USED BMW 7 Series Saloon (01 - 08)

My car

My BMW 7 was rubbish. I broke down seven times in two months my engine is rubbish. It used to overheat going to scotland on a snowy day.

I got no AA coverage, no sat nav, no V12 power and the idrive nearly killed me with that autopilot.

But I loved the seats those massagers got rid of my back pain.This car is only for people who have no taste and also have deep pockets.

My car

I've had this car for three months and it is superb. I have previously owned a Mercedes S-Class and BMW 730d, and this is by far the best. The engine is sublime and means it can switch between limo and dragster at will.

The fuel economy is not bad either, given the power and weight - 27mpg on motorway runs and 23 overall. Love it or loathe the looks, it certainly has presence. The build and overall quality is streets ahead of the Mercedes.

My car

I got my 730dSE new in April 2003 and have done 83,000 miles. It is a supremely well built car and makes drivers and passengers feel very safe and comfortable.

Performance is truly excellent, yet on long runs I get 36-38 mpg.

The ride is firm. On our lumpy UK roads it is just not soft enough for a luxury car – the S Class is far better. However, the trade-off is excellent handling. It can be hustled like a much smaller car. Grip is terrific and as a driver's car it is well ahead of the Mercedes.

Grumbles? The main one is poor reliability. The highly complex electrical systems were a nuisance until they finally replaced much of the control units and the fibre optic cabling. Since then it has been faultless and my enjoyment of the car has increased enormously.

As a long distance car, the diesel 7 Series is hard to beat - it is totally relaxed and stable at speed and returns 700 miles between fuel stops.

Running costs are reasonable for such a big car. I contract hire mine with full maintenance and do around 30,000 miles per year. BMW Finance rates are far better than Mercedes', and this car came some 25% cheaper than an equivalent S Class despite very similar list prices. It is costing under 35p per mile including everything except insurance and fuel.

In summary, it is a great car, beautifully built, very good to drive, but with a less than perfect ride for a luxury car.

Would I have another? Yes, and I am - I take delivery of a new 730LdSE in 2 weeks!

My car

Very happy with the quality of build, ride and performance. The car is costly to buy and maintain, but the comfort and safety outweigh this in my opinion.

Depreciation is heavy - but that's typical of a large luxury car. The entry level car should have FULL leather seats and locking wheel nuts - amazingly it does not! The iDrive system is great, once you get used to it.

I would buy another.