BMW 7 Series Overview
The last-generation BMW 7 Series made people mad. Many car fans and Bimmerphiles hated its styling so much they turned its designer Chris Bangle's name into a derogatory term. From now on, to be "Bangled" is to have a previously attractive automotive design ruined. While subsequent BMWs took on many of the 7's controversial styling cues, the big flagship sedan remained the most visually challenging, and a lightning rod for critical wrath.
Now we have an all-new 2009 BMW 7 Series, and thankfully, designer Karim Habib won't be turned into a derogatory verb. While there are certainly some brash elements -- particularly the flared nostril grilles -- BMW's flagship has been significantly de-Bangled. The body work now appears tauter, the light clusters are more harmonious and the bulbous "Bangle-butt" trunk lid has been excised (he had a derogatory noun named after him, too). In short, the new 750i now looks more like a BMW.
Styling isn't the only issue BMW took on with the 2009 7 Series. As you likely know, iDrive has long been vilified for its clumsy operation and needlessly complex menu structure. The system has been improved over the years, but then so has the acting ability of the Rock, who still won't be taking home an Oscar any time soon. For the revised 7's iDrive, the multipurpose knob and large LCD screen remain, but physical menu select buttons have been added and the menus themselves laid out in a more logical manner. Dash-mounted preset buttons have also been added (other BMWs with iDrive had them, but the 7 didn't), and much of the climate control system has been put outside iDrive's jurisdiction. The result is a thumbs-up.
BMW 7 Series Features
MECHANICAL:
- 4.4L 32-valve twin-turbocharged V8 engine -inc: 4-overhead camshafts, piezo direct fuel injection, double-VANOS steplessly variable valve timing
- Start/stop button
- 6-speed sport automatic transmission -inc: adaptive transmission control (ATC), E-Shift control, sport, Steptronic manual shift modes, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters
- Rear-wheel drive
- Front multi-link double-wishbone suspension
- Rear multi-link integral-V suspension
- Twin-tube gas-pressure shock absorbers
- Adaptive drive
- Speed-sensitive variable-assist variable-ratio rack-&-pinion pwr steering
- 4-wheel ventilated disc brakes w/electronic brake proportioning
- Electromechanical parking brake
EXTERIOR:
- 18" x 8.0" star-spoke alloy wheels (style 250) -inc: P245/50R18 all-season run-flat tires
- Pwr tilt/slide glass moonroof -inc: key-off operation, 1-touch, pwr sunshade, wind deflector
- Body-color roof trim strips
- Body-color front/rear bumpers
- Xenon automatic adaptive headlights -inc: dynamic auto-leveling, cornering lights, corona rings
- Free-form halogen foglights -inc: cornering lights function
- Adaptive brakelights
- Body-color pwr heated auto-dimming mirrors -inc: 2-position memory, RH auto tilt-down in reverse
- Rain-sensing variable-speed intermittent windshield wipers -inc: heated washer jets
- Body-color illuminated door handles -inc: ground illumination
INTERIOR:
- Front pwr heated multi-contour seats -inc: driver/front passenger 16-way pwr adjustments w/4-way lumbar, driver/front passenger 2-position seat memory, active head restraints
- Nappa leather seat trim
- Front console -inc: coinholder, trunk release lockout, illumination
- Rear center armrest w/storage
- Front/rear floor mats
- Pwr tilt/telescopic leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel -inc: audio & phone controls, auto tilt-away, 2-position memory
- Black panel display w/LCD main & trip odometer displays & warning indicators in dial faces -inc: electronic analog speedometer & tachometer
- Check control vehicle monitor system
- Pwr windows -inc: key-off operation, 1-touch open/close, anti-trapping feature
- Central locking system -inc: anti-theft feature, selective unlocking
- Remote keyless entry
- iDrive system -inc: on-board computer, controller, (8) programmable memory buttons, 10.2" screen
- Brake wear display
- Keyless go
- Vehicle & key memory
- Integrated owners manual
- Navigation system -inc: hard drive, voice command, real-time traffic info
- Universal garage door opener
- Dynamic cruise control
- Anti-theft alarm system -inc: interior motion detector
- Coded driveaway protection
- Remote trunk release
- 4-zone automatic climate control -inc: solar sensor, auto recirculation, heat-at-rest, auto ventilation
- Rear window defogger
- Dual front/rear cupholders
- Smokers pkg
- Pwr outlet in RH footwell
- Fineline high-gloss wood trim
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Front visors w/illuminated vanity mirrors
- Ambiance lighting in front, rear & door panels
SAFETY:
- Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
- Dynamic stability control (DSC) -inc: brake fade compensation, start-off assistant, brake drying, brake stand-by, dynamic traction control (DTC), dynamic brake control
- Driving dynamics control -inc: settings for shock absorber firmness, transmission shift characteristics, engine-throttle response, pwr-steering assist
- Corona ring integrated daytime running lights
- Driver/front passenger dual-threshold dual-stage front airbags w/passenger occupant sensor
- Front side-impact airbags
- Front/rear curtain side airbags
- Knee airbags
- BMW Assist -inc: (4) year Safety Plan subscription, Bluetooth
- Front/rear park distance control w/graphic display
- Automatic fuel-pump shutoff upon severe accident impact
- Battery safety terminal
- 3-point safety belt system -inc: front pretensioners, ALR in all passenger positions
- Child safety rear door locks
- Lower anchors & tethers for children (LATCH) on rear outboard seats
- Interior trunk release handle
- Tire pressure monitor
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