I just got back from spending a week in Germany as part of my Master's program at UPenn. The purpose of our trip was to visit several high tech companies to learn about their management of innovation and current techological developments. BMW was on our list (logistics prohibited a visit with M-B) including both their R&D facility in Munich as well as the assembly plant in Regensburg that builds 3-series.

Our original schedule had us taking our tour bus from Munich to Regensburg but BMW decided at the last minute to lend us several cars so that we could make the drive ourselves. I headed for one of the two 7-series cars that they made available - a 730D which of course is not sold in the US.

The car, as most are probably aware, has almost every conceivable option and gadget including, unfortunately, their I-drive system. Four engineers in the car for a total of three hours and we still couldn't figure it all out. Even some of the more basic controls were a bit hard to deal with at first including the turn signal stalk which comes out of the steering column at a rather unusual angle and was not where my hand expected it.

Performance from the 3 liter, 6 cylindar diesel won't snap your neck but was sufficient to merge from behind a truck into the fast lane on the autobahn with little difficulty. The other three people in the car with me didn't believe that it was diesel until I pointed out the labeling on the fuel guage. The car was smooth and quiet at all speeds even the 210 kph that we got it up to. My only regret was that I haven't taken any driving classes aimed at this level of driving and this level of vehicle so I wasn't able to make the most of the situation. One thing was certain though, the Germans on average are MUCH better drivers than Americans. During the entire week, I saw only one person pass on the right and almost no one change lanes without signalling. Even walking around in the cities was much nicer as they actually stop for red lights and yield to pedestrians (at least those who cross where they're supposed to)

Not having had any previous experience driving BMW's or driving in Germany at all, it was hard to make too many comparisons. My M-B is three generations back so any comparisons there wouldn't be fair. I'm considering stopping in at my local dealer to test the current S-class to at least get some basic comparisons.

All in all a very enjoyable trip.
jlc

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Jeff

'87 560SEL 267K (177K on motor) Blue/Blue
'98 Buick LeSebre 60K (wife's car)
'56 Imperial Sedan 124K
Past Cars:
'67 Dodge Monaco 130K (Sold)
'87 Chrysler 5th Ave 245K and going strong (sold)
'73 Plymouth Satillite 175K (sold)
'96 Chrysler LHS 80K (totaled)