435 X Drive or 240i as an everyday car?

435 X Drive or 240i as an everyday car?

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Discussion

msej449

177 posts

120 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
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I had BusNav on my previous car and ProNav on the M235i. What I like about the Pro is that you effectively get two configurable displays on the main unit, plus a third on the instrument cluster for the immediate junction. So I can have a near-view, driving-direction perspective on one side and a North-orientation plan map on the other plus the immediate junction as well. The switch to a junction photo-image happens on the right side of the screen, in my case briefly replacing the north-oriented plan map view. Both of these re configurable or you can just have a wide single display.

All this is probably nice-but-not-essential until you are navigating somewhere unfamiliar, especially abroad. So if you find yourself driving regularly to a new destination, say on business, then you might think it's worth the extra.

In addition, you get RTTI with the ProNav, where other BMWs transmit their location to augment the traffic information. This significantly enhances the quality of the congestion information that you get. With the business, I regularly found myself stuck in a jam that didn't show up on the Nav, because I wasn't on a motorway etc. This rarely seems to happen now I have the ProNav.

In both systems, incorrect voice directions can completely conflict with the correct map directions. With the Business this happened quite often, say 1% of the time (which was disturbing, as it was fine 99% of the voice-overs until just that key point where you really needed it to be right). With the Pro, I'd say it's happened just a couple of times in the last 9 months. In both cases, the directions on the instrument cluster were right, so hat's what I try and use if it's important.

Edited by msej449 on Sunday 20th November 21:42

rs990

130 posts

124 months

Sunday 20th November 2016
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msej449 said:
IIn addition, you get RTTI with the ProNav, where other BMWs transmit their location to augment the traffic information. This significantly enhances the quality of the congestion information that you get. With the business, I regularly found myself stuck in a jam that didn't show up on the Nav, because I wasn't on a motorway etc. This rarely seems to happen now I have the ProNav.
The latest Business Navs can get RTTI for a yearly subscription of around £50. I think there is a £1 trial offer as well at the moment.

JNW1

7,709 posts

193 months

Monday 21st November 2016
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Davel said:
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.
I've got an F31 335d in Mineral Grey/Oyster and I think the colour combination works really well; after 2 years and approaching 32k miles the Oyster leather still looks good and all I do to keep it it that way is rub it over with Dr Leather wipes every couple of weeks!

No experience of either the M240i or the 435d but I suspect they're quite different in nature and it really comes down to what you want from the car. I'd say a 4-series would probably be better suited to munching lots of motorway miles but unless you want or need X-Drive I'm not convinced about the merits of choosing a 435d over a 440i; doubt there'd be more than 5 or 6mpg difference in real world driving and for me that's not enough to compensate for the downside in terms of both noise and refinement. Think the M240i would probably be more fun on a twisty road courtesy of its smaller size and lighter weight but on the flip side it would perhaps be more wearing on a long journey; also, IMO the interior isn't quite as nice as the 4-series (albeit still perfectly acceptable).

As others have said, there are generous discounts available on factory orders for both the 2 and 4-series and the delivery times probably wouldn't be that long (circa 8 weeks unless you were ordering options off the individual list?). Therefore, bargain hard on any stock cars as for a relatively short wait you could probably get a very good deal on a factory order and have exactly the spec you want!

Davel

Original Poster:

8,982 posts

257 months

Monday 21st November 2016
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Thanks everyone for your input - apart for the comment about needing mobility help to get in and out biggrin

Anyway, I've bought the M240i and love the colour combination.

Hope to pick her up Friday.

Motorcycle commute until then in all this rain.

Never slept so little pondering about which car to buy and really looking forward picking her up.

Photos will follow......

