Tuesday 7th January 2014

BMW 435i M Sport: PH Fleet

Bike carriers affixed is it rack or ruin for the 4 Series?

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I was a little bit mean to the 4 Series last month, citing aloofness and lack of engagement as reasons I wasn't quite feeling the love as a driving machine, ultimate or not. Question marks remain on that score but let's have a look at some of the good things.

More time at the pumps with the bikes affixed

These mainly centre on the looks and feelgood factors. Squinty-eyed lights and pedestrian friendly bonnet line aside this is an exceptionally fine looking coupe. And miles better than the aging C-Class or flaccid Audi A5 alternatives. We can debate the loss of dynamic mojo but in styling terms the 4 Series really seems to impress. The muscular rear arches are what really make it; accommodating that 80mm of extra track over the E92 3 Series coupe has really done wonders for the 4's stance and given it a decisively more aggressive demeanour than the 3 Series. And Estoril Blue is a guaranteed win on any sporty Beemer in my book. It's been said before but the appetite for the M4 is suitably whetted - if this is the M division's starting point it'll be spectacular in the metal.

And it's a lovely thing to be in too. Everybody bangs on about Audi interiors but when we were doing all those comparisons with the M135i it struck me how it felt a league above everything - S3 and A45 AMG included. Obviously bells, baubles and whistles can be added to all according to the depth of your wallet but even the basics feel solid and properly premium. I like the low-slung driving position and clean design of BMW interiors too and little tactile details like cold, metallic weight of the iDrive control are beautifully resolved. Shame same can't be said of the gearshift or other driving interfaces. Oops, sorry, there I go again...

Adaptors needed to pair Thules with BMW bars

Back to the good stuff I'm also really appreciating the BMW Professional media and nav package. The screen graphics are the best I've encountered and I've grown to trust - and depend on - the Real Time Traffic Information (RTTI) and its colour coded indications of congestion. It's all very slick and user friendly. Next step? To explore some of the online Connected Drive features I've not really dabbled with yet.

You'll also note the 4 Series has sprouted roof bars and the Thule ProRide 591 bike racks I originally sourced when I 'lifestyled' the Focus ST long termer we had in last year. The BMW bars are suitably slick, though I need a different Thule 'T-track' adaptor for the wider gutter so for the moment they're just clamped in place. Fitting was pleasingly painless still and four bolts will remove the whole caboodle when not needed.

Does the 4 Series wear them well? I'm not sure. There's a certain coolness about roof racks on some sporting cars - a 911 or Aston with ski racks always looks bob-on in my book - but having said the BMW looks nice to then clutter it up with roof bars does go against.

Any more love out on the road for the 4 Series?

Doesn't do wonders for the fuel consumption either, a run into the (gale force) wind along the M4 with two bikes fitted seeing it plunge to the mid 20s at a cruise-controlled 70mph. But you'd have not wanted two muddy mountain bikes in the back on the way home, even if they'd have fitted. Which they wouldn't.

To a marketing wonk my 'lifestyle' - one-year-old, outdoorsy sports habit, etc - would probably locate me in the 3 GT part of their Powerpoint presentation. And I could have a 335i M Sport one for £1,700 less than the 435i, god forbid. I take bloody-minded pride in not conforming to such a Venn diagram but a 335i M Sport Touring at a base price of £39,185 (a bit cheaper than the GT and couple of grand less than the 4) would probably be a happier place on which to plonk a roof carrier and couple of bikes. And given the lack of engagement with the 4's driving dynamics little sacrifice on that score.

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FACT SHEET
Car: 2013 BMW 435i M Sport
Run by: Dan
On fleet since: October
Mileage: 4,182
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: 4 Series gets racked, develops drinking habit as a result

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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

[garypotter]

But it's not as good as a BMW 135m........ oh wait......

[rare6499]

50 grand. Damn.

Still, i think it looks fussy in Sport guise. I actually prefer them in Luxury trim.

I will wait until I can pick one up in a decades time for reasonable money

[Vladimir]

Picking up our M135i tomorrow; I will try and get a pick of it with our two 591 Pro carriers and MTBs on the roof...

For now, I agree; they look better on a Touring...

[dugsud]

Never mind the Beemer.....what was Bike Park Wales like?

[FerrousOxide]

dugsud said:

Never mind the Beemer.....what was Bike Park Wales like?

^this !

[Dan Trent]

Good! It's a decent pedal back up if you don't get a place on the uplift mind...

Quite tyre dependent too. Was v. wet and I was running DH Conti Rain Kings which were brilliant and very confidence inspiring on the rockier sections of the reds and blacks but dragged like hell on the climb and more rolling blues.

Was getting a load of punctures though, caused by valve stem being sliced by rim. A huge thanks to a couple of good Samaritans who donated tubes on the hill to keep me rolling. Joke was wearing thin by that point.

Dan

Edited by Dan Trent on Tuesday 7th January 12:56

[Spuffington]

Looks like a SantaCruz Solo (5010) atop that car? If so - lovely bike, just taken delivery of mine!

[Dave Hedgehog]

-8 points for the kiddies bikes on the roof

[sh33n]

I'm very happy with my 4, it does certainly feel a more grown up car than the 3 series coupe; although I'd agree that it might have come in replacement for "sportiness".

