New BMW 7 And Mercedes S-Class Side By Side: S-Class Still The King?

The new 7 series puts S class into shame.

Why do you guys keep deboosting this? Traditionally, S class always looks ugly and the car is just overrated.

Even Hyundai Genesis looks better than this.

Technology-wise, the 7-series is the winner. After all, they started the whole iDrive thing, and even though it wasn't very intuitive and practical, it was a good substitute for touchscreens.

I appreciate that BMW knew that a simple upgrade to the rear seats' comfort and entertainment would immensely improve its luxury image, just like the Lexus LS 460 L.
The rear compartment looks huge...and two screens w/ unlimited internet...do we get this in Americaland?...if so...are we free from annual fees...and do we have to worry about laptops stealing our signal?

I'm pretty sure BMW didn't forget about its heritage, so please don't complain about the luxury the 7 provides. I love it! ...I mean...who doesn't?! Sadly, Merc really has to rethink Maybach's reason to exist before upgrading the rear seats of the S-class.

As tradition goes you're turning out to be a troll if you don't recognize what the S-Class has done and what Mercedes has introduced in their cars over the years. You have a username MercedesBenz. Use it well.

Theres only one king > LS.....

Don't king's live very prestigiously?

You Lexus clowns need to get that silly "Lexus is God" crap out of your head. Most reviews I have read have said the S-Class still reigns supreme over the LS.

For example, when the roads get rough the LS suspension completely fails to filter out these impurities and transmit them to the passengers. This isn't the case with the S-Class, who's suspension is both extremely comfortable and capable of sporty driving. There have been countless European reviews that have mentioned this - and a few American too.

The Lexus collision avoidance system in practice isn't as effective as Lexus fanboys make it sound. Both AMS and Autozeitung reported this in their tests.

And to top it off, the LS navigation system cannot be operated while the car is in motion by the driver or the front passenger. I read that the reason for this is because Japanese and American consumers "want it that way". Well, us Europeans don't. This was in one of the last Auto Motor und Sport magazines by the way. If I still have it I can scan it and post the links here, but it is in German...


And before you Lexus clowns claim these magazines are biased, guess again. Many Japanese cars have won comparison tests or garnered praise over European and German products.

Lexus = overrated

MercedesBenz00Z, you have that the wrong way around. The 7 seats are no match for the S seats which have unique adjustments not found in any other car. Lexus tried to clone the S front seats but failed on seat cushion length and took a shortcut by leaving some of the features off on the passenger side. The front seat cushion length on the S can be adjusted without affecting the other adjustments and the adjustment range is very wide.

The problem I have with BMW cars in general is that they lack a protective side molding to prevent lo-life types in parking lots from dinging the doors.

The only good thing about BMW is that they still produce in-line 6-cylinder engines which are inherently in excellent balance.

The S is way overpriced but I would buy a rust-free aluminum-bodied Audi A8 over the BMW 7 any day.

I have to agree with your praise of the Hyundai Genesis as many of the traditional features of luxury cars like the S, A8, and BMW 7 have trickled down to it. The Genesis represents far greater value for the money.

As for BMW again, I consider the iDrive an abomination and a safety hazard worse than driving while talking on a hand-held cell phone. The iDrive takes the fun out of driving. All control functions should be totally independent. I hate menu-driven devices period.

They say that every time the 7 comes out but it keeps getting uglier and no one can work the idrive. They should take a page from Audi for that thing.

Michael TROLL Taylor at it again. Like I said before you drive a Camry V6. So you wouldn't know how good or bad the LS is. Sorry you're full of baseless information once again! I hope you don't drive your Camry like it's a Lexus LOL.

side by side i Like the BMW's cleaner lines better than the mercedes I still hate that oversized grill though, it looks giant nostrils....but the more I see the better the car looks to me

I gotta agree that the new 7er grills look oversized for the rest of the body..
I'd have to see it in person first, but I think this may be a design boo-boo...

Big grills are in. You will now start to see them everywhere. The CS Concept car grills looked huge at first, now they look incredible. It just a matter of BMW having the cojones to move outside of our expectations and not do the same things everyone else is doing.

I think both are equally great.

That is simply not the case, the S class deserves the credit that it earned..It is unfair the treatment BMW gets..I mean the X5 is better than the ML..No one denys it, therefore, it is only acceptable that we recognize the S class for the superior car it is.

