BMW stuffs more equipment into the 7 Series range

THERE’S NOTHING QUITE like having a big V8 under the bonnet. Doesn’t matter if it’s under the hood of a luxury car, or a giant SUV, V8s are the bees’ knees. BMW V8s especially.

The car tested here is one such tasty V8-equipped BMW model. It’s designated the 740Li, and it sits in between the nimble, entry-level 730Li and the explosive 750Li.

The actual reason for including the 740Li in this issue’s test drive line-up is supposed to be the fancy new DVD entertainment system in the back, but honestly you’d think we’d be hard-pressed to bother.

Take the list of ingredients, a 306bhp V8 engine, mated to a smooth six-speed automatic, with the whole lot sitting under one of the finest handling big limo chassis ever built. How much time do you think we’d spend in the back seat?

Actually quite a lot, as things turned out. The 7 Series is no lightweight, obviously, especially in long wheelbase guise. Really, the model to go for would be the lightest, and therefore sharpest handling version, the 730Li. That or the quite unhinged 750Li, where you get more than enough brute force to compensate for the weight.

Not that the 740Li isn’t slow. If you haven’t experienced the moon rocket performance of the 750Li, then you’d think it was perfectly adequate. And for day-to-day use, it really is. The engine is smooth and sonorous, and it’s very quiet at expressway speeds.

You do miss the effortless overtaking punch of the 750Li, though, and while the 740Li can handle corners with plenty of grace, it’s not as fleet of foot as the 730Li.

Thankfully, the cabin is full of new toys to distract you from concerns over how comfortably the car sits in the 7 Series model hierarchy. Plus you get the chance to rediscover how plush the rear seats are.

As mentioned above, the 740Li features a DVD entertainment system that’s now standard across the range. This consists of two monitors in housings attached to the front seat backs. The arrangement looks less tidy than systems with monitors incorporated into the headrests but is apparently the safest to have in the event of a crash.

You control the system via wireless remotes, plus you can choose to listen to your movies or music via a pair of wireless headphones, or through the car’s speakers.

The controls take a bit of getting used to, but this is no big problem. You can also hook up external devices like games consoles to the system as well. It’s remarkable how quickly time passes, even when you’re stuck in traffic, if you’ve got a movie to keep you occupied.

From the 740Li upwards, you also get a reverse camera as standard to supplement BMW’s already very effective parking radar system.

The best news is that BMW has kept prices constant for the up-specced 7 Series range, the 740Li lists for $318,800 with COE.


NEED TO KNOW
ENGINE TYPE: 4,000cc 32V V8
MAXIMUM POWER: 306bhp @ 6,300rpm
MAXIMUM TORQUE: 390Nm at 3,500rpm
GEARBOX: 6-speed automatic
TOP SPEED: 6.9 seconds
0-100KMH: 250km/h
PRICE: $318,800 with COE
WARRANTY: 3 years / 100,000km
CONTACT: Performance Motors
TELEPHONE: 6319-0100

Verdict:
Who would’ve thought that watching movies in the back of a 7 Series could be as much fun as driving one?

(+) DVD entertainment system adds a great deal to the 7 Series’ appeal

(-) 730Li handles better, 750Li much, much quicker

I agree. 750Li much much quicker. But the 730Li being nimpler is so & so. I mean we have both the 730Li & 750Li (mine) & I've driven them back to back. For an average driver, difference is negligible. Thanks for the review Mirage.

It's really negligible? Interesting. The I6 in the 730Li must be pretty damn good.

My dad test drove the 740Li, he really felt it was underpowered and sluggish.

Do you guys think the x40i engine will be phased out for the x35i engine, seeing as they have similar power outputs. It's interesting that in America, they have the 535i, don't know anywhere else where the 5er gets that engine!

Good question. Don't think it will be phased out, the x40i still has that little bit more torque as far as I can remember, and it's also "impressionably" of a higher class compared to the I6. The x40i would probably be uprated, or upgraded!

Looking at the stats:

The x40i has 302bhp, 288 torque and produces 250 C02g / km.

The x35i has 302bhp, 295 torque and produces 231 C02g / km.

Source Autocar

So the engines are very similar, although with the I6 you get slightly more torque and you won't get the sound of the V8!

Yikes, I stand corrected!

Mirage: Yes the 730Li is interesting to drive. BUT if power is of no big deal. Its nice and smooth. But to some, it is extremely underpowered.