435 X Drive or 240i as an everyday car?

435 X Drive or 240i as an everyday car?

Author
Discussion

Davel

Original Poster:

8,982 posts

257 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
Looking at two cars at the moment, a black 435d x-drive Sport with red leather

And a grey M 240i with oyster leather.

How practical is Oyster leather and can it be kept clean? Thinking of marks from wearing jeans etc.

The 435 is higher spec'd and, I guess, more suited for the poorer weather but I'm struggling to decide really.

Both pre-registered and so discounted.

Which would you choose and why?

Coming from a Boxster which I've just sold.

Edited by Davel on Sunday 20th November 12:54


Edited by Davel on Sunday 20th November 12:54

cerb4.5lee

30,189 posts

179 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
I'd go 240i because I run a 640d and while I like the 40mpg to cover 30k miles in the engine doesn't have any depth or reward to it.

The 435d is a fairly big and heavy car so the slightly smaller size and lower weight of the 240i appeals to me too.

Have ivory white leather in the 640d and it does show marks up more than a darker leather but I do love how it lifts the ambience of the cabin.

My main criticism of the 240i is its anonymous looks and it just doesn't stand out whereas I think the 435d does.

Ahbefive

11,657 posts

171 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
240i might be a bit of fun. 435d xdrive won't.

Davel

Original Poster:

8,982 posts

257 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
Well I use my R1200GS in the decent weather mostly and commute about 30 miles per day.

I think the M240i looks lovely in mineral grey and understated, which might be a good thing.

Just struggling to choose.



Edited by Davel on Sunday 20th November 14:12

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
Winter tyres on the 2 series will get you by in the winter, not totally dissing 4WD but do you really need it all year round.
Difficult to comment on spec. without knowing exactly what each has got. But never a deal breaker for me.

2 series for me, narrowly wins on looks. Petrol and I read good things about the B58. Has to be more agile, it will have more steering feel (though still not great) and the 4 series is and just feels too big !

cerb4.5lee

30,189 posts

179 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
Both will make cracking everyday cars, is the 240i Auto? because one of the things that tips the 240i in my favour is that it's reletively small/light and comes with a manual gearbox, so about as engaging as a modern bmw gets.

If the 240i is an auto then it just depends which you prefer...revs from the 240i or economy from the 435d because both interiors are pretty similar.

Davel

Original Poster:

8,982 posts

257 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
It's an auto but I do buy autos these days - old git of 62.

Think the M240i is the way to go.

Thanks for the feedback.

Oh and

DAB
M aero body styling
Cruise control with brake function
BMW online services
Sports multi function steering wheel
USB Audio Interface
M Sport braking system
Headlamp power wash
Business Nav
Mobility Kit (WTF?)

4 miles and registered 4 November £30,987

cerb4.5lee

30,189 posts

179 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
Davel said:
Mobility Kit (WTF?)
I believe that's because it's specced without run flat tyres(thankfully) and has normal tyres on it.

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
Mobility kit, i think you've been given that cos you're old and will need help getting in and out wink

Fox-

13,228 posts

245 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
Davel said:
Business Nav
This sucks.

Davel said:
Mobility Kit (WTF?)
This is a godsend as it means it hasn't got runflats.

VerySideways

10,237 posts

271 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
240i much more fun than 435 - and if it snows, you're better off with winters in either car.
Did a few hundred motorway miles in a 340i yesterday and averaged 38mpg without trying...

Davel

Original Poster:

8,982 posts

257 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
Would Business Nav be a deal breaker for you.

Don't really need the disc capacity but what are the other downsides apart from a smaller screen?

LocoBlade

7,621 posts

255 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
If you want it now then obviously it limits the choice but most of those bits you've listed are standard so it's not highly specced. I think the only thing you've listed that isn't standard is cruise control which comes with the £500 comfort pack (along with front/rear parking sensors), and the dealer fitted M Aero body kit which may or may not be to your tastes anyway (front splitter, rear lip spoiler, black side skirts etc).

