This is a long post, but I don’t know anyway to make it shorter, so here goes:
For those of you who may not know, after having six S Class sedans in a row (5 new, 1 CPO) only to have MBUSA buy the last 3 of them back due to issues they could not resolve, I very reluctantly ordered a 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60 (my first all electric car) and took delivery about two months ago. Since then, I had put about 1500 miles on it, mostly around home. But this past week, my wife & I took the new car on a 1200 mile round trip from our home in Orange County, up to Napa Valley.
The huge BMW is a joy to drive. The Full Marino Leather seats are—without a doubt—THE most comfortable I have ever experienced, better than my previous favorite W222 seats and WAY better than those in my W223. BMW could “school” MB on the massage function, as the feature is truly wonderful in the new 7, unlike what I feel are the very marginal systems offered by MB.
I find the layout & design of the interior to be much more appealing than in the W223, but I must say that the big center screen in my S580 was more convenient to use than the less obtrusive one in the BMW. I find it somewhat difficult to deal with all the tiny icons in the new car, but will admit that I have not spent much time trying to learn shortcuts, etc. I’m hoping to spend some time with a BMW “Genius” soon and see if they can make it easier for me.
Ingress & egress is much better for me in the very upright 7, compared to the W223. The automatic doors are absolutely marvelous! I find that I prefer to open the door manually when entering, as pressing the button on the exterior of the door is a bit of a pain and then waiting for the system to sense any obstacles—which includes ME—is not great. However, after physically opening the door, it STAYS PUT WHEREVER you leave it. After getting seated, simply depress the brake pedal and the door immediately closes. When exiting, press a haptic button (that WORKS flawlessly) on the very end of the dash—driver or passenger—and the door immediately swings open—sensing how far—so it avoids hitting the vehicle next to it, or any other object. I’ve gotten to the point where I hit the same dash mounted button as I climb out of the car, and the door closes swiftly behind me.
Around town, the ride quality is amazing, very well dampened and the interior is very quiet. At highway speeds, the noise factor is all over the board, based on road surfaces. On new asphalt or concrete, even at 70mph, the car is very quiet. However, mostly up in Northern California, there where areas where the worn road surfaces, coupled with the Yokohama 19” tires produced a ROAR inside the passenger cabin that I found to be very annoying and absolutely unacceptable in the massive saloon. I will say that my S580–after I had replaced the 19” run flats with conventional tires—was more quiet in such instances. They say that these very heavy I7’s “eat” tires very quickly, so with no additional road trips planned, I will wait until the Yokohama’s wear out and then probably replace them with a more quiet tire, probably Pirelli’s or Continental’s.
My I7 is equipped with the Autobahn Pkg. which I had hoped might be something similar to the marvelous Magic Body Control of W222 fame, but it isn’t. With MBC—especially in the later W222 years—it could make many speed bumps & other road irregularities absolutely DISAPPEAR! My BMW does nothing even remotely similar. The car drives like a BMW, not like a MB. It really is different—not in anyway bad—but it is different. To me, the benchmark for comfort & handling in a big sedan is Magic Body Control. MB would be well served if they took their magnificent, discontinued suspension and reintroduced it to their flagship sedans. A W224, with electric drive & MBC? Be still my heart! Unfortunately these days, the folks in Stuttgart seem to be more interested in plastering their logos everywhere instead of doing any cutting edge engineering, which is a monumental shame.
My I7 has most every option, less the rear seat options. The Driver Assistance Professional Pkg. which includes their Highway Assistant is truly a quantum leap forward. You can, literally, drive hands & feet free for miles on end, as long as the system feels that road conditions are acceptable AND that the driver is not distracted from watching the road. The system is very well sorted and I used it most of the way when we were on the highway. I guess the best thing I can say about it, is that it earned my confidence, something that the Distronic+ in my 2022 S580 was never able to do—although I was confident in the MB systems in the W222’s.
I feel that the HVAC—especially the A/C is marginal in the big BMW. I have not experienced my car on a very hot day, but I’m not looking forward to it. The registers are very tiny, the controls almost invisible and the performance is not anywhere close to that of a W223. This is something that BMW needs to address in the facelift model slated for 2026. That said, during our December road trip, we were quite comfortable.
The car is blindingly quick, a feature I pretty much never use, as I drive very serenely. That said, the INSTANT torque and lack of transmission shifting (CRAPPY shifting in my S580) is something that needs to be experienced to be appreciated. In my opinion, electric propulsion is so utterly head & shoulders better than a traditional ICE/transmission setup—especially for smooth, quiet, elegant driving, I can’t imagine that it isn’t the way most all vehicles will be powered in the future, IF the charging infrastructure is massively improved. Personally, I don’t think I will ever go back to an ICE daily driver.
