BMW 440i Gran Coupe
Discussion
A serial car swapper, at the age of 43 (and having kept my 3rd car, an E46 325Ci for Circa 7 years) this is my 23rd car 
Each and every time I convince myself that the next change will tick all boxes and satisfy my constant thirst for driving Nirvana (within budget). The car prior to this, a G05 (2023) X5 30D was supposed to cover off all family duties whilst still being relatively 'fun' to drive. It was supremely capable and very much the competent daily driver.
Despite this, it was a very heavy Diesel. And a very heavy Diesel doth bring no smiles.
Very much the baseline and, the platform of the last dozen cars, I have a thing for 3.0ltr 6cyl engines, usually the straight variety. Having owned 2 previous B58 adorned cars, a 440i coupe (manual), and recently a G30 540i, the allure of a petrol straight 6 was growing ever stronger after a year in the X5.
I do a fairly significant No of miles every year (Circa 22K), but with fuel costs covered I set my sights on what I probably should have got several years back when I got the coupe variant.
I think the 4GC has aged well in the right spec, and when I stumbled across this one, in what seems to be a fairly rare colour for the model, my mind was made up.
Completely standard, and with only 12K miles, full BMW history and an 'as new' interior, I'm very happy with it so far. Compared to the 540i, which also had an OPF, I was surprised and extremely pleased that the engine and exhaust note seem far less muted. Perhaps this is simply down to less sound deadening or the fact that the newer generation G30 was more refined?
Either way, it makes a lovely sound when driven hard.
The media screen looks like a mobile phone by comparison to the X5, but with HK stereo and all the other creature comforts standard on this spec/age model, it has all I need.
I love the fact it has a 'proper' hand brake, and the icing on the cake for me, actual dials on the speedo/rev counter!
Each and every time I convince myself that the next change will tick all boxes and satisfy my constant thirst for driving Nirvana (within budget). The car prior to this, a G05 (2023) X5 30D was supposed to cover off all family duties whilst still being relatively 'fun' to drive. It was supremely capable and very much the competent daily driver.
Despite this, it was a very heavy Diesel. And a very heavy Diesel doth bring no smiles.
Very much the baseline and, the platform of the last dozen cars, I have a thing for 3.0ltr 6cyl engines, usually the straight variety. Having owned 2 previous B58 adorned cars, a 440i coupe (manual), and recently a G30 540i, the allure of a petrol straight 6 was growing ever stronger after a year in the X5.
I do a fairly significant No of miles every year (Circa 22K), but with fuel costs covered I set my sights on what I probably should have got several years back when I got the coupe variant.
I think the 4GC has aged well in the right spec, and when I stumbled across this one, in what seems to be a fairly rare colour for the model, my mind was made up.
Completely standard, and with only 12K miles, full BMW history and an 'as new' interior, I'm very happy with it so far. Compared to the 540i, which also had an OPF, I was surprised and extremely pleased that the engine and exhaust note seem far less muted. Perhaps this is simply down to less sound deadening or the fact that the newer generation G30 was more refined?
Either way, it makes a lovely sound when driven hard.
The media screen looks like a mobile phone by comparison to the X5, but with HK stereo and all the other creature comforts standard on this spec/age model, it has all I need.
I love the fact it has a 'proper' hand brake, and the icing on the cake for me, actual dials on the speedo/rev counter!
Thanks all,
Yes, Tanzanite blue is the colour, in the sunlight its lovely!
Probably in the minority but, even though I've had several cars equipped with Apple CarPlay, I hate it... Much preferring the BWM host system. It has the Spotify 'app' which outside of a couple of DAB stations is all I use.
Being a 2019 it definitely has an OPF, my comparison was against the 540i I had which also featured an OPF. The sound is by some way better in the 4 series?
I think the only 'mod' I want to do, is replacing the existing grey rear diffuser with a gloss black variant in keeping with general look of the car and the gloss black inlays to the interior.
Certainly no plans to 'drop' and add spacers, which seems to be a popular choice. Horses for courses and all, just not really my thing,
Yes, Tanzanite blue is the colour, in the sunlight its lovely!
Probably in the minority but, even though I've had several cars equipped with Apple CarPlay, I hate it... Much preferring the BWM host system. It has the Spotify 'app' which outside of a couple of DAB stations is all I use.
Being a 2019 it definitely has an OPF, my comparison was against the 540i I had which also featured an OPF. The sound is by some way better in the 4 series?
I think the only 'mod' I want to do, is replacing the existing grey rear diffuser with a gloss black variant in keeping with general look of the car and the gloss black inlays to the interior.
Certainly no plans to 'drop' and add spacers, which seems to be a popular choice. Horses for courses and all, just not really my thing,
richatnort said:
Mr Ben said:
Thanks all,
Being a 2019 it definitely has an OPF, my comparison was against the 540i I had which also featured an OPF. The sound is by some way better in the 4 series?
thing,
Ah sorry I miss read, wasn’t meaning to be a dig either. I reckon they must put more insulation in the 5 series. I test drove one and agreed it was quite.Being a 2019 it definitely has an OPF, my comparison was against the 540i I had which also featured an OPF. The sound is by some way better in the 4 series?
thing,
I took it out late last night for my first (for the sake of it) drive and it left me grinning like a grinny thing. The sharp contrast to a 2 Tonne Diesel SUV still evident but, the way it builds speed from 40mph upward is wonderfully addictive
3 weeks into ownership and too many visits to Shell, I'm getting to know the car now, what's good and what might get done in the future.
To this point I've only swapped the rear diffuser for a gloss black variant which matches the window trim etc quite nicely, all IMHO of course.
Thought I'd immediately want to swap the exhaust out for a REMUS but this precast judgment was based on the experience in my 540i. Once the engine's warmed putting the car into 'sport' keeps the flap in the left tailpipe open so just enough burble/noise for me, for now.
Performance wise I find the B58 to be in and around the sweet spot for acceleration without always running out of road too quickly... which is to say you can let it go through most of the gears and enjoy the experience.
It's only when cornering, particularly long sweeping corners, that I'm finding the car a little... fidgety. At only 13K miles I'm sure that there's no wear/tiredness in the suspension components, so I've been considering aftermarket alternatives.
A popular route seems to be Bilstein shocks with Eibach springs, but I've read lots of favourable comments/reviews on Bilstein's B16 Coilover kit. Having never fit coil-overs to a car before, I'm somewhat undecided if the outlay is worth the improvement?
After a quick wash and wax... and in the sun showing a bit of colour!
To this point I've only swapped the rear diffuser for a gloss black variant which matches the window trim etc quite nicely, all IMHO of course.
Thought I'd immediately want to swap the exhaust out for a REMUS but this precast judgment was based on the experience in my 540i. Once the engine's warmed putting the car into 'sport' keeps the flap in the left tailpipe open so just enough burble/noise for me, for now.
Performance wise I find the B58 to be in and around the sweet spot for acceleration without always running out of road too quickly... which is to say you can let it go through most of the gears and enjoy the experience.
It's only when cornering, particularly long sweeping corners, that I'm finding the car a little... fidgety. At only 13K miles I'm sure that there's no wear/tiredness in the suspension components, so I've been considering aftermarket alternatives.
A popular route seems to be Bilstein shocks with Eibach springs, but I've read lots of favourable comments/reviews on Bilstein's B16 Coilover kit. Having never fit coil-overs to a car before, I'm somewhat undecided if the outlay is worth the improvement?
After a quick wash and wax... and in the sun showing a bit of colour!
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