BMW’s new 7 Series has been quite polarizing here, as of late. After a loss to the Mercedes-Benz S Class in a recent article, fans of both brands have been both pretty critical and overly supportive of the new G11 7 Series. However, sometimes it’s good to get a different perspective from another publication to see how they feel about it. Especially when that publication has been driving their 7 Series for several months, as part of their long-term program.
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Car and Driver recently gave an update on their long-term BMW 740i. So far, the team at C&D have logged four months and 13,569 miles in the Big 7. So it’s safe to say that they have a pretty good grasp of what the 7 Series is like. From just those four months, they’ve had some mixed things to say, but it’s mostly good news for the big Bavarian.
They did have a few issues with the current-gen 7 Series, but they’re niggles, really. They feel that it doesn’t drive as “Ultimately” as the “Ultimate Driving Machine” should. While, yes, it is a luxury car first and foremost, it’d be nice if it still displayed some of the “BMW-ness” that made the E38-generation so incredible.
Also, there are some less-expensive elements on this generation than on the previous-gen 7 Series. For instance, on the previous-gen, the doors would stop at any degree of opening, allowing for very easy ingress and egress, especially on a hill. Now, the passengers must find the detents, just like a normal car. Also, the side glass isn’t the dual-pane, acoustically laminated sort. So a decent amount of wind and tire noise makes it into the cabin. Admittedly, it’s still very quiet, but some competitors are better.
However, there was a lot to like about the big Bavarian. Firstly, the ride is supple and excellent. C&D staffers love using it as a long-journey vehicle and it makes work commutes far more relaxing than they should be. It’s quiet enough on the inside to mute the hustle and bustle of Detroit’s busy surroundings.
The seats are also said to be excellent, with superb support, comfort and better adjustability than anything else in the industry. It can even adjust the upper seatback independently of the lower seatback, allowing people with back issues to get supremely comfortable. They also love the new B58 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 engine, claiming that is has more than enough power. One staffer wrote “I cannot imagine wanting more power in this car.” It’s also said that the new engine is smooth and always responsive.
But their time with the BMW 740i hasn’t been all peaches and cream. There have been one or two issues with the car, which is concerning considering the low mileage. Before anyone starts complaining about BMW reliability issues, 13,000 journalist miles is almost the equivalent of 100,000 regular human miles.
You should see how some of these cars go back to BMW. Yikes. Nevertheless, the fuel door broke at around 8,600 miles, which was covered by BMW’s warranty. They also lost a tire, but that was more to do with Chicago’s rough roads than the 7 Series.
Overall, the C&D staff has mostly positive things to say about BMW’s new flagship. They’ve seen great power, decent fuel economy (averaging 26 mph) and an impressively comfortable and luxurious ride. It isn’t perfect of course, but it has been a good car for them so far. We’re looking forward to testing a new 7 Series again soon to give you an update as well.
An extract fro the article: “Also, the side glass isn’t acoustically laminated—even hoi polloi in the Honda Pilot can get quieting dual-pane side glass, and we’ve noted higher-than-expected wind-rush noise at highway speeds in our 7.”. That’s why I always say that bmw is pure rubbish and they fool their customers by charging too much for too little. Keep on buying you idiotic bmw and get humiliated when you see an S-Class on the road.
Wow big deal, how quiet do u want, I never knew 7 Series is a zoo…
Have you waken up, hopeless idiot? The 7 series is worse than even Soviet era cars. it doesn’t even have primitive side glass lamination which is available even in Honda Pilot. How can you even dare to say that the 7 series is a good car? bmw is only for gays and idiots like you.
7 series is just so exciting
Sure, you hopeless loser. Go and drive your shitty 7 series so that people will think that you’re either a gay or an idiot. The only exciting thing about the shitty 7 series is that it breaks more often than even a Tatra.
Go and see a psychiatrist..
