Thursday 6th March 2014

BMW 435i M Sport: PH Fleet

It goes back to BMW soon but the 4 Series is finally beginning to loosen up and get in character

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Pity the BMW 435i. Bookended by the M135i and forthcoming M4 it was always going to have a job on its hands to stand out. Strangely, as the twilight of our long-term loan approaches, it might be starting to do just that.

The default driving mode for the last month

If you've been reading these fleet updates you'll know I've not exactly been set alight by the 435i in the way one might hope. A BMW six with over 300hp in a slinky coupe body should be a recipe for big smiles but it's not quite worked out like that.

It's weird too because in the M135i that N55 engine was so charismatic and central to the car's character. Yet in the 435i it's felt a bit sluggish, rough even. With the eight-speed auto in the 1 Series it felt zingy and alert; the long gearing and internal inertia make it feel lethargic and inert in the manual 4. On start-up the M135i sounded angry and a bit like an old six-cylinder Skyline. The 435i's sense of maturity was just a bit too, well, mature for that.

Loose fit
Miles have helped a lot though. We've put nearly 6,000 on it since delivery and now standing at over 8,000 it seems to have really come alive. The gearbox feels more positive and less baulky, the engine revs more cleanly and seems to have found its six-cylinder voice. There's a hint, just a hint mind, of that old sweetness we've long loved in straight-six Beemers. I resolved to stop driving around in Eco Pro all the time too, which has helped engagement if not commuting economy.

That it's a fabulous looking thing never in doubt

The suspension has quite a lot of travel (handy for my rutted, unmade street) which may explain why the damping has more work to do than in the M135i and feels more comfortably tied down in the Sport setting. There's still an annoying looseness and tremor through the bushings though, a feeling common on cars (not just BMWs) with adaptive dampers. Body control is good though, numb steering and sky high grip levels diluting any tactile delights that may lurk.

But in Sport Plus it has just a hint of attitude and aggression about it which, together with the looser engine, is finally offering up some sort of personality to engage with. The engine still sounds a bit gruff from the outside and at higher revs but it's night and day compared with when we first got it.

I've been using the Connected Drive features explored last month too. Which. Includes. The ability to. Have. Your emails read to. You. In. A slightly strange. Robotic cadence. Still, it means I can clear the inbox before reaching the office and is better than listening to Thought For The Day. I can't get Twitter or Facebook to connect via the BMW app but, amazingly, my life still seems complete.

Fresh mode
Before it goes back I'll get rid of the roof bars to return the 4 Series to proper coupe sleekness for a final hurrah too. Though they did come in handy recently when I had to return my road bike to Trek for a frame repair after a crash on some ice.

Wanted to nick some bits from Geneva stand

Though thankfully able to make a repair to the frame in this instance, word on the street had reached me that roof carriers like my Thules aren't necessarily a good idea with lightweight carbon road bikes, given the unintended stresses they can apparently put on the frame. I asked Trek's Chris Garrison whether I should be worried. "We don't have a specific stance regarding roof racks," she advised. "However, in general, we recommend against any sort of clamping of carbon tubes, as it's exactly this type of force that they are susceptible to. However, we all use those racks on our bikes. Really, it's down to the individual to make sure they don't use too much 'man strength', and over-tighten, which isn't necessary in the first place."

So there you go. Interestingly I was able to fit the Madone straight into the E92 M3 we had in with the rear seats down and front wheel off the bike; in the F32 the internal space between the wheelarches is too tight, the reason I went for the roof bars in the first place.

V8 M3 it is then!

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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

[ZesPak]

Wait... what... £ 48k for a 3-series?

[cerb4.5lee]

ZesPak said:

Wait... what... £ 48k for a 3-series?

Plenty of people pay just over £50k for a M3 & that's still only a 3 series...its no wonder bmw are doing so well.

Been thinking why the 435i has an exhaust pipe at each side of the rear of the car but the 435d x drive which is a little quicker only has two together on the left hand side I can only think its because of the 4WD but I don't know for certain does anyone else know why?

[kambites]

cerb4.5lee said:

Been thinking why the 435i has an exhaust pipe at each side of the rear of the car but the 435d x drive which is a little quicker only has two together on the left hand side I can only think its because of the 4WD but I don't know for certain does anyone else know why?

