2009 BMW 7 Series Review

2009 BMW 7 Series - Lucky 7.

By: Dan Jedlicka

The BMW 7-Series sedan long has been the sportiest big luxury sedan in its segment. The last all-new 7-Series arrived for 2002 with controversial styling with its bulbous trunk lid, but it still was a splendid "driver's car" and styling was revised a bit for 2006.

The new fifth-generation BMW 7-Series looks better than its predecessor, although more conventional. This 2009 model has a wider grille in the low front end, new headlights and a completely redone rear with no unusual trunk lid and more regular-looking taillights. The interior also has been improved, with simplified controls.

There's a total revamp of the overly complicated, widely disliked and criticized iDrive control system with its many "menus" and settings for climate, audio and navigation functions.

A new twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V-8 has impressive torque and 400 horsepower--up 40 from the previous 4.8-liter V-8.

The new car comes in standard-wheelbase (120.9-inch) 750i form for $80,300 or in longer-wheelbase (126.4-inch) 750Li form for $84,200. Both wheelbases are about three inches longer for 2009.

The 750Li has its own roofline to provide more rear head room, besides to help maintain the car's proportions to avoid making it look like a stretched version of the shorter wheelbase 750i.

The 750i, which I tested, is exceptionally roomy in its own right, especially in the rear-- although the center of the back seat is too stiff for comfort. There's a standard four-zone climate control, which provides, with a rear control panel, individual left/right control of temperature and air volume in the back, just as in the front.

While the 750Li is roomier, there's really no need for it unless you want some sort of limousine substitute. To that end, the the long-wheelbase version has electronically controlled self-leveling air springs that compensate for loads carried in the rear seat and trunk, maintaining normal vehicle height, even when loaded with passengers and luggage.

The 7-Series V-12 engine with its 438 horsepower is gone, but it isn't needed because the new V-8 provides more torque (450 lb-ft. vs. 444 lb-ft.) and feels as if it has endless power. It moves this large, 4,564-4,640-pound sedan from 0-60 mph in 5.2 seconds and lets it touch 150 mph. The car is refined and quiet, and thus deceptively fast.

Power flows through a smooth, seamless six-speed automatic transmission, with a manual-shift feature. It automatically downshifts by up to four gears as quickly as if it were shifting down only one gear. The transmission selector, incidentally, has been moved from the steering column to the center console.

However, the rival Mercedes S-Class has a seven-speed automatic and the Lexus LS has an eight speed automatic, thus trumping the 7-Series automatic.

Interestingly, the new transmission automatically slips into Park mode when the engine is shut off via the start/stop button when the transmission is in Drive or Neutral. You also can put the car in Park mode by pressing a button atop the gear selector. The emergency brake is set or released via a console button.

Estimated fuel economy for such a big, heavy, fast car is what might be expected-- an estimated 15 mpg in the city and 22 on highways for the standard version and 14 and 22 for the long-wheelbase model. Premium fuel is recommended, and there's a $1,000 gas-guzzler tax.

The weight is felt during fast acceleration on expressway on-ramps. But the car's new suspension system helps keep it on the rails, allowing remarkably good handling for such a hefty car.

Handling is helped by BMW's Driving Dynamics Control system, which tailors vehicle characteristics at the touch of a button to different drivers and such things as different driver moods and driving conditions.

That system lets a driver choose between settings for shock-absorber firmness, transmission shift characteristics, engine-throttle response, transmission shift characteristics, power-steering assist and Dynamic Stability Control mode (a stability and traction-control system). There are Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport Plus settings.

The traction-and-stability Dynamic Stability Control system switches to its Dynamic Traction Control setting for reduced traction intervention which BMW says is "more suitable for track-style driving" or, more practically, for improved start-up on snowy roads. I left the car in its Normal setting most of the time because it's the best all-around choice.

Whatever happened to the days when good handling, nice-riding cars were simpler and didn't need all this adjustable stuff? Granted, if rivals such as Mercedes-Benz high-line autos are loaded with high-tech features, BMW feels it must also offer--if not outdo--competitors with its own high-tech stuff.

Also assisting handling for the new 7-Series is an optional Active Steering system, which assists low-speed maneuvers and high-speed cornering. It lets rear wheels turn several degrees in the opposite direction from the front wheels at lower speeds for better maneuverability and in the same direction as the fronts for better responsiveness on, say, winding roads.

A Japanese producer of fairly low-cost cars offered a similar, largely ignored, feature years ago.

The new BMW remains a "driver's" car. Steering is quick, suitably rather firm at higher speeds and nicely weighted The ride is supple, and handling is sharp. The brakes are powerful, controlled by a pedal that is a little touchy but has a linear action.