Given that, you could almost certainly get a better price / more options for your money on a brand new order if you can wait until ~March? For example, Tony Lewis's discounts at Berry Heathrow (aka TRL - search for his details on here / babybmw if you're interested) would give you a car with Auto, metallic paint, Driver Comfort Pack, Pro Media Pack, HK audio, Sunroof, Heated Seats, Heated Steering Wheel, Adaptive suspension and folding mirrors for a smidge under £33000. As a rule of thumb spec something up on the BMW configurator then subtract 20% from the OTR price to give you a reasonable idea of what can be achieved.

Davel said:
It's an auto but I do buy autos these days - old git of 62.

Think the M240i is the way to go.

Thanks for the feedback.

Oh and

DAB
M aero body styling
Cruise control with brake function
BMW online services
Sports multi function steering wheel
USB Audio Interface
M Sport braking system
Headlamp power wash
Business Nav
Mobility Kit (WTF?)

4 miles and registered 4 November £30,987

LocoBlade

7,621 posts

255 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
TBH in its latest incarnation the business nav isn't bad at all, it's got most of the same functionality as the Pro including apps for things like Spotify. If looks are important the later cars have a single glass pane for the screen/surround rather than small screen with plastic surround like the old business nav which looked a bit of a cheap afterthought to fill the gaps where the larger pro nav screen would otherwise go.

Saying that, I decided to spec the Pro nav on mine as I went factory order and probably went a bit overboard on the options but it wouldn't bother me too much if I was buying off the forecourt and the car didn't have it.

Davel said:
Would Business Nav be a deal breaker for you.

Don't really need the disc capacity but what are the other downsides apart from a smaller screen?

Davel

Original Poster:

8,982 posts

257 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
Thanks for that, so not really the saving that the guy stated.

Will have to think now about if I can wait that long.

Cheers

LocoBlade

7,621 posts

255 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
Its a saving off RRP but not compared to what you could achieve by going to the right dealer, sorry to be the bearer of bad news. smile

Another way to get a good target price is to spec the car up on Coast2Coastcars.co.uk. They're usually around £500 higher than TRL but it's an easy way to get a price with options you can take to a dealer and barter with if you want to stay local.

Having said that it's not miles away having had a quick play on there, perhaps an additional £800-1500 to be saved by factory ordering the same spec (depending on if it's white or metallic) so if its exactly what you want then its still worth considering.


Edited by LocoBlade on Sunday 20th November 18:33

Davel

Original Poster:

8,982 posts

257 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
Can you have the nav upgraded at all to the pro or is it too late if already speccd

msej449

177 posts

120 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
{How practical is Oyster leather and can it be kept clean? Thinking of marks from wearing jeans etc}

I had oyster seats and floor on my previous 330d and again on my current M235i seats/doors and no problems with discolouration or keeping it clean. Actually, the black carpets in the current car seem to show dirt etc. more than the oyster in the previous, perversely.

My conclusion, on the basis of this and a previous Audi with all-black interior, is that while black interiors look more 'photogenic' from a distance and on the configurator etc., I personally found all-black quite depressing in the winter months.

I'd also echo that putting a certified winter wheel and tyre set onto the M240i will give you plenty of assurance for winter driving on a RWD.


Edited by msej449 on Sunday 20th November 19:55

LocoBlade

7,621 posts

255 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
I suspect anything is possible but will probably cost a lot. I know someone on Babybmw has fitted the larger screen to give a nicer display but not heard of anyone doing an outright swap.

Davel said:
Can you have the nav upgraded at all to the pro or is it too late if already speccd

Smuler

2,286 posts

138 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
quotequote all
On the "new toy M140i "thread here, I posted a you tube video where owner talks thru his options and why he chose the pro nav. Sure, screen is bigger and that's a plus, I had pro nav on my 335i. But the rest was a lot of tech stuff which went over my head.
My father just ordered a new 2 series and was very happy with the business nav , for nav duties, reversing camera and parking sensors graphic. it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, not by a country mile.