BMW 7 Series 2005 Reivew

Controversy over driver distraction by the car's email system has overshadowed some subtle yet impressive tweaking to the Bavarian luxury bus.

The 7 Series is no stranger to public outcry and has been one of the most talked about, and often unfairly, reviled members of the BMW stable. It was used to carry Chris Bangle's radical design language into the public forum almost five years ago and opinion remains split on whether it is beast or beauty.

Refinements of the styling, aided by familiarity, have made subsequent versions on the 3, 5, 6 Series and Z4 less affronting and given a sense of purpose to Bangle's original plan. The fresh styling changes to the 7 Series have taken the car to a new level of acceptance and wound back some of the more "unusual" design elements.

Surgery around the nose with a wider and higher-set grille and a bonnet "powerdome" induce a less confronting and more sporting look. The flat, high-set bootline, originally criticised as looking like a taxi advertising board, has also been softened and an integrated spoiler added. There is also a larger range of technological changes for the two V8 engines – the 4.0-litre and the 4.8-litre – the suspension, interior trim and iDrive.

The makeover for the 7 Series is timely considering there is an all-new Mercedes-Benz S-class due later this year and Audi's A8 is making a strong impression.

Capacity, output and performance have all been increased in the V8s with a marginal improvement in fuel consumption. The electronic throttle is precise, to the point of taking a little getting used to before being able to launch the big car smoothly. On the move, however, the seamless power delivery from both engines is impressive.

The six-speed automatic with steptronic (manual) function is smooth and the ratios well-sorted.

At the heart of the suspension is the melded Adaptive Drive technology. The program brings together dynamic drive (active roll stabilisation) with EDC-C (continuously variable electronic damping). The two technologies work in milliseconds to retain a flat, plush ride for the body of the car despite the most enthusiastic movements of the chassis. It can feel a little detached from the driver's seat but while it has the agility to be pushed hard, the 7 Series is best enjoyed as a refined tourer.

At the top of the engine range for Australia is the 327kW 6.0-litre V12, unchanged from the current model.

Adding polish to the interior of one of the most polished of models was always going to be incremental. Two new three-spoke steering wheels are the visual clue but the most useful change has been a refining of the iDrive.

The most welcome change is taking some of the more basic and commonly used controls back and returning them to a button operation. As is expected from BMW – and any $200,000-plus car for that matter – occupant safety is well catered for. There are dual front airbags, front and rear curtain bags as well as front and rear side bags.

The array of electronic minders within the vehicle is impressive. That includes ABS with dynamic brake control, automatic stability and traction control, dynamic stability control and adaptive drive (750Li and 760Li).