2009 BMW 7 Series

BMW 7 Series

BMW’s 7 Series is the sort of car that tells the world you’ve arrived, but also that you’d rather drive yourself than sit in the back with a glass of bubbly. It’s the S-Class’s archrival, sure, but it’s also the answer for execs who want a proper driver’s sedan. You won’t find a new one on local floors — it’s all about used stock here, and there’s plenty of variety if you know where to look. Listings cover everything from 2011’s F01 to the sleeker 2019 G11, with petrol and diesel options, and all the usual auto boxes. Prices are wild: R249,900 snags you a base diesel, while R1,688,888 lands the full-fat M760 Li xDrive. On paper at least, the median sits around R658,888, but spec, mileage and previous care are all over the map, so you’ll need to be sharp-eyed and picky. The sweet spot? That’s the 750i M Sport — plenty of V8 punch for R489,950 to R699,900, without buying into the M760 badge flex. R249,900 for a 730d Individual seems like a steal, but you’ll want ironclad records, especially with the average odometer reading just under 100,000 km. South Africans pick the 7 over the S mostly because it’s actually fun to steer, especially in F01 and G11 guise, and that matters. There’s no new stock, so this really is a used buyer’s game. If you pack smart, you’ll get all the luxury, tech, and presence the badge promises — and that’s the point.