Looking at purchasing 640d M-Sport

[James-R10]

Currently have a 65 plate C220D AMG Trim premium plus. Looking at paying it off and buying a 640D M sport with lots of options outright.

My questions are:

1. What's everyone's thoughts on this? Will I be disappointed moving from a 'newer' car?
2. What size and res is the professional nav?
3. I'm currently paying £400 p/m for my Merc on finance with servicing. Will this car if purchased outright costs less p/m over 2/3 years? (it has servicing for another 20k miles (2 years for me) included.
4. Wanting to loose less than £6,8k per exc insurance costs, is this doable?
5. General thoughts?

Currently looking at this for £29k.

for http://usedcars.chandlersbrightonbmw.co.uk/showroo...

[moffat]

If you miss your Merc I would be shocked.

First of all the engine is still the same diesel 3.0 TT that sits across the BMW range as a 40d. I think it's still the best 3.0 diesel engine for sale in the UK, except possible the 50d which you can't get on the 6.

The interior is a league above even the W205 and doesn't have a horrible stick on sat nav. The tech in the iDrive is much nicer and easier to use than MB's COMAND.

So overall you will be happy and won't miss the Merc.

Some other points

- The runflat tyres are awful, swap out for non runflats
- Rear leg room is abysmal so the car won't fit 4 adults
- Depreciation will be horrific, but the biggest hit has largely gone already
- Servicing + parts more expensive than the Merc (bigger tyres, bigger brakes and it will use both much faster)

Good luck, it's a great car. I've had mine just under 2 years and it's been faultless (except the eye watering depreciation).

[cerb4.5lee]

It's a lovely thing to cover miles in and have done over 50k miles in the two years of having one.

Slight downsides are the total lack of steering feel and the car feels big and heavy at times especially when parking.

The effortless performance is nice and it returning 40mpg for something so big and heavy is impressive.

Like Moffat got rid of the runflats and it improves the ride dramatically.

[Monty Python]

Do you need the space of the 6? The same engine is in this too:

http://usedcars.chandlersbrightonbmw.co.uk/showroo...

[cerb4.5lee]

Monty Python said:

Do you need the space of the 6? The same engine is in this too:

http://usedcars.chandlersbrightonbmw.co.uk/showroo...

The amazing thing about the 6 is the fact that there actually isnt that much space inside for its external size, and the 4 will be bigger inside.

I really like the 435d but it's the xdrive that puts me off them.

[Yacht Broker]

What about a Mercedes CL500 Blue Efficiency?

You could get a 2013 with similar miles for that sort of money from a main mercedes dealer with full mb warranty such as this little beauty - https://www.mercedes-benz.net/p/uk/en/used-cars/cl...

Okay, so it's not going to give diesel-levels of fuel economy (over 15k per anum, the fuel cost would only be around £1-1.2k extra), but what a car....

(i'm certainly no bmw hater... i've only just sold my old e38... but i will admit to now owning a merc cls and a sl)

[Welshbeef]

cerb4.5lee said:

The amazing thing about the 6 is the fact that there actually isnt that much space inside for its external size, and the 4 will be bigger inside.

I really like the 435d but it's the xdrive that puts me off them.

I've driven a number of 4 series and the interior is very poor and low grade v 5 series and the 6 series. Worlds apart.

[cerb4.5lee]

Welshbeef said:

cerb4.5lee said:

The amazing thing about the 6 is the fact that there actually isnt that much space inside for its external size, and the 4 will be bigger inside.

I really like the 435d but it's the xdrive that puts me off them.

I've driven a number of 4 series and the interior is very poor and low grade v 5 series and the 6 series. Worlds apart.

Agree and the interior of the 5 and 6 is lovely, the 6 Coupe is a frustrating car though because you get all the downsides of a big/heavy car but only get a tiny interior in return.

I love the way they look though a lot.

[PhilRS]

I have a 640d M Sport with very similar specs to the car are looking at. The Harman Kardon is great, pm me for the settings, because the sound is sensitive to these. I am driving 2/3 times a year from Glasow to Southern France and the car is silky smooth, very relaxing with a superb engine/gearbox match. Much more so than the A8s, 5-series and 7-series I have owned. However, I bought a MINI for short city drives and everyday runarounds. The 6 does indeed feel big around town and on narrow roads. Also, though it is quick, it does not really liked to be pushed in twisties and uneven UK roads.

Horses for courses, and if yours are motorways and big open roads, don't hesitate. If you drive instead primarily in town and narrow roads, try to get one for hire on an extended test. I have had mine for 3 years and bought the MINI 1.5 years ago. If I did not have the frequent long drives I would probably sell the 640d.

Edited by PhilRS on Wednesday 9th November 21:42

[cerb4.5lee]

PhilRS said:

The 6 does indeed feel big around town and on narrow roads. Also, though it is quick, it does not really liked to be pushed in twisties.

Agree entirely.

[moffat]

cerb4.5lee said:

Agree entirely.

