When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Guys, are we buying our cars mostly for the appearance or we really care about how advanced the car is and how it drives ( ok, beside the appearance ) ?
Appearance wise this Bimmmer may not the most appealing car around but if it drives like the 7 Series I've had it could easily be a real winner !
And I remember when the 7 Series "Bangle butt" with the "mouse" came on the market, (which I've bought it and loved it ) everybody was *****ing.....guess what all the cars has that today !
I'm with you and 'm not really a big supporter of their always "business like" spartan interior, but man, they drive like a dream.....
I use to really like the way they look and drive. In the 90's and 2000's, I could not see myself driving anything but a BMW, I met my wife because of BMW, and I have put plenty of dollars and time into the brand and their community. But with the shift from the E-Chassis cars of the early-mid 2000's, the to F-Chassis cars of the early 2010's, BMW's lost that special sauce that made them fantastic handling cars in my opinion, and now they've even lost their unique look and are going straight for look-at-me styling and losing traditional styling cues. Even Chris Bangle's controversial styling still retained many traditional BMW design elements that new BMW's are losing thanks to ex-Citreon design Domagoj Dukec. I could go on a whole 3-page essay rant about the company (although I won't), but in general, they are honestly sadly a shell of the company that I use to love.
I've bought a number of cars that I was ambivalent about in terms of appearance; the S Class is one of them. The 7 series could be described with a word that's largely gone out of usage: Vulgar. For you folks across the pond in this context it means an uncultivated and pretentious display of style. I can do ambivalent, I cant do vulgar.
I also have some grief on the interior setup. First; I don't like the center back screen. I like to be centered on any screen I'm watching, in the house, on a plane, in a car, doesn't matter, the screen should be in front of me. The second is that more commonly used options are buried than they are in the S Class. I already don't like it on the S Class and worse is worse. I also don't like the lag on the rear control screens. The screens in the back of my car aren't high-end cell phone fast but they operate without hitching and are reasonably quick. Number 3; I'm not in love with how the driver display is integrated into the car in the S Class; it's worse in the 7.
Other than these items as near as I can tell from the reviews I'm ok with or like the rest of it but I have to see car interiors in person to draw a solid impression. I didn't like the interior appearance of our cars in the reviews, in the flesh it's nice. There's also no substitute for parking your butt in the seat for a comfort check. But, none of that really matters, that front end is a dealbreaker, I will never own this car as it sits. It's kind of sad because I’m thinking I would probably prefer the way it drives were I to take it for a spin.
"For you folks across the pond in this context it means an uncultivated and pretentious display of style"
Just for the record I'm on the side of the pond !
And, on the other hand, Europeans, probably mostly Germans, are not really preoccupied mostly about the appearance , just because.....they drive on the Autobahn !
I use to really like the way they look and drive. In the 90's and 2000's, I could not see myself driving anything but a BMW, I met my wife because of BMW, and I have put plenty of dollars and time into the brand and their community. But with the shift from the E-Chassis cars of the early-mid 2000's, the to F-Chassis cars of the early 2010's, BMW's lost that special sauce that made them fantastic handling cars in my opinion, and now they've even lost their unique look and are going straight for look-at-me styling and losing traditional styling cues. Even Chris Bangle's controversial styling still retained many traditional BMW design elements that new BMW's are losing thanks to ex-Citreon design Domagoj Dukec. I could go on a whole 3-page essay rant about the company (although I won't), but in general, they are honestly sadly a shell of the company that I use to love.
I think you probably remember it was really the so called bangle-butt that most people didn't like; the rest of it ran through the industry like wildfire. Even stolid companies like Toyota picked up on it.
And then, apparently, their reliability really took a dive....
We've got a 750 for 7 years that did not have any problem.....
The reliability has actually improved with the F-Chassis cars in my opinion. The V8's tend to be a bit problematic in the 7er's when it comes to oil consumption, but reliability of BMW's were mainly bad during the Bangle era days due to the introduction of new technology. That being said we bought a final model year E90 335i sedan and didn't really have many issues until the car became older with higher milage.
I think you probably remember it was really the so called bangle-butt that most people didn't like; the rest of it ran through the industry like wildfire. Even stolid companies like Toyota picked up on it.
Yep, the Bangle Butt has become a design staple of many brands. Over the years BMW has since perfected it, such as the third-generation 6-Series of the 2010's and many other F-Chassis cars. The early models like the E65 7-Series and E63/4 6-Series of the early 2000's were the worst offenders. That being said I did not mind the E60 5-Series design, but I do think the E39 5-Series of the 90's that preceded it will forever be their best looking sedan of all time.
I just don't see anything about it thats "elegant"...
Alright I guess I too agree it isn't "elegant" at least but to me that is only true for the front, maybe the right paint job will help? If not I do feel the side profiles and the rear end of the car to be pretty nice actually.
Frankly, I'm more concerned about the BMW version of "Ambient" interior lighting. The videos I have seen make it look like a pinball arcade in Tokyo. The colored lighting doesn't look "ambient" at all, it looks like it is right in your face and a bit nuts.
I guess they designed those with the passenger in mind and not the driver.
Yep, the Bangle Butt has become a design staple of many brands. Over the years BMW has since perfected it, such as the third-generation 6-Series of the 2010's and many other F-Chassis cars. The early models like the E65 7-Series and E63/4 6-Series of the early 2000's were the worst offenders. That being said I did not mind the E60 5-Series design, but I do think the E39 5-Series of the 90's that preceded it will forever be their best looking sedan of all time.
