[Potomac Golfer]

I realize they are totally different vehicles for different audiences, but any thoughts/preferences between an F10 550i versus 740i in terms of satisfaction, reliability, other views? This would be for day-to-day driving in a major metropolitan area, and I have a short in-town commute.

[535DMSport]

Reliability should be good on both models. If you want more comfort, you choose the 740. You want more power and a more sporty ride, choose the 550. The 740 looks more impressive and probably has more status. Really depends on what you are looking for. just my 2cts.

[BMWrules7]

IMHO go with the 740Li or the 550.

The distinction between a 740 and 550 is not enough to get the underpowered engine for the bigger size car.

If you are going to give up the power then just give it up altogether and get the stretch.

One nice feature of the f series is that the LI models don't look like a limousine where one would expect the owner to be riding in the back.

Now, if it were my choice I would take the 740li over the 550 cuz I like the gadgets over the engine power.

If you go the way of the 740li please consider the rear entertainment and the shades. The LI makes a great office on the road!

Good luck and ask any questions you have on the 7. I have had a 750li xdrive for almost a year. It is the only car where I have said it is worth every single penny a year later.

That's a pretty big statement if you think about it! Have you ever said that?

Originally Posted by 535DMSport

Reliability should be good on both models. If you want more comfort, you choose the 740. You want more power and a more sporty ride, choose the 550. The 740 looks more impressive and probably has more status. Really depends on what you are looking for. just my 2cts.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

Originally Posted by BMWrules7

IMHO go with the 740Li or the 550.

The distinction between a 740 and 550 is not enough to get the underpowered engine for the bigger size car.?

Underpowered?

[bmedude]

As everyone has mentioned, two totally different cars. If you're getting a 550i, you'll get lots of street credit for getting the creme de la creme. If you get a 740i, you will be hella comfortable, but in everyone else's eyes you bought "half a bimmer".

[deejaygee]

Originally Posted by bmedude

As everyone has mentioned, two totally different cars. If you're getting a 550i, you'll get lots of street credit for getting the creme de la creme. If you get a 740i, you will be hella comfortable, but in everyone else's eyes you bought "half a bimmer".

Wow! So in your eyes it's want everybody else thinks that matters? This says a lot about you........

[Aeroav8r]

I'd take the 740i, much better car.

[URBAN LEGEND]

Some of the comments in this thread are epic.

[pharding]

If you get the 740, order the m-sport package and order it de-badged like the Europeans. My 550i well optioned was $2,000 less in terms of US MSRP than a 740i with key options. Unless you have a driver in makes no sense to get the L version. The 550i is more sporty. The 740 is slightly larger and even more prestigious. It all depends on what you value.

[BMWrules7]

Well, I think we can both agree that the 740Li is not overpowered, right? (Remember, I am talking 740Li not 740i---although I would probably draw the same conclusion)

Thus, we now have two remaining conclusions, viz., "underpowered" and "powered just right."

To claim that a car is "powered just right" is nonsense.

A car either has more power than you need or not enough.

So that leaves us with only one remaining viable conclusion: "underpowered."

In my opinion, after considering the options, the 2011 740Li is underpowered. This is especially true when compared to the the 2011 BMW 550i.

The curb weight of the 740Li is ~4450 lbs. The 550's curb weight is ~4200 lbs. The 740Li has 315 horses. The 550 has 400 horses.

You buy a 740li because you like the design, the roominess, the gadgets, the fuel econsomy.

On the other hand, the 550 has an over abundance of power. If power is important to you then I would choose the 550 over the 740Li.

Again, the 740i (not the Li) does not offer enough benefits over the 550i to be granted any real consideration. Clearly, the 550 is the proper choice over the 740i. Now, choosing 750i over the 550i makes perfect sense if you want the bigger car---but not the 740i. We are really talking "same sausage, different lengths."

But, don't even consider a 740i when the 550i is such a strong option. If you are going to give up the power and you want the bigger car go for the 740iL.