Meanwhile a couple of tasters:



|http://thumbsnap.com/fvsqYK14[/url]

Edited by Davel on Monday 21st November 16:57

smashy

3,030 posts

157 months

Monday 21st November 2016
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Wow lucky sod even my 120d auto was a little go kart ,this will be brilliant. Good luck with it

Edited by smashy on Monday 21st November 16:47

cerb4.5lee

30,180 posts

179 months

Monday 21st November 2016
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Brill and enjoy picking it up, look forward to the photos.smile

julian64

14,317 posts

253 months

Monday 21st November 2016
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Did you drive both cars?

I only ask because I've had a number of high performance rear wheel drive cars but was actually quite impressed with the 4WD system in the BMW.

Paper figures aside I think you'll find the 4WD 4 quite a bit more sure footed on British roads.

It is worth testing both because BMW's 4WD is pretty spectacularly good. As an aside when I leave the 335xd In the garage and take one of my rear wheel drive cars out currently I end up with the back stepping out till I slow down.

Worth thinking about before you pick up the keys?

Davel

Original Poster:

8,982 posts

257 months

Monday 21st November 2016
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No - heart over head decision as always with me.....

julian64

14,317 posts

253 months

Monday 21st November 2016
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Davel said:
No - heart over head decision as always with me.....
probably the best way. congrats

msej449

177 posts

120 months

Monday 21st November 2016
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One cheap and useful BMW accessory you might consider is the footwell parcel net, about 30cm x 15cm, which I fitted to the transmission tunnel side of the passenger footwell, so I could get to it from the driver's seat. Part No. 51.47.0.429.466 costing £19.92 (excl. VAT) It's proved really useful for carrying maps, documents, passports etc on longer journeys and foreign tours.

And while you're at it, you should see if the dealer will throw in a bulb set, which apart from being useful is mandatory if you go abroad. It's part number 63.21.2.337.710 (for my VIN anyway) at £80.08 (excl. VAT). The price was a bit of a shock when I went to get it before our first trip abroad but as I said, it's mandatory.

If you're lucky and mention these two before you pick up they might fit the footwell net for you and discount/donate the bulb set.

Oh, and my dealer replaced the standard non-EU license plates with proper EU ones for free, and fitted them as well. Yours may do this anyway but worth having, as it saves all that faffing-around with GB stickers if you go to the continent.

And another another to mention ... 83.21.2.365.929 a litre of suitable engine oil, £17.09 excl.VAT

It all adds up, and the most likely time to get it all thrown in for free is before you pick it up .....

Edited by msej449 on Monday 21st November 17:37

Fox-

13,228 posts

245 months

Monday 21st November 2016
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msej449 said:
And while you're at it, you should see if the dealer will throw in a bulb set, which apart from being useful is mandatory if you go abroad. It's part number 63.21.2.337.710 (for my VIN anyway) at £80.08 (excl. VAT). The price was a bit of a shock when I went to get it before our first trip abroad but as I said, it's mandatory.
80 quid?!

Surely the only halogen bulbs on the entire car are the front indicators anyway - everything else is Xenon or LED.

msej449

177 posts

120 months

Monday 21st November 2016
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@Fox-: Quite a shock. Especially as I usually ask for a bulb set when I get a car and expect it to be thrown in - just forgot this time 'round. It does include spare fuses as well, if I recall. And yes, obviously no headlight replacement bulbs involved. Although it may be a lot less for the M240i as mine is an M235i with fewer LEDs. Anyway - hence my suggestion you quietly mention you expect a bulb set to be included with the delivery and see if the sales person writes it off (along with the oil ....).

And yet another: how about a 1L bottle of BMW winter screenwash as well? I actually get the 5L winter screenwash as it's a lot cheaper/L then five 1L bottles. Don't be tempted to mix BMW and other screenwash - plenty of Forums reporting this can gunge-up the motor/tubes and mean a £400+ bill for replacement (they'll say they don't recommend non-BMW screenwash, so your fault).

So the Inventory for free stuff is

1L of Engine Oil
1L Winter Screenwash
1x Spare Bulb Set as required for EU
Proper EU-Conformant Number Plates
Fitting of the useful footwell net, which you might deign to actually pay for ....


