M340i to i4 M50
Discussion
Has anyone got experience of the M340i and the i4 M50?
Initially due to the favourable tax it’s got me thinking of chopping in the M340i. I think it’s a good daily but have run it for nearly 3 years and fancy a change.
Drove an i4 40 at the weekend and was a bit underwhelmed. But certainly is responsive with the instant torque. But want 4wd to ensure I can get to work in all weathers and I can still make progress in the winter.
The review aren’t great for the M50. Is it a complete barge that understeers or is there driving enjoyment to be had when you get to know it?
After liking the handling - for what it is of the M340 - will I likely get bored of the electric car after a month, then regret being stuck with it for 3 years?
Initially due to the favourable tax it’s got me thinking of chopping in the M340i. I think it’s a good daily but have run it for nearly 3 years and fancy a change.
Drove an i4 40 at the weekend and was a bit underwhelmed. But certainly is responsive with the instant torque. But want 4wd to ensure I can get to work in all weathers and I can still make progress in the winter.
The review aren’t great for the M50. Is it a complete barge that understeers or is there driving enjoyment to be had when you get to know it?
After liking the handling - for what it is of the M340 - will I likely get bored of the electric car after a month, then regret being stuck with it for 3 years?
Welshbeef said:
Doesn’t speak that highly of it but wondering if expectations are lower and I’m not expecting it to be an M car whether it would be ok for the daily commute up the a42 and M1. ratty6464 said:
Doesn’t speak that highly of it but wondering if expectations are lower and I’m not expecting it to be an M car whether it would be ok for the daily commute up the a42 and M1.
A lot of cashPitiful range vs quoted
Extremely heavy
M car “fail”
Why do you want to spend £70-90k on a car to commute up the A42 and M1?
Welshbeef said:
ratty6464 said:
Doesn’t speak that highly of it but wondering if expectations are lower and I’m not expecting it to be an M car whether it would be ok for the daily commute up the a42 and M1.
A lot of cashPitiful range vs quoted
Extremely heavy
M car “fail”
Why do you want to spend £70-90k on a car to commute up the A42 and M1?
So £600 pcm cash allowance pre tax and then obviously forgoing the £63pcm BIX tax.
Assuming 40% tax payer so the £600 is take home of £360 + the BIK £463 pcm.
Is that total worth it to you for the i4 M50?
Why not say buy an i3 used for low teens have it fully paid off in 3 years and it still has value. If it’s just for commuting…. In a cost of living squeeze an extra £5.6k net take home would be welcome.
Assuming 40% tax payer so the £600 is take home of £360 + the BIK £463 pcm.
Is that total worth it to you for the i4 M50?
Why not say buy an i3 used for low teens have it fully paid off in 3 years and it still has value. If it’s just for commuting…. In a cost of living squeeze an extra £5.6k net take home would be welcome.
Welshbeef said:
So £600 pcm cash allowance pre tax and then obviously forgoing the £63pcm BIX tax.
Assuming 40% tax payer so the £600 is take home of £360 + the BIK £463 pcm.
Is that total worth it to you for the i4 M50?
Why not say buy an i3 used for low teens have it fully paid off in 3 years and it still has value. If it’s just for commuting…. In a cost of living squeeze an extra £5.6k net take home would be welcome.
You misread. The allowance is £600 after tax. Assuming 40% tax payer so the £600 is take home of £360 + the BIK £463 pcm.
Is that total worth it to you for the i4 M50?
Why not say buy an i3 used for low teens have it fully paid off in 3 years and it still has value. If it’s just for commuting…. In a cost of living squeeze an extra £5.6k net take home would be welcome.
I’m a petrol head so want something fun and the M340 does the family duties etc too.
williamp said:
Funnily enough im looking at an m340 as a final hurrah before the new car sale ban..
.do yoh mind me asking what are they like? What is the mpg on a motorway run?
To be honest they are brilliant as an all rounder. Quick, relatively fun to drive, great interior. Average 30mpg overall and about 38-40 on a decent motorway run depending how you drive. .do yoh mind me asking what are they like? What is the mpg on a motorway run?