The 7'er has never been the benchmark for luxury sedans. The S-Class however is a different story. The 7'er is good but it's still not as good. It boils down to taste and brand loyalty. Win win situation here but if you want more luxury than sport and a better sounding engine Mercedes the one to go for.

I beg to differ. On looks alone, I still give the S-class the nod. (I prefer the Audi A8's looks over the Benz by a small margin, but I digress.) As far as technology and performance are concerned, I will wait until the major car magazines get to compare these two big sedans before I proclaim a new "king of the hill".

From a sales perspective the S-class has long dominated the top of the European luxury sedan market. (Superluxury marques like Bentley and Rolls-Royce are excluded.) But it has not always been the best car in this market segment.

For instance, when the current Audi A8 was introduced in 2004, it became the new "king". The A8's "reign" lasted until 2007, when the current Mercedes S-class debuted and seized the "crown" from the big Audi.

The current 7-series BMW, while a very nice car, is outclassed by its Audi and Mercedes rivals. BMW will have its crack at the "throne" when it debuts a yer or so from now.

May the best luxury sport sedan win! However, the victor will have a short time to relish its victory because Audi will introduce the new A8 in about two years, and the "civil war" will erupt once more!

This never-ending struggle for dominance puts the Middle East to shame, but the consumer benefits from keeping the major contenders on their toes.

May the best luxury sport sedan win!

I've honestly seen about 3 A8'S ever, nice though it is the A8 is just an also-ran in its segment

lolz. luxury sports sedan
translation: overweight athlete.

The 7 series did rule until 2002. Unfortunately it got BangeD and lost its way.

for the record an A8 has never won a Comparison test....it always get mid or back pack.....just stating facts....so King is a bit of overstatement

not to mention its resale values are horrendous and always have been.....maybe they will work on that next go round

Dear bmwdrvr,

Actually, the A8 DID come out on top in a comparison test with the 7-series and S-class. It was conducted by Motor Trend in 2004.

I remember reading a few reviews of the A8 by itself. A number of the authors preferred it over its German rivals.

You are right about the poor resale value of the A8. However, the BMW and Mercedes models also depreciate too rapidly for my taste.

I love the S class, except for the interior which is a rip off of the last gen 7 series, which had an ugly interior as well. (Benz had rip off I drive, column shifter and similar console design). BMW should offer the euro 740i with the twin turbo six for a small price break (1-2k) for those who feel bad buying a car with bad mpg, even though they can clearly afford it. That way those who want the V8 won't be tempted by the six but those who want better mileage won't be turned off

The biggest mistake in my opinion that BMW has made on this launch is that they have not shown the car with upgraded sport wheels, just the basic drab common ones.

I think it will look even better in sport guise and beautiful wheels

That will complete the true design intention.

001

p.s. I'm also surprised no one has commented on the less pronounced wheel arches on the 7 vs. the S.

The photo also looks like an S63 or Sport S-Class whereas BMW is the base 7.

001

Didn't the 2002 7 series unseat the S class as #1 for a period of time? I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen again.

I think the new 7 looks better inside and out. The 7-series always had a more sinister and esoteric presence than the S-Class. The Benz is the banker's choice. The 7 is the gangster's choice.

That said, the S-class always held the broader sales appeal. The 7 always challenged the S-Class in terms of bragging rights. If you'll recall, the 7-series offered a V-12 option before the S-Class did. BMW forced Mercedes to build the 600SeL.

Id like to see some data to claim up that fact you made about BMW releasing a V12 in its flagship sedan before Mercedes did...

I thought you people knew about cars here...

The BMW 750iL (e32) went on sale in 1987 with a 5.0 liter V12.

The first M-B V12 S-class was offered in 1991 when the w140 came out.

P.S. my original post is pure fact. all of the deboosters are posing morons who really don't have a clue about cars. drop dead, all of you.

"The Benz is the banker's choice. The 7 is the gangster's choice." Justify this!

Just watch marked for death and meteorman lol!

In 2002 I bought a 735Li. I was very pleased with it. In 2005, I bought the updated 7, the 740Li. Sure it was prettier on the outside, but it was identical apart from a new steering wheel on the inside. I sold the 7 in 2007 for an S-Class and I've been very happy, because the 7 was out-dated compared to the S-Class. But I've seen the new 7 Series, and I must say, my S-Class will be going back to my local Mercedes dealer once the 735d (hopefully longwheelbase) comes out.

facelifted s class????????????????? wtf??? I mean in my oppinion both car look good , i'd give it to 7 in exterior looks , interior wise , the 7 just cant comepete with the S , who ever been inside the S class knows what i'm talking about it's quality makes you feel like you're in a $100000 car especially in lighter colors , while beemers is more sporty and materials dont look as exclusive. But both great it all depends on your taste

what's with the name? don't embarrass us, man.

