Yes bro i thot the pics would speak for themselves. Personally, the S is the more 'opulent' interior without a doubt. It's classically spartan and very representative of what a luxurious interior should be like. The 7er is nice, but some parts of it to me seem too 'stock'. Im sure at night it will look cool with all the displays but gadgetry isn't really what this segment is about. All in all tho, i like it as well.


Also... bear another thot... if it wasnt for a 7 year familiarity, im starting to think if the schedules were reversed a lot of people would be saying the E65 interior is better than the F01

look at the finer details anthony, it is true the Sclass seems like it has the more "special" stuff but it is all too busy cluttered and conventional

look at how well the door handle and grasp are integrated in the BMW, look at how the whole design flows, at how all important buttons are just there close to touch, it is true that the seat control on the door are a mercedes trademark but they look tacky and fussed in a global picture, the BMW is minimalist and very well thought of

My friend, well at least for me, that S interior surely trumps. Talking about how the 7er control buttons 'flow' and the S are 'busy' is just microscopic and inaccurate. The S radiates more quality, looks better and wouldnt suprise me if it 'felt' better too.

Yes, there's Active Cruise Control Plus on board (with Stop&Go function, and Active Brake Assistant).

Yes, there are systems on board like seat-belt tensioners, active head-rests, BMW Assist which activates in the case of an accident.

And there is an army of warning systems - which still requires driver's intervention, since he / she is in control of a car): Lane Change Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Speed Limit Warning, Pedestrian Warning (part of NightVision), etc.

So, there are warning systems & interventions systems present, yet they do not intervene like the systems in eg. MB or Lexus: they just warn the driver to intervene. And when it does, all the systems assist him (eg. applying additional brake force, put brakes in stand-by mode, speed-up the engine breaking by severe downshifting etc).

But there are definitely more active safety features there ...

It's a difference in philosophy. BMW cars are made for more active drivers (and they demand from the car to intervene as seldom as possible - similar to Audi drivers), while most MB & Lexus drivers expect maximum protection from the car. So the priorities what to put in a car, and when is a little different.

^thanks for the answer..

The answer is simple:

every pioneer who push boundaries further, and upsets the established normes, dogmas, perceptions is heavily criticized.

Being a pioneer is hard. You explore new dimensions, new meaning, new perceptions, new rules etc. Being completely on a new territory. Therefore you have to improvise many times. And you try. And the result is not always perfect, but it's often striking.

Like BMW ...

There is also jing-jang philosophy behind.

Too much static is not good. Too much positive emotions is not good. Too much calmness is not good. Too many safe moves is not good. Too much perfection is not good. etc.

For the right balance there has to be 2 poles. You have to be perfect & imperfect at the same time. Calm & wild. Positive & negative. Static & dynamic. etc. And that's BMW brand & cars & designs all about: being active, intriguing, teasing & pleasing, moving on. Be in motion. Drag others. Move others. Never be boring.

BEING ALIVE & KICKING. That's the essence of BMW brand & company.

Talk about paying attention to detail! Finally and interior that can match the sex appeal of the exterior...

Do you really think they have upset the establishment ....woken them up is more like it.

So, now that i could appreciate the pics a bit more, here are my thoughts:

EXTERIOR: can't really decide yet. The pics are deceptive, it sometimes look brilliant, sometimes bland. I love the side, like the rear, but the front is bland and the 3/4 rear too. Not digging the rear lights, the flowing thing is too much.

I think it could top the pre-FL S-Class (rear wheel-arch too big, front lights too big and empty, but big presence). BTW, the AMG is too much for me.

However, the old A8 still is the best-looking. I used not to like its rear lights, but the latest one with full-LEDS and almost no white part is perfect. In fact, there's not a single element I don't love in these latest A8.

So A8 wins easily. 7er or S in second, need to see the 7er IRL to decide. it could very well look slightly better than the S, but not a revolution.

INTERIOR: here, the 7er falls very short. Huge disappontment.

The overall design is good.
BUT nothing lets you guess you're in a $100.00 car. Especially these black plastic inserts for the controls, these old-fashionned black buttons... Looks almost ordinary.

Whereas in the S, everything oozes luxury. Every single piece look very upscale and expensive. The wood integration with delicate chrome surrounding, the sublime metal buttons with very modern glossy signs over it, the clock... You sit in it and nobody can doubt this is a very expensive, very luxurious car.

i especially love the very zen design. Lots of "empty", clean surfaces like the door panels, very few buttons delicately assembled together (like the line on the center console), it's a masterpiece.

However, I don't like the heavy screen-cover. it bothers me.

The A8: very good design, more luxurious looking than the 7er. Not the same finish and attention to, details as the S, bit messy sometimes, buttons a bit everywhere, some shutlines not in place (over the center console).

So here, the S has an easy win, with a point for the A8 for overall design.


To sum it up: my favourite WOULD be the A8... but it can't stand against the S: technology, comfort are what matter to me in this category, not sportivity. it has to ride flying-carpet like. The suspension of the S, the relaxing driving are unbeatable.
The 7er disapponted me on the interior, but the exterior could be a winner. it's not likely to dethrone the S however, but it definitely is a huge improvement over the e65 and its heavy look, plasticky interior and awful finish.

^ Am having Déjà vu ...or have you pretty much said all that before?