More practical M140i

[ekulluke]

Hi all

Got an X5 40e at the moment. Got a baby due in 4 weeks so going to need 2 cars between us. One being a defender, and the other to be SWMBO’s car. Budget is 30k top end but would rather spend 20k to 25k.

Test drove a 68 reg M140i today which I LOVED. But the mrs made the point that we couldn’t really fit a child seat in the back very well, and we have a medium sized dog which would not fit in the boot if we wanted to go away as a family.

Any ideas on alternatives on the above brief? A 340i or 335i touring would be ideal but there don’t seem to be any good ones in my budget nearby (North England).

Thanks in advance.

[rasto]

Our medium sized dog (collie beagle cross) fits in my m140 OK when we go on holiday, but we don't need space for children anymore so I can see how that may make it a little too small. Maybe a roof box would be an option? For reference, I've got a "hatch bag" in my boot, and a travel bed for the dog.

[georgeyboy12345]

This has 440i GranCoupe written all over it.

Here's one for sale in Manchester
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108085...

[Deerfoot]

georgeyboy12345 said:

This has 440i GranCoupe written all over it.

The boot of a 4 series gran coupe is no place for a dog…

[ekulluke]

rasto said:

Our medium sized dog (collie beagle cross) fits in my m140 OK when we go on holiday, but we don't need space for children anymore so I can see how that may make it a little too small. Maybe a roof box would be an option? For reference, I've got a "hatch bag" in my boot, and a travel bed for the dog.

Ours is a Doberman but on the smaller side of the breed. Do you think that would still be roomy enough?

A roof box is a great idea and not something I’ve considered. How did you find the back for child seat? We didn’t think the isofix “foot” would fit in the footwell.

[ekulluke]

georgeyboy12345 said:

This has 440i GranCoupe written all over it.

Here's one for sale in Manchester
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108085...

Would love a 440i GC. Had a 428i which was amazing but fear a boot might be an issue on it for the dog head height wise.

Doesn’t have to be a BMW might I add!

[rasto]

ekulluke said:

Ours is a Doberman but on the smaller side of the breed. Do you think that would still be roomy enough?

A roof box is a great idea and not something I’ve considered. How did you find the back for child seat? We didn’t think the isofix “foot” would fit in the footwell.

Our dog is 15kg and about 80cms long if that is any help and she has enough room to lie down comfortably. Can't help on the child seats, both mine are grown up and have left home

[Shiv_P]

S4 Avant?

[ZX10R NIN]

Alternates.

V60 Polestar

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112030...

New Shape V60 R Design T5

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112240...

340i Touring

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111199...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202112100...

330i Shadow Edition

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202201071...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110138...

Seat Leon SW Cupra 300 Lux 4x4

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202111119...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202110288...

C300 AMG Line Premium

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109167...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109227...

[Nickbrapp]

Mapped 335d

[ekulluke]

ZX10R NIN said:

cars

Thanks ZX10. They’re all very nice but I think that what I really liked was the 3.0 straight 6. So it seems that perhaps the only option is a 340i touring…?

[Deerfoot]

ekulluke said:

Thanks ZX10. They’re all very nice but I think that what I really liked was the 3.0 straight 6. So it seems that perhaps the only option is a 340i touring…?

Or the V60 Polestar....

[Stu-nph26]

ekulluke said:

Hi all

Got an X5 40e at the moment. Got a baby due in 4 weeks so going to need 2 cars between us. One being a defender, and the other to be SWMBO’s car. Budget is 30k top end but would rather spend 20k to 25k.

Test drove a 68 reg M140i today which I LOVED. But the mrs made the point that we couldn’t really fit a child seat in the back very well, and we have a medium sized dog which would not fit in the boot if we wanted to go away as a family.

Any ideas on alternatives on the above brief? A 340i or 335i touring would be ideal but there don’t seem to be any good ones in my budget nearby (North England).

Thanks in advance.

What’s the X5 40e like? I have an 18 month old and a GR Yaris as a weekend car thinking about the X5 as a perfect all rounder?

[fflump]

Nickbrapp said:

Mapped 335d

Even unmapped it’s a glorious engine

[Jamescrs]

ekulluke said:

Ours is a Doberman but on the smaller side of the breed. Do you think that would still be roomy enough?

A roof box is a great idea and not something I’ve considered. How did you find the back for child seat? We didn’t think the isofix “foot” would fit in the footwell.

I own a 240i so the rear space is identical to the 140 and I can confirm you don't have a chance of getting a rear facing baby seat into the rear properly if you intend on using the front passenger seat. The first rear facing seats are massive, I owned a Mk3 Focus ST whcih i would say had more rear room than the BMW and that was pretty bad too.

Now my youngest is in a front facing seat it isn't too bad.

I would recommend looking at a class size bigger than the 140, 3 series minimum size wise would be my recommendation.

[Percy.]

ekulluke said:

Would love a 440i GC. Had a 428i which was amazing but fear a boot might be an issue on it for the dog head height wise.

Doesn’t have to be a BMW might I add!

We are in a similar position of wanting something fast and practical, which also needs to fit a Dobermann.

I've narrowed it down to S4 Avant, C43 or 340i.

ETA: I was hoping we could squeeze into an RS3 but that was never going to happen, the boot was just too small.

Edited by Percy. on Sunday 9th January 09:20

Edited by Percy. on Sunday 9th January 09:21

[ZX10R NIN]

ekulluke said:

ZX10R NIN said:

cars

Thanks ZX10. They’re all very nice but I think that what I really liked was the 3.0 straight 6. So it seems that perhaps the only option is a 340i touring…?

It either that or the Polestar, if you don't mind a V6 then the C43/S4 are the other options.

[ekulluke]

Jamescrs said:

I own a 240i so the rear space is identical to the 140 and I can confirm you don't have a chance of getting a rear facing baby seat into the rear properly if you intend on using the front passenger seat. The first rear facing seats are massive, I owned a Mk3 Focus ST whcih i would say had more rear room than the BMW and that was pretty bad too.

Now my youngest is in a front facing seat it isn't too bad.

I would recommend looking at a class size bigger than the 140, 3 series minimum size wise would be my recommendation.

Ah. Thanks for the insight. That’s that fully ruled out!

[ekulluke]

Stu-nph26 said:

What’s the X5 40e like? I have an 18 month old and a GR Yaris as a weekend car thinking about the X5 as a perfect all rounder?

We both love it to be fair. I’m buying a defender for my business and just don’t want/need 2x 4x4s which is the only reason I’m getting rid of it. Mines the 2017 with a huge spec (pan roof, pro nav, rear cam, rear heated seats etc) and a really nice place to be. When we have more space on the drive I’ll definitely be getting the new X5.

[ekulluke]

Percy. said:

We are in a similar position of wanting something fast and practical, which also needs to fit a Dobermann.

I've narrowed it down to S4 Avant, C43 or 340i.

ETA: I was hoping we could squeeze into an RS3 but that was never going to happen, the boot was just too small.

Edited by Percy. on Sunday 9th January 09:20

Edited by Percy. on Sunday 9th January 09:21

Snap, ours is a dobie too. I like the S4 and C43 too. Almost bought a GLC43 before getting the X5 (hybrid so tax wise made sense for my business). Just think they might be slightly too much whereas a 340i is mid 20s