RE: 2021 BMW M440i xDrive | UK Review
Discussion
For me new BMWs have got too soft, the engines are great, the gearboxes are great, however with the electric steering, over compliant chassis, longer wheelbase and being heavier, cars like this appeal less and less.
For me if you want all that you go 5 series or 6 series, the 3 series was always a lightweight chuckable little car that was also the perfect daily. That has been lost.
I have even gone back to diesel with a 530d, as it is no longer really a 'fun' car, it is now a mile muncher.
Rose tinted spectacles? Maybe, but have to say the M340i, as nice as it was, was not what I was wanting from it and another 5 series with a cheap 'fun' second car seemed a far better choice.
For me if you want all that you go 5 series or 6 series, the 3 series was always a lightweight chuckable little car that was also the perfect daily. That has been lost.
I have even gone back to diesel with a 530d, as it is no longer really a 'fun' car, it is now a mile muncher.
Rose tinted spectacles? Maybe, but have to say the M340i, as nice as it was, was not what I was wanting from it and another 5 series with a cheap 'fun' second car seemed a far better choice.
sidesauce said:
Business as usual then.
I'm doubtful sales will be impacted significantly, despite all of the crowing on the forums; I think people will buy the, and drive them, just as they've done before with all the previous models. In fact, I think that in time, people will get used to the front to the point it'll simply be 'meh'.
What is that opinion based on?I'm doubtful sales will be impacted significantly, despite all of the crowing on the forums; I think people will buy the, and drive them, just as they've done before with all the previous models. In fact, I think that in time, people will get used to the front to the point it'll simply be 'meh'.
You're telling me someone who would be prepared to buy this sort of car, but absolutely hates the looks, is going to say yeah okay I'll buy it then?
Let’s face it the market has changed, it’s lardy but fast in a straight line, no doubt it’ll be “okay” in the corners but never anything to write home about.
Interesting to note that Carwow’s go to measure of a car these days is a drag race with that tit that wraps cars some lurid colour so not really a channel for enthusiasts, remember that they are just trying to sell finance to people.
Also, black wheels, black (edit: apologies I’ve just noticed this ones a blue) bodywork, black interior....are they hoping it will turn invisible at night so we don’t have to look at it?
Interesting to note that Carwow’s go to measure of a car these days is a drag race with that tit that wraps cars some lurid colour so not really a channel for enthusiasts, remember that they are just trying to sell finance to people.
Also, black wheels, black (edit: apologies I’ve just noticed this ones a blue) bodywork, black interior....are they hoping it will turn invisible at night so we don’t have to look at it?
Edited by WokkaWokka on Saturday 24th October 10:20
The hideous grill aside, can someone explain me why this comes with 4WD as standard?
Apart from 0 to 60 times, driving in heavy snow (with winter tires!) and maybe track driving (in a 1.7 tonne luxury coupe...) in 99% of situations it doesn't make any difference. You are driving around with 100kg extra (2 differentials, driveshafts) you don't need but use fuel. I am not saying there are no people who could need this, but it could be an optional extra.
I just don't understand the new car manufacturer and buyer market anymore, it seems at 29 i am already old.
Apart from 0 to 60 times, driving in heavy snow (with winter tires!) and maybe track driving (in a 1.7 tonne luxury coupe...) in 99% of situations it doesn't make any difference. You are driving around with 100kg extra (2 differentials, driveshafts) you don't need but use fuel. I am not saying there are no people who could need this, but it could be an optional extra.
I just don't understand the new car manufacturer and buyer market anymore, it seems at 29 i am already old.
carparkno1 said:
As a current F32 440i owner I'm struggling to see the upgrade potential. It's faster but not by much, the interior is better but isn't a huge upgrade (gesture control yuck), it's the same engine and superb gearbox and slightly faint steering feel so at close to 60k as a new car it's not grabbing me, and that's before we get to the styling. The grille, whilst controversial, probably will fade as "the shock of the new" normally does but I CANNOT get past the bulk and rear 3/4 of it.
No hoffmeister kink and they've gone down the tiny exhaust inside a massive housing route instead of the lovely exposed pipes on the outgoing model.
It'll sell well, it'll be a great success and in many respects it is a consummate all rounder, I just think its a case of waiting for the LCI in a couple of years to get the benefit of better deals and some style options.
But man, the B58 with the ZF8 is a work of art, it really is.
I’ve the estate version and sitting at a similar conclusion off the back of the article. The main gripe that I have is that every time you come down to 15mph the car’s tiny brain reveals itself to be no better than the office idiot who just can’t work basic stuff out and just needs to be left in the corner doing the same task, it cannot get its head around the fact that you might not be coming to halt but about to drive off and that having some power to do so rather than being left hanging while it’s litrle brain struggles to cope with reality outside a nerd’s laboratory. No hoffmeister kink and they've gone down the tiny exhaust inside a massive housing route instead of the lovely exposed pipes on the outgoing model.
It'll sell well, it'll be a great success and in many respects it is a consummate all rounder, I just think its a case of waiting for the LCI in a couple of years to get the benefit of better deals and some style options.
But man, the B58 with the ZF8 is a work of art, it really is.