Pretty sure it's just a styling thing to differentiate them. I don't think there's a good engineering reason for either car to have pipes on both sides.

[cerb4.5lee]

kambites said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Been thinking why the 435i has an exhaust pipe at each side of the rear of the car but the 435d x drive which is a little quicker only has two together on the left hand side I can only think its because of the 4WD but I don't know for certain does anyone else know why?

Pretty sure it's just a styling thing to differentiate them. I don't think there's a good engineering reason for either car to have pipes on both sides.

Thanks, I was just curious because on the E9x series both the 335i/335d had the same one pipe at each side set up.

[kambites]

cerb4.5lee said:

Thanks, I was just curious because on the E9x series both the 335i/335d had the same one pipe at each side set up.

As I understand it, there is no significant engineering advantage to having exhaust exits on both sides of the car with a longitudinal in-line engine. At best, the weight penalty of the setup is minimal; at worst it's not (try picking up an E46 M3 exhaust back-box ).

[cerb4.5lee]

kambites said:

cerb4.5lee said:

Thanks, I was just curious because on the E9x series both the 335i/335d had the same one pipe at each side set up.

As I understand it, there is no significant engineering advantage to having exhaust exits on both sides of the car with a longitudinal in-line engine. At best, the weight penalty of the setup is minimal; at worst it's not (try picking up an E46 M3 exhaust back-box ).

I think just from a visual point of view I personally like one at each side & a friend of mine has just ordered a 435d x drive & he was gutted too that it was just the two pipes on the left & the 435d x drive is top of the tree price wise even above the 435i yet that gets one each side...interesting.

As you say they must be going stealthy with the 435d!

[saxy]

I'd so take a M135i over this

[daytona111r]

Obviously it's a press fleet car, but people to spec their German motors up like that.

I could happily do without a single one of those options, waste of money.

Does look lovely though

[okie592]

saxy said:

I'd so take a M135i over this

Yes because everyone who wants a 2 door coupe buys a ugly little hatch back

[Tomatogti]

Interesting point on the roof bars with carbon frames - thanks for this bit of education. I've got some for my M135 because I can't get the road bike in the boot (unlike the Golf GTI I had before). Was going to get the Thule bars which clamp on the down tube, alternative are the fork mounted bars and front wheel in the boot - maybe I should get these instead - then again road bikes are so light that surely the thule clamp doesn't need much force to hold in place. Even under hard cornering the loads on the frame must be slight.

[NadiR]

okie592 said:

saxy said:

I'd so take a M135i over this

Yes because everyone who wants a 2 door coupe buys a ugly little hatch back

M235i?

[Dan Trent]

Tomatogti said:

Interesting point on the roof bars with carbon frames - thanks for this bit of education. I've got some for my M135 because I can't get the road bike in the boot (unlike the Golf GTI I had before). Was going to get the Thule bars which clamp on the down tube, alternative are the fork mounted bars and front wheel in the boot - maybe I should get these instead - then again road bikes are so light that surely the thule clamp doesn't need much force to hold in place. Even under hard cornering the loads on the frame must be slight.

I think Chris's answer is pretty straight there; frankly I'd have thought a sensible amount of clamping pressure with the Thule design is fine whereas a more rigid fork clamp might actually put more strain through the dropouts. I felt reassured by that to keep using the Thules though. I'm a bit neurotic though so I tend to sling a toe clip strap around the clamp as a back-up and alternative to cranking it up too tight.

Where's my Corporal Jones 'don't panic' pic?

Dan

[Tomatogti]

Dan Trent said:

Tomatogti said:

Interesting point on the roof bars with carbon frames - thanks for this bit of education. I've got some for my M135 because I can't get the road bike in the boot (unlike the Golf GTI I had before). Was going to get the Thule bars which clamp on the down tube, alternative are the fork mounted bars and front wheel in the boot - maybe I should get these instead - then again road bikes are so light that surely the thule clamp doesn't need much force to hold in place. Even under hard cornering the loads on the frame must be slight.