Hard chargers should opt for the $4,900 Sport Package with its active roll stabilization system, 19-inch wheels and integral Active Steering.

Those with the resources can get the new 7-Series sedan with options such as Active Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Active Blind Spot Detection, Head-up Display, High-Beam Assistant, Night Vision with new pedestrian detection and Side-View and Back-up Cameras.

All those extras are either new to BMW or new to the 7-Series.

The really good news is the new version of BMW's distracting iDrive system, which forced a driver to interact with it for anything other than a few things including simple audio adjustments.

The redone iDrive allows much easier use of audio and navigation settings, displayed on a large 10-2-inch screen atop the center stack near the dashboard. "Menus" on the navigation screen flow intuitively from one to another for quick, easy access to stereo and navigation controls. Redundant shortcut buttons are put around the iDrive main controller wheel, which generally acts like a computer mouse.. Climate controls are taken from iDrive and housed in a separate center stack area.

Large, easily gripped door handles make it easy to enter the church-quiet, sumptuously finished interior. And long, chromed interior door handles make it easy to get out. If you don't close the doors firmly enough, an optional "soft-close" feature in a $1,700 Convenience Package clicks them tightly shut.

Front seats are supportive for spirited driving, and rear seats are well-shaped. Gauges can be quickly read, and vision is good. The large outside mirrors fold in to prevent parking-lot damage.

There are plenty of storage areas, with pockets in all doors and a front console bin with twin covers The large center rear armrest has width-adjustable cupholders and a small covered bin. Rear windows roll all the way down.

The trunk is huge, with a low, wide opening. An automatic trunk lid opener-closer is part of the Convenience Package.

The hood glides open on twin struts, revealing a big engine cover that says "Twin Turbo" It also could rightfully say "Driving excitement," although those unfamiliar with BMWs might not expect that from such a big, heavy luxury car.

Visit DanJedlicka.com where veteran auto writer Dan Jedlicka reviews the latest cars and trucks in an easily understood but detailed manner. In addition, Dan's Web site also includes colorful classic and collectible car articles, a letters column and candid interviews with auto-field personalities.

Dan Jedlicka

Dan Jedlicka's Website

Dan Jedlicka joined the Chicago Sun-Times in February 1968 as a business news reporter and was named auto editor later that year. He has reviewed more than 4,000 new vehicles for the Sun-Times--far more than any newspaper auto writer in the country. Jedlicka also reviewed vehicles for Microsoft Corp.'s MSN Autos Internet site from January, 1996, to June, 2008.

Jedlicka remained auto editor at the Sun-Times until October, 2008, and continued writing for the newspaper's AutoTimes section, which he started in 1992, until February, 2009. While continuing his auto writings at the Sun-Times, he served as assistant financial editor of that newspaper from 1970 to 1973, when he began his automotive column.

He has appeared on numerous radio and television shows, including NBC's "Today," ABC's "20/20" and "The CBS Evening News." He was a host, consultant and writer for Fox-TV Channel 32's 1991 New Car Preview show and that Chicago-based station's 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 Chicago Auto Show Previews.

Jedlicka's auto articles have been printed in national magazines, including Esquire and Harper's. His auto columns have been reprinted in U.S. government publications and economic textbooks and he is profiled in the "World's Greatest Auto Show" history book about the Chicago Auto Show. In late 1975, Jedlicka was host and technical advisor for three one-hour television specials, "Auto Test 76," which aired nationally on PBS and were the first nationally televised auto road test shows.

In 1995, Jedlicka was the recipient of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois Inc.'s Consumer Education Award, given annually to a person who has gained distinction in the field of consumer education. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in the Media category and inducted into the Legends of Motorsports Guild at the Carquest World of wheels custom car show in Chicago in January, 2006.

Jedlicka was a member of the North American Car and Truck of the Year jury, composed of a select number of auto journalists from throughout the country, from 1995 until 2009. From 2010 to 2012, he was a member of Consumer Digest magazine's auto experts panel that gave Best Buy new vehicle recommendations.

He is a 1987 graduate of the Bob Bondurant Race Drivers School and later of the BMW "M" and Skip Barber Advanced Driving schools. He was a member of the U.S. team that participated in the 1987 1,000-mile Mille Miglia race/rally in Italy and has been a race winner at the Chicago area's Santa Fe Speedway.

Jedlicka has owned 25 classic cars, including 1950s and 1960s Ferraris and 1950s and 1960s Porsches, a 1965 Corvette, a 1967 Maserati and a 1957 Studebaker supercharged Golden Hawk. Jedlicka resides with his wife, Suzanne, in the Frank Lloyd Wright historic district of Oak Park. They have two children, James and Michele.

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2009 BMW 7 Series Review

2009 BMW 7 Series - Lucky 7.

Dan Jedlicka

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