Introducing the New 7 Series and First Ever i7

[AlexFL]

What about this beautifully pronounced Hofmeister kink? Looks great!

[lemetier]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

I'm still waiting for GrussGott reaction and analysis myself

Something along the line of….

"If Jimmy Savile were a BMW…"

[themnmd]

I'll take a M760i in that mat black please

[GFK007]

For those of you who like the design, were you a fan of the brand back when the e32 and e38 were in production?

Do you think the 98-03 period were BMW's best years to date (e39, e38, e46, M roadster)?

Genuinely curious if those who like it are relatively new to the brand, or if long term brand enthusiasts have pivoted hard, and are on board with the current styling direction we are currently seeing.

I personally feel as though BMW today hardly resembles what it was 20-25 years ago (for better or for worse). My Dad had an e28 535i, which was the catalyst for my relationship with the brand.

No judgement on my end, just trying to get some context. Thanks.

[COBodom]

The new S class, albeit a great car in many aspects, has very little road presence. No, it is not an understated elegance! It's just a bland, unimaginative, conservative to a fault, afraid to offend and lose the geriatric clientele biggest sausage from Stuttgart. Benz is bound to repeat the story of it's outgoing line-up whereby even an enthusiast had a hard time telling the difference between the C, the E and the S class.

The new 7 on the other hand is a ballsy (or "nosey") design statement. I am pretty sure its done for a reason. Disruption is good. Kudos to BMW for taking risk.

Sales will follow, just like they always do after the initial drama from those who would never get that car anyways.

Flame suit on.

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by COBodom

The new S class, albeit a great car in many aspects, has very little road presence. No, it is not an understated elegance! It's just a bland, unimaginative, conservative to a fault, afraid to offend and lose the geriatric clientele biggest sausage from Stuttgart. Benz is bound to repeat the story of it's outgoing line-up whereby even an enthusiast had a hard time telling the difference between the C, the E and the S class.

The new 7 on the other hand is a ballsy (or "nosey") design statement. I am pretty sure its done for a reason. Disruption is good. Kudos to BMW for taking risk.

Sales will follow, just like they always do after the initial drama from those who would never get that car anyways.

Flame suit on.

100% agree.

[Jagu]

Originally Posted by GFK007

For those of you who like the design, were you a fan of the brand back when the e32 and e38 were in production?

Do you think the 98-03 period were BMW's best years to date (e39, e38, e46, M roadster)?

Genuinely curious if those who like it are relatively new to the brand, or if long term brand enthusiasts have pivoted hard, and are on board with the current styling direction we are currently seeing.

I personally feel as though BMW today hardly resembles what it was 20-25 years ago (for better or for worse). My Dad had an e28 535i, which was the catalyst for my relationship with the brand.

No judgement on my end, just trying to get some context. Thanks.

I had a 2001 740 sport and still regard it as my favorite car out of 12 bmws that I’ve owned. I like this new 7 but only in a dark monochrome color like the black M760 in the picture. No car looks like it did 20 years ago and I’ve accepted that.

[jkap27]

Do people that say the front end looks hideous like the current 7 series. It’s a huge improvement to that goofy looking front end imo

[usmabmass]

I love the interior, side profile, and the rear, but that front - woof - that's s total deal breaker.

My only two options at this point are to wait to see the production audi a6 etron, or wait to see if an aftermarket front bumper can save the i7. Otherwise its just settle for the i4 for now

[Staszek]

Originally Posted by GFK007

For those of you who like the design, were you a fan of the brand back when the e32 and e38 were in production?

Do you think the 98-03 period were BMW's best years to date (e39, e38, e46, M roadster)?

Genuinely curious if those who like it are relatively new to the brand, or if long term brand enthusiasts have pivoted hard, and are on board with the current styling direction we are currently seeing.

I personally feel as though BMW today hardly resembles what it was 20-25 years ago (for better or for worse). My Dad had an e28 535i, which was the catalyst for my relationship with the brand.

