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Track Tested: 2009 BMW 750Li vs. 2009 Mercedes-Benz S550

david999 submitted on 4/15/2009 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 10:40:30 PM

31 user comments | Category: Spy News | Source: | SOURCE: blogs.edmunds.com

These are the big guns from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Well, not the biggest guns, but with prices near or above the $100,000 range, they're big enough. The BMW 750Li is all-new for 2009 and looking better than ever. Its 400-horsepower twin-turbo V8 makes it the closest thing to a "Motorsport" 7 Series we have ever seen. The Mercedes-Benz S550 is getting a face-lift next year, but the current model has held up well. And with a 382-horsepower V8 of its own, it doesn't give up much to the new BMW

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david999

The Truth Hurts!

— david999 (View Profile)


User Comments

SixxFive

I saw my first new 7 at the dealership this past Sunday, a 750. I remember back to 2002 when the new Bangle 7 came it - to me the new design (in 2002) was very exciting and revolutionary/cutting edge. Sad to say, the new 7 does not do much for me. The interior looks great but the exterior is very bland/sleepy/ultra conservative. I would rather take the Benz, which in my opinion, has much more presence and character.

— SixxFive (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2009 11:35:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 7   

Yonder7

MB is heavier than the Bimmer for more than 100 pounds, it have 18 hp less than the bimmer but still it supass it on the track, that was not fair. I like the benz but to get correct numbers both cars should be equiped in the same way, this test is worthless. BMW should be equiped in the same way (sport package, ABC or whichever they use etc.). If you see the test price there is difference of more than 20,000.00$. Engines are Ok cause the natural aspirated V8 is enough for the ttv8 of the Bimmer....If we compare the cars they should have the same dark color or silver. For "me" the benz looks better than the Bimmer and the facelifted 2010 will be superior by far to the "overconservative" bimmer.

— Yonder7 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/15/2009 11:43:23 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Joe_Limon

Lol, a bmw being called conservative over a benz. Now I have heard everything :P

— Joe_Limon (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 12:06:09 AM | | Votes: 6   

Bmw8ter

Yonder7....it sounds like you're having a hard time accepting the fact that the Mercedes S550, while being heavier and less powerful, is better rounded than the new 7 series. Give credit where it's due. BMW can't win them all.

There was a review a while back where a 335i w/ sport suspension was compared to an IS350 with standard suspension. And it wasn't surprising that the BMW was the better handler; however noone was calling foul on BMW. Seems to me that only BMW nuts get all bothered when their cars are not the clear winners in a comparison.

— Bmw8ter (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 10:19:34 AM | | Votes: -2   

golfer38

Just to clarify, BMW 5.1 sec 0-60, MB 5.7. Despite an "artificially" higher cornering number than the BMW, the MB had identical slalom time. There's no question the BMW would have even more impressive numbers comparably equipped.

— golfer38 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 11:23:20 AM | | Votes: 0   

woood

Agreed on the overconservative BMW design. Its almost as if BMW is following Lexus' design philosophy of being bland in order to appeal to more (mass) markets.

— woood (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 12:49:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Anthony

I disagree. It doesn't get more radical than the grille on the new 7. They "conservati-zed" the rest of the body purely out of criticism from the last one. Despite that, I think BMW created a much more handsome vehicle this time around. All this in mind, I still would take the S-Class as well.

— Anthony (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 12:57:01 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

B7FAN

well PUT — Anthony......granted it has a conservative look to it but you cant go overboard with a car like this. the reason why the S550 looks good for 1000th time is because they carbon copied the maybach 57 with VERY little changes. ok they took an exotic design and put on their premium cars of course people will flock to it because they want that maybach look. Do you see BMW taking the Rolls Royce PHANTOM design and making it into the new 78 series NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO because they wanted to stay true and orignal to their designs.....I feel that BMW went back to the 90's on this design the interior the exterior remind me of an updated 94-2001 BMW 7 series. You haters can say what you want but BMW did an outstanding job with this car.

— B7FAN (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 7:49:35 AM | | Votes: 3   

B7FAN

i didnt mean to say 78 series I meant 7 series above in my comment

— B7FAN (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 7:50:52 AM | | Votes: 1   

komododave

I wanna see a BMW 78 series! Is that a competitor to a Hummer limo?

— komododave (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 9:12:01 AM | | Votes: -1   

senorgato

Why are Edmunds' acceleration numbers always so far off than most major magazine publications? And it seems to be only with two specific manufacturers, MB and Honda.

— senorgato (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 1:17:03 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

MrBratwurst

— senorgato:

| Why are Edmunds' acceleration numbers always so far off than most
| major magazine publications?

Because they actually do tests right, with scrutiny due, using precise measuring devices and Society of Automotive Engineers correction factors.

Read the article: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Features/articleId=130988

— MrBratwurst (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 7:12:23 AM | | Votes: 0   

ghosthunter

yes yes, i would spend over 100k on a 2 ton luxury sedan and drag it on a race track.
seriously, what world do you guys live in? if speed is your thing, go get a M3 or a G8.