Doesn’t have that last bit of fun so never wake up at the weekend and want to take it for a blast, but as a Jack of all trades it’s great. The X drive is rear biased so put it into MDM and you can get the back end rotating nicely too, as same LSD as M2 comp.
I’ve had loads of BMWs and some Ms. this is by far the best daily, although a bit heavy feeling and a bit bloated compared to an M.
Welshbeef said:
So £600 pcm cash allowance pre tax and then obviously forgoing the £63pcm BIX tax.
Assuming 40% tax payer so the £600 is take home of £360 + the BIK £463 pcm.
Is that total worth it to you for the i4 M50?
Why not say buy an i3 used for low teens have it fully paid off in 3 years and it still has value. If it’s just for commuting…. In a cost of living squeeze an extra £5.6k net take home would be welcome.
The BIK on the i50 is £756 per year / £63 per month. That effectively includes insurance, tax, maintenance etc… say electricity is £100pm. Total i4 cost is £163pm. Compare that to depreciation on most cars and it will be less…Assuming 40% tax payer so the £600 is take home of £360 + the BIK £463 pcm.
Is that total worth it to you for the i4 M50?
Why not say buy an i3 used for low teens have it fully paid off in 3 years and it still has value. If it’s just for commuting…. In a cost of living squeeze an extra £5.6k net take home would be welcome.
ratty6464 said:
Welshbeef said:
So £600 pcm cash allowance pre tax and then obviously forgoing the £63pcm BIX tax.
Assuming 40% tax payer so the £600 is take home of £360 + the BIK £463 pcm.
Is that total worth it to you for the i4 M50?
Why not say buy an i3 used for low teens have it fully paid off in 3 years and it still has value. If it’s just for commuting…. In a cost of living squeeze an extra £5.6k net take home would be welcome.
You misread. The allowance is £600 after tax. Assuming 40% tax payer so the £600 is take home of £360 + the BIK £463 pcm.
Is that total worth it to you for the i4 M50?
Why not say buy an i3 used for low teens have it fully paid off in 3 years and it still has value. If it’s just for commuting…. In a cost of living squeeze an extra £5.6k net take home would be welcome.
I’m a petrol head so want something fun and the M340 does the family duties etc too.
That aside don’t the reviews put you off especially the range
I have a m340i touring and i3s. The i3 does 90% of our driving, all local and commuting. Its a great car for that purpose. The m340i is used for longer trips and when we need to carry all the baby stuff.
I've been considering whether I could consolidate the 2 cars into one, like an i4, ix3 or polestar. Then I could get a 997 or similar as a weekend car.
But then I remember how frustrated I get when using the i3 outside its range and have to rely on external chargers that are becoming increasingly busy. You need to factor in a lot of time, have a lot of patience, and except that you'll be sitting in the motorway at 65-70mph stretching out the range. If you rarely do that type of journey then it might be manageable.
I've been considering whether I could consolidate the 2 cars into one, like an i4, ix3 or polestar. Then I could get a 997 or similar as a weekend car.
But then I remember how frustrated I get when using the i3 outside its range and have to rely on external chargers that are becoming increasingly busy. You need to factor in a lot of time, have a lot of patience, and except that you'll be sitting in the motorway at 65-70mph stretching out the range. If you rarely do that type of journey then it might be manageable.
JackReacher said:
I have a m340i touring and i3s. The i3 does 90% of our driving, all local and commuting. Its a great car for that purpose. The m340i is used for longer trips and when we need to carry all the baby stuff.
I've been considering whether I could consolidate the 2 cars into one, like an i4, ix3 or polestar. Then I could get a 997 or similar as a weekend car.
But then I remember how frustrated I get when using the i3 outside its range and have to rely on external chargers that are becoming increasingly busy. You need to factor in a lot of time, have a lot of patience, and except that you'll be sitting in the motorway at 65-70mph stretching out the range. If you rarely do that type of journey then it might be manageable.
Ha you mean sitting at or marginally below the speed limit to stretch out more miles. I've been considering whether I could consolidate the 2 cars into one, like an i4, ix3 or polestar. Then I could get a 997 or similar as a weekend car.
But then I remember how frustrated I get when using the i3 outside its range and have to rely on external chargers that are becoming increasingly busy. You need to factor in a lot of time, have a lot of patience, and except that you'll be sitting in the motorway at 65-70mph stretching out the range. If you rarely do that type of journey then it might be manageable.
