7 series refinement - how has it moved on?

[E38Ross]

I was driving in the E38 the other day and even at high speed there is literally no engine noise and extremely little wind noise. now, if it had the double glazing i've no doubt it would be almost silent. go back a few years to the E32 and further to the E23 and they are noisier, particularly at speed.

do the newer models, E65 and F01, actually offer more in terms of refinement? or are the more a case they offer better performance, economy and a few more toys? i know in general cars are getting more and more refined, but it's hard to see how much you could improve on something that's already extremely quiet. i know it's quieter than an E60 5er i've been in but not been in a newer 7 series.

maybe i need to go in a rolls royce....anyone offering?

[BT52]

I drove many E38s before deciding to get my Audi A8 because I found they weren't refined enough, particularly the rough sounding V8s.

I have just replaced my A8 with an E65 750 and the refinement blows even the Audi away, so in a completely different league to the E38.

[E38Ross]

BT52 said:

I drove many E38s before deciding to get my Audi A8 because I found they weren't refined enough, particularly the rough sounding V8s.

I have just replaced my A8 with an E65 750 and the refinement blows even the Audi away, so in a completely different league to the E38.

blimey. maybe your E38 had a few problems because both the ones i've been in have been extremely quiet, especially at motorway speeds. gotta try a new 7 then!!

[BT52]

E38Ross said:

blimey. maybe your E38 had a few problems because both the ones i've been in have been extremely quiet, especially at motorway speeds. gotta try a new 7 then!!

Tried 5 Preferred the 728 to the V8s as it was quieter and smoother.

All Sports though, I don't know if they deliberately let a bit more noise in for those models?

I'm really fussy about refinement. Went for a 750 E65 because I was appalled at how noisy the 730d still is despite all I have read implying otherwise.

[Derestrictor]

BT52 said:

I drove many E38s before deciding to get my Audi A8 because I found they weren't refined enough, particularly the rough sounding V8s.

I have just replaced my A8 with an E65 750 and the refinement blows even the Audi away, so in a completely different league to the E38.

See, this is a significant post.

"The rough sounding V8s." You know, that's precisely how I was feeling, years ago, albeit in a 4 rather than 4.4 litre 740.

When gunning the Old Graf, there was a noise but not anything that could be described as mellifluous.

Now whilst the Jap S Class aper was ultimately on another level, it, too, could sound a tad crass if severely stoked: I know, I know but this is why, ultimately, LS made way fur Fünf...

Conversely, E65 750s (and indeed, X5 4.8s) seem to have blended aspects of Lexian 'total comfort' (the seats) whilst restoring some rather fabulous snort of rort when plunging.

The solution, as ever, for the E38, probably exists in the only configuration that matters - that of technical balance and classical layout.

[dbdb]

My brother has an E65 740iL. It is a very refined car - a little more refined than an E38, if rather firm riding. Its not as smooth or as quiet as an XJ Jaguar though.

[Zwolf]

Derestrictor said:

The solution, as ever, for the E38, probably exists in the only configuration that matters - that of technical balance and classical layout.

Either six inline or twelve in vee and no devil juice please.