New default choice

BMW : 730Ld

What's new? : For the first time ever in Thailand, the BMW 7-series comes with a diesel engine to choose from: the 730Ld equipped with a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six and six-speed automatic transmission.

As the badge indicates, the diesel-powered Seven only comes in long wheelbase form - just like the petrol-sipping 740Li and 750Li variants.

To suit the heavily tiered tax system in Thailand, the 245hp maximum power output has been detuned to 218hp to evade the 220hp tax barrier. Actually, this is the same unit as used in the X5 xDrive30d.

This means the 730Ld can attract a lower 40% excise tax. In fact, archrival Mercedes-Benz has done the same with its S320L CDI whose 231hp 3.0-litre V6 has been modified to generate 211hp. This explains the duo's sub-B8m pricetags.

The 730Ld is also significant in the sense that it forms the basis of the new entry-level 7-series at B7.699mm sitting below the B8.999m 740Li, both of which are assembled in Thailand.

Not anymore is a petrol-powered Seven sitting on the baseline front, as the 730i predecessor did. Mercedes still offers the S300L in Thailand below the S320L CDI (FYI: a facelift is just around the corner, explaining the aggressive sales campaign now in progress to rid of stocks of the current model).

To ensure the 730Ld is priced as attractively as possible, BMW had to omit some super-luxurious items like head-up display, four-wheel steering system and three-way air-con system for rear occupants.

What's cool?

Modern-day diesels need absolutely no introduction in these pages today. And when it comes to BMW's oil-burners, there are hallmarks of performance, refinement and economy neatly packed together into one.

The X5 has this brilliant combination and the 730Ld is no exception. Ignore the 218hp output. It essentially performs like the one sold elsewhere: brisk acceleration and sumptuous mid-range punch for real-world driving.

Even though buyers with so much dosh to burn may not care about gas bills, the 730Ld is impressively frugal for all the weight it has to carry around. We easily recorded 13kpl on the average on a round-trip to Kanchanaburi four-up.

Tech-savvy buyers may grumble about the absence of four-wheel steering that enhances low-speed agility and high-speed stability, but the 730Ld still handles very typically in the BMW fashion with a direct steering and plenty of chassis grip.

Other than that the 730Ld is like other Sevens: oodles of interior space, high levels of quality and rich in ambience especially during night-driving.

What's not?

Fussy owners who mostly sit behind may groan about the lack of roof-mounted air-con vents, as found in the 740Li. But in all fairness, the vents behind the centre console and on the B-pillars already provide efficient cooling.

While the three-mode active suspension is a fine feature that works well on Thailand's largely varying road surfaces, the ride still isn't perfect. Like in the 740Li we drove earlier this year, tyre rumble is still a little too evident for a luxury car in this class.

Lastly, while the diesel motor is mostly beyond criticism, there is some turbo lag, which you won't find in the twin-turbo petrol motors that feel instantly flexible once you set off for the road.

Buy or bye?

In spite of that small flaw of the diesel motor, it is still better by a significant margin when it comes to balancing performance and economy.

No question about refinement: the diesel and petrol are basically the same, which means that the 730Ld is the pick of 7-series range in the Thai model line-up.

If you are not too concerned about some of the features being omitted to save you about B2m for the 730Ld, then this diesel Seven is easily the right buy, unless you have already decided that a three-pointed star logo is your cup of tea.

Relate Search: BMW 730Ld, BMW 740Li, BMW 750Li