I agree too, but the only caveat is the change from RFT's has increased my enjoyment of the car. You can't get away from the numb steering, but you remove the jittery composure over poor road surfaces and I don't find the car skips so much.

I actually enjoy hustling mine down smoother B roads and do it most weeks driving 24 miles to the train station early in the morning. Stick it in S+ with manual paddles and I tend to use 3/4/5 gears. I'm not saying it will be as fun as a 440i but there are certainly much worse cars.

I'm at the stage now where I am just waiting for the my finance agreement to make it viable for me to get out and I will be going back to petrol. This will be my last diesel.

[Fox-]

Monty Python said:

Do you need the space of the 6? The same engine is in this too:

http://usedcars.chandlersbrightonbmw.co.uk/showroo...

That just makes the 6 look like an even better buy. It is simply in another league, especially the interior, which is properly becoming of a large exec coupe rather than basically the same as 1 Series as per the 435d.

[Vee]

Fox- said:

That just makes the 6 look like an even better buy. It is simply in another league, especially the interior, which is properly becoming of a large exec coupe rather than basically the same as 1 Series as per the 435d.

This
We've a 435d GC with Merino leather, adaptive plus lots of other bits.
My sister in law has a 640d GC - it is really in another league refinement and comfort wise.

[335d]

I agree about the difference in interior quality between the 6 and the 3/4 - the 6 really is a class above. The price difference is modest too, so it all comes down to which downsides you are prepared to tolerate. The luxury barge or the cheaper feel of the nimbler car.

I tend to alternate between comfort and performance-oriented cars, so while I enjoy the 335d (with ACS and MPSS), I can see that the quiet comfort of a 640d (GC in my case) would be most welcome, but it must have Comfort Seats and Nappa leather. The 'hippo hide' Dakota feels a cheap in the 3/4, but really lets down the otherwise excellent interior of the 6. You find better leather than Dakota in a VW Golf.

[Monty Python]

Fox- said:

That just makes the 6 look like an even better buy. It is simply in another league, especially the interior, which is properly becoming of a large exec coupe rather than basically the same as 1 Series as per the 435d.

Depends what you want. When I drove the 640d I came away fairly unimpressed. As a straight-line cruiser it was okay, but it's too big and too heavy to really throw around.

I'd take this instead: http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/4-Series/3.0-435i-M-Spor...

[CSK423]

If size of the coupe is an issue why not consider the Gran Coupe, many reviews also say it's the better handling car.

IMO it is the better looking of the 6.

They can be had for very little more than the 29k budget you've set, I think I spotted a white GC for 30 or 31 the other day on a 14 plate, BMW approved site.

[cerb4.5lee]

moffat said:

I'm at the stage now where I am just waiting for the my finance agreement to make it viable for me to get out and I will be going back to petrol. This will be my last diesel.

The diesel engine has always been it's weak point for me to be fair, and it's not an engine that's befitting of a luxury cruiser at all.

A silky smooth V8 petrol is what it should have under its bonnet.

[Welshbeef]

Monty Python said:

Depends what you want. When I drove the 640d I came away fairly unimpressed. As a straight-line cruiser it was okay, but it's too big and too heavy to really throw around.

I'd take this instead: http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/4-Series/3.0-435i-M-Spor...

What do you mean by "throwing it around?"

Legal speed limit and even above it takes A and B roads with ease.


I hear the above comment a fair bit but don't really get it - are you trying to drift a road car on the road? Are you trying to get the tyres screaching/chirping at the limit of grip when cornering? if so you should be taken away in a straight jacket as speeds to achieve that is huge and frankly madness.

[Monty Python]

Welshbeef said:

What do you mean by "throwing it around?"

Legal speed limit and even above it takes A and B roads with ease.


I hear the above comment a fair bit but don't really get it - are you trying to drift a road car on the road? Are you trying to get the tyres screaching/chirping at the limit of grip when cornering? if so you should be taken away in a straight jacket as speeds to achieve that is huge and frankly madness.

None of the above - I just found it to be a dull experience irrespective of what I was doing. It was competent, but there was very little involvement. What didn't help was that the ride wasn't very good, I couldn't get used to the electric power steering - it wasn't as consistent as a hydraulic setup.

At the end of the day, it's down to the individual to decide whether or not they like how a car drives. My E92 335d isn't a particularly inspiring drive - again, it's too heavy, but for my daily hack on motorways it does the job.

Let's put it this way - if you were given a choice between a 640i and 640d for a Sunday drive, which one would you choose?

Edited by Monty Python on Thursday 10th November 13:46

[cerb4.5lee]

moffat said:

I actually enjoy hustling mine down smoother B roads and do it most weeks driving 24 miles to the train station early in the morning. Stick it in S+ with manual paddles and I tend to use 3/4/5 gears. I'm not saying it will be as fun as a 440i but there are certainly much worse cars.

I don't get on with the paddles and never use them but I do like how it livens things up in sport + though.

I just see it as a cruiser and I don't derive any fun from throwing it around and if anything the car encourages steady laid back driving I think.

I do rate the 640d as a long distance mile muncher for sure though.