RE: 2021 BMW M440i xDrive | UK Review
Discussion
Max_Torque said:
2020 BMW 4 series
2012 Jaguar XK
And both cars have something of a wiff of "golf club special" about them too......
Both coupes, both slightly golf club, both in dark colours... can't draw many other similarities thank god. Not sure how a car as universally accepted as being pig ugly can be compared with something as good looking as the XK. Given the choice of either, for me it would be a hands down win for a tired ageing leggy jag over that BMW styling mess.2012 Jaguar XK
And both cars have something of a wiff of "golf club special" about them too......
Fezzaman said:
All variants of the new 4-series will probably sell fine and be better than the competition.... but let's be honest, it'll do it DESPITE that front end, not because of it.
I think you're missing the point that a lot of people (myself included) think that the front looks great and finally adds a little identity to the BMW range. Methinks the crowd complaining about it here are just reflective of those who are most resistant to change... Out in the real world, people have far fewer objections to the design, and a company as huge and experienced as BMW knows that well, else it would have never been signed off. The marketing and focus group bods have done their work and it'll sell like hotcakes.I personally have far more of a problem with the rear 3/4, but the then 3-series have looked like they've had skateboard wheels tucked under flat slabby panels at the back for several generations now and they've sold well, so I'm clearly missing something that BMW knows better, which is as we should all expect to be.
Bloxxcreative said:
The article keeps referring to this as a drivers car...o how the yardstick has changed. 4wd, auto, 1800kg, doesn't seem remotely drivers car focussed to me in the traditional sense. I would say I'll reserve judgement until I've tried it, but won't even bother on this model.
I know what you mean..... but the GTR (4wd, auto and north of 1800kg spec) is one of the best and most thrilling drivers cars out there so.....But in this context, if you want childish thrills, you would already be looking to an M not this....
This was designed from the inception to be (all things relative) mediocre.... Its foolhardy to try to look for more in it...
I still think based on all previous versions that it will still be great to drive, look great to most and be a nice place to sit... I definitely wouldn't say no if offered one...
But thats it...
Wills2 said:
Pommy said:
Carwow video on YT has it at 3.82 0-60. That f
king quick.
Very quick for a car with it's power/weight ratio, quicker than the carwow runs with the new AMG 45s/RS3 if that's your thing. king quick.carparkno1 said:
panholio said:
Some classic PH cliches in this thread. You’d all love it if you had one. And to the chap saying this isn’t an upgrade on his 440... another classic PH statement. It’s actually a different “sub M” product now and a more focussed proposition. I bet you’d find it an upgrade.
I accept the grill is not great at all, and I think the number plate placement makes it even worse. No idea what they were thinking.
Also, to those saying the styling looks top heavy, under-wheeled etc. I agree... but weirdly it doesn’t look like that in person. I could be wrong but is PH cocking up the aspect ratios on photos again and effectively “squidging” the images horizontally?
Aside from the previous 440i not having an M in front of it what exactly has changed? Same engine with a bit more grunt, identical gearbox, same suspension setup and choices, but with a price tag that has lept by about ten grand once you chuck a couple of options packs in?I accept the grill is not great at all, and I think the number plate placement makes it even worse. No idea what they were thinking.
Also, to those saying the styling looks top heavy, under-wheeled etc. I agree... but weirdly it doesn’t look like that in person. I could be wrong but is PH cocking up the aspect ratios on photos again and effectively “squidging” the images horizontally?
What's more focused about it? 4wd over Rwd?!?
You do realise this is the exact same engine and gearbox combo as the m140i and m240i?
The same will apply to the 4 Series, the old one was a cushy motorway cruiser, no way was it a sports car. I owned 2 F30 3’s (320d, 330e) and 2 F32 4’s (420d, 430d) over 400,000 miles so I know them fairly well. Comfortable yes, truly sporty no.
The new G20 cars have a MUCH sharper chassis.
PH said:
the steering doesn’t offer much in the way of feel
I‘m confused. I’ve driven a few of these new 3 series, and not since the E30 has there been a 3 series with so little steering feel. Way less than the competition, but it still turns out to be a great driver’s car.Clearly steering feel isn’t that important.
GTEYE said:
carparkno1 said:
panholio said:
Some classic PH cliches in this thread. You’d all love it if you had one. And to the chap saying this isn’t an upgrade on his 440... another classic PH statement. It’s actually a different “sub M” product now and a more focussed proposition. I bet you’d find it an upgrade.
I accept the grill is not great at all, and I think the number plate placement makes it even worse. No idea what they were thinking.
Also, to those saying the styling looks top heavy, under-wheeled etc. I agree... but weirdly it doesn’t look like that in person. I could be wrong but is PH cocking up the aspect ratios on photos again and effectively “squidging” the images horizontally?
Aside from the previous 440i not having an M in front of it what exactly has changed? Same engine with a bit more grunt, identical gearbox, same suspension setup and choices, but with a price tag that has lept by about ten grand once you chuck a couple of options packs in?I accept the grill is not great at all, and I think the number plate placement makes it even worse. No idea what they were thinking.
