Streamliner

……..going ELECTRIC!

After the 18 month fiasco with my loaded, 2022 S580 that MB repurchased, I’m now in a fairly basic, CPO 2020 S560, which in comparison, I love. That said, I long for a brand new car and I would really like a quieter, smoother riding vehicle. A few months ago, I test drove a new BMW I7 and was very impressed. The ultra quiet & very luxurious cabin, along with an amazing ride quality still stand out in my memory. I’m not thrilled with some of the glitzy interior doo-dads, but I feel I can live with those. There is a BMW dealer within walking distance of my office and I do believe that I am going to try to get an extended test drive in an I7 and I just may place an order.

My last 8 new cars have been MB and I’ve really noticed a change—for the worse—in their vehicles, dealer attitudes, customer service, etc. I’m convinced that the last great year for MB was 2019 and I’m not thinking that things will turn around anytime soon. So, thinking of going to THE DARK SIDE! Stay tuned.

Drone_S213

​​​​​Saw a White one in NM the other day. They look so much better in person. Good Luck...think of i7 as an Electric Light Rail or LA Metro Streamliner!

Didn't get my first ICE until Suzuki from old Marina Del Rey Dealership and CRX from ELP in 1985. Used NYC Transit before that starting in 1974.

teksurv

I think you'll be happy with it. Very nice car.

W205C43PFL

The car is growing on me, I think you will enjoy it. Just hopefully no first or second-ish model year issues. Any luck ordering without the crystals that you hated?

Streamliner

I doubt it, but since the parts are available, I can do a swap.

W205C43PFL

True. Hopefully it is straightforward to do.

crabman

Seems like dealerships had been getting better for decades and then came the pandemic; huge regression after that and like everything else it hasn't got back to where it was beforehand.

Don't even get me started on the new style of customer service that sprung up during the pandemic. Can't talk to an actual person, can't solve your problem without talking to an actual person. The poorest possible service for the highest possible price seems to be the new normal. And lets not forget tipping a sneering snot who got your order wrong, never checked on you once, and thinks he should be able to drive a new Porsche like his daddy does for carrying a plate of food 30 feet without ever considering the fact that his dad spent 9 years in school learning a skill. Baa humbug!

chassis

I have always liked the appearance of the latest 7er. Stately and modern. Great looking C-pillar with Hofmeister kink.

W205C43PFL

The only thing that needed to grow on me was the front. Otherwise I actually like the side profile, I don't mind the rear as well.

S_W222

You can not go wrong with electrical; my personal opinion. I am not a fan of the i7 specifically, probably the ugliest sedan EV from the major manufacturers on the planet now, but, if you don’t mind the look or the poor mileage, going electric is the way to go. There isn’t many electric cars to choose from nowadays, maybe get the i7 now and switch to Mbenz once they have an electrified S-class that is not the EQS!!!! Both EQS and i7 are a total failure in my view design wise, and if I have to chose, I’d have hard time to choose either of them as I hate both of the just equally, but likely I’d go EQS given all the issues with BMW drivetrains recently (I warned u).

Just keep in mind, the generous treatment u got from Mbenz a couple times for the buybacks isn’t anything you will get from BMW. But, if u take this route, I wish you a happy and hassle-free ownership experience. As a BMW guy, you will really love the technology but you will seriously miss the luxury no matter what your test-drive tells you; so just keep that in mind. Even YouTube reviewers (which I don’t count on) reported that the comfort in the 7 is inferior to the S-class. I suggest u test drive the car beyond half an hour or an hour drive but that might be impossible for the i7 nowadays.

W205C43PFL

I thought the buybacks weren't actually generous per se but because MB has to? I thought the buybacks was because of lemon law in full effect? So, if that is the case, if (hopefully not) OP ever has issue with the BMW and turns out to be a lemon, there will be no issues in getting the vehicle purchased back and getting money back.

js_cls

I would skip ordering and see if you can find one in stock that you like, discount will likely be much greater as they aren’t moving fast.

superswiss

Right, there's nothing particularly generous involved from the manufacturer when it comes to lemon buybacks. The law is the law. @Streamliner is in California and we have one of the best lemon laws. Not the best overall as some states have a lower threshold when it comes to what qualifies as a lemon, but CA has the best consumer protections when it comes to manufacturers trying to deny a lemon buyback. There are steep penalties for the manufacturers if they try to deny a lemon buyback once it qualifies based on the law.

BMW has also been climbing the consumer satisfaction ladder to new highs for them. They've suffered from quality issues for a while, but have reclaimed their position as one of the more reliable brands. My recent experience with a BMW is also that they know how to make powertrains. Don't know about electric, but their ICE powertrains are good. The only thing that let it down is the steering. The on-center vagueness was unnerving at highway speeds. Don't know how the steering is in the I7, but when I read reviews of it saying such things as "the steering is vaguely connected to the rest of the car..." it immediately raises a red flag for me.