Also, as a London driver having the indicator in the mirror flashing directly at you when turning right means that at night you can’t see anything in the mirror at the exact time you need to be checking for the idiot moped or cyclist attempting the overtake as you turn.
It’s a really good car despite those really stupid issues born from committees of people who have never ventured out into normal society. It’ll plod down boring motorways cosseting you well enough, it’ll nip around town swiftly enough and it works really well on B roads. It’s a cheap enough car to use, consume and enjoy and with that straight 6 it justifies its extra cost over a Ford, Vauxhall or Kia etc.
The big shame is that you cannot get it without the bodykit and I suspect that’ll be a problem carried on with the new model. Surely not everyone wants that MSpoet stuff on the outside of their car? I think it’s ghastly.
Something from the article that caught my eye:
‘There’s joy to be had at seven or eight tenths, where your inputs feel choreographed’
You can’t drive the old one at close to seven tenths and be remotely legal, safe or sensible on the road. It’s a hugely competent car and I expect this new one to be even better meaning you get even less reward when operating remotely within the vicinity of legality.
It’s the great problem of modern cars that they have long since crossed the threshold where there was just enough quality engineering to retain huge driving rewards within easy grasp. These cars, along with many others, are now so good that you’re now getting further and further away from seven tenths than ever before and it tends to make brilliant cars just frustrating.
I have a 2017 F32 440i which I think is a really good car - more subtle than the M4 but still very fast and comfortable. I think this one is probably a very appealing successor - BMW appears to kept all the key attributes - great engine and gearbox, nearly-great styling and good practicality but has stretched it up-market a little. My concern is BMW's pricing. My car had a new list price of £51k but I bought it in 2017 as a five month old, low mileage dealer-owned car for £33k. I'm currently in the process of selling it for abut £20k three years and 50,000 miles later which I think translates into great value motoring but only because I bought it for 65% of list price. I fear that anyone paying anything like the list price for one of these is set for some very hefty depreciation. I predict that heavily discount new and nearly new cars will be easily available in a year or so, which it could make a great buy.
gizlaroc said:
For me new BMWs have got too soft, the engines are great, the gearboxes are great, however with the electric steering, over compliant chassis, longer wheelbase and being heavier, cars like this appeal less and less.
For me if you want all that you go 5 series or 6 series, the 3 series was always a lightweight chuckable little car that was also the perfect daily. That has been lost.
I have even gone back to diesel with a 530d, as it is no longer really a 'fun' car, it is now a mile muncher.
Rose tinted spectacles? Maybe, but have to say the M340i, as nice as it was, was not what I was wanting from it and another 5 series with a cheap 'fun' second car seemed a far better choice.
What’s needed is a Lotus 340i estate. Whip out the heavy electrics, the turbos, swap in smaller brakes, narrower tyres, lighter seating and other comfort stuff. For me if you want all that you go 5 series or 6 series, the 3 series was always a lightweight chuckable little car that was also the perfect daily. That has been lost.
I have even gone back to diesel with a 530d, as it is no longer really a 'fun' car, it is now a mile muncher.
Rose tinted spectacles? Maybe, but have to say the M340i, as nice as it was, was not what I was wanting from it and another 5 series with a cheap 'fun' second car seemed a far better choice.
Maybe you could get to a 1400kg estate car with great handling and a superb I6 engine that gave instant response and wholly unencumbered by all the gubbins but revved to 8 and was sublime from 1rpm to 8000. A car that you could actually drive at seven tenths on the road?
I just genuinely thought. You know what one of these might well be a good replacement for my
m135i (2016). I will have a look and see what it’s like.
Opened the page took one look at the front grill (I had actually forgot it’s got ‘that’ grill. Nope. Not for me.
I know it’s been covered a million times and I’m surprised I had forgotten about ‘that’ grill but christ it’s bloody ugly and ruins an otherwise nice looking car.
Even in black it’s bloody awful never mind chrome.
m135i (2016). I will have a look and see what it’s like.
Opened the page took one look at the front grill (I had actually forgot it’s got ‘that’ grill. Nope. Not for me.
I know it’s been covered a million times and I’m surprised I had forgotten about ‘that’ grill but christ it’s bloody ugly and ruins an otherwise nice looking car.
Even in black it’s bloody awful never mind chrome.
Whilst the front is HIDEOUS it's actually the rear quarters and terrible relationship between the rear wheels/tyres, rear 3/4 panel and the roof line that makes this look even more like a boring, poorly designed eco-box onto which some ex Max Power fanboy has stuck some ridiculous fibreglass bodykit.
Come on BMW, WFT is going on back there, even hyundia's and kias get this right these days, why can't you?
Just in case you needed reminding, here's how it's done:
1) perfect rear tyre to rear arch lip integation
2) perfect 3/4 panel blend to wheel arch
3) perfect geometrical roof line intersection
Come on BMW, WFT is going on back there, even hyundia's and kias get this right these days, why can't you?
Just in case you needed reminding, here's how it's done:
1) perfect rear tyre to rear arch lip integation
2) perfect 3/4 panel blend to wheel arch
3) perfect geometrical roof line intersection
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