Prior to our trip, I had only charged my I7 in my home garage, using the 110 volt basic charger included with the car. Since my daily “commute” is only 4 miles, with most days totaling less than 20 miles, I have had no need to charge any differently. BMW did give me a 240 volt wall charger as part of a promotion, but since we are living in a temporary home as we build a new one, I see no reason to spend the money to install the bigger unit.
The new I7 came with 3 years of free charging at Electrify America stations and I used those exclusively on our trip. I charged more frequently than I needed to, as I was not yet comfortable in knowing what the “real world” range might be. The BMW APP on my phone would say that with a 100% charge that I could go over 330 miles, but some folks on Bimmerpost have reported much less. After our trip, I am pretty much convinced that if the car is driven in the 70mph range and that the route is fairly level without too many steep grades, temperatures are moderate, etc., that the APP is correct and that 330+ is, indeed the range on a full charge.
Exterior styling? Well, I hated it when the cars were first released—mostly because I only saw the new 7’s with the M-Sport bodywork, which is BMW’s version of MB’s AMG Line. When I finally saw a new I7 with the “Luxury” bodywork, I felt that it was something I could live with. My car, with the Luxury body, in plain, old, silver is a VERY unusual sight, at least here where I live and I like that. The look has grown on me and my wife absolutely loves the car, calling it very elegant. I’m still not in love with the look, but the way the car drives and the comfort of the interior go a long way in making the car very desirable, despite its “different” look.
In summing up, I wish I was still driving a Mercedes-Benz. I wish the W223 had retained everything that was great in the W222 and improved everything that wasn’t. They didn’t do that and the W223 is no longer attractive to me. If and when MB does a REAL S Class EV, sign me up. Until then, I’ll be in something else.
The last photo, showing a front license plate is not my car, but a photo lifted off the internet.
This is a long post, but I don’t know anyway to make it shorter, so here goes:
For those of you who may not know, after having six S Class sedans in a row (5 new, 1 CPO) only to have MBUSA buy the last 3 of them back due to issues they could not resolve, I very reluctantly ordered a 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60 (my first all electric car) and took delivery about two months ago. Since then, I had put about 1500 miles on it, mostly around home. But this past week, my wife & I took the new car on a 1200 mile round trip from our home in Orange County, up to Napa Valley.
The huge BMW is a joy to drive. The Full Marino Leather seats are—without a doubt—THE most comfortable I have ever experienced, better than my previous favorite W222 seats and WAY better than those in my W223. BMW could “school” MB on the massage function, as the feature is truly wonderful in the new 7, unlike what I feel are the very marginal systems offered by MB.
I find the layout & design of the interior to be much more appealing than in the W223, but I must say that the big center screen in my S580 was more convenient to use than the less obtrusive one in the BMW. I find it somewhat difficult to deal with all the tiny icons in the new car, but will admit that I have not spent much time trying to learn shortcuts, etc. I’m hoping to spend some time with a BMW “Genius” soon and see if they can make it easier for me.
Ingress & egress is much better for me in the very upright 7, compared to the W223. The automatic doors are absolutely marvelous! I find that I prefer to open the door manually when entering, as pressing the button on the exterior of the door is a bit of a pain and then waiting for the system to sense any obstacles—which includes ME—is not great. However, after physically opening the door, it STAYS PUT WHEREVER you leave it. After getting seated, simply depress the brake pedal and the door immediately closes. When exiting, press a haptic button (that WORKS flawlessly) on the very end of the dash—driver or passenger—and the door immediately swings open—sensing how far—so it avoids hitting the vehicle next to it, or any other object. I’ve gotten to the point where I hit the same dash mounted button as I climb out of the car, and the door closes swiftly behind me.
Around town, the ride quality is amazing, very well dampened and the interior is very quiet. At highway speeds, the noise factor is all over the board, based on road surfaces. On new asphalt or concrete, even at 70mph, the car is very quiet. However, mostly up in Northern California, there where areas where the worn road surfaces, coupled with the Yokohama 19” tires produced a ROAR inside the passenger cabin that I found to be very annoying and absolutely unacceptable in the massive saloon. I will say that my S580–after I had replaced the 19” run flats with conventional tires—was more quiet in such instances. They say that these very heavy I7’s “eat” tires very quickly, so with no additional road trips planned, I will wait until the Yokohama’s wear out and then probably replace them with a more quiet tire, probably Pirelli’s or Continental’s.
