BMW 730Ld SE March 8, 2008
Posted by carcritic in Uncategorized.Tags: bmw, cars, england, new cars, posh, TV, uk
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Model tested: BMW 730Ld SE
Price as tested: £54,550
Range price: £51,850-£85,445
Insurance group as tested: 17
Insurance group range: 17-20
Date tested: January 2008
Road tester: Adrian HigginsAuto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 86%
Need to make an impression? Want to be ferried around from power meeting to power meeting in utmost comfort – but still get some fun out of driving?
The BMW 7 Series promises all this and more, wrapped in a seriously attractive package.
Web Editor Adrian Higgins put the flagship luxury saloon through its paces for a week.
1. Looks
Our colleagues have become a little blasé about the dizzying range of vehicles which turn up at the Auto Trader offices. But the BMW 7 Series stopped them in their tracks and prompted some to suggest the delivery might be for them. The BMW Series 7 represents the German saloon in its finest form. It is very recognisably from the BMW saloon family, albeit with the distinctive kidney grille widened. A 2005 makeover, which included the introduction of the long wheelbase model we drove, introduced features such as a slight bulge to the bonnet to emphasize the car’s sporty side in addition to its luxury credentials.
10/10
The speedo and rev counter dominate the information display, but everything else you need to know is simply laid out or accessible by scrolling through information on one of the steering wheel stalks. Another stalk is used for shifting through the automatic gears which soon becomes second nature so although the steering wheel fulfils many functions, it doesn’t feel overloaded. Between the driver and front seat passenger is a generous storage area fronted by the iDrive controller which operates the sat-nav, entertainment, communications and air-con. The set-up is repeated in the rear arm rest. The whole interior carries off the luxury feel well with extremely comfortable electronically controlled leather seats and curves which echo the car’s exterior shape.
9/10
The practical purpose of the long wheelbase car we drove is likely to be ferrying company chairmen and CEOs between engagements. He or she is certainly not going to be disappointed by a rear environment which features loads of legroom, access to the iDrive system, a TV monitor and a footstool as well as very comfortable leather seats. The boot is cavernous and able to accommodate 500 litres of luggage. Inside the car there are four cupholders and some neat storage solutions within the central console. Space within the glove compartment is limited but the storage areas along the car’s central area are generous. There is plenty of headspace too.
8/10
Sitting in the rear is the luxury experience one would hope for while the opportunity for a more engaging drive is provided by awareness but no discomfort from lumps and bumps in the tarmac. We found the car very comfortable as driver or passenger but behind the wheel it has a nimble quality which belies its size although some will consider the electrically-assisted steering a bit vague. The Long Wheelbase version we tested features a “self-levelling rear suspension” which is set to ensure rear seat comfort, especially over speed bumps.
9/10
BMW offer a choice of four petrol engines but most buyers are expected to opt for the 231bhp 3-litre diesel engine we tested. It powers the car from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds through the six-speed automatic gearbox and can achieve a top speed of 149mph. Acceleration was very responsive, the gear changes smooth and power available quickly whenever required. The petrol engines range from the 3-litre 258bhp 730i which adds 5mph to the top speed to the range-topping 6-litre 445bhp 760i which covers the 0-62mph sprint in just 5.5 seconds and boasts a top speed of 155mph.
9/10
The diesel engine makes for the most economical motoring in the range, returning an average of 34.4mph. Pretty good for a luxury car. The petrol engines are thirstier with the 6-litre 760i returning 21.1mpg. CO2 emissions from the 730i are 242g/km, placing it in top car tax band G, along with the other models, which attracts an annual bill of £300, increasing to £400 in April 2008. Insurance for the group falls into Group 17-20. However, buyers of luxury cars are unlikely to expect cheap motoring from a luxury car.
7/10
This is a top quality car constructed from sturdy materials. The attention to detail is to a high standard: subtle lights highlighting the door handles, the elegant flipping of the boot at the click of a button. Each model comes with a three year warranty. The Reliability Index indicates issues with the 7 Series tended to crop up after around six years and would usually concern the axle, suspension and the cooling system. However this relates entirely to the outgoing model which was replaced by the existing model in 2002 before being further revised in 2005.
8/10
The BMW 7 Series comes with ten airbags as well as a host of driving aids to keep you out of trouble in the first place. These include anti-lock brakes and dynamic stability control as well as bumpers which will return to their original shape in impacts of less than 4mph. The car has yet to undergo EuroNCAP testing.
8/10
The petrol-engined 730i and the 730Ld SE diesel model we come with a high level of equipment including the safety features listed above plus park distance control, front fog lights, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels, Xenon headlights, electric seats and CD player. The SE models add 18 inch wheels, voice control, and sat-nav. The 740Li and 750Li adds self-levelling rear suspension and rear windscreen sunblind. The 760 model adds comfort seats, automatic bootlid operation, hand-stitched leather instrument panel and many more features. The sport models add 19-inch alloy wheels, sports seats and suspension package as well as a three-spoke steering wheel.
8/10
There are plenty of X-factors to choose from. But if forced to choose one it would be the design. The BMW 7 Series looks superb.
10/10
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