You think BMW is for gay people? LMAO
Also, read this from that same article: “Our 7-series seems to be affected by a paradoxical chassis tuning in which the suspension doesn’t provide enough body control, but the wheel impacts are too harsh. Over sharp lateral features such as expansion joints, the 740i pounds and smacks the pavement. The run-flat tires likely don’t help, but we’ve never had this problem with a Mercedes-Benz S-class on run-flat rubber.” Like I always said, bmw always was, is still and will always be just a very, very weak alternative to Mercedes-Benz. The S-Class has been in the market for several years, bmw was tying hard to make its pathetic 7 series as good as the king S-Class, but as always, it doesn’t even come close. bmw looks like a floor cloth when put next to Mercedes as always.
Marco, its not your neck, it must be your buttocks, surprisingy after driving my M Sport with even lowered suspension and lower profile Summer Runflat, my axs feels great. So sorry, I didn’t know you are as old as a fossil, anything broken. U need a Rolls Royce, ah…. but you know BMW owns it too…
Funny. The original (largely positive) article has over 200 (largely positive) responses, many commenting on the performance & economy of such a large car. Here, on a site dedicated to the brand? 2 cut & paste 3rd world hater trollbots whose English, when not cut & paste, is laughable. If you dudes were who you think you are, you’d be out driving your S-Classes, not typing about them. At least when you drive an S-Class you don’t have to look @ the $ store icicle light headlights.
Pretty sure the i3 & i8 are 10 yrs. ahead. Maybe Mercedes can rebadge a Leaf like they do the Q30. Are their rip offs of the X4 & X6 on the market yet? They’ve been trying for years to buy a motorcycle co. to compete with BMW, but VW scooped Ducati out from under them. In the meantime you’ll have to be content with their garbage trucks, delivery vans & taxi cabs.
Do you have a car even close to the S-Class, idiot? Even the A-Class is much better than any bmw. ANY. Got it, asshole?
Marco, I’m pretty sure, that this “guest” is the admin of this blog. Don’t bother yourself by answering this idiot. Since he likes bmw, he has no brain at all. All of bmw fans are absolute idiots.
Wrong. Again.
You seem to left your brain in a Mercedes dealership once again, please go and pick it up before you make the wrong purchase
See a doctor, you are delirious.
Hey, ignorant fool, stop saying nonsense. Take those “i”s and put them in your stupid ass.
Not how they’re charged. But I could sh*t out a Smart Car.
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Again beautiful vocabs, with notable words such as axs, faxxot, and pathetic. You are typing this in a nightclub with a Big Mouth Woman suffocating you.
Looking at Mr. Oshea and Marco, they seem to be allergic to BMW, perhaps may I recommend them to both go to Brabus to buy their S Class, so they can sleep in there forever, they don’t need to go home to see their wives anymore because S Class is their honey.
Back to the G12, 7 series, so far so awesome, it accelarates like a Porsche, handles great on mountain roads, stops right on the dime, and the interior is both modern and classy, just loving it, plus the ride is so adapative, even for the two mother father gentlemen, I am sure they don’t need booster seats, or diapers, unless I am on the wheel, I am sure I will drive them insane then eject them using my favourite gesture.
You fool, your idiotic 7 series doesn’t even come close to the king S-Class. It can’t even ride as smooth as an A-Class, idiot. So go hang yourself, stupid chicken.
Sure. the funny thing is that some of these brainless assholes (like this dong) really think that bmw can ride well. Stupid idiots, it means that you haven’t ever been in a C-Class at least, which tears apart everything in your for-gays-only bmw line-up.
Hello Brainless Johnny, I own both brands, I know way more than you… Not only are you a typical idiot, you are just like a little twat, acting like you are 12. Go and ask your sugar daddy to buy you more toys….
Marco, how is your neck man…
Wasn’t impressed when I saw the new 7 in person. I think that even the current Audi A8 which is a generation behind looks better
The A8 is better looking prior to the mid-life update, once they put the Active Matrix light, they took a bit off the iconic look. The interior after the midlife update is quite well done, but its switches and its slope down centre console, are the least elegant of the three, but everyone is waiting for the D5, which will roll out within 6 months.
Donald the idiot, stop bringing excuses for your shitty 7 series. Learn to listen to other people’s opinion as well. If you like that idiotic 7 series, it doesn’t necessarily mean that everybody else must like it. In other words, if you’re an idiot, it doesn’t mean, that so are the others.
