Not sure if that M7 thread covered it...

Quote :

"July 7, 2008 Seven sees Those who expected BMW's next-gen 7-Series to look like the badboy Concept CS prepare to be disappointed - here are the first pics of Munich's biggest saloon. Mmmmm... First impressions aren't great. Anyone else simply see a larger, softened 5-Series? Anyhoo, looks aside the new 7-Series has some pretty impressive features. First up there's a Side View camera option. This system - that they say is a world first but a similar idea has bee seen on at least the Rolls Phantom Coupe and Infiniti FX50 before. Maybe this one's more advanced? - works with the parking sensors to aid slow speed manoeuvring. Essentially, they peer around corners allowing drivers to negotiate their way 'through a narrow gate' or a 'partially obscured junction.' No mention of peering 'up the skirt of passing ladies' in the press release, however... The new BMW 7-Series is also available with an advanced Night Vision system with a pedestrian recognition system. This device analyses video data of human behaviour and alerts the driver if it detects a human form wandering into the path of the vehicle. Three engines are available including one diesel and two petrol engines. The 730d uses a new all-aluminium 3.0-litre straight-six producing 245hp, while the BMW 750i and 750Li use the 4395cc twin-turbo 407bhp V8 from the X6. All three engines, according to BMW, deliver more power, use less fuel and produce fewer emissions than the models they replace. Both petrol models will also be offered with a long-wheelbase option. The new 7-Series goes on sale in the UK on 15 November, 2008. You can watch the BMW 7-Series in action here. Or, read about the current BMW 7-Series."

http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/3012/

7/7/2008 2:37:44 PM

Quote :

"Three engines are available including one diesel and two petrol engines. The 730d uses a new all-aluminium 3.0-litre straight-six producing 245hp, while the BMW 750i and 750Li use the 4395cc twin-turbo 407bhp V8 from the X6. "

And yet he only mentioned 2 engines? I'm guessing the twin turbo 3.0 liter six is the base engine?

IMO this new 7 Series misses the mark. Not as ugly as the previous model, but compare it to the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and its not even close.

7/7/2008 5:36:10 PM

I thought the back of the car said 790

damn

7/7/2008 5:42:39 PM

BMW strikes again.........the F01 is delayed b/c of problems already......as well as the launch of the new diagnostic hardware/software (ISIS).

7/7/2008 5:46:49 PM

better looking than the current one, but once again too much interior gimmickry

7/7/2008 8:33:51 PM

my neighbor is selling his 7 car. 03, 740, 80k miles, white, tan leather, nav, 24,900. not bad considering condition. but i got no use for that whip.

7/7/2008 8:36:32 PM

'03 = 745, not 740. And if I had to give up my first born to save from owning a 02-03 E65, I will toss the baby in a heartbeat......even with the 100,000 mile warranty.

7/7/2008 10:13:57 PM

i actually like the current model better

this one looks like a cat with down's syndrome

7/8/2008 12:44:03 AM

that's oh so very ugly.

7/8/2008 2:11:14 AM

Quote :

"I'm guessing the twin turbo 3.0 liter six is the base engine?"

I think the 730d is the diesel BMW, probably not the base engine (and I'm guessing we still won't get such an engine here).

7/8/2008 2:31:21 AM

^I know, but I said i was guessing b/c they didn't talk about it in the article posted. I wasn't confusing the diesel mentioned in the article with their gasoline 3.0 turbo engine.

[Edited on July 8, 2008 at 2:44 AM. Reason : k]

7/8/2008 2:42:03 AM

Quote :

"d yet he only mentioned 2 engines? I'm guessing the twin turbo 3.0 liter six is the base engine?"

Yes, you are right. And it will produce 326 hp and 332 lb-ft, and reach from 0-60 mph in 5.9 sec!

But that engine (740i) won't be coming to the US. Only the 750i (400 hp, 450 lb-ft) for the US. And of course the 760i, but that is a year or so away from launch. The 750i will do the same sprint in 5.2 sec. Note that this new 4.4 litre TT V8 is almost as powerful as the 6 litre V12 in the current 760i!