My I7 is equipped with the Autobahn Pkg. which I had hoped might be something similar to the marvelous Magic Body Control of W222 fame, but it isn’t. With MBC—especially in the later W222 years—it could make many speed bumps & other road irregularities absolutely DISAPPEAR! My BMW does nothing even remotely similar. The car drives like a BMW, not like a MB. It really is different—not in anyway bad—but it is different. To me, the benchmark for comfort & handling in a big sedan is Magic Body Control. MB would be well served if they took their magnificent, discontinued suspension and reintroduced it to their flagship sedans. A W224, with electric drive & MBC? Be still my heart! Unfortunately these days, the folks in Stuttgart seem to be more interested in plastering their logos everywhere instead of doing any cutting edge engineering, which is a monumental shame.
My I7 has most every option, less the rear seat options. The Driver Assistance Professional Pkg. which includes their Highway Assistant is truly a quantum leap forward. You can, literally, drive hands & feet free for miles on end, as long as the system feels that road conditions are acceptable AND that the driver is not distracted from watching the road. The system is very well sorted and I used it most of the way when we were on the highway. I guess the best thing I can say about it, is that it earned my confidence, something that the Distronic+ in my 2022 S580 was never able to do—although I was confident in the MB systems in the W222’s.
I feel that the HVAC—especially the A/C is marginal in the big BMW. I have not experienced my car on a very hot day, but I’m not looking forward to it. The registers are very tiny, the controls almost invisible and the performance is not anywhere close to that of a W223. This is something that BMW needs to address in the facelift model slated for 2026. That said, during our December road trip, we were quite comfortable.
The car is blindingly quick, a feature I pretty much never use, as I drive very serenely. That said, the INSTANT torque and lack of transmission shifting (CRAPPY shifting in my S580) is something that needs to be experienced to be appreciated. In my opinion, electric propulsion is so utterly head & shoulders better than a traditional ICE/transmission setup—especially for smooth, quiet, elegant driving, I can’t imagine that it isn’t the way most all vehicles will be powered in the future, IF the charging infrastructure is massively improved. Personally, I don’t think I will ever go back to an ICE daily driver.
Prior to our trip, I had only charged my I7 in my home garage, using the 110 volt basic charger included with the car. Since my daily “commute” is only 4 miles, with most days totaling less than 20 miles, I have had no need to charge any differently. BMW did give me a 240 volt wall charger as part of a promotion, but since we are living in a temporary home as we build a new one, I see no reason to spend the money to install the bigger unit.
The new I7 came with 3 years of free charging at Electrify America stations and I used those exclusively on our trip. I charged more frequently than I needed to, as I was not yet comfortable in knowing what the “real world” range might be. The BMW APP on my phone would say that with a 100% charge that I could go over 330 miles, but some folks on Bimmerpost have reported much less. After our trip, I am pretty much convinced that if the car is driven in the 70mph range and that the route is fairly level without too many steep grades, temperatures are moderate, etc., that the APP is correct and that 330+ is, indeed the range on a full charge.
Exterior styling? Well, I hated it when the cars were first released—mostly because I only saw the new 7’s with the M-Sport bodywork, which is BMW’s version of MB’s AMG Line. When I finally saw a new I7 with the “Luxury” bodywork, I felt that it was something I could live with. My car, with the Luxury body, in plain, old, silver is a VERY unusual sight, at least here where I live and I like that. The look has grown on me and my wife absolutely loves the car, calling it very elegant. I’m still not in love with the look, but the way the car drives and the comfort of the interior go a long way in making the car very desirable, despite its “different” look.
In summing up, I wish I was still driving a Mercedes-Benz. I wish the W223 had retained everything that was great in the W222 and improved everything that wasn’t. They didn’t do that and the W223 is no longer attractive to me. If and when MB does a REAL S Class EV, sign me up. Until then, I’ll be in something else.
Been waiting for these impressions, glad you enjoy the vehicle OP. Hopefully eventually MB will build products that warrants your attention again and be back.
Thanks for sharing this. I still feel BMW lost the 7 series plot after the E38. That was a large BMW that looked amazing and did everything well. No 7 before or since really checked all the boxes the way that generation did.
Thanks for sharing this. I still feel BMW lost the 7 series plot after the E38. That was a large BMW that looked amazing and did everything well. No 7 before or since really checked all the boxes the way that generation did.
The nose on the new 7....yikes.
My last BMW was an E38, a 1995 750il, 12-cylinder to be precise. Beautiful car, but there were issues: The new seats were uncomfortable, the audio system offered almost no bass and, the laminated side glass, the first time used in any BMW, distorted terribly at night, multiplying times 3 every light you saw in the outside rearview mirror. If there was one car back there with two headlights, you saw three cars with six headlights. It was for this last issue that BMW bought the car back—without me asking them to do so.