Absolutely, we've got a 540 from the era, it was oner of the best cars we ever got !
The way I'm remembering it the E60 got the original much disliked butt in 04 or 5ish, it was the second one with the original butt that had debuted on the 7 just a year or two before it. The 3 which came up next for it's redesign was spared due to all the ire aroused with the 7 and then 5. Mrs Crab had that year E60 but what I'm remembering more than the, ahem, butt, is the awful reliability. Probably the worst ownership experience we ever had and that from a house that once harbored a Range Rover. It was the programming killing them; the first thing they tried to do to fix a fault was a flash before moving to hardware but at first the flashing almost never succeeded; it could take from a few days to a few weeks for them to get through them in the early days.
Absolutely, we've got a 540 from the era, it was oner of the best cars we ever got !
Agreed, my father had an E39 540i and 530i, they are still in my opinion the closest a car can get to perfect.
Originally Posted by crabman
The way I'm remembering it the E60 got the original much disliked butt in 04 or 5ish, it was the second one with the original butt that had debuted on the 7 just a year or two before it. The 3 which came up next for it's redesign was spared due to all the ire aroused with the 7 and then 5. Mrs Crab had that year E60 but what I'm remembering more than the, ahem, butt, is the awful reliability. Probably the worst ownership experience we ever had and that from a house that once harbored a Range Rover. It was the programming killing them; the first thing they tried to do to fix a fault was a flash before moving to hardware but at first the flashing almost never succeeded; it could take from a few days to a few weeks for them to get through them in the early days.
The E90 has a bangle butt, but its not as pronounced, it was the first car they finally got the rear end down on and is more reflective of the design they’ve since used.
Yes those early E60’s were nightmares, especially if optioned with the V8’s. My father loved the way his 545i drove but the engine was temperamental. He eventually replaced it with a late model 535i and ended up keeping that for a while as he despises the way the F10 and G30 successors handle, to which I agreed because I hated my G30 540i with a passion, although it was the reason I got a Mercedes, so I guess everything happens for a reason! Eventually got him to take over my CLS53 because I was tired of taking the 5er to the dealer so much!
Just saw new 7.
Pro- seats very comfortable, lots of rear leg room, curved screen nice, hidden a/c vents very tasteful, buttons to operate doors, large trunk, big grill
Con- uninspiring overall, sparkly crystals inside and outside are zero, black front face is ridiculous, car is large and tall, as Streamliner said wheels are zero.
I so wanted to have liked it but, sorry no cigar.
Ordering an S Class on Monday.
This stood out to me the most in person, the front especially is very blocky and tall in height, just looks a bit weird and almost SUV-ish in person. I assume they were trying to go for the Rolls Royce effect, however those cars succeed as the rest of the car follows the front end in design, while the 7er looks vastly understated from the a-pillar back, and the opposite in front.
This stood out to me the most in person, the front especially is very blocky and tall in height, just looks a bit weird and almost SUV-ish in person. I assume they were trying to go for the Rolls Royce effect, however those cars succeed as the rest of the car follows the front end in design, while the 7er looks vastly understated from the a-pillar back, and the opposite in front.
Here's a pic of the old and new one side by side:
Yes, the hood of the car is tall and noticeable to look over the hood while in the driver’s seat position. The interior, however is awesome! Stunning interior. When my son got back into our S580 after being in the 760 he said, “I never thought it would be depressing to get into an S Class but this is a big step down.”
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by R N M
The new 7 is a disaster like many of the recent BMW designs.
Current Sclass is probably one of the best designs for luxury sedan.
I have not seen the new 7 in person, but based on the numerous videos I have seen, I guess I’ll have to agree with you. That faceted interior light bar is SO offensive. The exterior design is just SO offensive. All this to please the Chinese.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
For the life of me, I can’t understand why they can’t offer an optional front end. They already offer two, why not a third one with very classic BMW lines? Same for the glitzy light bar, offer an optional type similar to MB.
Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings to all MBWorld members!
I have not seen the new 7 in person, but based on the numerous videos I have seen, I guess I’ll have to agree with you. That faceted interior light bar is SO offensive. The exterior design is just SO offensive. All this to please the Chinese.
I don’t mind the light bar so much, I like the added textures/details to it.
Personally, I also find the faceted part of the interior light bar to be chintzy and tacky; it's just unnecessary bling but other than that, the interior of the G70 is pretty well put together and materiality is pretty good also, not that the G11 was poorly put together or anything, far from it if anything.
I'm more curious to see how the G70 would fare sales wise up here on the pacific north west in the great white north especially with the garish front end. Starting with the LCI G11, sales were so poor that the dealers were practically begging people to buy them and giving them away for free, 45-55k off sticker with barely a premium over a loaded 540i or lightly equipped m550i. Same year demos are usually in high 80s and low 90s cad price point and they usually only have a 4 digit km figure on the odometer. I was offered a fully loaded demo, back in late 2020 for a 20' with individual ext paint, full merino interior, B&W, dynamic handling package, basically everything with only 7500km for 83k cad; it was enticing given the value proposition but just not the right colour. I've only seen 3 on the road here and maybe 2 cpo ones come up for sale. Pre LCI sales weren't as poor as this so I'm just assuming maybe it has to do with the grill. I heard the LCI does decently in other parts of Canada.
Also, the lease residuals for the 7 in Canada in BC historically has been in the 33% range for a 36mo lease and basically drops all the way down to 25% for a 48mo lease. 24mo is still at 41%
and Happy American Thanksgiving everyone; I still split half my time in the year between the east coast US and west coast Canada
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