The S Class in this photo isn't the one being offered at the moment. It looks substantially different (new grille, headlights, bumper.

I am in love with the 7, the S looks good, but when you see the 7 on the road, you are going to be like damn!!!

ok guys, just to let you know, S class looks more like Hyundai.

But the new 7 series just looks beautiful.

LOL

U mean Hyundai stole design cues from Mercedes??? You people will try anything to bring down the brand. The S-Class has been around since like late 2005.

BRO STFUP PLEASE , YOUR FACE LOOKS LIEK HYUNDAI , U UGLI PERSON.

My man, I am still hotter than you

:P

Are you a kid? Why are you so ignorant? This is a car forum, not myspace.

why would you give these people the pleasure of an online porch monkey show? don't you know that's what they want us to do? they love it. it doesn't get us anywhere, bro.

Beemer looks way too luxury, i dont like that , does not look mean at all , but still hot.

you should change your name. you're willfully embarrassing yourself. you don't even know it.

He knows it and doesnt even care. Unfortunately we care more then he does. He really needs to grow up. I am apart of alot of different forums like this and I have seen many racist rants but you cant say anything against it when you have names like this.

S Class ALL the way baby.

Agreed xj13.S Class all the way...

Even though I'm a BMW fan, I hate the new 7-Series

By the way, Adrian van Hooydonk is responsible for the exterior styling of the new 7 Series, not Chris Bangle.I think that's why it looks ugly.

Chris Bangle should again be the head of design for BMW cars, not for BMW group.

I really started to worry that Adrian van Hooydonk will screw up the next-gen 5-Series.

Need to see 7 series in different color and rims. Never a fan of MB S-Class wheel arches or "Oldmobile" dash.

Look around So-Cal and you will see 20-30 yr old Benzs still running around and looking classy and the designs have held up amazingly.Bmw s tend to have electronic gremlins after the 2nd year of ownership and there designs start to look awkward after about 5 yrs.Bmw make good small cars Benz make GREAT large luxury automobiles.

The S is smoother and looks nicer, the grill on the 7 in this picture looks big, why?

My advice to bmw is to rethink and redesign the car and stop spending more time in marketing and finance department.

Are you aware the Infiniti Q hasn't been around since 2006?

HAHA HA HA HAHA.....so blinded by lexus that he doesn't even know what cars are even alive anymore. Good call HSCenterconsole.
And if you're gonna make an ultimate list of beautiful full size luxury vehicles without adding the Maserati Quattroporte, you need to get off your laptop and pay attention to your teacher. You'll never graduate Junior high at this rate.

Yeah the Quattroport is Beautiful and that would be my first choice by far. I think the a8 is beautiful too.

Thats not even the current S class. It's the facelifted version wish will be showed next year. And from the picture, I think the 7 series looks more upscale, while the facelift made the S class looks like a big C class! I think the BMW is the winner in the looks department. It just looks much more tasteful.

which*

I'm a Mercedes fan but I love the styling of the new BMW 7-Series. It's like a breath of fresh air after that horribly ugly last generation model.

I think both the S-Class and 7-Series are great cars and obviously they both target the same yet slightly different buyers. I think brand loyalty plays a huge part here as well as certain preferences like sport, comfort etc.

Traditionally the BMW 7-Series has always been behind the S-Class's shadow. This time competition is more extreme than ever. Only the first review will tell us who is the new king...

I agree, I am a fan of the S-Class, but the you have to give BMW credit for the new 7-Series.

My brother used to own 745il. That car was an electronic disaster and didn't last a year with him. Next one he bought was a Lexus GX/ There was never a problem with a car. I personally never liked M-B and thought that it was just for status show, untill i had the privilege to drive couple of them in Europe. Now I know, that Merc - is not just a name and a simbol - it's one of the greatest cars ever designed for a driver. I am a professional driver, and as one i have severe back problems. I got out of S-class after awhole night of driving WITHOUT PAIN IN A BACK!!! I cannot say this about any other car.

