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As we sat at the stoplight in a 1995 BMW 740i sedan, a man in a Mercedes-Benz 600SL pulled up and powered down his window.

“Grey Poupon?” we asked before he could utter a word.

“Nope, need a screwdriver-flathead,” he said.

We hadn’t traveled another mile before a woman in a Rolls-Royce pulled alongside and motored down her window.

“Grey Poupon?” we asked before she could speak.

“No, need to borrow some gauze and antiseptic,” she begged.

The new BMW 740i, a carpenter shop/medical center on wheels, really gets around. While the Jaguar XJ6 oozes elegance, the Bimmer exudes practicality.

When it comes to detail, the 740i is a virtual guidebook. Open the trunk lid and nestled inside is a tool kit-pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers (flathead and Phillips) and lugwrench. Open the back seat headrest and out pops a first-aid kit with tape, gauze and even sunburn and bee-sting ointments. No Poupon, however.

We were fortunate to have a 740i arrive on the heels of the XJ6, two European redesigns for 1995.

Both offer dual air bags, anti-lock brakes and traction control, though the last is an option on both. The Bimmer appears roomier (three inches longer) and the cabin layout more refined than the Jag-from cargo containers in the center armrest to a stowage bin in the door sleeve to pull-out cupholders from the dash for front-seat occupants and in the back of the center seat armrest for rear-seat passengers.

The 740i boasts a bit more powerful engine, a 282-h.p., 32-valve, V-8. Quick it is. Quiet, too. Though the Jag’s power is steady but continuous, the Bimmer’s seems to come in bursts. Press the pedal, pause and slap and off you go. You will spend a great deal of time at the pump as a result, which isn’t all that bad because you can use the opportunity to compare notes with XJ6 owners. Bring your own Poupon.

The suspension seemed equal to that in the Jaguar. The 16-inch treads cling to the pavement as if riding over a layer of glue. You feel weight in the wheel, but you have control and don’t have to worry about excessive body lean when rounding corners. The suspension allows for aggressive motoring when the feeling or need arises. Speed-sensitive power steering contributes.

As with the Jaguar, you can get heated seats in the 740i, a nice option when you 1) live in the Midwest, and2) buy a car with leather seats. The right outside mirror tilts curbward when you engage reverse to let you see whether you are going to hit anything or anyone.

Another noteworthy feature is the optional premium sound system with 14 speakers. We were unable to determine just how effective 14 speakers can be in bringing concert sound into the cabin because the radio, like most other controls, was designed with audiophiles in mind. The problem? Couldn’t find an “on” switch. Jaguar controls were hidden; Bimmer controls are in plain view, just i ndecipherable.

And if you use the first-aid kit, you may find that it’s easier to refold a map than it is to stuff the kit back into the headrest.

Base price: $57,900. Standard equipment includes the gamut of power systems plus cruise control, heated driver’s door lock, rechargeable take out flashlight in the glove box, which unfortunately had been taken out, air conditioning, metallic paint, fog lights, alloy wheels, electric sunroof and leather upholstery.

>> 1995 BMW 740i sedan Wheelbase: 115.4 inches Length: 196.2 inches Engine: 4-liter, 282-h.p., 32-valve, V-8 Transmission: 4-speed automatic EPA mileage: 16 m.p.g. city/24 m.p.g. highway Base price: $57,900 Price as tested: $64,250. Add $2,000for a premium sound system, including 14 speakers and compact disc player; $1,000 for a cold weather package, including heated front s eats and headlight washers; $1,350 for traction control; $1,000 for memory seats with lumbar control; and $1,000 for a federal gas-guzzler tax. Freight runs $470. Pluses: Dual air bags and anti-lock brakes standard, traction control an option. Tool kit in trunk, first-aid kit in rear headrest. Roomier and better interior layout than Jaguar XJ6. Feels like stuck to road with glue. Minuses: Traction control costs $1,350. While controls easy to see and reach, spouse or one of the kids better have Ph.D. in electrical metaphysics to understand how to use them. If you can get the first-aid kit back into its rear-seat headrest hiding place, they should give you a car free. >>