The only gripe I have is with the adaptive suspension. The 3 series was very firm, the 19" obviously not helping, so firm that it was almost embarrassing with anyone in the back. So when time come to spec the 4, also on 19" the adaptive suspension seemed a no brainer, problem is the "sport" version doesn't feel any firmer than the comfort mode. It does seem to roll less in the corners, but I'm sure this is my brain convincing myself of the change, rather than a noticeable difference.

Anyone else had this experience...or just me?

On a side note, still playing with the toys also, I found the Pro sat nav has street view yesterday.

[5lab]

bpw is good fun but I've never understood sticking bikes on top of cars. You can get a bike into almost anything (i've had one in the back of a camaro, 2 in the back of my 944 and 5 in the back of my old mondeo estate - that was with 5 lads as well!) - I guess its personal preference, but I'd much rather not have my bike out in the elements/worrying about it at services/smash it into an overhead barrier..

[Roma101]

sh33n said:

I'm very happy with my 4, it does certainly feel a more grown up car than the 3 series coupe; although I'd agree that it might have come in replacement for "sportiness".

The only gripe I have is with the adaptive suspension. The 3 series was very firm, the 19" obviously not helping, so firm that it was almost embarrassing with anyone in the back. So when time come to spec the 4, also on 19" the adaptive suspension seemed a no brainer, problem is the "sport" version doesn't feel any firmer than the comfort mode. It does seem to roll less in the corners, but I'm sure this is my brain convincing myself of the change, rather than a noticeable difference.

Anyone else had this experience...or just me?

On a side note, still playing with the toys also, I found the Pro sat nav has street view yesterday.

My experience with them is that I can feel a slight difference (albeit not huge). As it is not just the dampers that firm up when you press sport, i.e. the throttle response and steering also change, it may be that the changes to these are taking attention away from the change to the dampers? You can configure the car so that you can either (i) change the powertrain and dampers, (ii) change just the powertrain or (iii) change just the dampers, when you press the sport button. When I have driven them, I choose (ii), as I think, for our crappy roads, the standard suspension setting is fine.

[anonymous-user]

Dan Trent said:

Was getting a load of punctures though, caused by valve stem being sliced by rim. A huge thanks to a couple of good Samaritans who donated tubes on the hill to keep me rolling. Joke was wearing thin by that point.

Go UST tubeless! Job Jobbed!

[Esseesse]

5lab said:

bpw is good fun but I've never understood sticking bikes on top of cars. You can get a bike into almost anything (i've had one in the back of a camaro, 2 in the back of my 944 and 5 in the back of my old mondeo estate - that was with 5 lads as well!) - I guess its personal preference, but I'd much rather not have my bike out in the elements/worrying about it at services/smash it into an overhead barrier..

This ^

I used to get my road bike (with tri bars) into the boot of my GTV. Had to take the stem off though!

[Dan Trent]

sh33n said:

The only gripe I have is with the adaptive suspension ... problem is the "sport" version doesn't feel any firmer than the comfort mode. It does seem to roll less in the corners, but I'm sure this is my brain convincing myself of the change, rather than a noticeable difference.

Anyone else had this experience...or just me?

I mentioned this in a previous report but I think the damping is better matched to the spring rates in Sport - my example was a local road that has some fairly shallow speed bumps that taken at a steady 20mph in Comfort cause the suspension to top out quite harshly and the car to pitch significantly. At the same speed with dampers in Sport it's a lot calmer and more composed. FWIW I think it's a little under-damped in Comfort, unlike the M135i which felt spot-on in Comfort and a little harsh in Sport.

Cheers,

Dan

[DLovett]

The 3-series GT is one of the nicest cars BMW make these days. You should have a go in one.

[g3org3y]

Dave Hedgehog said:

-8 points for the kiddies bikes on the roof

??



Or is this one of those 'anyone who doesn't have a pro bike with carbon fibre frame and disc brakes etc = bike for kids' type comments?

[HeMightBeBanned]

DLovett said:

The 3-series GT is one of the nicest cars BMW make these days.

Yes, if you've had your eyes removed.

[blackchrome917]

dugsud said:

Never mind the Beemer.....what was Bike Park Wales like?

+1

[Vladimir]

5lab said:

bpw is good fun but I've never understood sticking bikes on top of cars. You can get a bike into almost anything (i've had one in the back of a camaro, 2 in the back of my 944 and 5 in the back of my old mondeo estate - that was with 5 lads as well!) - I guess its personal preference, but I'd much rather not have my bike out in the elements/worrying about it at services/smash it into an overhead barrier..

As you can see, we have a big van too which bikes fit into but they need strapping up. Once the roof carriers are on, the bikes are SO easy to stick on the roof and take off again. I can put the carriers on the van too but I tend to hit low flying aircraft.

[Dr Imran T]

5lab said:

bpw is good fun but I've never understood sticking bikes on top of cars. You can get a bike into almost anything (i've had one in the back of a camaro, 2 in the back of my 944 and 5 in the back of my old mondeo estate - that was with 5 lads as well!) - I guess its personal preference, but I'd much rather not have my bike out in the elements/worrying about it at services/smash it into an overhead barrier..

Sticking bikes in the back of cars sometimes marks the interior or damages roof lining etc. I think once the roof mounts are one it is pretty hassle free to mount the bikes.

I'm forever sticking bikes in the back of my runaround/winter car. Interior is marked everywhere but I put the bikes in complete and don't even lower the seat post etc.

Anyone use the boot mounted bike carriers - not sure what's best?

+1 on Bike park wales - does look very good!!