BMW first introduced the 735i nameplate in 1979 as the top engine variant of the original 7 Series, the E23. It established the model as a flagship luxury sedan with BMW’s larger straight-six powertrain and became closely associated with the early identity of the 7 Series as the brand’s executive sedan line.
The 735i returned for the second-generation E32 7 Series in 1986, again as one of the core six-cylinder models. In this era, the 735i helped define the E32’s more modern, upscale character and was offered alongside long-wheelbase versions later in the run. BMW’s own heritage material describes the E32 735i as a successful model that remained in production until 1992, when it was replaced in the range.
After a brief gap, BMW revived the 735i name on the E38 7 Series in 1996. This version reflected a different chapter in the model’s history, with the badge now applied to a V8-powered sedan in selected markets. It served as the revised entry point in parts of the E38 lineup until production ended in 2001.
Because the 735i badge appeared in multiple distinct BMW 7 Series generations with a production gap between them, it should be treated as a nameplate with separate production periods rather than a single continuous run. The name has long represented BMW’s mainstream upper-luxury 7 Series offering, and it remains a familiar badge among enthusiasts of the brand’s classic executive sedans.