8-page press release:
http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080703.007/updated-all-new-bmw-7-series-official-photos-and-info

Video:
http://www.worldcarfans.com/9080704.002/official-all-new-bmw-7-series-revealed-with-tell-all-video

Galleries:
http://www.worldcarfans.com/3080704.001/new-bmw-7-series
http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2009-bmw-7-series-3/


It doesn't look good in the OP's pics... but somehow manages to look good in these 2 pics:







And I find this highly odd. Normally in cars, the bottom of the front end protrudes out more than the top of the front end, to create a sloping out lip-like effect, but in this new 7, the top of the front end protrudes out more than the bottom... to create an ugly-shark-like effect

7/8/2008 7:20:18 AM

Can we blame the European Pedestrian laws for the front end ugliness?

7/8/2008 11:09:07 AM

yes

7/8/2008 12:45:05 PM

ok now it kinda looks like an Avalon

7/8/2008 1:19:07 PM

Its not even a comparison...

7/8/2008 3:19:50 PM

Quote :

"'03 = 745, not 740. And if I had to give up my first born to save from owning a 02-03 E65, I will toss the baby in a heartbeat......even with the 100,000 mile warranty."

can you elaborate without me having to look shit up? i went by the bank today to get paper work done to bring him a check for 22,500 and see if he would bite. i was planning on surprising the wife with it as her dd. after not knowing much about 7 series' my surprise looks like it could be a loss. anybody chime in since i am supposed to meet my banker at 9am to pick up a check.

7/8/2008 8:17:13 PM

did some reading quickly and most issues are with the Idrive. and most of those in the long term tests said they got used to them and learned to appreciate them.

are there any mechanical issues that would be of major concern?

7/8/2008 8:25:24 PM

i dunno, but Diggler is a bmw tech i believe so that's not just some random input. you might be able to get up with him faster over on hpj.

7/8/2008 8:58:40 PM

The early I-drive is only complained about by old people really. Its not that hard to work, and IMO if you can't work it.......you shouldn't even be allowed to drive an Escort on the road (ie. blind as a bat). The real problems with those cars (besides the whole thing, being the 1st and 2nd years of a whole new platform).......were mainly software/programming issues. They were a fucking nightmare just a few weeks after we started selling them. Some of them were in the shop for 2-3 weeks, while BMW sorted out and released software versions, week after week. Hence the 100,000 mile warranty to the original owner......

7/8/2008 9:02:47 PM

i dont even know why you youngins even bring up anything other than a 3 series.

like anyone we know is going to go out and buy a 5 series, hell even a 7 series.

i know i would not if i had the money. so quit posting this old hag garbage.

post pictures of cars that we would enjoy. i wouldnt even drive a 7 series if i had the chance. i dont like big body cars. none of you should also.

get with the times man

7/8/2008 10:25:34 PM

There's a good chance that I'll buy a 5 series in a decade or so, but I'd never, ever, ever buy a 7 series.

7/9/2008 2:57:41 AM

Diggler. thanks for the heads up. I may pass on this based on the 100,000 mile warranty. if BMW gave that warranty because they know there were issues i do not want to mess with it. this was a whim and i will keep my eyes open for a deal on something else. thanks for the heads up.

7/9/2008 8:15:07 AM

my uncle bought the first model of the last body style 7 series (well, his company did).

no offense to hardcore BMW fans but that car was a complete electrical nightmare. i don't know how they got away with selling it. hopefully they learned a few lessons.

7/9/2008 8:28:26 AM

The 100,000 mile warranty was their plan to insure the customers who bought those cars that they would back them.........with their known issues.

FWIW, I'd rock a E38 all day long.........as well as an Alpina B7. I've driven 2 of them.......they are pretty impressive being they are tanks. There is actually 3 or 4 of them running around just in the Chapel Hill/Durham area.

7/9/2008 6:00:04 PM

I remember him getting so frustrated with BMW that when they offered him an X5 as a loaner car to replace basically everything in the dash, he asked if he could get a tahoe instead. They didn't take that seriously. He was serious though

7/9/2008 6:28:00 PM