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BMW 7 Series 2009 review

Over the past few weeks we've sampled some interesting turbo-diesels.

The Jaguar XF S impressed with its whisper-quiet operation, performance and fuel economy, while the Renault Laguna turbo-diesel delivered impressive levels of refinement.

Now it is the $198,800 BMW 730d's turn.

After overcoming the doubt that anyone spending $200,000 on a car would not necessarily be worried about fuel economy, the refined 730d makes a compelling case for frugal luxury motoring.

On the road, the 730d behaves as you would expect of a luxury limousine with a performance edge.

The 3.0-litre diesel delivers its silky torque from so low down the rev-range that you do not feel like the poor cousin in performance or driveability terms.

Response is instantaneous and the ground-swell of torque builds right up to the legal speed limit.

Overtaking in the critical 60km/h to 100km/h area is dispatched with haste but without drama.

With the dynamic driving control activated, the 730d feels like an agile and much smaller car.

If you prefer your driving experience to be sharp but still with an eye on economy, you can leave the shift change points the same but stiffen the dampers and degree of steering assistance.

Over a mix of country roads and constant highway cruising we managed 7.6 litres/100km with the promise of better.

Perhaps most importantly for a luxury buyer, the BMW diesel sounds like a regular six cylinder petrol engine.

It is so quiet at idle that few people would have any idea there's a diesel under the aluminium bonnet.

Inside the cabin is suitably equipped to justify the pricetag.

There are lashings of soft leather, wood trim and the quality and ambience you expect.

The latest generation runflat tyres too have come a long way from the harsh-riding examples of a few years ago.

Improvements to the controversial iDrive system have also streamlined the systems functions. It's far easier to navigate now and even the car's manual, with easy to use pictorial reference points, is available via the system.

BMW says it is not expecting a huge number of converts to luxury diesel motoring in the 7 Series.

But perhaps they are preparing for the day when engines like the six-cylinder 3.0-litre turbo diesel start making some petrol V8s redundant.

The 730d also goes some way to redressing the whole ‘hybrids are better’ argument.

Around town hybrids may well rule but the 730d is born to run a long way before you need to refuel.

Our 730d showed we had 1288kms to go before needing to top up the tank.

Economy and emissions

Until now, the hype over hybrids has overshadowed the fact that many diesels deliver just as good fuel economy, without the need for two drive systems.

So German carmaker BMW is prepared to dive into the whole hybrid argument by declaring that its new 3.0-litre 730d returns better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions that the hybrid Lexus LS600hL.

It has some compelling figures to back up its claims.

The 730d emits 192g/km of harmful C02, compared to the LS600hL's 219 g/km and consumes 7.2 litres/100km compared to the LS600hL's figure of 9.3 litres/100km.

And then there's the question of weight. The more you have the harder the drivetrain has to work.

But the 730d makes extensive use of alloys and tips the scales at 1865kg compared to the Lexus's porky 2375kg.

BMW Australia spokesman, Toni Andreevski, says more luxury buyers are becoming conscious about fuel economy and emissions.

"With a car like the 730d they can make a quiet statement about these things," he says.

Equipment

To add fuel to the flames it also says the 730d has more standard equipment at a $54,000 lower price that the $252,900 Lexus.

The 730d's equipment list is similar to the 740i, but comes in $4200 under its petrol sibling.

Standard features include head-up display, high beam assist, adaptive bi-Xenon headlights with daytime running lights, active headlights, soft-close doors, rain-sensing wipers, 18-inch wheels with runflat tyres, automatic variable light technology that controls headlight beam intensity in city and country driving, rear view camera, and cruise control with brake function.

The 730d also gets four-zone climate control, sunroof, full leather cabin, heated and cooled front seats and a 250 watt 12-speaker CD stereo and a USB audio interface.

BMW also parrots the fact that some features standard in the 730d, like the automatic boot, soft-close doors, sunroof and rear view camera, are optional on its two key rivals, the Audi A8 and Mercedes-Benz S-Class diesels.

Like the 740i, the 730d gets dynamic damping control including dynamic driving control. At the flick of a button on the centre console the dampers, gearshift pattern and throttle and degree of steering assistance can be changed to suit the driver. There is a choice of comfort, normal, sport and sports-plus settings.

Dynamic damping control allows infinitely variable control of the damping effort for compression and rebound, across all settings.

Drivetrain

The 730d shares its next-generation in-line alloy 3.0-litre six cylinder turbo diesel with the 330d, which arrives next month.

It is has third generation common-rail direct injection with piezo injectors and a maximum injection pressure of 1800 bar.

The turbocharger uses variable turbo geometry with a diesel particle filter as standard.

The 3.0-litre diesel generates 180kW at 4000revs and 540Nm between 1750 and 3000 revs.

Even in the heavier 730d, it will still hit 100km/h in 7.2 seconds.

Like all of the 7 Series models the 730d gets a six-speed automatic equipped with optimised gearshift dynamics for faster shifting.

The car also comes with a host of efficiency measures, including BMW's ‘efficient dynamics’ technology that has active air vent control ahead of the radiator and brake energy regeneration.

To keep weight down, load bearing body components are steel, while the roof, doors, bonnet and side panels are aluminium.

The alloy roof alone saves 7kg in weight over conventional steel, and the doors save 22kg.

The 730d has a double-wishbone front axle and integral V rear axle, made largely of aluminium.

Pricing guides

$41,745
Based on third party pricing data
Lowest Price
$22,990
Highest Price
$60,500

Range and Specs

VehicleSpecsPrice*
740i Executive 4.0L, PULP, 6 SP AUTO $27,830 – 33,550 2009 BMW 7 Series 2009 740i Executive Pricing and Specs
750li 4.8L, PULP, 6 SP AUTO $34,650 – 41,250 2009 BMW 7 Series 2009 750li Pricing and Specs
750i Sport 4.8L, PULP, 6 SP AUTO $28,160 – 33,990 2009 BMW 7 Series 2009 750i Sport Pricing and Specs
Neil McDonald
Contributing Journalist

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Pricing Guide

$22,990

Lowest price, based on third party pricing data

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Disclaimer: The pricing information shown in the editorial content (Review Prices) is to be used as a guide only and is based on information provided to Carsguide Autotrader Media Solutions Pty Ltd (Carsguide) both by third party sources and the car manufacturer at the time of publication. The Review Prices were correct at the time of publication.  Carsguide does not warrant or represent that the information is accurate, reliable, complete, current or suitable for any particular purpose. You should not use or rely upon this information without conducting an independent assessment and valuation of the vehicle.