BMW The new BMW 7 Series.

martinbo · 2026-04-23T08:30:36-0400

SaltkjelenBMW said:
It's unnecessary to cheap out on all details about the car. The previous model had many beautiful and high quality elements that they removed or cheapened out on now.

The old center console had cup holder covers, real wood and beautiful details. I can't say the same about the LCI.

The silver details in the pre-LCI vas galvanic/"metal" coated plastic. Now it seems like its just silver painted plastic. It's also less use of the silver trims which make it feels cheaper.

The integration of the front view camera and washer system was way more sexy before. Now they are off center, which also make a "off center line" in the grill. Small thing, but they could do it better.

As for the front, they cheapened out on the rear view camera. The camera was smooth integrated in the black part of the BMW roundel and wasn't visible. Now its off center again and does not longer have washer? Anyway - the previous one was like an "cool over engineered german thing".

Less details with the B&W system. No more illuminated speaker in front and no more aluminium trim cover. It's difficult to tell by the pictures and the videos, but it remains me of aluminium inspirated plastic cover and not real aluminium anymore (?). Its inconsistent to have the "real B&W" look for the rear doors and not in the front doors. It's similar in the G60 where the B&W system is "Plastic&Wilkins".

The pre-LCI G70 wasn't perfect, but I felt it was better than the LCI. BMW has always made the front and rear doors "match" with the lines, but they started to cheapen out for the rear doors with the G70/G60++. As they redesigned the front door panels, they are now completely "out of line" with the rear doors.

Your assessments are always detailed and well-presented. It's good that you hold BMW to a standard. I wish others would do the same for Mercedes Benz to the same level of attentiveness.

Bricks · 2026-04-23T08:33:06-0400

Exterior is the closest thing to perfection BMW has put out in 20 years. Its classic BMW but badass & modern feeling.

BMW's interiors department should be fired. The screens are just ugly - no other way to say it. Also little details like exposed cup holders really show they have no class. I don’t see any real wood trim offered in the current releases—no matter how much BMW tries to convince us painted plastic is “cool,” we’re not buying it; they're simply cost cutting. If they want to be considered premium they need a major overhaul in the interior execution.

I will say Mercedes did just as bad of a job with their split dual screen in the recent S class LCI....

Mr. Mercedes · 2026-04-23T08:33:12-0400

martinbo said:
Hmm, not to the same extent as 991.2 (trust me, you don't want to let this old fart near your 992's interior for a critique) but let's leave it out of this thread. I've harped on enough about that!

I have little experience with older 911s, but your'e more than welcome to critique my 992. I dont baby it and it remains convincingly solid and rattle free, if a bit cheap. But You'll forget every misgving once you start driving.

klier · 2026-04-23T08:37:54-0400

I really liked those cupholders, instantly felt sad when I saw those deleted. The rest seems more like a different design direction than a downgrade to be honest....

And like Martin said, your input on these matters is much appreciated @SaltkjelenBMW

Mr. Mercedes said:
But You'll forget every misgving once you start driving.

Yeah these things become matterless once to start the engine and fling your steering wheel into those curves.

Special · 2026-04-23T08:42:07-0400

advantage20 said:
Brilliant interior redesign with the integrated screens and amber illumination, by the way; I'm sure the amber theme will come back at some point, after everyone will have had enough of this pure/clean/inoffensive white/blue theme that is currently being used (which is very nice itself).

Tnx man!
I feel the same way…

I’ll never forget the feeling at the end of 1994, when I first held a brochure of the E38 in my hands and saw all those orange displays, lights, buttons… perfection for those of us born in the ’80s, who grew up with Knight Rider

And what’s the most surprising? Even today it still looks phenomenal—and above all, it’s 100× more intuitive than the new 7 Series and its controls.

Rolf · 2026-04-23T08:47:08-0400

As a German brand fan

SaltkjelenBMW said:
It's unnecessary to cheap out on all details about the car. The previous model had many beautiful and high quality elements that they removed or cheapened out on now.

The old center console had cup holder covers, real wood and beautiful details. I can't say the same about the LCI.

The silver details in the pre-LCI vas galvanic/"metal" coated plastic. Now it seems like its just silver painted plastic. It's also less use of the silver trims which make it feels cheaper.

The integration of the front view camera and washer system was way more sexy before. Now they are off center, which also make a "off center line" in the grill. Small thing, but they could do it better.

