C/D: BMW 740Ld xDrive Diesel

[kevm14]

Dumb name.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/201 ... st-reviews

However, the modest 255hp (probably typically German HP) hauls the 4,700 lb sedan through the 1/4 mile in 14.8 @ 93 mph which is a notch better than a 90s B-Body LT1. The 5-60 is only 0.7s behind the 0-60 which is very impressive for what it is.

You say, yeah, but this thing gets good fuel economy, too. Yeah, it does. They got 27 MPG, which is 8 better than the gas version. That's great. But this car costs $100k.

[kevm14]

At least BMW is slowly starting to be recognized as a shadow of their former self:

Barely third-in-class, too heavy, weird-looking, ponderous, etc., etc. Not very competitive at all, actually. The next one needs to be a ton better (no pun intended...).

[bill25]

I think in reality, the only exceptional car series BMW ever made was the 3 series, including the M3.

I am not a BMW fan, so I don't know all of the intricacies of the brand, but in the 7 series' defense, it was always big and bloated, at least as long as I can remember, and was never synonymous with performance. The 5 series might have been ok, and the M5 was good, but not as good as the M3.

That is my recollection of BMW.

The 3 series was the best for performance. So yeah, you can say that the 3 series competitors have gotten closer or surpassed, but I never really saw BMW using the 7 to compete performance wise against... Anything.

7 Series by weight:
94 - 2001 - 3,770 lb - 4,817 lb
2002 - 2007 - 4,376 to 4,872 lbs
2008 - present: 4,310.0 lb) (740i) - 4,799.5 lb 750Li xDrive, 5,013.3 lb (760Li)

Which one of these looks like it will win a race:

2000 7 series.jpg

or

2003-bmw-7-series-760li_100029962_m.jpg

[kevm14]

The E38 7-series is still probably my favorite BMW, with the sport wheels (as pictured basically).