| Year Make Model | 2011 BMW 7 Series 740i 4dr Sedan (3.0L 6cyl Turbo 6A) |
| Vehicle Type | RWD 4dr 5-passenger Sedan |
| Base MSRP | $71,025 |
| Options on test vehicle | M Sport Package ($6,500 -- includes Shadowline [high gloss black] exterior window trim, modified front and rear bodywork, 19-by-8.5-inch front and 19-by-9.5-inch rear V-Spoke M alloy wheels with 245/45R19 front and 275/40R19 rear run-flat performance tires, Active Roll Stabilization [ARS] hydroelectrically actuated stabilizer bars, M steering wheel, Anthracite colored headliner); Integral Active Steering ($1,750); Convenience Package ($1,700 -- includes soft-close doors, power-operated trunk opening/closing, Comfort Access keyless entry); Ceramic Controls ($650 -- includes black glazed finish on interior surfaces and switchgear). |
| As-tested MSRP | $81,625 |
| Assembly location | Dingolfing, Germany |
| North American parts content (%) | 5 |
| Configuration | Longitudinal, front-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Engine type | Twin-turbocharged, direct-injected, inline-6, gasoline |
| Displacement (cc/cu-in) | 2,979/182 |
| Block/head material | Aluminum/aluminum |
| Valvetrain | DOHC, four valves per cylinder, variable cam timing |
| Compression ratio (x:1) | 10.2 |
| Redline, indicated (rpm) | 7,000 |
| Horsepower (hp @ rpm) | 315 @ 5,800 |
| Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) | 330 @ 1,600 |
| Fuel type | Premium unleaded (required) |
| Transmission type | Six-speed automatic with console shifter and Sport mode |
| Transmission ratios (x:1) | I = 4.17; II = 2.34; III = 1.52; IV = 1.14; V = 0.87; VI = 0.69 |
| Final-drive ratio (x:1) | 3.46 |
| Suspension, front | Independent double-wishbones, coil springs, driver-adjustable electronically controlled dampers, self-adjusting, active, stabilizer bar |
| Suspension, rear | Independent multilink, coil springs, driver-adjustable electronically controlled dampers, self-adjusting, active, stabilizer bar |
| Steering type | Electric-assist, speed-proportional, rack-and-pinion power steering with active rear-steer |
| Steering ratio (x:1) | 19.1 |
| Tire make and model | Goodyear Excellence |
| Tire type | All-season |
| Tire size, front | P245/45R19 98Y |
| Tire size, rear | P275/40R19 101Y |
| Wheel size | 19-by-9.5 inches front; 19-by-11 inches rear |
| Wheel material | Alloy |
| Brakes, front | 13.7-inch ventilated discs with single-piston sliding calipers |
| Brakes, rear | 13.6-inch ventilated discs with single-piston sliding calipers |
| Acceleration, 0-30 mph (sec.) | 2.2 |
| 0-45 mph (sec.) | 3.9 |
| 0-60 mph (sec.) | 5.8 |
| 0-75 mph (sec.) | 8.4 |
| 1/4-mile (sec. @ mph) | 14.1 @ 100.1 |
| 0-60 with 1 foot of rollout (sec.) | 5.5 |
| 0-30 mph, trac ON (sec.) | 2.5 |
| 0-45 mph, trac ON (sec.) | 4.2 |
| 0-60 mph, trac ON (sec.) | 6.1 |
| 0-75 mph, trac ON (sec.) | 8.9 |
| 1/4-mile, trac ON (sec. @ mph) | 14.3 @ 100.2 |
| 0-60, trac ON with 1 foot of rollout (sec.) | 5.8 |
| Braking, 30-0 mph (ft.) | 27 |
| 60-0 mph (ft.) | 109 |
| Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) | 65.6 |
| Slalom, 6 x 100 ft. (mph) ESC ON | 64.6 |
| Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) | 0.90 |
| Skid pad, 200-ft. diameter (lateral g) ESC ON | 0.89 |
| Sound level @ idle (dB) | 44.3 |
| @ Full throttle (dB) | 73.1 |
| @ 70 mph cruise (dB) | 63.0 |
| Engine speed @ 70 mph (rpm) | 2,000 |
