I ventured up to Santa Barbara on Saturday to have lunch with my vacationing parents, then ferry them down to LAX afterward. To their pleasant surprise, I showed up in our long-term BMW 750i -- a rather significant improvement over the Kia Amanti rental car they'd been tooling around in. Although our long termer isn't the extended wheelbase 750Li, it should come as no surprise that it still managed to provide tons of space (even with the seats set for my 6-foot-3 self and 6-foot Dad).
Here are some of the features they had at their disposal in the back seat of our 750, which includes the Luxury Seating Package (ventilated front seats, power rear and rear-side sunshades, adjustable driver seat bolsters, heated rear seats and heated steering wheel).
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1) Every 750i comes standard with quad-zone automatic climate control, which includes rear seat controls that mirror those up front. Thanks to an ALL button (a new feature for BMW), all temperatures can be synced. The Luxury Seating and Climate packages include three-level heated rear seats. Below, you can see the two cigarette lighters and power points.
2) These vents in the B-pillars do a better job of keeping your face cool than the center console ones. It's nice to have both.
3) The rear seat features a huge armrest with a flip-up cubby and slide-out cupholders.
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4) The rear windows can be covered with these power screens to keep the sun and paparazzi blocked. My parents don't have the latter problem.
5) The rear screen can be controled from the back or from the driver's window switch area.
6) Both sides of the back seat feature controls for both side screens and rear screen. There's also an ash tray, which you can see in the lower left.
Had we gone with the 750Li, we could have opted for the Luxury Rear Seating Package, which includes multi-adjustable and ventilated rear seats. We also could have had a rear-seat entertainment system on either 750i or Li. Oh well, my folks didn't seem to complain.
James Riswick, Automotive Editor @ 14,879 miles
ahightower says:
10:27 AM, 08/24/09
Yes, but does the 750Li have the la-z-boy recliner? The LS is still my favorite luxury cruiser.
mercedesfan says:
10:28 AM, 08/24/09
I think it's great that BMW makes quad-zone automatic climate control standard. Mercedes makes it an option on the S-Class, and an expensive and rare one at that. I had to special order mine to equip it with all the features I wanted. It is ridiculous to spend $80K on a car and not get it as standard equipment.
mopho says:
10:29 AM, 08/24/09
I've never wanted to be a backseat driver in a fine machine like a BMW until now.
hurls65 says:
10:46 AM, 08/24/09
almost makes me wish I was a rich smoker...
wrinklebump says:
10:59 AM, 08/24/09
Love the vent on the pillar. That's the kind of detail that helps set this class apart.
altimadude00 says:
02:11 PM, 08/24/09
^Hyundai Genesis also has B-pillar rear vents and rear seat climate controls (although not as comprehensive as the BMW's).
brian_k says:
02:17 PM, 08/24/09
I can't see buying in this class without getting the long wheelbase. My friends love getting picked up in my A8L. When traveling with just the wife and baby, I fit half of our luggage on the floor behind my seat- works as a great seat extender/lounge area for the dog. These big sedans are infinitely better with the long wheelbase.
PDXLager says:
02:39 PM, 08/24/09
I'm waiting to see a 5-Series GT (should be arriving at the dealer showroom in December) which I think will compete for best BMW rear seats (they recline!)
mercedesfan says:
03:28 PM, 08/24/09
@ahightower-
I always thought that looked cool on the Lexus too, until I tried it. If you are 6' or taller it is utterly useless because even with the front passenger seat all the way forward your feet still smack it. You end up reclined with your knees bent and your feet resting on the front seatback. If you've got a Maybach 62 it makes sense, but in this size car reclining rear seatbacks without the ottoman make vastly more sense.
@altimadude00-
The Genesis has basic fanspeed controls like every other entry-level luxury vehicle on the market. The 7 has full individual automatic climate control for each outboard seat. Big difference.
ahightower says:
06:07 AM, 08/25/09
I also tried the recliner once at a Lexus event. I agree, it wasn't a must-have feature, and is overpriced. Besides, it requires rear buckets instead of a bench, and I would actually have three people (my kids) back there regularly if I had a big car like this.
chavis10 says:
12:20 PM, 08/25/09
The first generation Volvo S80 also had B-pillar vents.