BMW 7-series I (E23) photos

1977 — 1986 · sedan
37
photos
26
specifications
168–282
hp
7.0 s
best 0–100

About this generation

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.

Specifications

26
4860 mm191.3 in
Length
1800 mm70.9 in
Width
1430 mm56.3 in
Height
2795 mm110.0 in
Wheelbase
640 l22.6 cu ft
Trunk
Petrol
728
168hp(125 kW)
2.8 l 4-speed manual RWD 0–100 9.8 s
1977–1979
Torque
238 Nm (176 lb-ft)
Top speed
196 km/h (122 mph)
Displacement
2788 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B28
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1470 kg (3241 lb)
Fuel tank
85 l (22.5 gal US)
728
168hp(125 kW)
2.8 l 3-speed automatic RWD 0–100 11.5 s
1977–1979
Torque
238 Nm (176 lb-ft)
Top speed
190 km/h (118 mph)
Displacement
2788 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B28
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1500 kg (3307 lb)
Fuel tank
85 l (22.5 gal US)
733i
178hp(133 kW)
3.2 l 5-speed manual RWD
1980–1984
Torque
266 Nm (196 lb-ft)
Top speed
200 km/h (124 mph)
Displacement
3210 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B32
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1605 kg (3538 lb)
Fuel tank
85 l (22.5 gal US)
733i
178hp(133 kW)
3.2 l 3-speed automatic RWD 0–100 9.9 s
1978–1984
Torque
280 Nm (207 lb-ft)
Top speed
200 km/h (124 mph)
Displacement
3210 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B32
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1560 kg (3439 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
728i
181hp(135 kW)
2.8 l 4-speed manual RWD 0–100 9.5 s
1979–1981
Torque
240 Nm (177 lb-ft)
Top speed
201 km/h (125 mph)
Displacement
2788 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B28
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1490 kg (3285 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
728i
181hp(135 kW)
2.8 l 5-speed manual RWD 0–100 9.5 s
1981–1986
Torque
240 Nm (177 lb-ft)
Top speed
201 km/h (125 mph)
Displacement
2788 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B28
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1490 kg (3285 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
728i
181hp(135 kW)
2.8 l 3-speed automatic RWD 0–100 10.7 s
1979–1982
Torque
240 Nm (177 lb-ft)
Top speed
195 km/h (121 mph)
Displacement
2788 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B28
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1520 kg (3351 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
728i
181hp(135 kW)
2.8 l 4-speed automatic RWD 0–100 10.7 s
1982–1986
Torque
240 Nm (177 lb-ft)
Top speed
197 km/h (122 mph)
Displacement
2788 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B28
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1520 kg (3351 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
730
181hp(135 kW)
3.0 l 4-speed manual RWD 0–100 9.4 s
1977–1979
Torque
255 Nm (188 lb-ft)
Top speed
200 km/h (124 mph)
Displacement
2986 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B30
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1490 kg (3285 lb)
Fuel tank
85 l (22.5 gal US)
730
181hp(135 kW)
3.0 l 3-speed automatic RWD 0–100 10.9 s
1977–1979
Torque
255 Nm (188 lb-ft)
Top speed
194 km/h (121 mph)
Displacement
2986 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B30
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1520 kg (3351 lb)
Fuel tank
85 l (22.5 gal US)
735i
182hp(136 kW)
3.4 l 5-speed manual RWD 0–100 9.1 s
1984–1986
Torque
290 Nm (214 lb-ft)
Top speed
205 km/h (127 mph)
Displacement
3430 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B34
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1530 kg (3373 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
735i
182hp(136 kW)
3.4 l 4-speed automatic RWD 0–100 10.0 s
1984–1986
Torque
290 Nm (214 lb-ft)
Top speed
200 km/h (124 mph)
Displacement
3430 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B34
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1560 kg (3439 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
732i
194hp(145 kW)
3.2 l 4-speed manual RWD 0–100 8.6 s
1979–1981
Torque
280 Nm (207 lb-ft)
Top speed
208 km/h (129 mph)
Displacement
3210 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B32
