Which 4 Series Should I Go For?
Discussion
I was in a similar predicament in Sept of last year with a 3 series, although I didn't consider a 320d, I ended up opting for a 335d. I do around 60 miles a day commute, 40 miles on a motorway, and I'm getting 38mpg (from my own calcs not the cars), so throw the BMW combined figures out of the window.
My biggest regret is not going for a 335i/435i, I'd have had a 440i or 340i if I could have found one. I doubt I would have been much worst off regards to fuel going for the petrol, I would have gladly paid a little more for a petrol. The 35d engine sounds half decent as far as diesels go, but its not a match on the 6 pot petrol. It is bloody quick though, license losing numbers come up pretty fast, and you do get a real surge from the diesel.
If you're worried about running costs, go and buy a Corsa, Polo, Up et al., if not get yourself into a 340i/440i if that's what you've set your heart on.
SW
My biggest regret is not going for a 335i/435i, I'd have had a 440i or 340i if I could have found one. I doubt I would have been much worst off regards to fuel going for the petrol, I would have gladly paid a little more for a petrol. The 35d engine sounds half decent as far as diesels go, but its not a match on the 6 pot petrol. It is bloody quick though, license losing numbers come up pretty fast, and you do get a real surge from the diesel.
If you're worried about running costs, go and buy a Corsa, Polo, Up et al., if not get yourself into a 340i/440i if that's what you've set your heart on.
SW
sw28 said:
If you're worried about running costs, go and buy a Corsa, Polo, Up et al., if not get yourself into a 340i/440i if that's what you've set your heart on.
SW
Wise words and I have experience of the 35d engine and a 340i/440i would be a far more satisfying and rewarding package overall I feel. SW
sw28 said:
I was in a similar predicament in Sept of last year with a 3 series, although I didn't consider a 320d, I ended up opting for a 335d. I do around 60 miles a day commute, 40 miles on a motorway, and I'm getting 38mpg (from my own calcs not the cars), so throw the BMW combined figures out of the window.
My biggest regret is not going for a 335i/435i, I'd have had a 440i or 340i if I could have found one. I doubt I would have been much worst off regards to fuel going for the petrol, I would have gladly paid a little more for a petrol. The 35d engine sounds half decent as far as diesels go, but its not a match on the 6 pot petrol. It is bloody quick though, license losing numbers come up pretty fast, and you do get a real surge from the diesel.
If you're worried about running costs, go and buy a Corsa, Polo, Up et al., if not get yourself into a 340i/440i if that's what you've set your heart on.
SW
Totally agree! The 35d is indeed a very good engine as diesels go but it's not as refined as good 6 cylinder petrol and doesn't sound anywhere near as nice; moreover, it doesn't really offer a significant advantage over a 340i in terms of mpg as I reckon I'd be getting at least 35mpg out of one of those in the same driving I've done in the 335d. In my view a difference of around 3mpg just isn't worth worrying about even if you do 20k miles a year so for me you either go 20d if you want mpg and range or 40i if you want the extra refinement of a six-pot engine. That said I don't dislike my 335d and don't feel so strongly about it that I'd chop it in early and take a pasting on depreciation; however, if I was choosing again now it would without doubt be a 340i.My biggest regret is not going for a 335i/435i, I'd have had a 440i or 340i if I could have found one. I doubt I would have been much worst off regards to fuel going for the petrol, I would have gladly paid a little more for a petrol. The 35d engine sounds half decent as far as diesels go, but its not a match on the 6 pot petrol. It is bloody quick though, license losing numbers come up pretty fast, and you do get a real surge from the diesel.
If you're worried about running costs, go and buy a Corsa, Polo, Up et al., if not get yourself into a 340i/440i if that's what you've set your heart on.
SW
JMBMWM5 said:
JNW1 said:
Measured the old fashioned way over 23k miles I've averaged just under 39mpg in my F31 335d; the trip computer says just over 41 but it's telling porkies!
That's good in my book. 
qwerty88 said:
Thanks for all the input guys. I'm still not close to making a decision but out of curiosity, when will the 440i be available?
There are one or two more up to speed with this than me but my understanding is that you'll be able to spec a 440i at a dealers anytime now (you may even be able to do so already) with first deliveries being from April onwards? However, the online configurator hasn't caught up with this yet as it still seems to be quoting the 435i not the 440i! JNW1 said:
There are one or two more up to speed with this than me but my understanding is that you'll be able to spec a 440i at a dealers anytime now (you may even be able to do so already) with first deliveries being from April onwards? However, the online configurator hasn't caught up with this yet as it still seems to be quoting the 435i not the 440i!
