2009 BMW 7 Series Driving Impressions

It is actually not that bad from the side profile contained in the picture above. I like how they straigthened out the line across the side of the car extending across the rear fenders. This gives the pronounced kidney grills a better proportion relative to the whole car.

— VISO (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 2:29:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

Looks good.

But I prefer the more "smushed" kidneys that the 850 had.

— answer (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 2:34:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Someone need to learn to spell. There not proof reeding there rightings!! ;-)

— jgf330xi (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 2:37:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

spectacular ... Cant wait til it arrives in the US. That is a very quick sedan.

— BMW4me4ever (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 2:44:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

like you have the option of buying this car. lol.

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2008 1:54:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Yes its a rehash of the monster that preceded it

— MadibaP (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2008 4:58:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

There's not a single new photo in that slideshow. The review was not comprehensive and stated obvious facts and personal styling preferences.

I"ll wait for the full road test and comparison tests with the S-class. Also, until this car is seen in the flesh, I will reserve judgement regarding it's design.

— Chip (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 3:06:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

It is such a boring design, not even evolutionary, just a big 5 and 3 put together...

5+3 = 7

— Peyton18 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 3:09:02 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

I think it will look better in person, so I am withholding my judgment.

I was checking out vehicles last weekend and was surprised how much better the S-class, A8/S8 and XJR look in real life than in their pictures.

— Maverick2020 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 3:18:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

Interesting choice for "Cars to Compare" at the bottom of the article:

Mercedes S550 - yes
Lexus LS600h - yes
Audi A5 - uh, what? How about A8?

Proofreading indeed.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 3:37:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 9   

Looks better in real life photos.

....but I would still take the legend : The Mercedes S-Class.

— Milton (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 3:55:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Wow the front end looks like a Hummer H3.

— richard112360 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 4:08:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -8   

It's a good looking car, I like the side profile and even the bigger grill, the rear end is pretty plain. BMW needs to get a little more aggressive, they seem to be playing it really safe right now. I still prefer the looks of the S-Class and the A8L.

Stone

— stone (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 4:19:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I don't need your clarity or sanity, thanks. The A8 is a 7-Series competitor, regardless of which wheels are driving the car or how many. And it's a good one at that. It's certainly more of a competitor than the A5 is, which they (I'm sure mistakenly) listed as a car to compare the new 7-Series to.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 5:02:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

amazinBimmer

Just to add a little sanity to your remarks. I am currently driving an 04 BMW 745. I have spent the last 3.5 yrs with this car. I can state with absolute certainty that the A8L is a direct competitor to the 7 series, my lease is about to expire and even though I have pretty much decided to go down to a midsize for my next car, I have driven the 750, S550 and the A8L within the last 2 months. I will admit that the 7 series has more of a "controlled" ride that I have grown to love, but it is not much more of a track star than its competitors, nor was it intended to be. When buying in this class you will look at comfort, quality of materials, design or presence, size, and performance. The A8L competes very well on those criteria, it doesn't matter if you can get it in FWD in Europe or not.

Stone

— stone (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 9:27:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Blah, Blah, Blah... Can you come up with any new comments? FWD is bad. Audi sucks. Fat People drive fwd cars. Not one person on this site cares about you. Do us all a favor and go post on e46fanatics where you can talk how slow your 325 is but it handles like no other car cause it is rwd.....

— CRS2112 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 8:07:48 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Dont be afraid to tell us how you really feel

— mpwr (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2008 8:31:12 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

For those that don't like the new 7-Series we know you like that giant squid the Subaru Tribeca.

;-)

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 6:31:54 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

This Mini-Cooper doesn't stand a chance against the S-Class nor the LS-460

— silver1 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 6:41:21 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -10   

This is a classic example of how far the GM's of the world have fallen...does ANYTHING they produce even come close to this machine?

— icedogsvl (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 7:01:29 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

If BMW wanted the fresh new look of a SuperMario/Turtle combo, well, they've succeeded :)

— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 8:04:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

The new 7 will do everything its targeted audience expects. Most people that are driving this car are not looking for cutting edge styling. This car will always be conservative - nothing wrong with that. 20 and 30 year old people are not buying this car.

— CRS2112 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 8:16:24 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

its not bad looking, but nothing to get excited over, but worlds better than the one its replaces.

— Htay7500 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 8:17:31 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Is it priced at or below what the S550 is priced at...if it's the same as an S550 price wise, truthfully other those who would die for bavarian, who would buy this car over the S550.

— MBKing (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 9:22:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -6   

Nice, clean silhouette. Very subtle. Not a fan of MB S-Class wheel arches or interior.

— Dr550 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/5/2008 10:24:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

This car is too sexy

— MercedesBenz00Z (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2008 2:49:09 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Even Skoda and Pontiac have front kidney grilles, soon BMW will just be another nrand amongst the crowd

— mpls (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2008 3:04:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7   

really? it's the king? then why are they only able to command a price 40% lower than the S-class? if the LS were priced exactly as the S-class, nobody would buy one.

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2008 1:58:44 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

furthermore, the LS is only a player in the US market. sales are nominal in the rest of the world.

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2008 1:59:45 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Correct, the LS is not a player in foreign markets. That is because of one reason: The LS, and all other Lexus models, were created FOR the U.S market. The only reason why Mercedes, BMW, and Audi are popular in foreign markets is because they were created there! Do you think that if Fiat, Puegot, and Alfa Romeo came stateside, they'd be immediately popular? No! People only buy what they are familiar with. So, it would make perfect sense why Lexus is as prestigious in foreign markets; No one knows what they are!

So, STOP trying to make a claim that Lexus sucks just cause it doesn't sell in foreign markets! Thank you!

— HRM5 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2008 9:14:35 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

enthusiastx11

40% higher price for S class = stupidity tax

— MadibaP (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2008 4:57:22 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

The most interesting design feature of the new BMW 7 is the very short and blunt front overhang. The rear overhang is reduced considerably also.

— BMW995 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2008 11:46:20 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

It will look good on back of a tow truck,that's where I see most 7 series.LOL!

— truthpursuit (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2008 8:16:18 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

To compare A5 to 7 series was an evident mistake. Regarding the design, My recomendation is to wait until we see it. In my humble opinion it does not look so ugly.....so waite (an when I saw the current S class I thoug is horrible). I am an MB Fan and my first impresion about the current S class was horrible but now I think is the most beautiful. Regarding a manual transmision for that car; wrong, A car of that category won´t use a manual trans...never, it is oriented for people that won´t drive that car in a track if not, as a limo and I am sure it will rise the bar again in several points, thats final.

— Yonder7 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/6/2008 9:41:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

i really like the 2nd front-side view of this car in the link. i think 1 series is definitely growing on me!

not sure about the stupid article...

— dayday (View Profile)

Posted on 8/7/2008 1:06:23 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

This new 7 series is butt ugly from every angle, the front end is especially hideous with that awkward grill attached to it...

— ubercool (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 10:58:15 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

It's the best picture of the new "7" that has been published, to date. The larger kidney grille actually enhances the front end and gives the BMW flagship the much needed "presence" that it has been lacking, when up against the S550 or even the A8.

— MBZFAN (View Profile)

Posted on 8/8/2008 7:56:14 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Interesting restyling. I wouldn't say that they've "solved" the rear end problems, so much as reduced it. With this new design, I think it's mostly good (I don't think the kidneys are out of proportion), but I do think the rear lights are the biggest problem, and the headlights could use a some more refinement. But, overall, it's an improvement.

— DW1968 (View Profile)

Posted on 8/10/2008 7:25:05 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1