— ghosthunter (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 3:24:06 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

MrBratwurst

Results:

BMW 750Li (Mercedes-Benz S550)

Handling:
Slalom (mph): 63.4 (63.4)
Skid Pad Lateral G: 0.84 (0.87)
Handling Rating: Very Good (Very Good)

Braking:
30 - 0 (ft): 27.0 (27.0)
60 - 0 (ft): 111 (108)
Braking Rating: Excellent (Excellent)

Remember these readings, children. Clearly BMW "legendary" handling and driving dynamics are completely overrated. The big Mercedes, typically considered floaty and pensioners - oriented handles just as well and comes with even higher limit of grip and braking performance.


| BMW handling comment: [...] Amazingly "buttery" steering feel [...]

As you can see, even the "magic" steering feel has left BMW.

— MrBratwurst (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 6:46:02 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7   

MPowerDK

Remember the BMW did not come with ABC and what about the tyres, the BMW came on all season tyres the Benz did not, there will be a big difference if they where equiped the same way.

— MPowerDK (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 7:43:28 AM | | Votes: 1   

JRobUSC

"Remember these readings, children. Clearly BMW "legendary" handling and driving dynamics are completely overrated. The big Mercedes, typically considered floaty and pensioners - oriented handles just as well and comes with even higher limit of grip and braking performance."

Fair enough, we'll remember if you promise to remember to read before you speak. The Benz had the AMG Sport package. It was $22k more than the BMW. The BMW was essentially totally base. And yet in base form, the BMW held dead even with the most sport S550 they make. With no Active Roll Stabilization, no four wheel steering, etc., it was dead even with the top of the line AMG Sport S550. I wonder how it would've done with those items?

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 1:23:59 PM | | Votes: -1   

Yonder7

MrBratwurst: I am and MB fan but you have to read the whole article before to talk....please do it and then place your coments again...and again MB price tag is more than 20.000.00$ bucks over the bimmer....ABC and AMG Sport package may be?....please read..

— Yonder7 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 9:28:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

MrBratwurst

Obviously I read it carefully. Yes, the Benz is more expensive but you get better handling and more equipment for the money.

I just wanted to point out that BMW driving dynamics are overrated.

— MrBratwurst (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 11:34:50 AM | | Votes: -3   

JRobUSC

"Yes, the Benz is more expensive but you get better handling and more equipment for the money."

No, you get what you pay for. If you read the comments section of the Edmunds article, they say they were unable to procure a loaded 750Li. The difference in price was a whopping $22k between the two cars. Considering what they testes was the most basic, non-sporty 750Li against the highest level, most sporty S550, that says more to me about how good the 7-Series is than how good the Benz is. Imagine how good the 7 would have been WITH the ARS and four wheel steering? It would have beaten the Benz in every performance category.

Do I think performance is going to be what drives sales for luxo-cruisers like these? No. But if that's what we're using as a yardstick here, the 7-Series wins. It just does, period.

— JRobUSC (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 1:19:59 PM | | Votes: 0   

david959

Everyone knows that the LS460 is simply a rebadged Camry. It is cheap, unreliable, ugly, slow, tacky, and has no snob appeal, no heritage and is only a immitation of the real thing. Why would anyone in their right mind compare it to anything German? Germans make the best cars, don't argue with me, even if I'm wrong.

— david959 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 9:38:36 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

HSCenterconsole

Wonderful.

As if the original David999 with his constant Toyota/Lexus spin was bad enough, we have had to listen to faux David969 who has taken the joke (that was barely funny to begin with) way too far, and now we have another David, 959, further inundating the site with useless comments.

— HSCenterconsole (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 12:05:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

MrBratwurst

The best thing though is the next fake David also has 999 emblem in his avatar.

— MrBratwurst (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 12:24:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

david999


HSCenterconsole, I like all cars. I try to be fair and balanced. In fact, I always try to post interesting articles, but it is the head Spies that decide what they will allow.

— david999 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 1:50:22 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

Yonder7

Don´t worry, we won´t.... >;-)

— Yonder7 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 12:07:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Yonder7

Bmw8ter, Do not get me wrong, I am a MB fan but not biased. I like fair numbers, so in order to get those we need the same conditions...Now even in the case that the numbers claim the Bimmer as winer...In luxury the benz still the king. BMW is the king in M3 category on the tracks, C63 have better numbers in almost every line but it is heavier and it can not win to the newton laws (inertia). The "new" bimmer looks already outdated...

— Yonder7 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 12:15:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

adamsaf723

The 7-Series looks very confused. It isn't sporty enough to fit in line with the rest of the Bimmers, but not elegant enough to fit with the Lexus or the Mercedes. Some people are going to like that it doesn't fit anywhere within it's market or brand, and some people are not.

It looks like they kept some things the same, and changed the rest to look like the LS460.

— adamsaf723 (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 1:03:11 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

theoptimisticpessimist

And the LS looks like a BMW 5er.

— theoptimisticpessimist (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 3:35:00 PM | | Votes: -1   

BMW4me4ever

Another comparison with out comparing like optioned cars. The BMW 7-series, is a LWB version with the optional 19" wheels. Missing is the Sport Package ( 4 wheel steering & Active Roll stabilization ). Those 2 features alone would make a huge difference in the handling of the BMW.

The Mercedes on the other hand has the Sport Package on it + the Active Body Control. If the Mercedes S550 didn't have that package, then it would be a softer drive. Hence the figures would have been different.

Either way, the BMW is a better overall car than the Mercedes S550. Luckily where I work we offer both the S550 and BMW 750Li

— BMW4me4ever (View Profile)

Posted on 4/16/2009 1:45:12 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

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