W205C43PFL

I see, I am a little jealous that you guys have the lemon law in the first place : )

Ya I agree with BMW, several forum members here too highly praise BMW lately.

Streamliner

To me, ordering a new car and having it delivered just as you have specified, it a great joy. Of course, one may not get as good of a deal compared to buying “off the rack,” but I believe that some things are worth paying a bit extra for. I find it very interesting to research the options, consider all the colors, etc. and to then sign on the dotted line. The four months it might take to get the car are spent in pleasant anticipation, marking off the days as they go by.

In addition to the above, I would probably order the car in a way most folks would not. For example, I would probably opt for the RWD, as I don’t need the extra power of the AWD model and never drive in the snow. I would also, most likely, forget all the rear seat luxuries, including the drop down TV screen. I would opt for the full Marino interior, the big audio system and other options, ending up with a car that many might find odd, but would be much to my liking. No, if I go for a new car, I’ll be placing a special order.

Streamliner

Well, let’s talk about that: I’ve had six brand new BMW’s. The first was a 1988, the last a 1995. They were all 12 cylinder models, four 7’s and two 8’s. BMW bought FOUR of them back. I sold the other two. In the insane State of California where I have lived all my life, the weather and the California Lemon Law are the ONLY benefits. If a company sells me a new vehicle that doesn’t perform as it should and happens to end up meeting the requirements of being deemed a “Lemon,” I’m getting all my money back and that’s a fact. Doesn’t matter what manufacturer we are talking about, sell cars in The Golden State and you had better make sure the car performs properly, or you will be held to account—IF the consumer cares enough to do something about it.

S_W222

I get what u r saying, and am not surprised u also got 4 buybacks from BMW based on what your W222 and W223 buyback thread. Going for a buyback seems to be ur preferred way to get out of a vehicle when it has issues and that’s within your rights. But, my point was, with EVs, it will take them a day only to swap a motor or a better and get it back to u well before unsatisfied the legality of a buyback conditions. I hope you won’t have any issues though, but knowing all the drivetrain issues they are dealing with, and your history of not tolerating a vehicle needing service, I feel that u should avoid BMWs now and especially the i7. Good luck

Sonic Boom

I can live with the front, but the side silhouette is so blah!

chassis

Agree with this. Ordering a vehicle from the factory is a calamity of errors, especially so with the MB clown show (dealers).

chassis

@Streamliner I can see your point, maybe from the point of view of the 1990s, better maybe the 1970s. Today, the industry in general, and MB in particular, has a consumer-unfriendly ordering process filled with unnecessary delays, drama and cost.

One person's joy in this case is another person's worst nightmare.

Streamliner

Please know that I was never happy about entering the buy-back process. All of those BMW’s were purchased with the idea that I would enjoy them and keep them for two or three years. Not my fault they could not sell me a car that they could not keep running properly. Obviously, I gave up on the brand after 1995 and have not been back since. Maybe if I do go to place an order, when they put my name in their computer, a warning message will flash saying “PERSONA NON GRATA!!!”

Streamliner

Yes, BUT: I’ve never seen a dealership that is not equipped with a DOOR, through which one can WALK! Even after ordering a car and waiting for it to arrive, if the car arrives not properly equipped or the dealer isn’t willing to play nice at contract time, one can always ask for their deposit back and leave.

Streamliner

The new 7 is no beauty queen and I feel that the exterior of the W223 is much nicer looking. That said, if one doesn’t like the way the car DRIVES, is constantly irritated by it and is not comfortable in the car, what good is it? That’s how I felt about my S580.

It was long about 1993, when I got my first Lexus LS400, that the word “COMFORT” began to rise to the top of the reason list as to why I bought a car. Long about that same time, I became a commuter, driving approximately 100 miles round trip every day between L.A. and Orange County. I really got spoiled by those earlier Lexus sedans in the way they rode with their air suspension and the way I was treated like a KING by the dealer service departments. I had 8 new LS sedans and truly enjoyed them. One just segued into the next. What a great experience those years with Lexus were.

Now that I am much older, COMFORT is a huge deal. Ingress/egress, a fabulous ride, amazing seats and a quiet cabin are way more important to me than exterior design. Heck, if the current Lexus LS hit those categories out of the park, I’d put up with their hideous designs, but alas, Lexus has lost their way. Maybe it’s time to give the folks in Munchen another “at bat.”

chassis

You are right, as usual. And just think of all of your personal time that would have been wasted in the scenario you gave. My time is worth more than that.

crabman

People fit into one of two broad categories when making a purchase; those that will regret not getting exactly what they want, and those who can settle without regret. The key is knowing which way you fall.