Otherwise, stick with the awesome 550.

Feel free to correct me as that's what I love about this board.

Originally Posted by Rochdale Pioneers

Underpowered?

[BMWrules7]

Even though I concluded that the 740i is "underpowered," in no way would I ever consider the 740i to be "half-a-bimmer."

It's a great car. However, some may conclude that the 740 might pollute the environment less than a 750.

I can tell you that the 750i Xdrive chugs gas. I would say that 95 percent of the driving a 750 owner undertakes could be handled with a 740 without any perceptible loss of power.

Nevertheless, some purchase a BMW because the 5% of the time you need or want that extra power it is available. If that's not your shtick then you can run just fine with a 740. But I would recommend the 740Li over the 740.

Finally, I bet the general public has no idea of the difference between a 740i and a 750i or even 750Li. So, I dispute your contention that the 740 is "half-a-bimmer."

Originally Posted by bmedude

As everyone has mentioned, two totally different cars. If you're getting a 550i, you'll get lots of street credit for getting the creme de la creme. If you get a 740i, you will be hella comfortable, but in everyone else's eyes you bought "half a bimmer".

[raleedy]

What a load of baloney. F10 is more up to date than F01: especially the transmission. Otherwise, because of fundamental power train differences, the cars are really not comparable. A better comparison is 535i to 740i. The L version is just for the Chinese market.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

It's probably a question of perspective. The 740 is a very big very fast car designed to be the daily drive for captains of industry. Pretty confident that engine will suffice, though suspect that in most markets the diesel is the obvious choice.

The days of fitting ludicrously large petrol engines that develop unimpressive amounts of horsepower in any car are on their way out. Even Porsche are doing hybrids now - less power and smarter power are the way forward as oil gets more expensive and rarer. I have the base engine in my 5. Is it underpowered? Lets see, it can accelerate faster than most cars on the road, can do double the speedlimit and more, and has that tidal-wave-of-torque feeling every time you drop a couple of cogs and floor it.

It has less power than the 535d I'd like to drive if I could afford one. But a twin turbo V6 engine in this car offers stupid amounts of power that you would have to try very hard to fully use in the real world.

Underpowered? A question of perspective.

[BMWrules7]

Agreed. Except, don't you think, historically, that the pendulum swings as the gas prices drop and stay stable the cars and their engines get bigger? Then when the gas prices rise the smaller cars with smaller engines are a hit?

And during either transition we see big cars with small engines or small cars with big engines like we have now?

Originally Posted by Rochdale Pioneers

It's probably a question of perspective. The 740 is a very big very fast car designed to be the daily drive for captains of industry. Pretty confident that engine will suffice, though suspect that in most markets the diesel is the obvious choice.

The days of fitting ludicrously large petrol engines that develop unimpressive amounts of horsepower in any car are on their way out. Even Porsche are doing hybrids now - less power and smarter power are the way forward as oil gets more expensive and rarer. I have the base engine in my 5. Is it underpowered? Lets see, it can accelerate faster than most cars on the road, can do double the speedlimit and more, and has that tidal-wave-of-torque feeling every time you drop a couple of cogs and floor it.

It has less power than the 535d I'd like to drive if I could afford one. But a twin turbo V6 engine in this car offers stupid amounts of power that you would have to try very hard to fully use in the real world.

Underpowered? A question of perspective.

[Rochdale Pioneers]

I think things have finally changed. Europe insists on ever tighter emissions limits which is forcing even the sports car companies to come up with some entertaining solutions to get their range legal. Power outputs are increasing in smaller engines making their larger predecessors expensive reminders of a prior age.

And haven't the US government finally followed suit with mandatory mpg targets? Yes the lazy American low output V8 needs to be there for when we want that sort of engine in the odd car here and there. But thats the past. You want to look at the future, its that Turbocharged AND Supercharged 1.4 engine VW have developed. Or the ludicrous mpg figures from the forthcoming 520 ED

[sanf]

wouldve been a 740 for me if they had the X-drive for 2011.