Yeah that was the first place I checked, the online configurator. I do wonder when leasing companies will start to list it.Just thought I'd chime in, my automatic 420d coupe gets 35.7mpg, all around town driving (based off around 3000 miles from new), including 20 mile round trip commute which takes an 1hr each way, so fairly slow stop start traffic. This is mainly in eco pro mode too. I have achieved around 56mpg on a motorway run with cruise control stuck on 70mph.
For what its worth (a couple of hundred quid) I'd go for the 435d,I know I would have If I could have got insured! Not to say that the 420d is a slow car, I find it has all the power I require when i put my foot to the floor (400Nm of torque!)
For what its worth (a couple of hundred quid) I'd go for the 435d,I know I would have If I could have got insured! Not to say that the 420d is a slow car, I find it has all the power I require when i put my foot to the floor (400Nm of torque!)
Edited by S93 on Wednesday 3rd February 23:16
qwerty88 said:
JNW1 said:
There are one or two more up to speed with this than me but my understanding is that you'll be able to spec a 440i at a dealers anytime now (you may even be able to do so already) with first deliveries being from April onwards? However, the online configurator hasn't caught up with this yet as it still seems to be quoting the 435i not the 440i!
Yeah that was the first place I checked, the online configurator. I do wonder when leasing companies will start to list it.I know everyone recommends the 435i and 440i being pistonheads and all, but the cost difference between a 420d and 435i is around £150+ per month on a lease. It's a few thousand if bought at a dealers. It's significant!
For all intents and purposes the 420d is the pick at the lower end, even more so than the 428i in my opinion. Performance is solid all round, it has enough pick up, torque and economy. If you want the best and have a bigger budget, the big petrol 6 cylinders are the way to go. I'd love to do that but the 6 cylinders are well out of my budget (current offer is £308/month for 420d).
For all intents and purposes the 420d is the pick at the lower end, even more so than the 428i in my opinion. Performance is solid all round, it has enough pick up, torque and economy. If you want the best and have a bigger budget, the big petrol 6 cylinders are the way to go. I'd love to do that but the 6 cylinders are well out of my budget (current offer is £308/month for 420d).
Edited by silent ninja on Sunday 7th February 12:21
silent ninja said:
For all intents and purposes the 420d is the pick at the lower end, even more so than the 428i in my opinion.
Don't get me wrong I can see why the 420d sells in bucket loads when compared to the other models because it offers very good economy and excellent VED and decent performance.The problem with the 420d is it's engine though and it's just not a very nice power plant because it's harsh and noisy at low revs and sounds like a bag of spanners from the outside(appreciate you don't sit on the roof to drive it though!).
So for me given the choice of a 420d or a 428i it would be the 428i all day everyday.
cerb4.5lee said:
Don't get me wrong I can see why the 420d sells in bucket loads when compared to the other models because it offers very good economy and excellent VED and decent performance.
The problem with the 420d is it's engine though and it's just not a very nice power plant because it's harsh and noisy at low revs and sounds like a bag of spanners from the outside(appreciate you don't sit on the roof to drive it though!).
So for me given the choice of a 420d or a 428i it would be the 428i all day everyday.
The 420d sells in bucketloads because a) it's the cheapest and more people can afford it b) majority of people haven't compared it to anything better and c) people don't really care for driving dynamics, they want to punt up and down the motorway and impress the neighbours.The problem with the 420d is it's engine though and it's just not a very nice power plant because it's harsh and noisy at low revs and sounds like a bag of spanners from the outside(appreciate you don't sit on the roof to drive it though!).
So for me given the choice of a 420d or a 428i it would be the 428i all day everyday.
It's all well and good asking on the internet but drive the different options and all will become clear.
For me, anything is an improvement over the 20d engine in the BMW range.
But it's efficient and has a nice body wrapped round it, so if that's all you care about, it's perfect.
This might not make sense to everybody but it does to me, I think I'm going to go with a 435d. I do want something with 6 cylinders but I can't bring myself to go for a 435i or 440i YET.
This is my first car with with an engine bigger than 2.0 litres and I know that the real MPG figures aren't too far apart but I think I'll be better off with the 435d for now.
A two year lease isn't a long time if you ask me to have a car for, it's the safer option for me in my situation I believe, in terms of my commute etc. and I can then assess what my running costs look like and if it will be a good idea for me to go for a straight 6 petrol engine next time.
