Used BMW 7 Series Review (2009-2015) MK5
Independent review by Peter Hayward from Driving Force
4-minute read
Overview
- Super comfortable
- Plenty of advanced tech
- Excellent build quality
- Price tag
- Most powerful variants are thirsty
- Modest looks
What's the BMW 7 Series like?
Almost all 7 Series models look marvellous thanks to a life of cosseting, and they have serious performance in all the various models.
The 7 Series is amazingly comfortable, very well equipped and delightfully hushed out on the road, but as with most such cars, don’t expect it to be cheap to run.
This elegant car came with a new low level of emissions in the class, and every model has satellite navigation and leather upholstery.
Many will also have been upgraded with some of the high-tech gadgets from the options list, such as night vision, a head-up display and side-view cameras.
Engines
There were three engines at launch - 730d, 740i and 750i, and 740d plus the V12 760i were added later.
The 730d turbo diesel is a smooth and refined straight six with an excellent 254bhp. It will do 50mpg with acceleration from 0 to 60mph in just 5.9 seconds.
The 740d has the same engine boosted to 308bhp, giving 5.3 seconds to 60mph and still capable of 49mpg.
These two diesels are the most common available on the used market.
The 740i is a petrol 3.0-litre 6-cylinder fitted with twin turbos to give 315bhp and 0 to 60mph in 5.7 seconds. Its very best economy is 35mpg.
The 750i has a 4.4-litre V8 with 442bhp and it obviously performs even better, bringing the sprint down to 4.6 seconds and best economy best of 32mpg.
And finally - but rare as rare - comes the 760i. But its only marginally quicker than the 750i and economy drops to 21mpg.
Driving Experience
Despite its size, this 7 Series feels agile and focused, taking the corners with little roll despite its incredible level of comfort.
Peter Hayward
It has sharp, responsive steering, excellent feedback from steering, brakes and chassis, and quick gearchanges from the standard eight speed automatic gearbox.
The stiffness of the suspension can be adjusted from the driver’s seat, with Comfort, Normal and Sport settings.
Comfort softens the suspension slightly at the expense of handling, while Sport stiffens it to give a sharper feel. Most owners will leave it in Comfort I would hazard a guess.
Interior and Equipment
Although cruise control is standard in many, it was upgraded to an active system in some that automatically keeps a consistent distance to the car in front.
The 7 Series has an elegant and refined interior, with large, supportive seats, an excellent straightforward dash, an upgraded iDrive system and a huge array of in-built safety devices.
Other equipment includes traction control, heated electric front seats, alarm, parking sensors, alloy wheels, headlight washers and audio remote.
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Find your BMW 7 Series your way with CarStore
The BMW 7 Series is a luxury executive car that offers top levels of comfort, plenty of equipment and a variety of powertrains to choose from. Despite its large size, the 7 Series is also great to drive making it suitable for B road driving as well as motorway cruising.
