7 Series Reveiws

[prestige interiors]

AT A GLANCE........

The greenest730d SE 4dr

£57,420The cheapest730d SE 4dr

£57,420The fastest760Li M Sport 4dr

£102,525Top of the range760Li M Sport 4dr

£102,525

INTRODUCTION......

BMW's 7 Series is almost as close as it gets to being the perfect limousine for top level executives in need of a car that's both luxurious enough to carry the Chairman from meeting to meeting, yet still good to drive. It's understated looks help it slice through busy city traffic almost unnoticed, yet inside it's one of the most stylish, and well equipped cars of its type on the market. Our favourite cars are diesel powered - both the 730d and 740d offer the same basic twin turbo 3.0-litre engine, but the 740d, with its extra performance is the star of the show. The less powerful 730d is no less appealing however, it offers the lowest CO2 emissions of any luxury car, and returns combined fuel economy of around 40mpg.

DRIVABILITY......

The BMW 7 Series is one of the best luxury limousines to drive

With accurate steering, strong brakes and impressive agility, the BMW 7 Series is one of the best luxury limousines to drive. Only Jaguar's XJ comes close. Both diesel engines are very powerful, but the 3.0-litre twin turbo in the 740d is most impressive offering a 0-60mph sprint of only 6.3 seconds. The technologically advanced suspension is quite stiff, meaning the car offers impressive agility at the expense of some comfort. Flagship 6.0-litre V12 engined cars are obviously very fast in a straight line, but feel heavy too, which blunts their performance through corners.

INTERIOR.......

The interior offers supportive seats and high tech optional extras

Comfort and luxury are two of the most important things a limousine like the BMW 7 Series can offer. The good news, is that the BMW delivers luxury in spades, with an interior that offers supportive seats and high tech optional extras like built in TV screens, automatic window blinds and electrically adjustable rear seats. Long wheel base versions offer huge amounts of head and legroom, and are very quiet at motorway cruising speeds. In fact, the only fly in the ointment is the firm suspension, which has been tuned to improve the car's performance through corners. While it certainly makes the 7 Series feel agile, it also transmits bumps and bangs created by pot holes and speed bumps directly into the cabin.

RELIABILITY........

There is a robustness to the controls that few rivals can match

The BMW 7 Series is extremely well built. It's cabin offers a high quality feel, and there is a robustness to the controls and switches that very few rivals can match. There are driver, passenger and curtain airbags, as well as traction control and electronic brake force control, which helps control the car under extreme braking conditions. The 7-Series has never been crash tested.

PRACTICALITY.........

The 7 Series lacks the versatility of rivals like the Range Rover

The boot is spacious, the cabin is light and airy, and there are plenty of stowage spaces dotted around the cabin. The 7 Series is certainly practical, but it still lacks the ultimate versatility of a car like the Range Rover.

VALUR FOR MONEY........

Even the cheapest version costs more than £50,000

BMW has recently hiked prices for the 7 Series - even the cheapest version costs more than £50,000. While cars are well equipped, apparently simple pieces of functionality, like MP3 players and bluetooth phone connectors are listed as optional extras. Watch out for low resale prices. According to experts, the top specification 760i will keep just 29 percent of its purchase price over three years.

RUNNING COSTS........

Servicing is reasonably priced, but watch out for low resale prices

The entry level 3.0-litre diesel engine fitted to the BMW 730d is one of the most fuel efficient engines available in the luxury car market. Capable of returning over 40mpg in the 730d M Sport, the car also offers low CO2 emission figures of 178g/km. Predictably, insurance groups are high, with most of the cars in group 50. At least servicing offers good value for money. The number of BMW dealers means there is lots of competition for custom, driving prices down. What's more, all 7 Series feature CBS (condition based servicing) which monitors the quality of engine oil and the level to which certain parts become worn. The more carefully you drive, the longer the car will go between services.

[Guest Mister Dabsy]

4.0 /5

The 7 Series lacks the versatility of rivals like the Range Rover

Have you tried a 7 over a field? :P

Hahahaha

My next 7 will be a 740i petrol or a B12... Just waiting for those six numbers :blink:

[prestige interiors]

five and the bonus ball should do it mate !!