This is my first car with with an engine bigger than 2.0 litres and I know that the real MPG figures aren't too far apart but I think I'll be better off with the 435d for now.
A two year lease isn't a long time if you ask me to have a car for, it's the safer option for me in my situation I believe, in terms of my commute etc. and I can then assess what my running costs look like and if it will be a good idea for me to go for a straight 6 petrol engine next time.
cerb4.5lee said:
Don't get me wrong I can see why the 420d sells in bucket loads when compared to the other models because it offers very good economy and excellent VED and decent performance.
The problem with the 420d is it's engine though and it's just not a very nice power plant because it's harsh and noisy at low revs and sounds like a bag of spanners from the outside(appreciate you don't sit on the roof to drive it though!).
So for me given the choice of a 420d or a 428i it would be the 428i all day everyday.
I agree, but the 428i doesn't deserve the premium over the 420d imo. Again, the price difference is quite big and all you got is a 4 cylinder petrol that doesn't sound particular good and doesn't really perform much better than the diesel. The problem with the 420d is it's engine though and it's just not a very nice power plant because it's harsh and noisy at low revs and sounds like a bag of spanners from the outside(appreciate you don't sit on the roof to drive it though!).
So for me given the choice of a 420d or a 428i it would be the 428i all day everyday.
Bigger engine, performance - go for petrol 6 cylinder
smaller engine - go for 20d
silent ninja said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Don't get me wrong I can see why the 420d sells in bucket loads when compared to the other models because it offers very good economy and excellent VED and decent performance.
The problem with the 420d is it's engine though and it's just not a very nice power plant because it's harsh and noisy at low revs and sounds like a bag of spanners from the outside(appreciate you don't sit on the roof to drive it though!).
So for me given the choice of a 420d or a 428i it would be the 428i all day everyday.
I agree, but the 428i doesn't deserve the premium over the 420d imo. Again, the price difference is quite big and all you got is a 4 cylinder petrol that doesn't sound particular good and doesn't really perform much better than the diesel. The problem with the 420d is it's engine though and it's just not a very nice power plant because it's harsh and noisy at low revs and sounds like a bag of spanners from the outside(appreciate you don't sit on the roof to drive it though!).
So for me given the choice of a 420d or a 428i it would be the 428i all day everyday.
Bigger engine, performance - go for petrol 6 cylinder
smaller engine - go for 20d
bigfish said:
If you looked at coast2 coast cars for example, and the discounts you can get, it seems the higher up the range you go the bigger the discounts ie the difference between models becomes less. The basic 440i sport auto is c £35k for Gand coupe
That's a lot compared to the sub-30 for a 420d.M Sport is what most of us would go for and although the discounts are bigger for the larger engines, the price difference is still pretty large.
silent ninja said:
I agree, but the 428i doesn't deserve the premium over the 420d imo. Again, the price difference is quite big and all you got is a 4 cylinder petrol that doesn't sound particular good and doesn't really perform much better than the diesel.
Bigger engine, performance - go for petrol 6 cylinder
smaller engine - go for 20d
The 428i has a 0-60 of 5.6 seconds, and in the 428i it was a joy to drive, lightweight, revs, and just the right amount of power to have proper fun, plus it has a really sweet maunal 'box compared with the truly shocking manual in the diesels. It doesn't sound as a sweet as a straight six petrol, but I still prefer it over the 330d. Bigger engine, performance - go for petrol 6 cylinder
smaller engine - go for 20d
The 20d just takes away the premium feel of a BMW, it is gruff, and lacks power, really runs out of puff once you get passed 3500rpm.
Personally I would have the 430d, but I would take the 428/30i over it every time.
gizlaroc said:
The 428i has a 0-60 of 5.6 seconds, and in the 428i it was a joy to drive, lightweight, revs, and just the right amount of power to have proper fun, plus it has a really sweet maunal 'box compared with the truly shocking manual in the diesels. It doesn't sound as a sweet as a straight six petrol, but I still prefer it over the 330d.
The 20d just takes away the premium feel of a BMW, it is gruff, and lacks power, really runs out of puff once you get passed 3500rpm.
Well the BMW diesel is not as bad as the awful tractor diesel in the C Class so maybe that's why I don't think it's too bad. The auto suits the diesel. Also, the high torque and power available at low revs is what makes a diesel feel quite responsive.The 20d just takes away the premium feel of a BMW, it is gruff, and lacks power, really runs out of puff once you get passed 3500rpm.
Edited by silent ninja on Sunday 7th February 13:20
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