No judgement on my end, just trying to get some context. Thanks.

I currently own an E30 and have owned two E38s which are still my favorite 7s.

And yes, I do like this one!

I know you were just curious when you asked the question, but there some people on this board that are all "Get off my lawn" about it if you like this 7 you are not an enthusiast and are just a badge whore.

Design has to evolve and change, I guess you could be like Dodge and just put out new versions of 1970s cars, but that is just lazy.

Love it or hate it, if cars looked the same with just slightly evolutionary changes for 25 years people would stop buying them.

Audi did that with the A6/8 and the basically are non existant on the road.

[bimmer32]

Love it or hate it, just put your money where your mouth is. If this bimmer sells well, I guess BMW will just follow the money. If it doesn't sell well, you haters can get a badass tech vehicle for a discount.

I always thought BMW looks nice in lighter colors, but this one, black is the only badass in town for this design. And I don't really like black cars that much. But for a good price, assuming it still drives like a bad out of hell, I'll take one for kicks.

[jontron]

I think it looks really good all around. I would love to be driven around in one of these things, the back looks so luxurious.

Split headlights are growing on me. They don't look cheap, like the narrow headlights on the Jeep Cherokee or others that the X7 has been compared to.

[yousefnjr]

Originally Posted by GFK007

For those of you who like the design, were you a fan of the brand back when the e32 and e38 were in production?

Do you think the 98-03 period were BMW's best years to date (e39, e38, e46, M roadster)?

Genuinely curious if those who like it are relatively new to the brand, or if long term brand enthusiasts have pivoted hard, and are on board with the current styling direction we are currently seeing.

I personally feel as though BMW today hardly resembles what it was 20-25 years ago (for better or for worse). My Dad had an e28 535i, which was the catalyst for my relationship with the brand.

No judgement on my end, just trying to get some context. Thanks.

Just one data point here but yes, long time fan of the brand since the 90’s. My best friend’s dad had a black e34. I remember sitting in the backseat listening to Spice Girls (i was in 4th grade, leave me) on the way home from the park and thinking how cool his car was. Eventually had my own e36 as a teen and it was my world. I remember scrubbing off the rubbery gray coating on the side skirts to get to the body matching paint underneath just a little elbow grease, baby

The 2000’s were a great time no doubt. The praise seemed to be universal in magazines, videos of Dado’s turbo E36 were badass, and they were dropping one engine masterpiece after another. Screaming 6’s, 8’s, and holy shitballs even a V10. Wild. I remember going with my dad to the dealership just to look around and collect the booklets they had for each model. Still have ‘em.

I can totally understand why people would think that era was “peak BMW.” Even the non-M’s like the 330Ci’s and 3.0i Z4’s were exquisite. Real drivers cars with manual gearboxes. I won’t disagree with anybody that says those were the glory days. Maybe where we part company though is I still think things are just as glorious. For me what it boils down to is that a BMW has a certain feel. Whether it’s a 3 series, an SUV, or a roadster. They all feel a certain way and I think they still have it.

I remember the day I first got my M Roadster. I was in the parking lot at the dealership, and took a seat behind the wheel. I touched the aluminum trim on the dash and it was cold. Real metal. I put the key in the ignition and turned it. Within 2 seconds I knew it was special. A sonorous howl coming from the engine in front of me. Even at idle it sounded totally different than the M54 I was used to and I damn sure wasn’t leaving without it.

Fast forward many years to a couple hours ago. I wanted to go grab a sandwich so I hopped in my G82. Plunked into the carbon bucket. Foot on the brake, pressed the starter button. Goosebumps.

I could go on but this is already pretty winded. In short, yes. True fan here. I work on my own cars. Changed my own rod bearings on the floor and keep one of them on my desk as a souvenir. Love driving on the track. I think this new 7 and a lot of the new stuff is great. Different, but still great. Give them a chance if you haven’t, you might be surprised.

[yousefnjr]

Originally Posted by -EndOfAnEra-

….