I think Chris's answer is pretty straight there; frankly I'd have thought a sensible amount of clamping pressure with the Thule design is fine whereas a more rigid fork clamp might actually put more strain through the dropouts. I felt reassured by that to keep using the Thules though. I'm a bit neurotic though so I tend to sling a toe clip strap around the clamp as a back-up and alternative to cranking it up too tight.

Where's my Corporal Jones 'don't panic' pic?

Dan

Thanks Dan. Makes sense. Down tube clamp tightened moderately it is then! Cheers

[BFleming]

This car's twin has been living around the corner from my house for the last few months. Same model, same colour, no bike racks. It looks great, best colour, sounds great... but too much like the old model IMO. Possibly a great car, probably a great car... I might find out when the kids are out of uni - and they haven't started yet

[ESDavey]

£48,000 for a car which is caught in the middle of nowhere ... I just don't understand who would buy this ?

Then again, I say that about all coupe style cars. For me its either 2 seat convertible, small run about or estate.

Glad to see Dan is "old skool" by still having toe clip straps !!

[Matthew Clarke]

I cannot believe a bike won't fit in the back with the seats down! I can get my road bike in the back of my E92 335i withouht taking off any wheels if I wish (but do take the front off for ease)

What is the point of making a car bigger than its predecessor if you don't get more usable inside space!?

Hopefully lined myself up for a M235i test drive soon so will be sneaking my bike in the back of that to see what is what...

[Cotic]

Article said:

Interestingly I was able to fit the Madone straight into the E92 M3 we had in with the rear seats down and front wheel off the bike; in the F32 the internal space between the wheelarches is too tight, the reason I went for the roof bars in the first place.

This is one of my criteria in choosing a new car, so unfortunately the 4-series is now out of the running.

[The Stiglet]

Dan Trent said:

Tomatogti said:

Interesting point on the roof bars with carbon frames - thanks for this bit of education. I've got some for my M135 because I can't get the road bike in the boot (unlike the Golf GTI I had before). Was going to get the Thule bars which clamp on the down tube, alternative are the fork mounted bars and front wheel in the boot - maybe I should get these instead - then again road bikes are so light that surely the thule clamp doesn't need much force to hold in place. Even under hard cornering the loads on the frame must be slight.

I think Chris's answer is pretty straight there; frankly I'd have thought a sensible amount of clamping pressure with the Thule design is fine whereas a more rigid fork clamp might actually put more strain through the dropouts. I felt reassured by that to keep using the Thules though. I'm a bit neurotic though so I tend to sling a toe clip strap around the clamp as a back-up and alternative to cranking it up too tight.

Where's my Corporal Jones 'don't panic' pic?

Dan

I'm sure Trek know their thing but it's pretty common knowledge that carbon-fibre racing bikes should only ever be mounted to roof racks by their forks. BMW have a specific product that they call 'Racing Cycle Holder' as opposed to the Thule ones that you are using, which were originally designed for alloy/steel and mountain bikes. See BMW here: http://www.bmw.co.uk/en_GB/topics/owners/accessori...

Carbon-fibre down tubes are not designed to be clamped so lateral forces going through that position isn't good. Forks on the other hand, are designed to be clamped i.e. your front wheel and this is all you are doing with a fork based system. The bike can still flex in this position as vibration is distributed to the rear of the frame as rear wheel isn't aggressively held in position so the carbon won't fracture.

I had this system on my E39 and it worked well; I kept the front wheel in the boot. Over the past few months I upgraded to carbon deep sections for racing and I was not at all happy having those subjected to lateral loads at 70 mph as they flex quite dramatically. So instead, I've bought an Audi Avant so everything can go inside!

[B10]

Thinking about either a 4 series convertible or E series convertible for my next daily. Sat in a 4 series coupe on the weekend and was underwhelmed by the cost-cut interior. Compared with a 5 series, which has a much better quality interior, I will probably go for an E class convertible since it based upon the E class saloon (unlike the previous CLK), ie a 5 series equivalent. I spend much time sitting on the M25 so the interior is important.

[Steve vRS]

Has no body mentioned road tax or red lights yet seeing how there has been mention of a cyclist?

I do like this blue that these M Sport cars are wearing. I think my next car may be a Touring - in this colour!

Steve