Edited by msej449 on Monday 21st November 18:01

cerb4.5lee

30,180 posts

179 months

Monday 21st November 2016
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I really like that colour combo OP it looks sweet thumbup

Davel

Original Poster:

8,982 posts

257 months

Monday 21st November 2016
quotequote all
msej449 said:
@Fox-:So the Inventory for free stuff is

1L of Engine Oil
1L Winter Screenwash
1x Spare Bulb Set as required for EU
Proper EU-Conformant Number Plates
Fitting of the useful footwell net, which you might deign to actually pay for ....


Edited by msej449 on Monday 21st November 18:01
May be too late but will ask.

Sorry Julian, my response was a little short. The 435 X drive was in York and the M240i is the middle of the Chester showroom, so a test drive wasn't really an option.

Just saw it and was smitten - hence heart over head. I tend to act on impulse with cars.

Maybe the wrong decision but will know soon enough.

Thanks again all....

JNW1

7,709 posts

193 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2016
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Davel said:
May be too late but will ask.

Sorry Julian, my response was a little short. The 435 X drive was in York and the M240i is the middle of the Chester showroom, so a test drive wasn't really an option.

Just saw it and was smitten - hence heart over head. I tend to act on impulse with cars.

Maybe the wrong decision but will know soon enough.

Thanks again all....
Well I think you've made the right decision! Every time I've allowed head to rule heart when buying a car I've ended-up with something sensible which I then struggle to bond with (my current F31 335d being a case in point!). The M240i will make you smile every time you start it up whereas I guarantee you a 435d wouldn't - enjoy the new car!

smashy

3,030 posts

157 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2016
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Davel watch this and then relax you have made a great choice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cphuMPNcdTY

Davel

Original Poster:

8,982 posts

257 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2016
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rotate

Great stuff - cheers

creepy coupe

302 posts

132 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2016
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Just for the record. I've owned an M235i and now a 435d. The 4 series is a nicer car in just about every way, ride, comfort, quality, road noise. Where it can't beat the 2 series is engine/exhaust noise. real world driving the they are both plenty quick with very little between them. Where the 4 series impresses, is they way the xdrive puts it down. It's traction off the line is amazing.So to is the tank range.OP you need to drive both and see what you think. The sound of the M240i will seduce you on the test drive, especially if fitted with the BMW performance exhaust.

julian64

14,317 posts

253 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2016
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creepy coupe said:
Just for the record. I've owned an M235i and now a 435d. The 4 series is a nicer car in just about every way, ride, comfort, quality, road noise. Where it can't beat the 2 series is engine/exhaust noise. real world driving the they are both plenty quick with very little between them. Where the 4 series impresses, is they way the xdrive puts it down. It's traction off the line is amazing.So to is the tank range.OP you need to drive both and see what you think. The sound of the M240i will seduce you on the test drive, especially if fitted with the BMW performance exhaust.
Trouble I find is that there hasn't been a BMW built in the last ten years which has a decent exhaust note. They're all pathetic buzzing noises.
It made the transition to diesel much easier for me. If I want a car with a decent engine noise I go away from BMWs nowadays.

If I were you op I'd enjoy your car but do something to the exhaust so you can actually hear a proper engine note. Trouble is in BMW's that means doing quite a lot.

creepy coupe

302 posts

132 months

Tuesday 22nd November 2016
quotequote all
julian64 said:
Trouble I find is that there hasn't been a BMW built in the last ten years which has a decent exhaust note. They're all pathetic buzzing noises.
It made the transition to diesel much easier for me. If I want a car with a decent engine noise I go away from BMWs nowadays.

If I were you op I'd enjoy your car but do something to the exhaust so you can actually hear a proper engine note. Trouble is in BMW's that means doing quite a lot.
I didn't find anything wrong with the M235's exhaust note, just it wasn't loud enough when the windows were closed. The M Performance exhaust sorted it out though.