Tuesday 22nd April 2014

BMW 435i M Sport farewell: PH Fleet

The BMW 435i leaves the PH fleet - did anyone even notice it go?

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"Hello? It's reception, we've got someone here from BMW to pick the 4 Series..." Normally when the man in high vis comes to pick up your long-termer it's an emotional moment. You've kid yourself that you actually owned the thing, you like to think you've bonded and then - whoosh - the keys are whipped from your hand and you're left with a carrier bag full of sweet wrappers, 47p in loose change and hopefully fond memories.

German car night at Ace an early outing

Was I sorry to see the 4 Series go? Yes and no. Unfortunately for the BMW its bombastic replacement is all the 435i wasn't, which is to say heart on sleeve exciting, outdated, endearingly unhinged and possessed of a sodding great V8 engine.

Something of a contrast then. When I got the 4 Series it really was the newest latest and for the first couple of months had that genuine head-turning cachet of being the first of its type many folk had seen. Even six months on it still had a freshness about it an aging, run-out AMG C-Class can't hope to match, most clearly shown up by the BMW's much slicker infotainment system. The Merc isn't exactly backward in this regard but if there's one thing I've learned over months with the 4 Series and M135i we had before it's how slick and intuitive BMW's iDrive has become.

But hang on, this is PistonHeads. Gadgets and switchgear shouldn't be coming before driving impressions! Sadly though that was the reality for the 4 Series. By the time 8,000 miles was showing on its odometer it felt a lot looser and keener to engage than it had done at the start of the loan period but the turbocharged six never felt as zingy or smooth as older BMW engines of its type. It pulled hard enough but sounded gruff just as it should have been starting to sing, rarely encouraging exploration of its top end and all too ready to settle back down to a cruise. Not a car you'd get up early for or take the scenic route home in, numb steering, a lack of body control (under damped in comfort, uninspiring in Sport) and a notchy manual shift all conspiring to extract much of the 'joy' BMW has sold us on of late. 30ish commuting mpg (admittedly mostly with the roof bars in place) wasn't anything to write home about in this day and age either, especially given that up to date turbo engine.

On paper the PH choice; perhaps not so though

I do need to have a go with an auto at some point though, the suspicion being that this works much better as a complete package. If there are any owners out there willing to support this theory get involved in the discussion thread below - certainly all the 435is in the PH classifieds are autos whereas a small but significant number of equivalent E92 335i buyers stuck with manual shifters by the same (admittedly unscientific) measure.

Looking at those used prices a car not unlike 'ours' but with just 100 miles on the clock (and an auto) is up for just shy of £44K at Stratstone BMW in Harrogate, which is a healthy saving over the £48K with options OTR of our manual long-termer. There's another with just 10 miles showing for less than £40K at Sytner Oldbury too, 435is usefully cheaper at this nearly-new marker than equivalent Audi S5s. Sure, you can get one for a similar price but it'll have several thousand miles on the clock. If turning heads is your goal something like this striking Nogaro Blue S5 is going to do a much better job than the slick but rather anonymous BMW and that's an interesting role reversal over years gone by. Should I throw in the equivalent Mercedes coupe at this price/age/miles bracket? Oh look, it just happens to be a C63... What a coincidence.

Never quite engaged here the way it should

I have to confess, when the 435i arrived I honestly thought I'd bagged myself a junior M4 nine months before the real thing but the reality turned out to be a little more reserved than I hoped. It certainly looked the part - the better once I took the roof bars off in readiness for its return to BMW - and other than that slightly beaky nose remains by far the best looking car in its class. And as a place to be it remained top notch - it was a lovely place to spend time and I think BMW really is at the top of the class for interiors at the moment.

It's an interesting warm-up for the M4, which I'll be driving very soon too. On paper the step-up is much more significant than I'd anticipated, even if the fundamentals of a blown six, rear drive and optional manual transmission are carried through. One suspects the M will be a whole new thing though; meanwhile I end my six months with the 435i respectful if not blown away, my exposure to the brand as a whole perhaps a more lingering memory than the car itself.