| Acceleration comments | Despite having to move 4,341 pounds of car, the six-cylinder 740i gets down the drag strip impressively quick. Best time was achieved with stability off, transmission in manual mode (still shifts for itself anyway), pedal overlap to load the torque converter and just a whiff of wheelspin. The twin-turbo N54 inline-6 revs very hard to its 7,000-rpm redline. Six-speed auto has manual shifting via console lever; blips throttle on downshifts, but will not hold gears at redline. |
| Braking comments | Near-perfect pedal feel with very short travel; stayed consistently so throughout all the stops. Stability was rock-solid, with almost zero dive and no side-to-side movements. First stop was shortest, but last three were within a foot of each other. |
| Handling comments | Skid pad: Reasonably well-weighted steering, especially considering that this is an electric BMW system. Excellent ability to adjust line via throttle corrections. ESC (when turned on) isn't intrusive to the point that you can just plant your right foot and steer -- still need to adjust throttle. Slalom: It takes a bit to get used to the BMW's quick, active electric steering along with the active antiroll bars, the latter of which allow very little body roll. The car has excellent grip and the steering has better-than-expected weighting (although minimal feel), but the sensation of a computer doing so much for you behind the scenes leaves something to be desired. |
| Test date | 12/28/2010 |
| Test location | California Speedway |
| Elevation (ft.) | 1,121 |
| Temperature (°F) | 63.7 |
| Relative humidity (%) | 28.9 |
| Barometric pressure (in. Hg) | 29.0 |
| Wind (mph, direction) | 1.4, head/crosswind |
| Odometer (mi.) | 3,906 |
| Fuel used for test | 91-octane gasoline |
| As-tested tire pressures, f/r (psi) | 32/32 |
| EPA fuel economy (mpg) | 17 city/25 highway/20 combined |
| Edmunds observed (mpg) | 19.7 |
| Fuel tank capacity (U.S. gal.) | 21.7 |
| Driving range (mi.) | 542.5 |
| Stereo description | AM/FM/HD/CD/DVD audio system with standard aux input |
| iPod/digital media compatibility | Optional iPod via USB jack |
| Satellite radio | Optional Sirius |
| Hard-drive music storage capacity (Gb) | Standard 12GB music storage capacity |
| Rear seat video and entertainment | Optional DVD player RCA inputs |
| Bluetooth phone connectivity | Standard |
| Navigation system | Standard hard drive with traffic 10.2-inch display screen |
| Telematics (OnStar, etc.) | Standard |
| Smart entry/Start | Optional ignition doors |
| Parking aids | Standard parking sonar front and rear |
| Blind-spot detection | Optional |
| Adaptive cruise control | Optional |
| Lane-departure monitoring | Optional departure warning |
| Collision warning/avoidance | Not available |
| Night Vision | Optional |
| Curb weight, mfr. claim (lbs.) | 4,344 |
| Curb weight, as tested (lbs.) | 4,341 |
| Weight distribution, as tested, f/r (%) | 51/49 |
| Length (in.) | 199.8 |
| Width (in.) | 74.9 |
| Height (in.) | 58.3 |
| Wheelbase (in.) | 120.9 |
| Track, front (in.) | 63.4 |
| Track, rear (in.) | 65.0 |
| Turning circle (ft.) | 40.0 |
| Legroom, front (in.) | 41.3 |
| Legroom, rear (in.) | 38.9 |
| Headroom, front (in.) | 40.6 |
| Headroom, rear (in.) | 38.5 |
| Shoulder room, front (in.) | 59.2 |
| Shoulder room, rear (in.) | 57.4 |
| Seating capacity | 5 |
| Step-in height, measured (in.) | 16.1 |
| Trunk volume (cu-ft) | 14.0 |
| Cargo loading height, measured (in.) | 28.0 |
| GVWR (lbs.) | 5,446 |
| Payload, mfr. max claim (lbs.) | 1,058 |
| Tow capacity, mfr. claim (lbs.) | Not published |
| Bumper-to-bumper | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Corrosion | 12 years/Unlimited miles |
| Roadside assistance | 4 years/Unlimited miles |
| Free scheduled maintenance | 4 years/50,000 miles |
See which cars and trucks our editors recommend