RE: BMW 4 Series: Review

[Debaser]

Mermaid said:

Debaser said:

I wonder when the 4 door version will be out?

Like a GT you mean?

I just wondered if they were mad enough to make a smaller version of the 4 door 6 series.

[va1o]

Debaser said:

I just wondered if they were mad enough to make a smaller version of the 4 door 6 series.

I'm not convinced they will as it would tread on the toes of the 3-series GT too much, but I suspect we will see a 2-series Gran Coupe in the same style as the 6-series. They are missing a rival to the new A3 Saloon and Merc CLA.

[Wills2]

There will be a 4GC IIRC

Edited by Wills2 on Sunday 21st July 19:08

[mrclav]

T16OLE said:

mrclav said:

Everyone alluding to the M4 in relation to names of British motorways needs to stop being so myopic - this car is going to be known around the world as the M4, for the most part this means very little to other countries.

I'm actually glad BMW have seen fit to rename the coupe with a "4" designation - the game has moved on and niche marketing is where it's at now. So what if they used another name for 30 years? They're 100% within their rights to change it if they see fit! If it affects their bottom line then I'm sure we'll see the return of the old name but if they continues to profit as they have done before then why should anyone really care? It's only a name!

Lets not forget we have the M3 motorway too

Indeed but it's interesting how no-one seems to have a problem with a BMW called the M3...

[Wills2]

or the M5 or M6 or M1, people love to moan.

[PascalBuyens]

Wills2 said:

or the M5 or M6 or M1, people love to moan.

Until it will be "out there", and people start buying it... Then it will be the next holy grail of motoring and bla bla bla...

[aeropilot]

trackdemon said:

g3org3y said:

Proper mechanical jobbie?

Is this even available as an option for the M135i (I thought it wasn't)?

Yup. Not available on M135i, although Birds will happily sell you one aftermarket

I'll be interested to see what price BMW charge for a LSD for a 435i.....as unless they have gone 'back' to a conventional bolted ring gear unit, from the existing 135/335 welded set-up, I suspect any LSD option will involve a complete 'pumpkin' unit replacement.....hate to thing how much they'll charge for that..!!!!!!!!!

[Bash Brannigan]

Personally the 3 series coupes make me think of middle aged men wearing shiny suits. A 335i estate, or wagon if you're a snob, on the other hand is something that I've always considered to be rather lovely.

Good review though, looking forward to seeing whether the video has the same subtext as the 918 one did.

[Dagnut]

I really don't understand this article.

So the biggest complaint is the Name? We get a full paragraph about it and then we get 5 separate references in brackets?

So the car is boring? It may well be, but how about qualifying that with something relevant? what exactly where you expecting from this car?

The 335i is more Q why? because of the badge? Looks? They look pretty much the same.

This read more like an extended twitter rant.

[18FAN]

re-tweet

Dagnut said:

I really don't understand this article.

So the biggest complaint is the Name? We get a full paragraph about it and then we get 5 separate references in brackets?

So the car is boring? It may well be, but how about qualifying that with something relevant? what exactly where you expecting from this car?

The 335i is more Q why? because of the badge? Looks? They look pretty much the same.

This read more like an extended twitter rant.

[chrisemersons]

To be honest i'm fed up with listening to BMW's self promotion about how good they are! The dealers and aftercare are shocking and from the experiences i have had with poor reliabilty over the last few years i will not be buying another BMW !
The 1,3,5 series timing chain issues, security system issues and 3 series coupe 19" wheel issues were all handled appallingly by the dealers and by BMW centrally.
Oh, and they now look as bad as they are now, how bland and boring does that 4 series coupe look !

[Neil G60]

Most sold will be 420Ds and driven up and down the nation's motorways just like all the A5 TDIs you see every day - I'm sure they'll be very good at driving Xerox reps round the M25.

My BMW dealer experience has been pretty good - we took my old man's E61 in for the infamous rear tailgate failure and the guy ran it through their ECU reader and fixed it for free. Couldn't really have asked for more.

[aeropilot]

Neil G60 said:

Most sold will be 420Ds and driven up and down the nation's motorways just like all the A5 TDIs you see every day - I'm sure they'll be very good at driving Xerox reps round the M25.

Neil G60 said:

My BMW dealer experience has been pretty good

Have to say my last 2 years with the 135i has been as well.

[chrisemersons]

aeropilot said:

Have to say my last 2 years with the 135i has been as well.

You have been lucky then guys, i wouldnt trust dick lovett BMW to service my mountain bike. The mastertech told me that my 123d was rattlier than my old 120d because 'they all are' ! Very technical haha, turned out to be the timing chain which resulted in a £3,700 bill.
I passionately hate BMW now, i would rather drive a kia !

[Wills2]

I know I'm going to tempt fate but I've driven over 200,000 miles in 6 bmws over the last 10 years and never had a major issue with any of them.

Within those cars was a 320d and 520d I did 140k in them and they never missed a beat.

The only tiny issue has been with my Z4C which is 6 years old and recently needed a new battery and oil leak on the gearbox fixing, the service was excellent they came out to me at home as the car wouldn't start (I'd lost/misplaced my jump leads) they got it started and drove it back to the dealer.

[sisu]

Alucidnation said:

Good to see BMW also catering for a market that doesn't really exist.

[va1o]

sisu said:

Alucidnation said:

Good to see BMW also catering for a market that doesn't really exist.

Seriously?

Its simply a replacement for the 3-series coupe which sells in a decent number, and a more direct rival for the Audi A5 which also sells well. There is most definitely a market...

[German]

Cyrus1971 said:

Tony the tiger time, these all look g-g-g-g-g-g-great ! In M Sport Spec pics with serious presence and poise. For me though the M3 4.0 L V8 change to a M4 Turbo V6 with only a 30 bhp power hike over the outgoing car and a possible 100 ft lb of torque will really change the personality of the car. So I will take a lot of convincing over the engine bay changes no matter how seductive the wrapping is.

It's an inline 6, not a V. Agree though, definitely will not be the rev hungry hooligan of the old car. Sound good (as yet) mind, see what we get when the homologation people have made them legal

[Roadster25]

Dagnut said:

I really don't understand this article.

Nor me.

It's a dull drive on the road. It's a fun but flawed drive on the track, which makes up for it. Except that it will never be driven on the track. So surely we are just left with a dull road car?

[aston addict]

Yes the sport looks better - but still can't disguise the fact that it looks like a fat German has sat on the front edge of the bonnet, pushing the nose longer and wider and giving it a much larger arch / radius than necessary.

BMW may blame pedestrian regulations - so how do other manufacturers get it right? The Mercedes C coupe has really grown on me, and looks better post-facelift. Likewise the E class coupe (or maybe I'm just getting older..)

I used to have a E46 330i sport - loved the look of it and did over 120k miles - only issues were a flat battery if left for over 2 weeks and dropping door seals (apparently a common problem).

And a more resolved-looking interior than the naffness that BMW are churning out now - the sat-nav looks like it's stuck on.

Rant over....