Funny, I remember when the facelift E39 came out and debuted the first Angel Eyes, that was very much a “look at me” kind of thing. In a couple decades when we’re all in flying cars, maybe the M760e will be a classic

[buckybadger]

Front is too busy, otherwise looks decent. Bold and daring, not boring.

[sahajesh]

The E38 front looks very nice in the photo posted, the interior is horrible and has not dated well.

[HMN]

Originally Posted by Diet Pepsi

I feel an overwhelming urge to criticize this, yet I keep coming back to thinking it looks absolutely awesome

Couldn't have said it any better

[440i6MT]

A couple of points:

1. Whoever thought of cloth seats, regardless of it being "e" or not, was a genius. Promote him. Brilliant when it comes to comfort.

2. The X's on the armrest are tacky.

3. The digital panel for backseat doors is insanely cool. I'm crazy about them.

4. In all black, it looks damn good. That is because it hides all of the terrible lines. Also, this car is no longer a BMW. There is zero tradition here. It looks good as a car, not as a BMW, because it is aesthetically no longer a BMW.

5. 760e as an I6? Why not the V8 hybrid...

6. "7"60. Fire the idiot.

[Tr4ckD4ys]

Originally Posted by GFK007

For those of you who like the design, were you a fan of the brand back when the e32 and e38 were in production?

Do you think the 98-03 period were BMW's best years to date (e39, e38, e46, M roadster)?

Genuinely curious if those who like it are relatively new to the brand, or if long term brand enthusiasts have pivoted hard, and are on board with the current styling direction we are currently seeing.

I personally feel as though BMW today hardly resembles what it was 20-25 years ago (for better or for worse). My Dad had an e28 535i, which was the catalyst for my relationship with the brand.

No judgement on my end, just trying to get some context. Thanks.

Same story for me. Been in and around BMWs for 35 years, family never drove anything else, from e-generation 7 series, to my first car being the first 1 series, before that family had the first X5, first anything BMW was always in the garage next to a current 7 series, in addition to a fun BMW like the first hard top 3 vert, Z4, Z8 (in my opinion the best BMW timeless design ever).

Hell, I remember when the x5 got released there was a *huge* outcry in Germany (where I resided at the time) about how BMW is becoming a brand for the fat Americans who need SUVs to feel worthy and how it's a departure from their racing and Motorsport roots. And look where we are now with the X5.

This is not the first time BMW is being bold, even though it may seem to some that it is. This design is hands down polarizing like others were in the past but it might just be what continues to keep BMW perceived as an innovator. I'm putting my money where my mouth is: I've bought both BMW stock (a while back) and preordered the i7 (as my first fully electric vehicle) because I firmly believe that BMW will be one of the big mobility brands of the future; whereas I think Mercedes will be an acquisition target, Toyota & VW will fall off grace for their slow and lagging adoption of innovative technologies and Tesla will continue to be mostly niche in the face of cheaper, higher quality alternatives! Most other smaller brands will just become obsolete over next 40 years (Lexus, Acura, Subaru, Mitsubishi, et cetera et cetera).

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by Danconia

Someone else said it and I think the term fully captures the design: Overwrought.

I have had nothing but wonderful experiences in owning many different BMWs and actually have had great dealership and service experiences. I want nothing more than BMW design to be amazing so that I can continue to buy more BMWs but this is simply overwrought design. Its too much. Angles and lines and curves for what reason? Yes, many people usually come around to liking BMW's design once they see them in the flesh so I will reserve total judgement until then, but why can't a new BMW design come out that is immediately applauded.

I really hate to say it but look at the new Range Rover. The design is clean, fresh and modern. There is little to no discussion of whether one side likes it and the other doesn't. Mostly everyone loves it.

But Range Rovers are reliability garbage…

[veenut28]

Who drives a 7 series? Shouldn't you all be asking your chaffeur what they think? 😁

[ChrisM4]

This literally gives me slight vertigo.

Like one of those trick pictures. It's too bad they didn't have the lights (when on) more visually in harmony with each other