Can you please let us know how the I7 massage seats are better than Mercedes? Just curious. Overall, it sounds like a very comfortable drive.
I always got the idea that the MB massage seats used an inflatable balloon, with a release tube at one end. It felt like the balloon would inflate to a certain point and then deflate, It was never firm enough and it made these goofy noises. And all of my W222’s & the W223 behaved like that, so that’s the way they are. The massage seats in my I7 behave nothing like that. The pressure is solid and you never get that “balloon” feeling, just a firm, moving, very relaxing massage. The difference is day & night.
I always got the idea that the MB massage seats used an inflatable balloon, with a release tube at one end. It felt like the balloon would inflate to a certain point and then deflate, It was never firm enough and it made these goofy noises. And all of my W222’s & the W223 behaved like that, so that’s the way they are. The massage seats in my I7 behave nothing like that. The pressure is solid and you never get that “balloon” feeling, just a firm, moving, very relaxing massage. The difference is day & night.
Thanks now I feel like I'm slumming it over here. That does sound night and day better.
I'm wondering if the road noise is more, or you hear it more, due to the lower noise floor? Not saying it is so, but it seems like it may be a possibility.
I'm wondering if the road noise is more, or you hear it more, due to the lower noise floor? Not saying it is so, but it seems like it may be a possibility.
I'm wondering if the road noise is more, or you hear it more, due to the lower noise floor? Not saying it is so, but it seems like it may be a possibility.
I’ve certainly thought about that, but I really don't think so. I’ve also looked into the idea that smaller diameter wheels & tires with deeper sidewalls—like my 19’s—might create more of this noise, but the consensus online, seems to be the opposite. I do plan on at least registering a complaint with the dealer, as this issue needs to be on their radar. Honestly, if I had a long highway commute and had to drive over worn roads every day, I’d probably change vehicles.
Car Confections gets sound level readings on most of the cars they review, and they have a master list of results. They use a handheld meter and if possible, get readings on the same stretch of road near their home base (KY). They show a '24 BMW i7 M70 at 52.2db, '22 EQS 580 at 53.1db.
For comparison '23 S Class 50.7db, and '23 7 Series 51.7db. Obviously, these numbers would vary with road surfaces etc.
Congratulations stream. It sounds like you found the car that’s right for you. I still can’t get used to the look of the BMW, but having said that I know comfort is your number one priority and it seems to address that very well. I’m curious you mentioned in your review that it feels like a BMW. What exactly do you mean by that? Do you mean that it is more of a sporty ride more of a firm ride a little more jarring? Best wishes for good health and many years of enjoyment.
Car Confections gets sound level readings on most of the cars they review, and they have a master list of results. They use a handheld meter and if possible, get readings on the same stretch of road near their home base (KY). They show a '24 BMW i7 M70 at 52.2db, '22 EQS 580 at 53.1db.
For comparison '23 S Class 50.7db, and '23 7 Series 51.7db. Obviously, these numbers would vary with road surfaces etc.
Yes, the condition of the road surfaces is very important in such a test. It can vary widely even from one lane of the same road to the other.
Congratulations stream. It sounds like you found the car that’s right for you. I still can’t get used to the look of the BMW, but having said that I know comfort is your number one priority and it seems to address that very well. I’m curious you mentioned in your review that it feels like a BMW. What exactly do you mean by that? Do you mean that it is more of a sporty ride more of a firm ride a little more jarring? Best wishes for good health and many years of enjoyment.
Yes, the car feels as though the handling is paramount and that ride comfort is secondary. The steering feels much more precise than in any of my MB’s and is actually taking a bit of getting used to. The slightest movement of the steering wheel seems to effect a more significant change in course compared to my MB’s.
I don't think a luxury ICE is even perceptible at near highway speeds or faster. Road noise is probably just worse because MB is so much better at NVH, which is a difficult problem with a lot of psychoacoustic challenges. I can clearly remember driving my Audi e-tron to Marfa and the road noise being unbearable (I'm sound sensitive, but this was still a first for me). Not sure the battery pack does anything to mitigate road noise, though I have heard it said many times. I think the wheel wells and suspension parts are the main conduit into the cabin for those lower frequencies. My unscientific impression was always that the additional weight (this was a 6,000 lb car, nearly) increased the effects of the vibration, bumps, etc. as well as the feeling of smoothness on pristine roads.
We've done several long road trips over varied terrain (some really rough roads in NM and better roads in CO) in an E350 and S550. They left me feeling better than any other cars over rough roads, and really in general.
Love your review and all of the nitty gritty details!
