Well I test drove a pre-FL 745iL, with 30.000kms and just after a S500 W220 with 160.000kms.

The look: heavy, Americanised, inelegant. But a big presence. i don't like it. The interior, the rear space is well designed, the front less convincing. Not a big fan.

The finition is just awful for the category. Awful. The plastics are really not top notch, the buttons all look and feel cheap... Big schock. Even my bro, die-hard BMW-fan, admitted it was little disappointing. The phone-lugage made horrible noises when you tried to open or close it... the moving parts, luggage spaces, all feels cheap, light, fragile. The seat controls are made for people with at least 5 articulations on the arm. Honestly, a 3er is ten times better finished. My bro had an e46 330i at this time, it was no comparison.

Then the iDrive. Honestly...no problem at all. It is brilliant. Some functions hard to find, but overall it ias absolutely brilliant.

The ride: the car was fitted with Adaptive Drive. Comfortwise, too much little trepidations. And not smooth enough for a limo like that I found. Of course very comfortable, but I waited more.

It however really felt like a much much smaller car, not like a heavy 2tonner!!! it was almost nimble, very pleasant, surprising for a car that weight.

So, to sum it up... Drive almost like a 5er, in much more comfortable... Look like an American car, finished like an American car. And the ESP-light was on, on a 30.00kms 7er...


Then, the S-Class. 160.000kms on the clock.

The look: gracile, elegant, but not the same presence than the BMW. Much classier I find, not a big fan of the front lights.

The interior: very old-school compared to the BMW. But very pleasant.

The finition: wonderful... Not flawless though (doorpanels with hard plastic, cupholder not very stable...), but... Rich plastics, solid moving pieces, perfect buttons. Not a single parasit noise... The car felt like it was new.

The drive: much heavier than the BMW. Bodyroll, more vague steering. Did not have ABC, and lots of kms... But much more comfortable also. Smooth, isolated from the road...More convincing as a limo for me. The suspension is wonderful, perfect. When you pass a bump in the road, you do not feel anything; if the bump is big you barely hear the noise of the wheel on the bump, but never feel anything brutal. Don't try to make a time with it though; i suspect a car with less kms on the odometer would be a bit less heavy, but it clearly can't stand with the 7er on twisty roads. it is very relaxing, you just feel good in this car.


I much preferred the Merc. The feeling is wonderful, this suspension is perfect. And the finition of the BMW is just a shame.

The 7er manages to keep beeing a BMW, but the finition is a big problem.
The S-Class... the King for me. Feels special, so comfortable...You are good, relaxed, don't want to stop. Perfect.