Believe it or not, the seats in my 2002 Land Rover Discovery series II have been the most comfortable seats I have ever sat in on a long trip. I know there are many vehicles with better seats, but either I haven't taken them on long trips. What surprised me is that I didn't expect an SUV to be that comfortable.

Have we reached the time when the kidneys grills shouldnt get any larger. WTF

Don't be afraid of the big grill.

In my opinion the 7 is a great car, powerful, sleek, and a top dog. But when you compare it to it's competitor the S-class, the difference between 1st and 2nd dwindles, but my head nods to the S-class. It is the symbol of luxury, power, class, etc. Compare the number of S-class' you see compared to 7's in NYC when walking around. It's probably a 2 to 1 ratio. Not that the 7 sells any less, but the Mercedes is pretty much known as the car you can have a driver for, while the 7 is the car that the owner wants to drive.

The BMW 7 series is to be driven.
The S Class is to be driven in.

increased competition or anticipation of new models is not why our S-Class sales have been down. NEWS FLASH...THE DJIA HAS TANKED 2,000 POINTS IN 2 1/2 MONTHS!!! Most wealthy citizens are holding their money.

Personally, from a salesperson's point of view, I rarely get 7 series customers cross-shopping the S-Class. It truly is a smaller demographic than you might think. It's like this:
7 series vs A8
S Class vs LS

You have 2 stand alone companies that are more expensive than very close substitutes priced less from a parent company.
By the time buyer can afford this level of car their usually is an overwhelming amount of brand loyalty and driving preferences, habits, etc. They are unlikely to change unless something bad happens with their current car experience (bad service, change of dealer, or bad car with breakdowns)

Thank you Staar.

You continually prove that you ARE NOT one of the intelligent life-forms on this website.

why did I get deboosted for that statement???

diesotto;
You made a valid point - no worries, we'll look after you..

*there

The new S-class is simply amazing. Go to a Mercedes dealer and just sit in it.

Whereas previous generations were just okay, this new S-class finally makes it the undisputed class leader. Of course with a base of $87k it also is more expensive but IMO worth it.

Obviously based on looks it's a toss up between the S-Class and the new 7-Series.

I will have to get behind the wheel of the BMW before I make a decison on which car is better.

We're supposed to judge from that photo? Riiiight.

Not having seen the new 7 in person I do think the current S-class looks better than the current 7. I mean, if your drive one of these things because you want to look like money, the S-class has it all over the BMW.

S Class hands down!

I wont be driving either of them, but in the looks department, the S-Class wins hands down. This is the first BMW front-end I've truly thought was unattractive.

The Mercedes S-Class will always be the allstar!!!!

Being a fan of the S-Class and having spent considerable time in the last version and this one as well as a fan of the 7er I am looking forward to seeing the new 7 in the flesh.

The new S was a great improvement over the last version, but I had to smile at their interpretation of the Bangle-butt. The large wheel well on the new S bother me and still seem too contrived. Overall a great looking car though.

The new 7 appears to have a great road presence and aggressive masculine line to it. I will wait to see it in person but I think it will be a great competitor to the S-Class and move the bar that much higher.Can't lose with either one.

It wasn't their interpretation of the Bangle butt but their interpretation of their own Maybach rear design which I beleive was prior to Bangle. Anyway I'm on my second Gen S class and always open to what design stikes my hot botton and for me the S with AMG body right now is the best looking by far. The last 7 I never liked at all. The new 7 is improved but still doesn't do it. LS looks good from the side and rear but front is lame is so is driving dynamic. A8 has best interior but bland exterior. The S is my choice especially with V-12 and AMG. Now that I see new seven I am more confortable that I'll be keeping my car for quite a few more years.

The S-class is still top of the class. Everything is speculation until the the new 7-series actually hits the road. I'm sure it will win the track performance tests but the S will probably remain the overall victor.

For reality's sake, how many 7 series v. S-class showdowns do you see at the track anyways???

I agree, mostly because the styling of the 7 has lost its way. I wish it wasn't so. I have always admired the 7 with its changing yet classic lines. Styling of course is personal preference. Some series as they change with time will be more in line and sometimes less so with an individuals sense of styling. Most got allover BMW/BANGLE for the last 7 and IMHO rightly so, all the lines after the c pillar were awkward and of course they changed them. However i fear that they are committing the same mistake, this time with the kidney grills proportions. You just have not seen that happen at Mercedes.

