Used 2019 BMW 7 Series

Within the flagship-sedan landscape, the 2019 BMW 7 Series has carved out its own particular province. While rivals like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Lexus LS and Audi A8 seek to pamper and indulge their customers, the 7 Series brings an additional attribute of driver engagement. Naturally, it can be just as relaxing and sumptuous as the next full-size luxury sedan (this is the largest car BMW has ever built), but the talents are there whenever an owner wants to exploit them. Some variants are better for exploiting than others. For example, the 740e plug-in hybrid version doesn’t stir the blood in the same way as the mighty 601-horsepower V12 in the M760i xDrive. The models between these extremes have their own considerable charms.

This talk of driver appeal in the latest 7 Series might seem odd given how BMW only imports the long-wheelbase version into the United States and it weighs more than a couple of tons. But BMW has used several radical body construction techniques to save many pounds and, more important, enable the engineers to distribute the mass evenly, so the car still feels well balanced. The standard air suspension lets drivers scroll between comfort and sportier modes. An upgrade for the suspension “reads” the upcoming road conditions and adjusts the suspension to suit. And the optional rear-wheel steering (aka Integral Active Steering) enhances agility even more. The automatic transmission, meanwhile, is linked to the navigation system and will execute shifts if the anticipated conditions demand.

Fine leather, smooth wood trims, and elegant metallic accents adorn the cabin of the BMW 7 Series right from the 740i, adding plushness as we ascend the levels. Occupant space is generous throughout, while a standard panoramic moonroof adds to the expansive feeling. The default rear-seat setup is for three passengers, but the Luxury Rear Seating package replaces those with a pair of adjustable reclining/massaging chairs, while adding a retractable footrest. Outward vision is excellent, thanks in part to the relatively thin A-pillars. Generous trunk space of 18.2 cubic feet (14.8 in the plug-in hybrid) can be accessed by moving a foot under the rear bumper and letting the powered lid do the rest.

The 2019 7 Series is undoubtedly a BMW, with the usual design features like the double-kidney grille and Hofmeister kink (the shape of the rearmost side windows and C-pillars) in evidence. Fans won’t be disappointed; detractors won’t be swayed. An M aerodynamic kit is available for the M760i xDrive model, while the Alpina B7 version (Alpina is an independent tuner, but its products are available with full new-car warranties from BMW dealers) brings a special design of multi-spoke alloy wheel and comes in a beautiful deep blue.

M760i XDRIVE
The number of V12-powered luxury sedans is dwindling, which is a shame because these engines are awesome. The M760i faces off against the Mercedes-AMG S65. The BMW is faster than its 621-horsepower Stuttgart rival, sprinting from a standstill to 60 mph in just 3.6 seconds as opposed to 4.1. And it’s around $76,000 cheaper.

DISPLAY KEY FOB
We all love a gadget. The key fob for the 2019 7 Series has a small touch screen for controlling onboard security systems as well as monitoring maintenance schedules, fuel level and range. The optional Remote Control Parking feature even lets users ease the car into a space while they’re standing outside.

It seems the days of sparsely equipped German cars are disappearing in the rearview mirror. Even the 740i has features like 14-way power-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, adaptive air suspension, quad-zone climate control, soft-closing doors, wireless device charging, gesture control for the infotainment system, full LED exterior and interior lighting, parking sensors at both ends, 10.2-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, Wi-Fi, and a 16-speaker/600-watt Harman Kardon audio setup. Safety equipment includes rain-sensing wipers and forward-collision mitigation. BMW’s Active Protection System pre-tensions seatbelts, closes windows and the moonroof, and engages post-crash braking.

A more comprehensive array of safety additions comes in the Driving Assistance Plus package (adaptive cruise control, active lane keeping and Traffic Jam Assist). All-wheel drive (AWD, known as xDrive) is optional in the 740i and 750i. The Autobahn package has the road-reading/suspension-tweaking function that also includes rear-wheel steering and variable-ratio steering. Other extras include a head-up display, heated rear seats, multi-contour front seats, cabin fragrance system, remote-control parking, side-view/top-view cameras, night vision, and a 16-speaker/1,400-watt Bowers & Wilkins surround-sound system.

The 2019 rear-wheel-drive (RWD) BMW 740i kicks things off with a 320-horsepower turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-6 (a classic BMW configuration). Turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engines propel the 2019 750i and Alpina B7. The M760i enjoys the aforementioned 6.6-liter turbocharged V12, and the 740e has a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that’s augmented by an electric motor running off a lithium-ion battery back for a total of 322 horsepower. Both the Alpina B7 and M760i are capable of phenomenal acceleration. Enthusiasts will lean toward the Alpina since it has less weight in the nose, but that V12 in the M760i is a remarkable feat of engineering.

2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4/AC Synchronous electric motor (740e xDrive)
322 horsepower (total)
369 lb-ft of torque (total)
EPA combined fuel economy: 27 mpg/64 MPGe (with 14 miles of electric-only range)

3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 (740i, 740i xDrive)
320 horsepower @ 5,500-6,500 rpm
330 lb-ft of torque @ 1,380-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/29 mpg (RWD), 20/29 mpg (AWD)

4.4-liter turbocharged V8 (750i, 750i xDrive)
445 horsepower @ 5,500-6,000 rpm
480 lb-ft of torque @ 1,800-4,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/26 mpg (RWD), 17/25 mpg (AWD)

4.4-liter turbocharged V8 (Alpina B7 xDrive)
600 horsepower @ 5,750-6,250 rpm
590 lb-ft of torque @ 3,000-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/25 mpg

6.6-liter turbocharged V12 (M760i xDrive)
601 horsepower @ 5,500-6,500 rpm
590 lb-ft of torque @ 1,550-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/20 mpg