740Li xDrive vs 750Li xDrive and MSport/ARS considerations
 

I need some feedback from those who have driven both the 740Li and 750 Li.

I have placed an ED order for a 2013 740Li xDrive with M sport and Exec Pkge.

I am considering changing the order to a 750Li xDrive. I live in Northern California and drive in the mountains a great deal so xDrive is important. I want "fast" but I also want efficient. The new 750 drive train has become much more efficient, there is no longer a gas guzzler tax. I just got my wife the F30 328i and have enjoyed putting the car in Eco Pro mode and playing a game of driving as fast as I can on the highway while maximizing fuel efficiency.

My questions are:

1). Is the 740 drive train slow? BMW says 0-60 5.6 seconds...is this downhill with a 20 mph tail wind and 110 octane or are these numbers real?

2). Does anybody have any data on the 2013 750Li fuel efficiency...driving 80 mph with AC on, flat conditions limited head wind?

3). I had a 2011 M3-the manual claimed i was electronically limited at 155 mph but I hit 176 mph on the autobahn. What is the difference in the electronic limits of non-MSport vs MSport? I am teetering on MSport-while I like the front end better visually of the MSport, you lose the fog lights and I'm not sure how much faster you can go (BMW claims non MSport limited at 149). The extra $$$ may be worth driving for a week with opportunity to hit 170 mph + on an open autobahn at 6 AM.

4. How noticeable is the ARS in a mountain driving/freeway on ramp situation?

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

1). Is the 740 drive train slow? BMW says 0-60 5.6 seconds...is this downhill with a 20 mph tail wind and 110 octane or are these numbers real?

No one has driven these cars in production, other than journalists. The engine in both are heavily changed or modified from the prior model years. Most people think the new 740 engine is (or seems) less powerful, if more fuel efficient than the old, given the experience of that engine in the F10. The 750 engine seems to be better all round, economically and power wise. Both cars also went to 8 speed trannies, so that should be beneficial.

2). Does anybody have any data on the 2013 750Li fuel efficiency...driving 80 mph with AC on, flat conditions limited head wind?

See the answer above.

3). I had a 2011 M3-the manual claimed i was electronically limited at 155 mph but I hit 176 mph on the autobahn. What is the difference in the electronic limits of non-MSport vs MSport? I am teetering on MSport-while I like the front end better visually of the MSport, you lose the fog lights and I'm not sure how much faster you can go (BMW claims non MSport limited at 149). The extra $$$ may be worth driving for a week with opportunity to hit 170 mph + on an open autobahn at 6 AM.

BMW speedometers are optimistic. That is due to legislation that your indicated reading can't be more than the actual one - so they sandbag it. I doubt the Msport top speed is much different from that of the normal car. My non M-sport car showed >140mph, so it was not limited to 128mph like some other models.

4. How noticeable is the ARS in a mountain driving/freeway on ramp situation?

It was very noticeable on my E60 (positively). Others can chime in for the F01/02.

ARS is very noticeable and a very nice feature to have, you should def. order the option especially you be doing some mountain driving.

Are you sure the gas guzzler tax is gone ?

it is the fuel efficiency certificate that keep 2013 7 series at port from jul 22 :(. which make me thinking of reorder one with ARS or alpina (44k is a big different).
i tried 2013 s550(429hp) and 2012 ls460l(380hp) and they feel slow and heavy while 2012 750(400 hp) is acceptable. from these testing, i have a hunch that new 740 will give you the luxury feel and what a heavy car the 7 series is. In CA and uphill section, where you must be go from 65 to 90 quickly just to make the exit, you will prefer the extra hp of the 750.

The ARS is spectactular! go for it. it will make this car drive like a much smaller car. hard to believe it.

I think I'm sold on ARS. Here are the fuel consumption stats from BMW's international website:
Figures for BMW 740Li xDrive
Fuel consumption
Combined: 8.3 l/100 km [converts to 28.33 mpg]
Urban: 11.2 l/100 km [converts to 21.00 mpg]
Extra-urban: 6.6 l/100 km [converts to 35.64 mpg]
CO2 emissions combined: 195 g/km

Figures for BMW 750Li xDrive
Fuel consumption
Combined: 9.4 l/100 km [converts to 25.02 mpg]
Urban: 13.2 l/100 km [converts to 17.82 mpg]
Extra-urban: 7.2 l/100 km [converts to 32.67 mpg]
CO2 emissions combined: 219 g/km

Granted, these numbers are probably computer generated, not american "luxo-barge" foot generated so EPA estimates will differ wildly...however, for me, these are good numbers because they represent the potential of what the car can do. As an example, I can almost hit 37 mpg in my wifes F30 going 65 mph on a flat road...this information is useful.

I think that the new 740 Li has one critical advantage comparing with the old one:
The 8 speed gearbox!
This is enough to have improved acceleration times comparing with the 6speed models...

Changing ED Order to 750Li xDrive

Oyster Napa Leather

MSport

Exec Pkge

Lighting Pkge

ARS

3-3.5 mpg vs. the additional torque and HP of the 8 cyl especially since the car will still get better mileage than my 2010 E61 and 0-60.

(so talk me out of it if you think the change is a mistake)

i would keep the big engine. even if the numbers are good, i have always thought they sounded like they were working a lot harder to get those numbers. The 750 just never feels like it is strugling.

i think you made a good p:thumbup: