BMW

BMW 730Ld SE

Model tested: BMW 730Ld SE
Price as tested: £54,550
Range price: £51,850-£85,445
Insurance group as tested: 17
Insurance group range: 17-20
Date tested: January 2008
Road tester: Adrian HigginsAuto Trader Ten Point Test rating: 86%

Need to make an impression? Want to be ferried around from power meeting to power meeting in utmost comfort – but still get some fun out of driving?

The BMW 7 Series promises all this and more, wrapped in a seriously attractive package.

Web Editor Adrian Higgins put the flagship luxury saloon through its paces for a week.
1. Looks

Our colleagues have become a little blasé about the dizzying range of vehicles which turn up at the Auto Trader offices. But the BMW 7 Series stopped them in their tracks and prompted some to suggest the delivery might be for them. The BMW Series 7 represents the German saloon in its finest form. It is very recognisably from the BMW saloon family, albeit with the distinctive kidney grille widened. A 2005 makeover, which included the introduction of the long wheelbase model we drove, introduced features such as a slight bulge to the bonnet to emphasize the car’s sporty side in addition to its luxury credentials.

10/10

2. Looks inside

The speedo and rev counter dominate the information display, but everything else you need to know is simply laid out or accessible by scrolling through information on one of the steering wheel stalks. Another stalk is used for shifting through the automatic gears which soon becomes second nature so although the steering wheel fulfils many functions, it doesn’t feel overloaded. Between the driver and front seat passenger is a generous storage area fronted by the iDrive controller which operates the sat-nav, entertainment, communications and air-con. The set-up is repeated in the rear arm rest. The whole interior carries off the luxury feel well with extremely comfortable electronically controlled leather seats and curves which echo the car’s exterior shape.

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