As for the front, they cheapened out on the rear view camera. The camera was smooth integrated in the black part of the BMW roundel and wasn't visible. Now its off center again and does not longer have washer? Anyway - the previous one was like an "cool over engineered german thing".

Less details with the B&W system. No more illuminated speaker in front and no more aluminium trim cover. It's difficult to tell by the pictures and the videos, but it remains me of aluminium inspirated plastic cover and not real aluminium anymore (?). Its inconsistent to have the "real B&W" look for the rear doors and not in the front doors. It's similar in the G60 where the B&W system is "Plastic&Wilkins".

The pre-LCI G70 wasn't perfect, but I felt it was better than the LCI. BMW has always made the front and rear doors "match" with the lines, but they started to cheapen out for the rear doors with the G70/G60++. As they redesigned the front door panels, they are now completely "out of line" with the rear doors.

I also think that the pre LCI front doors look more unique and exquisite than the LCI with the crystal effects for the ambient lights. Now it's a plain LED strip like in a €20000 Polo. The B & W speaker grills even on the lower part of the door card now looks like black plastic.

The rear armrest used to have crystal effects trim now it looks like the same shaped trim but in a cheaper looking grey plastic.

Pre LCI Armrest with crystal trim

LCI with grey plastic trim

AbsoluteUnit · 2026-04-23T08:51:15-0400

martinbo said:
Your assessments are always detailed and well-presented. It's good that you hold BMW to a standard. I wish others would do the same for Mercedes Benz to the same level of attentiveness.

Aside from some loud fanboys, I do think the Mercedes fans cry foul of Mercedes products. Even Leylandi had an absolute meltdown over the W223 facelift, calling it a disaster.

I think the screenmania from both BMW and Mercedes at the moment is still a hangover from Tesla and the Chinese market delirium, which should course correct with the next generation as Euro NCAP and China themselves legislate away from having everything buried in software menus.

martinbo · 2026-04-23T08:54:12-0400

Mr. Mercedes said:
You'll forget every misgving once you start driving.

Now you're just making me jealous so shush now. Go and put a deposit down on a G70 LCI.

Rolf · 2026-04-23T08:57:31-0400

Some pricing and model details in Germany and US.

The BMW New 7 Series: Price, Market Launch, Production
In Germany, order books open May 28 with the €117,900 740 xDrive, €121,400 i7 50 xDrive, €140,100 i7 60 xDrive, and €182,400 i7 M70. From November, the range expands to include the €122,900 740d xDrive, €133,900 750e xDrive, and €159,900 M760e.

In the U.S., pricing starts at $99,800 for the 740 and $102,800 for the 740 xDrive. The electric i7 50 xDrive begins at $106,200, while the i7 60 xDrive costs $124,700, all excluding a $1,550 destination fee. The V8-powered M Performance model and the 750e plug-in hybrid will join the lineup next year.

Following its public debut this week, the new 7 Series will enter production in Dingolfing in the coming months.

2027 BMW 7 Series And i7 Debut With Cleaner Design And New Interior

BMW gives the 7 Series and i7 major updates with well-thought-out styling tweaks and a radically different dashboard.

www.bmwblog.com

martinbo · 2026-04-23T09:00:14-0400

Special said:
Tnx man!
I feel the same way…

I’ll never forget the feeling at the end of 1994, when I first held a brochure of the E38 in my hands and saw all those orange displays, lights, buttons… perfection for those of us born in the ’80s, who grew up with Knight Rider

And what’s the most surprising? Even today it still looks phenomenal—and above all, it’s 100× more intuitive than the new 7 Series and its controls.

Turn of the century propoganda. It's irrelevant in the modern context. No one makes interiors like this anymore.

Mr. Mercedes · 2026-04-23T09:00:30-0400

martinbo said:
Your assessments are always detailed and well-presented. It's good that you hold BMW to a standard. I wish others would do the same for Mercedes Benz to the same level of attentiveness.

There are many issues with the S‑Class interior, and in my opinion the exterior now also suffers from a lack of resolution in its details. The angularity of the front grille, for example, is completely incongruent with the now more organic tail lights.

BMW is much more convincing in its transition from pre‑ to post‑LCI. The front end is a massive improvement, and I understand what they were trying to achieve with the rear lights. They will look spectacular when executed on the right model. Like them or not, there is consistency across all the details.