Pardon my interuption to the usual dumbass arguements, but does anyone know what kind of audio system the new 7 is supposed to have?

compare a bmw to mercedes?! Please! five years from now, the bmw will look old and outdated. S all the way.

bmw is 2nd rate luxury

Fact: A 10 yr old Lexus L series is more reliable than a BRAND NEW Merc or Bimmer.

ur point?

The latest Mercs are actually very reliable.
My Uncle has an S550 with no issues at all.
Mercedes has made great strides in reliability during these last few years.

Decade after decade the S-Class leads in sales in this segment. I want to like the new 7 as much but the S is still king of the hill.

The S class by far, there is no comparision and there never will be..Interior,exterior,image..White S class with AMG package and panorama..Nothing can beat it!!

1) S class
2) 7 Series
3) A8
4) LS

Toyota Fans: people do not buy MB because of reliability or durability, they buy MB because of class/prestige and they want to flaunt that they've "arrived". Sorry, but a Lexus does not announce that you have money to the same extent as the S series does. So all your arguments about how reliable and great the Lexus is? Completely irrelevant and not even a consideration. People with $90,000 to spend want to show off their status and a Lexus LS simply doesn't do that.

All this MB vs BMW stuff is truly nitpicking. I mean honestly, both are great cars that serve their core functions perfectly. What I am curious about is what are the 1 or 2 most compelling features that actually make someone choose one over the other? I mean is one quieter than the other? Does one feel faster than the other? Is one more reliable? I wanna know objective opinions, not whether one "looks" better. These are the differences and perceptions that I think are most important.

#1 BMW 7 series,, #2Masterati Quartoportte Mercedes S-class

#4 Lexus LS, Jaguar XJ
#6 Audi A8

They are all fantastic cars and its easy to see most here have yet to drive one let alone sit inside one.

The S class is simply phenomenal.

Neither do it for me, would rather go mid sized and get the new Jaguar XF-R personally.

the S is a very nice car ...but after some time i got bored of the look ...im not a 7 series fan but this year it looks pretty good.

BMW should go back to the drwling board with this new 7-Series. The S-Class is by far still top when it comes to the premium luxury sedans. Mercedes managed to do everything the BMW tried better. Ex: iDrive, and column shifter. The Lexus LS doesnt even come close to the Benz but BMW better look out b/c the LS is on its behind. However, anyone who drives a 7-Series just wants to be seen as is for the S-Class both cars are good at accomplishing that. But yeah the MBZ S-Class still reigns King of The Hill!

im 100% sure the LS is behind the S-class

Both cars are equally beautiful. I would be extremely satisfied with either one. On looks stictly, for now I would say that the merc. wins. However I need and want to see the new 7 before I make my final decision. The Maserati however is much better looking than both!!!!!

ill take the Maybach 550 over my old 7, cant wait to see n test drive the new 7

also ill take the big VW S-model overall

ubercool - 7/19/2008 8:48:30 AM+1 Boost
Neither do it for me, would rather go mid sized and get the new Jaguar XF-R personally

lmao wtf ? a jaguar over a benz or a beemer , rofl
wow i can't bealive people these days.

1.maseratti quatroporte
1.s class
3.flying spur
4.7 series - i love the 7 series but you just can fit them with those 3 cars , i would even say that #'s 1 2 and 3 are #1 and bmw is number 2 , and lexus is a great car but it is still not as exclusive made inside and out when you see it in person , it doesnt drive as well as neither of those cars , it's like an upscale Honda , it is a great car though , but it's like for old people , not my style , audi a8 or s8 , cant compete here , maybe it can but i think it is way too boring and doesnt look expensive , jaguar is a big LOL , just my oppinion , so dont flame me here , if anyone disagree it's cool

what the hell did bmw do with the new 7-series.

the shape of the body is nice, but the headlights look like they belong on the 1-series, the front grill is too upright and round and makes the front of the car look like a pig, and the rear lamps look like they came of a hyundai or one of those strange chinese cars.

absolutely hideous. the s-class is in a class of its own compared to the disappointing 7-series.

i liked the cs concept (except for the headlights and the large front grill) but this should have been more like that.

hmmmm, i think both cars are good but dont forget this is bmw's fully redesigned model and mercedes's old model. i mean to say wait for mercedes's upcoming model of s class ,,, which will come in 2012