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FACT SHEET
Car: 2013 BMW 435i M Sport
Run by: Dan
On fleet since: October 2013
Mileage: 8,119
List price new: £48,160 (Basic list of £41,435 OTR plus £670 for 19-inch M double-spoke 442M wheels, £360 for Adaptive Headlights, £515 for Adaptive M Suspension, £350 for enhanced Bluetooth, £300 for folding mirrors, £825 for head-up display, £460 for Interior Comfort Package comprising memory electric seats, 'extended storage' and sun protection glass, £95 for internet, £675 for Harmon/Kardon speakers, £570 for M Sport brakes, £1,000 for BMW Professional Media Package, £325 for online entertainment, £330 for reversing camera and £250 for Variable Sport Steering.)
Last month at a glance: With a few miles on the clock the 4 Series is starting to show some real character at last - phew!

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Previous reports:
The 435i joins the PH Fleet
4 Series whets our appetite for the M version
Ultimate driving machine or disappointingly aloof? Time to find out
Rack or ruin for the 435i
Connecting with Connected Drive in the 435i
435i loosens up and gets into the groove

[Clivey]

And this is what happens when you chase "the market".

[Clivey]

Schermerhorn said:

Anyone happy to pay £50k for a 3 series BMW needs their head testing.

Why? It has a 3-litre straight six turbo, good-looking coupé body, great interior, gadgets galore, RWD, choice of manual or paddleshift etc. etc.

Which £50k (including several £thousand of options) brand new competitor (4-seat coupé) would you rather have? We live in a time when a well-specced diesel Golf is £30k and the 911 starts at £73,509.

My only issue is that despite the recipe looking good on paper, there's a question of it being less of a "driving machine" than BMW's older cars.

[Clivey]

matthias73 said:

Clivey, we managed to have exactly the same response except that you worded yours more eloquently. Well played.

It's just a shame that the new cars feel like driving through layers of cotton wool. Having said that though, Evo really rather liked it.

Schermerhorn said:

If I had that sort of cash or monthly financial capital I'd opt for an M5. At least people KNOW it's a tiger.

Except for them confusing it with the legions of 520d M Sports with more Halfords 'M' badges than the real thing.

Edited by Clivey on Tuesday 22 April 16:34

[Clivey]

Limpet said:

As someone who does 20k a year in a bog-standard 320d F30, I can categorically state that, at least without expensive options fitted to it, the F30 isn't anything like the "driving machine" that the E90 was (comparing with similar bog-standard models from that range). It's just like any other modern car. Competent, but completely lacking feel and driver involvement. On non-adaptive suspension, it is quite significantly under-damped as well.

These are details that BMW always used to get right, even on entry level models. I could thoroughly enjoy myself in an E90 318d because the fundamentals were so right. It coped with undulations and camber changes with no fuss at all, and the turn in was always sharp and instantaneous. The F30 is lazier in its responses, softer, more "ordinary" feeling.

Maybe as an M-Sport with the options list lobbed at it the F30 is a different proposition, but why should you need to do this to get the kind of engaging handling that always came as standard on even the poverty models?

Precisely. I own a 2003 (facelift) E46 320i (Sport, manual, saloon) at the moment and whilst to most people it's just an old BMW, the most appealing replacement from my point of view as a car enthusiast is another E46 - A facelift 330Ci Coupé (again: Sport, manual). - M cars would be too costly as dailies as I also plan on adding a TVR to the "fleet" and the newer models have lost their appeal, which is a massive shame.

Hopefully though, I'll find myself agreeing with Evo rather than PH when I do drive a 435i...but I really shouldn't have cause to worry.

[Clivey]

leedsutd1 said:

can you go and troll in your bedroom

How do you know he isn't?

[Clivey]

I think I'll stick to my plan of buying the best E46 330Ci Coupé (manual, sport, black/black with HK, Adaptive Xenons, heated seats etc.) I can and keeping hold of it. The added advantage is that the difference between that and a new 4-Series will buy me a TVR.

[Clivey]

Big Tav said:

(who can afford it)

Not this bcks again!

Do you have to be able to afford a Mansory Continental GT to earn the right to say they've ruined it by encrusting it with chav tat? Of course not. Besides, many people can afford a new 4-Series nowadays (I await the "finance" BS to start).

As for the E90's steering being heavy; have you got arms made of matchsticks?

[Clivey]

Big Tav said:

PS I almost can guarantee my arms are bigger than yours mate...

Oh, come on!

My point was that heavy steering is hardly a problem unless you're especially frail. - The only time my fiancee's complained about the relatively heavy steering in our E46 is after her arm & shoulder were injured in an accident. Personally, I much prefer the steering in cars like the E46 3'er and R53 Mini to the newer electrically-assisted systems that have precious little feel.