BMW is to launch a five-year/75,000-mile service and maintenance package for the new 7 Series, which goes on sale in spring.

The Concours package, which mirrors the Mini TLC initiative, will be available for a one-off fee of £500. It will cover service and maintenance by BMW technicians, including engine oil, filtre, wiper blades, brake pads/discs, spark plugs, air filters, brake fluid and coolant.

When the car is sold, Concours passes to the new owner – this is expected to help enhance residual values to 45% over three years/60,000 miles.

The flagship 7 Series – loaded with equipment - will be launched with two V8 models, the 3.6-litre 735i priced £52,750 and 4.4-litre 745i, priced £56,950. Standard equipment includes sat nav, active suspension, leather upholstery and a dashboard that features iDrive.

iDrive, a new control concept, places the primary driving controls, including gearshift and parking brake, within a finger's reach of the steering wheel. The major secondary controls, e.g. climate control and sound system, are the only controls on the dashboard. All other controls are operated via a controller – a large circular knob positioned on the centre console.