BMW 730D / Mercedes CLS 320 CDI
Discussion
A short while back I was looking at a potential long commute, so looked in to switching to diesel. I test drove an E320CDI and a CLS350CDI, and I have to say I was disappointed in both, coming from my 5 series petrol.
The Mercedes engine is quite noisy and gruff in lower gears and I found the automatic gearbox very jerky changing from 1st to 2nd in both cars. I was quite disappointed as I particularly wanted to like the CLS.
The only BMW diesel I've driven is in the new 335D with the ZF8 so not a direct comparison, but it was by far the better engine.
The 7 will be a class above in the refinement stakes.
The Mercedes engine is quite noisy and gruff in lower gears and I found the automatic gearbox very jerky changing from 1st to 2nd in both cars. I was quite disappointed as I particularly wanted to like the CLS.
The only BMW diesel I've driven is in the new 335D with the ZF8 so not a direct comparison, but it was by far the better engine.
The 7 will be a class above in the refinement stakes.
Dad had a 2007 730d sport and I had an E320cdi estate at the same time, which is what the W219 CLS is built on, and have to say there isn't that much in it ride and comfort wise, the 7 is a bigger car though, noticeably so.
Both great cars, really are, but I would probably go with the 730d, it really did feel special and worked on so many levels, whether spending 12 hours a day up and down the motorway or going out for an hours blat.
But loose the run flats if it comes with them, it spoils the car.
Both great cars, really are, but I would probably go with the 730d, it really did feel special and worked on so many levels, whether spending 12 hours a day up and down the motorway or going out for an hours blat.
But loose the run flats if it comes with them, it spoils the car.
mchoody said:
I'm after something relaxing and smooth to drive. Not sure if the 7 series comes with the run flats on that age so worried the ride will be on the hard side. I think the CLS has it on looks though.
The E65 7 series did not come with run flats, and if they did they're not exactly hard to change... Have you changed tyres before? 
Also, the 7 is a class above the CLS, the 7 is more a rival for th S class.
I don't think either will disappoint but I prefer the 7, having driven a CLS350 and owning a 745i.
mchoody said:
Any major issues to look out for or known weak spots?? I'm going to go and see a 7 series at the weekend if it's still for sale.
Depends on mileage and age, not sure on that era but check for dpf which can be removed and same as swirl flaps too. Suspension issues, cooling system etc. Check all the electrics and so on. Generally E65's are pretty solid cars.
It'll come down to what floats your boat best. Either way you'll be looking at a large German barge with miles and chance of turbo/electrics/suspension risks. It'll be more down to the actual, individual car you get rather than "is a CLS better than a 7 series" decision.
However, for what it's worth, I've just changed my CLS 320 CDI after 7 years of ownership --- by a long chalk the longest I've ever held on to my daily commuter and I shed a small tear when I parted with it.
I'm in the fortunate position of being able to have more or less whatever I fancy... three years ago I looked at changing it but there was nothing else that 'did it for me' across BMW 6 or 7 series, Jag (that XJ really is plain naff, naff, naff), Range Rover (build quality is below par at this end of the market... salesman had the gall to tell me "if you're used to Mercedes or BMW sir, then you'll need to lower you expectations for a R-Rover" !!!!) Maserati QP was a serious contender for a while but never quite tugged at the heart strings hard enough in the way that the CLS continued to.
But change from the CLS 320 I did. Partly because the wife discovered the Porsche Panamera (female logic can beat man maths any day of the week when they put their minds to it), partly coz the wife admitted that she found the passenger seat in CLS slightly uncomfortable on very looooooong journeys (she did like the Panamera), partly because at 100,000 miles it was at the point where there was work needed on the suspension, turbo close to replacement and the bi-xenons were down on light output and needed sorting, and some other niggles... back to my point re them being large barges with complexity. However, reliability-wise it had been absolutely superb (unlike BMWs we've had ;-)
And so we looked at the Panamera (dropped out because it's a hatch back rather than a secure boot); BMW 6 Gran Coupe was verging on the Jag XJ tacky and was discounted before we even started the test drive; BMW 7 series = we spent 30 mins looking at it and decided that if that's what I wanted then the Merc S class was a better solution. S class was very tempting but not as pretty as the CLS.
And in the end we decided that we rather liked what we already had. However, since we'd also decided that we were going to get a new car we went for another CLS.
Let's face it, style wise you won't be disappointed with either. Just look very hard at what you're getting for your money. My old CLS was nigh on £60k new and I got £7k trade in on what was a very well looked after motor car ===> there's a reason for that. Eyes wide open = chose what you want with the heart; but buy with the head.
However, for what it's worth, I've just changed my CLS 320 CDI after 7 years of ownership --- by a long chalk the longest I've ever held on to my daily commuter and I shed a small tear when I parted with it.
I'm in the fortunate position of being able to have more or less whatever I fancy... three years ago I looked at changing it but there was nothing else that 'did it for me' across BMW 6 or 7 series, Jag (that XJ really is plain naff, naff, naff), Range Rover (build quality is below par at this end of the market... salesman had the gall to tell me "if you're used to Mercedes or BMW sir, then you'll need to lower you expectations for a R-Rover" !!!!) Maserati QP was a serious contender for a while but never quite tugged at the heart strings hard enough in the way that the CLS continued to.
But change from the CLS 320 I did. Partly because the wife discovered the Porsche Panamera (female logic can beat man maths any day of the week when they put their minds to it), partly coz the wife admitted that she found the passenger seat in CLS slightly uncomfortable on very looooooong journeys (she did like the Panamera), partly because at 100,000 miles it was at the point where there was work needed on the suspension, turbo close to replacement and the bi-xenons were down on light output and needed sorting, and some other niggles... back to my point re them being large barges with complexity. However, reliability-wise it had been absolutely superb (unlike BMWs we've had ;-)
And so we looked at the Panamera (dropped out because it's a hatch back rather than a secure boot); BMW 6 Gran Coupe was verging on the Jag XJ tacky and was discounted before we even started the test drive; BMW 7 series = we spent 30 mins looking at it and decided that if that's what I wanted then the Merc S class was a better solution. S class was very tempting but not as pretty as the CLS.
And in the end we decided that we rather liked what we already had. However, since we'd also decided that we were going to get a new car we went for another CLS.
Let's face it, style wise you won't be disappointed with either. Just look very hard at what you're getting for your money. My old CLS was nigh on £60k new and I got £7k trade in on what was a very well looked after motor car ===> there's a reason for that. Eyes wide open = chose what you want with the heart; but buy with the head.
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