BMW has also gone to far greater lengths to ensure interior details are properly resolved. Just look at the gloss‑black seat switchgear surrounds on the S‑Class, carried over to the facelift and poorly integrated into the restyled door linings. They didn’t even bother reshaping the gloss‑black housing. BMW, on the other hand, has completely redesigned most of the door elements to ensure the design remains properly resolved, including new seat adjustment switchgear that is beautifully integrated into the metal trim element.

I think there is a lot to like about what BMW is doing, and yes, they are doing some things far better than Mercedes. I just can’t get on board with the 7 Series, because for me the design will always be too compromised by the dimensions. Just imagine how absolutely stunning this car would have been had it possessed any of the litheness of an E32 or E38.

Finally, a broken‑record statement, and obviously of no consequence, other than several other owners of vehicles in this class on this forum thinking the same thing, but the angled iPad is a big no on a car like this.

Mr. Mercedes · 2026-04-23T09:05:08-0400

AbsoluteUnit said:
Aside from some loud fanboys, I do think the Mercedes fans cry foul of Mercedes products. Even Leylandi had an absolute meltdown over the W223 facelift, calling it a disaster.

I think the screenmania from both BMW and Mercedes at the moment is still a hangover from Tesla and the Chinese market delirium, which should course correct with the next generation as Euro NCAP and China themselves legislate away from having everything buried in software menus.

We all just need to settle down a bit hey.

let's just hope we have fuel to put into these new V8s that the German's have invested in.

Serpens · 2026-04-23T09:14:22-0400

martinbo said:
Your assessments are always detailed and well-presented. It's good that you hold BMW to a standard. I wish others would do the same for Mercedes Benz to the same level of attentiveness.

I really can't roll my eyes harder at this statement. The W223 thread is littered with in depth criticisms about where the Mercedes fell short on the S-class interior, especially when the W223 first launched. There are clear breakdowns of where Mercedes used inferior materials compared to the W222.

Titot · 2026-04-23T09:17:37-0400

AbsoluteUnit said:
I think the screenmania from both BMW and Mercedes at the moment is still a hangover from Tesla and the Chinese market delirium, which should course correct with the next generation as Euro NCAP and China themselves legislate away from having everything buried in software menus.

I think both Germans are spending too much of their time, energy and effort on Tesla and Chinese automakers in terms of their interior layouts, which ends up as a result of the compromised vehicles for both of them.

martinbo · 2026-04-23T09:24:39-0400

Mr. Mercedes said:
There are many issues with the S‑Class interior, and in my opinion the exterior now also suffers from a lack of resolution in its details. The angularity of the front grille, for example, is completely incongruent with the now more organic tail lights.

BMW is much more convincing in its transition from pre‑ to post‑LCI. The front end is a massive improvement, and I understand what they were trying to achieve with the rear lights. They will look spectacular when executed on the right model. Like them or not, there is consistency across all the details.

BMW has also gone to far greater lengths to ensure interior details are properly resolved. Just look at the gloss‑black seat switchgear surrounds on the S‑Class, carried over to the facelift and poorly integrated into the restyled door linings. They didn’t even bother reshaping the gloss‑black housing. BMW, on the other hand, has completely redesigned most of the door elements to ensure the design remains properly resolved, including new seat adjustment switchgear that is beautifully integrated into the metal trim element.

I think there is a lot to like about what BMW is doing, and yes, they are doing some things far better than Mercedes. I just can’t get on board with the 7 Series, because for me the design will always be too compromised by the dimensions. Just imagine how absolutely stunning this car would have been had it possessed any of the litheness of an E32 or E38.

Finally, a broken‑record statement, and obviously of no consequence, other than several other owners of vehicles in this class on this forum thinking the same thing, but the angled iPad is a big no on a car like this.

My friend, as like forever, always a voice of reason and educated insight.
I can appreciate how the trapezoidal iPad is out of step in a luxury car like this.

AbsoluteUnit said:
Even Leylandi had an absolute meltdown over the W223 facelift, calling it a disaster.

Sure, I guess I was just hoping for a more detailed appraisal of why, like what's being done here. Of course, it's quite likely that I hadn't paid that much attention to that thread either, in which case, my bad.

martinbo · 2026-04-23T09:27:21-0400

Serpens said:
I really can't roll my eyes harder at this statement. The W223 thread is littered with in depth criticisms about where the Mercedes fell short on the S-class interior, especially when the W223 first launched. There are clear breakdowns of where Mercedes used inferior materials compared to the W222.

If so, my mistake. I apologise for my misimpression. Go easy on those eyes

BMW The new BMW 7 Series.

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