Thursday 25th July 2013

Chris Harris video: BMW 4 Series

The 3 Series coupe is now the 4 Series - got that? OK, now let Harris show you what it can do

---

Chris is on his hols at the moment, seemingly with 80s pop star Paul Young. See @HarrisMonkey on Twitter for the full story on that...

Meanwhile we'll concentrate on more PH-worthy matters, namely, does killing off the 3 Series coupe lineage we've enjoyed for so long to spawn the 4 Series make a difference to our enjoyment of the car itself? You can read more on that here in Chris's review from the launch and also here with our follow-up story on the M Performance upgrades BMW will offer to make the base 4 Series less, as Chris would have it, 'Rich Tea' in flavour.

Will they do the trick? And were BMW's instructions for 'no drifting' in the track element of the launch drive obeyed to the letter? You probably could have guessed without the intro pic but suffice to say there's plenty more where that came from.

Enjoy the vid!

 

 

[mrclav]

The only reason you don't like the "4" moniker is because you're not used to it.

[DeolTheBeast]

Feels weird knowing the car is a "4" - good video again though Chris

[TimDogg]

I've never been a huge BMW fan, always felt the interior a bit bland and the RWD not brilliant in the snow, obviously! I run a B7 RS4 and for the money you can't go wrong. I don't really see who this car is aimed at. Great to see Chris throwing it about though!

[0a]

Stored for "later" - renaming the 3 series 4 doesn't appeal that much for excitement!

[greygoose]

Looked good to me, I can't really see why people are bothered about what cars are called there isn't still a 2002 in the range.

[Escort3500]

So, excellent chassis, usual fantastic BMW straight 6 performance, fantastic gearbox, lovely drifty handling but such a disappointing looker. They really could do better. Especially for £40k+

Shames, 'cos it could be a great car.

[anonymous-user]

Harris you owe me a keyboard. That "Vegetable bum water" quote as I was drinking a can of Coke was a deadly combination.

Got to say I can't quite come to terms with 4 series either. It just seems.... Odd? Honestly don't know why, got no problem with the other numbers but a 4 (or indeed 9) just seems wrong in a way that 2 doesn't. Maybe it is just familiarity.

Bit worrying that that's the only thing I can think of to discuss about the car too, I'm sure it's very capable but aren't coupes supposed to be desirable? Always liked the 3 series coupe but this one doesn't really do anything for me. Maybe I'll change my mind when I see one in the flesh.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 24th July 21:27

[MurrayKnott]

An interesting video, but for me the range topping 3 series (now 4) has always been a bit bland. The 335i for example, a potent engine, yes, but in a fairly standard car, i can only presume the reason behind it is classic range differentiation, they cant make a non Mcar too good for fear of it encroaching on the "brand ambassadors" the same reason figures for an s4 are played down to keep up the appeal of the "true" fast audi, the rs4.

[mybrainhurts]

Cheeky monkey...

[chelme]

I gave te video an 8 only because CH made me laugh. The car is obviously dull, (despite the drifting) and I have to say, I wasn't aware that BMW teamed with Halfords for the performance pack! ;-)

[Max M4X WW]

Still don't know why it can't be a 3 Series Coupe. Audi and BMW have done the same I guess so its a bit copycat but M4 just sounds wrong!

[LasseV]

"F*ck you, of course we are doing drifting" lol

Quite boring car i think but there is hope for 2-series. Could be a great car!

[Mermaid]

BMW & Audi morphing into one. The BMW M4 hopefully will remind us of what a M BMW looks like.

[mybrainhurts]

M4 goes west...

And comes to a sickening halt in Wales...

[Stu R]

God that's dull. Trust the germans to make a 300bhp, RWD car with that chassis and interior seem boring.

Still waiting with baited breath for the M4 though, I suspect it's going to be wonderful.

[Mr Whippy]

Thing is the 330Ci was a bit soft vs the M-sport versions. More so now because people might want a 4 shape but not something sporty at all. That is what we have here I would guess.


The M435i will be the one for people who want a bit more of a driving car shirley?

Then the M4 above that though I'd expect it to be near £60,000 when it arrives.



But for me it's just too big/expensive/compromised now really. The M235i is what I'm really looking forward to now. A small ish 300bhp rwd car. Can't go wrong with that as a starting point

Dave

[rix]

I think it's a looker, full of Germanic class but agree a bit too safe...

An increasingly common story of a car's accomplishments not being indicative of the 'want' factor...

[zeduffman]

Surprised they kept the same engine as the E90 when there's that lovely lump in the M135i they could use. At least I'm guessing it's the same, power output is identical anyway...

[Mermaid]

Mr Whippy said:

..The M235i is what I'm really looking forward to now. A small ish 300bhp rwd car. Can't go wrong with that as a starting point

That was sort of the starting point - 286bhp from the 6 cylinder M5/M635/M1

[4rephill]

TimDogg said:

........and the RWD not brilliant in the snow, obviously!.........

Same old chestnut!

They're perfectly drivable in the snow if you have the right tyres fitted for the conditions!