Autocar - First for car news and reviews

What is it?

BMW’s latest executive express, the new long-wheelbase 7-series. Now in its fifth generation, the Seven’s brief remains unchanged: offer limo comfort, but drive like a purposeful sporting saloon.

The new 7-series uses BMW’s latest 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, in place of the old petrol V12. It also has four-wheel-steering in an effort to improve the 7’s dynamic ability.

And there’s a host of new technology – including a new iDrive system – which will eventu...Read the full article

Last night i went to the shrewsbury BMW preview night of the new Bmw 7 series and i was very dissapointed i was finding that the only people who liked the car were people who had never owned a previous 7 series i was also finding that people who owned the current 7 series felt there's was still the better car and that is what i think.I think the trouble is the current 7 series is so good that the new one cant better it,ok the current one isn't the nicest looking car put tbh who cares if you want a nice lookin car you dont buy a german car you by a alfa,ferrari,lambo.I just feel that the current 7 series is better than the new one.

I also spoke to one bloke who sold his current 7 series for the new one and he didn't like the new one so he is going to buy one of the old ones again :)

 There is only one good thing about the new one at that is the mpg and emissions but who cares about them when you are spending over 60k lets face it

cheers

Many Thanks

Well, the A8 is said to have an even more fidgety ride, the S-Class being the standard when it comes to suspension suppleness. From what I hear though there will be a V12 version in the form of the even more powerful 760 (the old 750 also had a V8 after all - the 760 was the V12), so I find this article a bit missleading as it compares the new V8 to the old V12 as if we won't get a new 760.

I agree with REALZEUS. I've also heard of a forthcoming replacement for the 760i & Li.

The article is also misleading when it comes to iDrive. New 1's and 3's are coming off the line with the new iDrive system which is hard drive based rather than DVD, while I believe new 5's and 6's just get the new controller as new models will be revealed relatively soon.

As for the shoddy ride, does anyone know if BMW are going to use run-flats wherever possible for the 7? I'm thinking they will but I don't know for sure yet.

Harry_Boy:

What about the Audi A8? A worthy competitor that seems to have been ignored in your article. The standard air suspension, especially in Comfort mode, will easily beat the 7-series' fidgety ride. And the A8's interior ambience is still second to none.

Anyone who claims that the Audi A8 rides properly should be made to sit in a W220 or W221 S-Class on standard rims. Nothing touches it.

As for the 7-Series, could the car be more wrong (a dull looking luxury car with poor refinement) and arrive at a wronger time (when nobody's spending money on fat-arse pointless cars)?

  If Citroen can manage to build a car (New C5) with low wind, engine and road noise, vibration and harshness for 15K why do BMW find it so difficult in a rear drive chassis for 60K (handling compromise accepted). Are they so disconnected from their customers/competitors that they do not know or do not care!

This article is in retrospect a little different to the twin-test they did several weeks ago against the S320 CDI using a 730d. Ok that test took place in Germany where the roads are in general a lot smoother, but a few key points should be mentioned.

Firstly they said the 7 series actually travelled better over a cobbled street than the S class (although the Benz was clad with 20 inchers) and the interior had an altogether more ambient and better put-together feel; not that there was anything wrong with the Benz's ergonimcs, just obviously not as modern.

The wind noise factor though was consistent with what they've said here, especially over higher speeds on smooth German asphalt which is where these luxury cars traditionally will spend most of their time.

I think the final road test of a 730d SE (non sport version please) will give us a clearer indication of just 'how good or nearly not as good' this car is.

Unlike probably everyone here I have driven these cars back to back. On different roads and for a full day.

The Audi A8 has a wonderful interior but - even with air suspension - the ride and handling are terrible.

The Lexus has every option in the book thrown at it but that doesn't stop it feeling like a cheap copy of a luxury car.

The Mercedes interior feels slightly downmarket, the ride however is very good but means the helm feels detached. I was the most excited about driving it but ultimately, it left me the most disappointed. What ARE they raving about? I think like most people though - the three pointed star in front of you just makes you feel good.

The BMW felt the most rounded. The engine and drivetrain are awesome. There are flaws, sure,  but it's SO much better than the prevous model.

I don't agree with the ride critisisms, in comfort mode it is as good as the Mercedes.

 I do have a slight problem with the styling, a Mercedes S Class does it much better. 

BMW have a bad image generally I think. It's undeserved. The 7 series is a good car. Good enough to win the public vote? We'll see. 

corky73:

Unlike probably everyone here I have driven these cars back to back. On different roads and for a full day.

 

The Audi A8 has a wonderful interior but - even with air suspension - the ride and handling are terrible.

 

The Lexus has every option in the book thrown at it but that doesn't stop it feeling like a cheap copy of a luxury car.

 

The Mercedes interior feels slightly downmarket, the ride however is very good but means the helm feels detached. I was the most excited about driving it but ultimately, it left me the most disappointed. What ARE they raving about? I think like most people though - the three pointed star in front of you just makes you feel good.

 

The BMW felt the most rounded. The engine and drivetrain are awesome. There are flaws, sure,  but it's SO much better than the prevous model.

I don't agree with the ride critisisms, in comfort mode it is as good as the Mercedes.

 I do have a slight problem with the styling, a Mercedes S Class does it much better. 

 

BMW have a bad image generally I think. It's undeserved. The 7 series is a good car. Good enough to win the public vote? We'll see. 

BMW do tend to change their models and indeed facelift them on a more frequen basis which does confuse owners and indeed upset them when it comes to residuals

I personally like the look of this car and will reserve full judgement until seeing it in the flesh 

The S-Class remais the daddyhere I suppose in this class - hard to knock it off is perch  - no one has mentioned the Lexus LS460/LS600 - DOES ANYONE RATE THIS RIVAL? 

Couple of thoughts

1. the new 7 looks really nice to me - but you'll still have to go to a BMW delear and so its probably out. Why do manfactorers spend billions designing a car and then give it to morons to sell?

2. love the S but wouldn't/couldn't have one - because the steering wheel's fitted at an angle on rhd versions. Go try it and see what I mean, you're sitting an an angle just to hold the wheel - why do the journalists not mention these things? (also try a rhd Audi A4 or Q5 - the peddles are all scewed to the right - on a manual I found it uncomfortable to push the clutch in)

3. Audi is lovely (I've had BMW 730D SE and an Audi 3.0D SE) but a bit soulless. On balance I'd like a 730D but not from a BMW dealer!

think i'll wait for the new Jaguar XJ