Also, to those saying the styling looks top heavy, under-wheeled etc. I agree... but weirdly it doesn’t look like that in person. I could be wrong but is PH cocking up the aspect ratios on photos again and effectively “squidging” the images horizontally?
What's more focused about it? 4wd over Rwd?!?
You do realise this is the exact same engine and gearbox combo as the m140i and m240i?
The same will apply to the 4 Series, the old one was a cushy motorway cruiser, no way was it a sports car. I owned 2 F30 3’s (320d, 330e) and 2 F32 4’s (420d, 430d) over 400,000 miles so I know them fairly well. Comfortable yes, truly sporty no.
The new G20 cars have a MUCH sharper chassis.
Lots of new car designs take a while before they’re accepted.
I now quite like it based on recent reviews however the price does seem incredibly steep! INCREDIBLY!!
Perhaps it’s just me (lol) but I’ll wait to see what the real (discounted) price will be once the new car hype disappears.
I now quite like it based on recent reviews however the price does seem incredibly steep! INCREDIBLY!!
Perhaps it’s just me (lol) but I’ll wait to see what the real (discounted) price will be once the new car hype disappears.
TheOrangePeril said:
I think you're missing the point that a lot of people (myself included) think that the front looks great and finally adds a little identity to the BMW range. Methinks the crowd complaining about it here are just reflective of those who are most resistant to change... Out in the real world, people have far fewer objections to the design, and a company as huge and experienced as BMW knows that well, else it would have never been signed off. The marketing and focus group bods have done their work and it'll sell like hotcakes.
I personally have far more of a problem with the rear 3/4, but the then 3-series have looked like they've had skateboard wheels tucked under flat slabby panels at the back for several generations now and they've sold well, so I'm clearly missing something that BMW knows better, which is as we should all expect to be.
Lol it is a disgrace, hopefully all the Big Grille models die a slow death.I personally have far more of a problem with the rear 3/4, but the then 3-series have looked like they've had skateboard wheels tucked under flat slabby panels at the back for several generations now and they've sold well, so I'm clearly missing something that BMW knows better, which is as we should all expect to be.
TX.
Still trying to wrap my head around how this is about 750 Lbs more than a roomier, and pretty large Civic R. 750 lbs is a huge amount of weight to be lugging around for a near sports car. BMW used to have some sort of mantra about how they were working hard on new carbon fiber tech, as used in their “i” Vehicles, for all manner of parts for their regular cars. It appears that other than the roof, BMW have scraped that plan altogether, except ironically for only their heaviest vehicles like the 7/8 series.
jl4069 said:
Still trying to wrap my head around how this is about 750 Lbs more than a roomier, and pretty large Civic R. 750 lbs is a huge amount of weight to be lugging around for a near sports car.
I can't quite fathom that out either. I imagine mostly transmission / engine weight?DonkeyApple said:
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.
In Sport / Sport + as well as Comfort modes? My M140i used to do this, but only in Comfort mode.Very annoying when slowing as you approach a roundabout, and a gap appears that you want to slot into, or if a red light you're approaching turns green before you come to a halt. You squeeze the throttle to accelerate again, and absolutely nothing happens for a good second or so. And then because you've inevitably pushed harder than you meant to due to the complete lack of response, you get more than you want or need when it does finally get its act together.
It was consistent and repeatable in Comfort, but the Sport modes seemed to fix it.
Edited by Limpet on Saturday 24th October 18:38
Haltamer said:
I can't quite fathom that out either. I imagine mostly transmission / engine weight?
From what I know, that 8 speed auto is actually not too heavy, actually it’s lighter that a dual clutch. The engine indeed is very heavy, but I’d say the majority of the weight is in the mostly steel Monocoque unibody, and the new gen likely 40 kilo particulate filter. This car is not that much (yes it is larger but relatively not that much larger to account for the massive weight gain) larger than a 1550 kilo 992 911 C4, yet it is about 200 kilos heavier. This tells me that BMW is not willing to put the money into lightweight materials. They have made a conscious decision to add weight, because they believe that gas is relatively cheap enough, so that most buyers will not care one bit; while Porsche customers conversely will not tolerate a heavy 911, excerpt if its a turbo or a cab. Sadly the same logic will apply to the new M3/4.davidc1 said:
Cant get past the look . Reat overhang is 2 long and the front view is horrid. Trying to hide this by having a black launch car...
A shame as the car drives brilliantly. Joe achilles video is worth a view.
M340i for me if i went to bmw.
Royal College of Art and Coventry where always the go-to higher educational facilities for automative styling design in the UK.A shame as the car drives brilliantly. Joe achilles video is worth a view.
M340i for me if i went to bmw.
A friend flunked the RCA for Coventry, but taught me a thing or two about complex geometries (as an architect).
Saab 900 (78-94) was a highlight in terms of clever 3 dimensional product design (3 quarters); referenced against the Future Systems Lord's Pavilion .
Not sure if he would have a positive comment about the current 4 series.
S
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