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1510 kg (3329 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
732i
194hp(145 kW)
3.2 l 5-speed manual RWD 0–100 8.6 s
1981–1986
Torque
280 Nm (207 lb-ft)
Top speed
208 km/h (129 mph)
Displacement
3210 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B32
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1510 kg (3329 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
732i
194hp(145 kW)
3.2 l 3-speed automatic RWD 0–100 9.9 s
1979–1982
Torque
280 Nm (207 lb-ft)
Top speed
203 km/h (126 mph)
Displacement
3210 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B32
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1540 kg (3395 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
732i
194hp(145 kW)
3.2 l 4-speed automatic RWD 0–100 9.7 s
1982–1986
Torque
280 Nm (207 lb-ft)
Top speed
204 km/h (127 mph)
Displacement
3210 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B32
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1540 kg (3395 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
733i
194hp(145 kW)
3.2 l 4-speed manual RWD 0–100 8.9 s
1977–1979
Torque
280 Nm (207 lb-ft)
Top speed
205 km/h (127 mph)
Displacement
3210 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B32
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1510 kg (3329 lb)
Fuel tank
85 l (22.5 gal US)
733i
194hp(145 kW)
3.2 l 3-speed automatic RWD 0–100 10.4 s
1977–1979
Torque
280 Nm (207 lb-ft)
Top speed
200 km/h (124 mph)
Displacement
3210 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B32
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1540 kg (3395 lb)
Fuel tank
85 l (22.5 gal US)
735i
215hp(160 kW)
3.5 l 4-speed manual RWD 0–100 7.6 s
1979–1980
Torque
310 Nm (229 lb-ft)
Top speed
217 km/h (135 mph)
Displacement
3453 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B35
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1520 kg (3351 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
735i
215hp(160 kW)
3.4 l 5-speed manual RWD 0–100 7.9 s
1980–1986
Torque
315 Nm (232 lb-ft)
Top speed
217 km/h (135 mph)
Displacement
3430 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B35
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1530 kg (3373 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
735i
215hp(160 kW)
3.5 l 3-speed automatic RWD 0–100 9.3 s
1979–1982
Torque
310 Nm (229 lb-ft)
Top speed
212 km/h (132 mph)
Displacement
3453 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B35
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1550 kg (3417 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
735i
215hp(160 kW)
3.4 l 4-speed automatic RWD 0–100 8.7 s
1982–1986
Torque
315 Nm (232 lb-ft)
Top speed
212 km/h (132 mph)
Displacement
3430 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M30B35
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1560 kg (3439 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
745i
248hp(185 kW)
3.2 l 3-speed automatic RWD 0–100 7.8 s
1980–1982
Torque
380 Nm (280 lb-ft)
Top speed
222 km/h (138 mph)
Displacement
3210 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M102
Aspiration
turbo
Curb weight
1590 kg (3505 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
745i
248hp(185 kW)
3.4 l 4-speed automatic RWD 0–100 7.9 s
1982–1986
Torque
380 Nm (280 lb-ft)
Top speed
227 km/h (141 mph)
Displacement
3430 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M106
Aspiration
turbo
Curb weight
1640 kg (3616 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
745i
282hp(210 kW)
3.5 l 5-speed manual RWD 0–100 7.0 s
1984–1986
Torque
340 Nm (251 lb-ft)
Top speed
240 km/h (149 mph)
Displacement
3453 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M88/3
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1590 kg (3505 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)
745i
282hp(210 kW)
3.5 l 4-speed automatic RWD 0–100 7.5 s
1984–1986
Torque
340 Nm (251 lb-ft)
Top speed
235 km/h (146 mph)
Displacement
3453 cc
Cylinders
6
Engine
M88/3
Aspiration
naturally aspirated
Curb weight
1620 kg (3571 lb)
Fuel tank
100 l (26.4 gal US)

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