Yes, the condition of the road surfaces is very important in such a test. It can vary widely even from one lane of the same road to the other.
Indeed! Who knows the road surface, weather, temperature, equipment, placement in vehicle, etc.
The best option is probably to use the NIOSH app (calibrated per iPhone model) and measure unweighted at the driver's ear. Otherwise the typical a-filter will exclude the road noise you complained about.
Only a general comment about comparisons though. Measuring this won't help or change anything.
Sound pressure readings don't tell the whole story, frequency and amplitude also have a big impact on what we perceive. So even if two cars had the same dB readings you may perceive one as being louder.
This makes me quite happy I did not get the i7 and got the S580, because this type of highway tire noise really bothers me. My S580 is the quietest car on the highway I have ever owned.
Thanks for a good and balanced review, Stream. I considered the 760 but didn't like the dash nor the design. Each person has their own likes and design tastes. I love the older 7s but this new one is awful in appearance. I just can't stomach it. Perhaps it does grow on one as they see it every day but it's definitely not for me. Glad you are enjoying it, though.
[QUOTE=Streamliner;9080489]This is a long post, but I don’t know anyway to make it shorter, so here goes:
My I7 is equipped with the Autobahn Pkg. which I had hoped might be something similar to the marvelous Magic Body Control of W222 fame, but it isn’t. With MBC—especially in the later W222 years—it could make many speed bumps & other road irregularities absolutely DISAPPEAR! My BMW does nothing even remotely similar. The car drives like a BMW, not like a MB. It really is different—not in anyway bad—but it is different. To me, the benchmark for comfort & handling in a big sedan is Magic Body Control. MB would be well served if they took their magnificent, discontinued suspension and reintroduced it to their flagship sedans. A W224, with electric drive & MBC? Be still my heart! Unfortunately these days, the folks in Stuttgart seem to be more interested in plastering their logos everywhere instead of doing any cutting edge engineering, which is a monumental shame.
After many many years driving BMW's I moved to mercedes. I would agree with your assessment of the driving experience. They drive different. Not so much the newer BMW chassis, but the late 90's through ~2010 BMWS felt 100% connected to the road. The feedback was sensational. Not so much with the newer chassis. My E450 coupe handled similar to the older BMW's. My Gle53 feels a bit sloppy in comparison, yet still controllable with decent feedback. After driving a new 223, I will say it's the best riding car I ever drove, thus why I plopped down a deposit on one. It's smooth, complaint yet sure footed. Looking forward to the owners experience.
Car Confections gets sound level readings on most of the cars they review, and they have a master list of results. They use a handheld meter and if possible, get readings on the same stretch of road near their home base (KY). They show a '24 BMW i7 M70 at 52.2db, '22 EQS 580 at 53.1db.
For comparison '23 S Class 50.7db, and '23 7 Series 51.7db. Obviously, these numbers would vary with road surfaces etc.
I like their transparency, but some of their results suggest that the error/uncertainty in their is too high. Example: They report that the GLS 450 has LOWER noise level (52.6), than the same car (GLS 450) with the Acoustic Comfort pkge (54.6)….. They also suggest that the BMW X7 and X5 40i are the quietest cars they ever tested at ~49. I had both, and am not sure I believe that. I wish they’d post some uncertainty values for the test…
This is a long post, but I don’t know anyway to make it shorter, so here goes:
Around town, the ride quality is amazing, very well dampened and the interior is very quiet. At highway speeds, the noise factor is all over the board, based on road surfaces. On new asphalt or concrete, even at 70mph, the car is very quiet. However, mostly up in Northern California, there where areas where the worn road surfaces, coupled with the Yokohama 19” tires produced a ROAR inside the passenger cabin that I found to be very annoying and absolutely unacceptable in the massive saloon. I will say that my S580–after I had replaced the 19” run flats with conventional tires—was more quiet in such instances. They say that these very heavy I7’s “eat” tires very quickly, so with no additional road trips planned, I will wait until the Yokohama’s wear out and then probably replace them with a more quiet tire, probably Pirelli’s or Continental’s.
You got a fantastic car, congratulations!!
Looks like the Yokohama Advan Sport V107 tires are the culprit for road noise. It's not the car, just the noisy tires. Good thing about that is you can swap those for different tires when they reach the end of their tread life, and since the car is so heavy, that might not take that long
Your OEM tires aren't currently available from anybody except the dealer right now, so if something happens you'll have to switch to a different tire anyway, or pay full stroke at the dealer.
Unfortunately these days, the folks in Stuttgart seem to be more interested in plastering their logos everywhere instead of doing any cutting edge engineering, which is a monumental shame.