How do you go past the average speed cameras?
Simply cruise round at the speed limit job done.
Who does 85-99mph on our roads anymore? It’s rare to see it IMHO
Welshbeef said:
JackReacher said:
I have a m340i touring and i3s. The i3 does 90% of our driving, all local and commuting. Its a great car for that purpose. The m340i is used for longer trips and when we need to carry all the baby stuff.
I've been considering whether I could consolidate the 2 cars into one, like an i4, ix3 or polestar. Then I could get a 997 or similar as a weekend car.
But then I remember how frustrated I get when using the i3 outside its range and have to rely on external chargers that are becoming increasingly busy. You need to factor in a lot of time, have a lot of patience, and except that you'll be sitting in the motorway at 65-70mph stretching out the range. If you rarely do that type of journey then it might be manageable.
Ha you mean sitting at or marginally below the speed limit to stretch out more miles. I've been considering whether I could consolidate the 2 cars into one, like an i4, ix3 or polestar. Then I could get a 997 or similar as a weekend car.
But then I remember how frustrated I get when using the i3 outside its range and have to rely on external chargers that are becoming increasingly busy. You need to factor in a lot of time, have a lot of patience, and except that you'll be sitting in the motorway at 65-70mph stretching out the range. If you rarely do that type of journey then it might be manageable.
How do you go past the average speed cameras?
Simply cruise round at the speed limit job done.
Who does 85-99mph on our roads anymore? It’s rare to see it IMHO
Even of you want to sit under the limit, EV efficiency at 65mph is poor, add in cold temperatures and a head wind and range takes a bit hit.
I’m interested in the driving dynamics between the cars, rather than the finances really.
Range isn’t a real factor as my daily commute is approx 50 miles and it can be charged in the garage every night. Plus we have another car.
If the i4 is an enjoyable commuter then it would swing it.
But if it just feels to heavy all the time and not having real buttons to press in the cabin (touch screen instead), would it just be frustrating?
Range isn’t a real factor as my daily commute is approx 50 miles and it can be charged in the garage every night. Plus we have another car.
If the i4 is an enjoyable commuter then it would swing it.
But if it just feels to heavy all the time and not having real buttons to press in the cabin (touch screen instead), would it just be frustrating?
ratty6464 said:
I’m interested in the driving dynamics between the cars, rather than the finances really.
Range isn’t a real factor as my daily commute is approx 50 miles and it can be charged in the garage every night. Plus we have another car.
If the i4 is an enjoyable commuter then it would swing it.
But if it just feels to heavy all the time and not having real buttons to press in the cabin (touch screen instead), would it just be frustrating?
Did you watch the Harry’s garage video I linked - that covers all you are now asking. Range isn’t a real factor as my daily commute is approx 50 miles and it can be charged in the garage every night. Plus we have another car.
If the i4 is an enjoyable commuter then it would swing it.
But if it just feels to heavy all the time and not having real buttons to press in the cabin (touch screen instead), would it just be frustrating?
Basically it’s a point and squirt car and a “fail” and not worthy of an M car badge.
Welshbeef said:
ratty6464 said:
I’m interested in the driving dynamics between the cars, rather than the finances really.
Range isn’t a real factor as my daily commute is approx 50 miles and it can be charged in the garage every night. Plus we have another car.
If the i4 is an enjoyable commuter then it would swing it.
But if it just feels to heavy all the time and not having real buttons to press in the cabin (touch screen instead), would it just be frustrating?
Did you watch the Harry’s garage video I linked - that covers all you are now asking. Range isn’t a real factor as my daily commute is approx 50 miles and it can be charged in the garage every night. Plus we have another car.
If the i4 is an enjoyable commuter then it would swing it.
But if it just feels to heavy all the time and not having real buttons to press in the cabin (touch screen instead), would it just be frustrating?
Basically it’s a point and squirt car and a “fail” and not worthy of an M car badge.
I’ve had M cars and a Porsche GT. My question is how does it compare to an M340i - also not a proper M car, but quite fun.
Waiting for someone who has driven both for useful insight to comment.
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