People don’t have to like the 7, pee-brain. I hardly care whether you like a Corolla, or a Passat. I offer opinions only, those who don’t like, don’t have to like. They can have their own preference, even for kids like you, who talks like a She-Male. People have choices, I comment whenever I want, you don’t like it, take a hike…
BMWs don’t look good anymore. Have you seen the rear of the new 2 series? Looks like it was designed in 10 minutes.
Here is and overview of the S class vs 7 series(in my opinion)
Design and looks: S class
The exterior of the S class looks majestic, elegant, and athletic. The interior looks very beautiful, with the highest quality leathers and woods. The exterior of the 7 series looks rather ugly compared to the S class. The headlights remind me of the E60 5-series, and the hockey sticks along the side(mentioned by cammisa and lieberman) completely ruins it. The interior isn’t bad, but it doesn’t feel like as much time and effort was put into how it looked.
Tech and features: tie
Both offer almost all of the same features. The 7 series offers gesture control and the tablet in the back( not in the S class). The S class offers the splitview(meaning front passenger can watch TV) , a fridge(might be offered in the 7 series, idk) and a smartphone in the back, which everyone fails to mention.
Comfort and leisure drive: S class
I went behind the wheel and sat in the rear of both cars for this test. I have to say, while the BMW was a huge upgrade from previous generations, it still could have been better. The bumps and bad spots on the road are felt more often from both the back and the front, and it’s a bit too loud for my taste. And I felt like an ordinary guy in the 7 series. In the S-class, with magic body control, the road below in almost non-existent and it is a real life magic carpet. And being in both the front and the back made me feel so special that I forgot about all problems while driving normally.
Sporty drive: 7 series
I went to a backroad for this test to drive these cars. Put the 7-series into sport mode, and you feel like you’re behind the wheel of a 3 series or a 5 series, in a good way. It was engaging and it handled well, as the carbon fiber structure makes this a good car to drive. All of that said, the S-class wasn’t bad either. I think its sportiness is very underrated. Push on the pedal, and you do get a sporty feel, as the torque kicks you back into the super comfy seats. However, there was a bit of bodyroll, but not that much. Even though the S-class surprised me by how good it was on the backroad, the BMW was still better.
Price: 7 series
The 750 models start at about $2000 less than the S550 models(both 4wd and rwd). When they are fully equipped, the S-class costs about $152,000 and the 7 series costs about $132,000. Also the 7 series is the only full-size luxury sedan to have reclining rear seats as standard.
Verdict:
This was tough. However, I would take home the S-class even though it costs a lot more. The way it makes me feel is like no other, and it’s only something you can know by either driving it or being driven in it. It makes you forget problems and removes stress like no other car does, also while packing just enough sportiness. However, the 7 series is also a very good car, and I would not mind owning one. Hats off to BMW for making the best car I’ve ever seen them make.
If you want a full size luxury sedan, but neither of these 2, here are you other options:
1. Audi A8L: is very similar to the 7 series but with a bit less tech, a lower price, and more laid back manner
2. Jaguar XJL: the British alternative, if you crave sporty driving, this is even a better option than the 7 series. However, with less tech and a much smaller, not as nice rear seat
3. Maserati Quattroporte: the Italian alternative. With an amazing engine that is built by ferrari, this is also more fun to drive than the 7 series. However, with the same problems as the XJ mentioned above
Also, if you don’t mind the high maintenance costs.
4.Lexus LS: the japanese player. If you like a ride similar to the s class, but can’t afford the s class, this is for you. The rear seat is very nice, and very big, but with a cost that is much lower than the europeans mentioned above. Also, the most reliable full size luxury sedan. However, it has almost no sportiness at all, so be prepared for that.
5.Cadillac CT6: the american player. This is Cadillac’s first good shot at the europeans in a long time in the world of the full size sedans. Its exterior looks the best of all of the cars mentioned, and it has pretty high quality materials. However, they are much lower quality than any of the sedans mentioned above. The current V6 is not very fun to drive, and the rear legroom is very unpleasant. Also, this car will get you the least respect of all of these cars by a mile. However, you will stand out, and you won’t spend anywhere close to as much as you will with the Europeans and the Japanese for a lot of the same features.