1977, the E23 stepped forward as BMW's ultimate luxury flagship, taking over from the large E3 sedans. Its aggressive forward-leaning shark nose, broad glasshouse, and stately proportions announced a new era of executive transport designed to challenge the luxury establishment head-on.
The E23 was a technology pioneer for the brand, introducing features like anti-lock braking (ABS), climate control with digital readouts, check-control displays, and on late models, turbocharging in the flagship 745i. It successfully established BMW as a technological powerhouse in the full-size luxury car segment.