BMW 440i Gran Coupe

[Mr Ben]

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!

[Harleyboy]

That’s lovely! Tanzanite Blue I reckon?

An all round brilliant car and that engine is a peach.

Enjoy

[richatnort]

I had a 18 plate 340i touring and I reckon it’s been the best bang for buck I’ve owned. You’re right about the exhaust it was the right blend I feel. I’m fairly sure though that the OPF came in June 2018 so it might have one.

Any plans for it bar car play / android auto?

[d_a_n1979]

Lovely! Great colour too...

[Mr Tidy]

That looks great.

[chris116]

That looks really smart, do like that colour.

[MitchT]

Saw that car on the approved used BMW search when it was for sale recently. It caught my eye as the reg has my initials. Photos really don't do justice to Tanzanite Blue - it looks amazing in full sun. I agree about the dials too - much more elegant than the digital instruments.

[Mr Ben]

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,

[Sofa]

Looks lovely that- and a good spec, which is so important on these cars. Tanzanite is a great colour, as others have said the photos don't do it justice. Big fan of the B58 too, been lucky enough to drive a few and even with the OPF (I've only experienced it in the G2x 3/4er) it's a great sounding engine.

I'm with you on CarPlay too- I'm resisting the logical argument to fit one of the retrofit CarPlay boxes to my comparatively ancient E82 125i (with CIC iDrive) in favour of an OEM USB retrofit to give me the ability to play music off my phone but keep the proper BMW interface- which will probably be more expensive and more complicated...

Edited by Sofa on Monday 22 April 21:33

[TheDoggingFather]

I don't like the 4er series coupé, but the 4er Gran Coupé is a fabulous looking car, and that's a particularly fine looking example.

A pity they never made a M4 GC.

[MitchT]

TheDoggingFather said:

A pity they never made a M4 GC.

This. Times a million!

[cerb4.5lee]

That is lovely, and Tanzanite Blue is one of my favourite BMW colours as well. Enjoy it.

[richatnort]

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.

[Mr Ben]

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.

No worries, and didn't read your response that way at all. The 5 series being a bigger, newer generation car felt a lot more refined, obviously a step up in terms of quality/materials etc. However, it lacked the responsiveness and planted 'feel' this gives you when driving enthusiastically. Even the smaller 19" wheels seem to feel/ride better.

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