BMW 740d xDrive Review

We imagine that there’s a continuous struggle going on in the 7 Series’ head: am I a dynamic performer, am I a luxury sedan? Fortunately, the car manages to be both. Since we’ve already covered the part which includes going fast in the “Open Road” chapter, let’s see what happens in case of the latter.

This is a car with multiple personalities, managing to achieve this by relying on multiple assets. First of all, it uses the Dynamic Driving Control, which among other, can fiddle with the temper of the shock absorbers. Even though our test car wasn’t fitted with the optional pneumatic suspension, it manages to put a silencer on many kinds of road, when in the Comfort mode of the aforementioned goodie (you can choose between Comfort, Normal, Sport and Sport Plus).

The 3-liter twin-turbo diesel, together with the eight-speed automatic ZF gearbox, also form a multi-purpose couple, as the engine can be entirely quiet and the transmission knows how to change gears almost imperceptible if you are gentle with the pedal on the right.

The vehicle we tested welcomed us with the optional comfort seats, which are the choice we recommend. Just as important, the car was a real toff, using the Individual composition, which, for example, brought a leather that almost replicates human touch. The Alcantara headliner and the ceramic surrounding finish for the buttons also do a great job at offering you a sweet state of mind.

However, in the back, things aren’t quite as bright. There is enough space and the seating position is comfortable, but you don’t get that special feeling. In order to fully enjoy the 7 Series, you probably need to order the long wheelbase version, together with the individual rear seats.

The Seven Series takes us into the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, with each of the little guys doing everything he can to make you feel like the prince. First, there’s the engine, with some of the best efforts being shown by characters like the ZF 8-speed automatic transmission, the xDrive AWD system, as well as the Dynamic Driving Control, which controls the powertrain response and the suspension stiffness, and the optional Dynamic Drive system that plays with the stabilizer bars. But let’s see what this story is all about.

Under the hood we’ve got an example of what downsizing should mean. No, you don’t receive V8 power with L4 efficiency, but you do get a good compromise. There are 306 hp, which arrive at 4,400 rpm, as well as 600 Nm, which come to you between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm. The engine feels strong throughout the rev range and you only get a turbo lag cub, instead of the fully-grown thing.

The powerplant makes an excellent pair with the 8-speed ZF gearbox, which knows how to play multiple roles, catering to you needs regardless if you’re willing to burry the throttle in the carpet or save the planet, together with your wallet. The shifts are not only smooth, but you can barely notice them and, if you like to play, you get a manual mode, which isn’t exactly borrowed from a sports car, but will do its job.

And speaking of moods, the car has some of its own. Fortunately, unlike the human ones, these can be easily controlled via the Dynamic Driving Control, which allows you to configure the dampers’ stiffness, the throttle response, the gearshifts and the electornic stability control. You can choose between Want a Massage, Dear? (Comfort), Hi There (Normal), Oh Yeah (Sport) and I’m Feeling Sexy (Sport +).

You can really feel the difference betwen the modes moods, especially in terms of the suspension. As for the Dynamic Drive, the active stabilizer bars really teach you new things about how a large luxury sedan can handle.

One of the most important pieces of this tech puzzle is the xDrive system, which is a good friend of the rear axle. Even with the electronic nannies off, it’s pretty difficult to make the car let go when it’s dry, but, at the same time, you feel sporty everytime you tackle a corner hard.

A vehicle like the 7 Series has many hearts, and one of them being its goodies chapter. The vehicle we tested was loaded with multiple optional toys, ranging from tech to feel-good ones, even though it didn’t have some of the features that have “useful” and “cool” written all over them.

The car treated us with luxury features such as the Individual Composition, Individual Satin Walnut Honey trimming and ceramic surround trimming for the control buttons, as well as comfort front seats, which really created at special atmosphere, paving the way for you to enjoy the other features.

We have to mention that, since we’re talking about the luxury segment, the optional extras list can be a bit scary for your financial adviser. For example, the Individual Coposition for the interior will set you back around EUR 11,500, while the Confort front seats cost around EUR2,300.

As for the gadgets, we got to play with the fourth generation iDrive system, which has managed to leave behind the complexity issue, being relatively easy to use. We used it to control optional features such as a Professional audio system that relied on 16 speakers to rock the air, a Professional navigational system, as well as the car’s Dynamic Driving Contol (this is a standard feature), which plays with the suspension and the drivetrain.

Some optional goodies we really enjoyed were the head-up display (each car should have one, really), the Soft Close function, which meant the car was able to close the doors by itself, providing that these are within the proximity of the lock, as well as the power function for the trunk.

We also liked the optional four-zone automatic climate control system, the inteligent adaptive cruise control with the Stop&Go function, as well as the Dynamic Drive (active stabilizer bars), which, together with the xDrive AWD system, makes you forget the size of the car everytime you tackle a corner.

What we would’ve liked to have, but was missing: the rearview camera, as well as the night vision system.

Of course, the car also comes with other, more “usual” godies, such as electric seats (standard feature), adaptive Xenon headlights, a heating function (but not also a cooling one) for the front seats and Bluetooth connection.

Crash testing parties, regardless of their organization that throws them, are incredibly select events. This means that there is a strict VIC (Very Important Car) list, with the names on it receiving special attention. However, in this acceptance, the attention is translated to not being invited. Thus, vehicles that belong to certain elites, do not attend such parties. The BMW 7 Series is a car that can be found on that list.

However, the car is always ready to embrace the role of a bodyguard in the event of an impact, being fitted with an array of safety systems. The example we tested had been gifted with an automatic cruise control system that uses the Stop&Go function, a Head-Up display (we haven’t placed these two close by accident - together, they really allow to focus on what happens on the road), adaptive headlights, Dynamic Stability Control, which includes Dynamic Traction Control, as well as Dynamic Driving Control (this lets you play with the suspension, among others) and Dynamic Drive, which brings active stabilizer bars.

Of course, since we’re mentioning active safety feature, we also have to include the xDrive, which keeps you on the road... and with a smile on your face.

BMW’s all-wheel-drive system, together with the Dynamic Drive really manage to keep the large saloon in a short leash. Actually, all the aforementioned features are enough to keep you from transforming the 7 Series into a flawed gem.

However, in case you do, here’s what the car can do to minimize the consequences. First of all, if the impact happens at less than 9 mph (15 km/h), the bumpers should absorb the energy and then return to their original shape. Should things get nastier, you can rely on an army of airbags, which includes two frontal ones, two side ones for the driver and front passenger, as well as curtain ones and active headrests.

The BMW 7 Series is a car that might change a few of your ideas about long distance travel. The 740d, with its 306 hp and 600 Nm of torque 3-liter diesel offers an excellent compromise between muscle and frugality. Add xDrive to the equation and the practicality curve will jump from a linear to an exponential increase.

You see, the 7 Series has always had an inner conflict, hidden from the public’s eyes, as it’s supposed be both a Cabernet Sauvignon and an energy drink. The current generation manages to solve this by offering the driver four modes for the suspension and the drivetrain.

Gone are the controversial styling and the annoying old iDrive and in are a set of styling cues that perfectly manage to conceal the car’s size, as well as a character that’s much more willing to connect to the humans in the cabin.

However, if you really want to enjoy life in the back of this car, you have to go individual. No, not BMW Individual, but individual rear seats. And also make sure to add an “L” to its name (this will bring you a long wheelbase).

The dynamic side of the 740d xDrive we tested really managed to impress us. BMW makes you choose between the Integral Active Steering and the xDrive and, even though this is annoying, we’d go for the latter. As for the car’s other face, the luxurious one, this was pleasing, but not as special as the aforementioned one.

Customers who buy this kind of cars are the kind of people who usually don’t find any drama in their price or in the financial part of their optional extras list. Thus, the vehicle we tested had a price of almost EUR131,000, out of which the optional goodies totaled EUR41,000, with one particular interior option being by far the most demanding, at EUR 11,500 - the Individual Composition, which has the main asset of brining a leather finish that rivals human touch.