M140i questions?

M140i questions?

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Discussion

Matt..

3,586 posts

188 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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Court_S said:
I thought the F2x interior was really dated compared to a similar aged Golf until I compared the two back to back. I personally preferred the BMW interior.
I have a sensible car list and a fun car list. Not sure which way to go yet.

BMW/VW/Audi. 2017/18.

VW is perhaps the worst interior, but has better media screen with CarPlay and a digital dash.

Audi is the best interior (A4 Avant) and can have CarPlay and virtual cockpit. It also just feels of a different generation.

The BMW is ok. But old tech. No digital dash. A CD player(!). Limited CarPlay options. Etc…

If I can easily resolve problems like small screen with no CarPlay then it adds to reasons to look at BMW.

Court_S

12,764 posts

176 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
quotequote all
Matt.. said:
I have a sensible car list and a fun car list. Not sure which way to go yet.

BMW/VW/Audi. 2017/18.

VW is perhaps the worst interior, but has better media screen with CarPlay and a digital dash.

Audi is the best interior (A4 Avant) and can have CarPlay and virtual cockpit. It also just feels of a different generation.

The BMW is ok. But old tech. No digital dash. A CD player(!). Limited CarPlay options. Etc…

If I can easily resolve problems like small screen with no CarPlay then it adds to reasons to look at BMW.
The LCI2 dials I had in my my 140i were nice in my opinion, more modern than the older traditional ones and were very clean to look at.

CarPlay was easy to add to my car, and it was full screen. Worked well.

The actual interface of how you used the pro nav was better than the stuff from VAG despite looking older; the idrive wheel was great, the shirt cut buttons were useful and the menus etc were easy to navigate. Mine was touchscreen not I ever used it because of finger prints! hehe It probably lacks the showroom appeal, but it’s easy to use and live with.

The A4 should have a better interior; it’s the class above and assuming you’re looking at the current shape was designed recently whereas the F2x was released in 2012. BMW haven’t been strong with the digital dash though. The current one is bloody awful in my opinion.

Edited by Court_S on Wednesday 16th June 17:55

bodhi

10,333 posts

228 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
quotequote all
Court_S said:
The LCI2 dials I had in my my 140i were nice in my opinion, more modern than the older traditional ones and were very clean to look at.

CarPlay was easy to add to my car, and it was full screen. Worked well.

The actual interface of how you used the pro nav was better than the stuff from VAG despite looking older; the idrive wheel was great, the shirt cut buttons were useful and the menus etc were easy to navigate. Mine was touchscreen not I ever used it because of finger prints! hehe It probably lacks the showroom appeal, but it’s easy to use and live with.
I've had this conversation with a few work colleagues before when comparing BMW and VAG interiors. The VAG stuff tends to look better when you are sitting still, the BMW versions are far more useable when you're actually driving. Even the dated old thing in my non I-Drive E82 might not look great, but everything is within easy reach - and more importantly - easy to use without taking your eyes off the wheel.

Although I must say, I'm looking at the complaints about the M140i dash being dated, looking at the Dot Matrix display on my radio and muttering something about "Bloody luxury" hehe

va1o

16,029 posts

206 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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I had a Mk7 Golf GTD back to back with an F21 M135i, prefered the BMW interior tbh! It felt better quality and the Pro Nav was much more sophisticated than the VW's Nav system. I guess some elements of the Golf could be considered more modern but I don't think there's much between them.

Regarding used values, I'm currently running a 19-plate 840d which I purchased February 2020. 8000 miles later and the WBAC trade in figure is identical to the BMW AUC price I paid for it, crazy! I've been getting tempted to trade in for a new M4 but not sure I'm keen on the factory order wait times.

Court_S

12,764 posts

176 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
quotequote all
bodhi said:
I've had this conversation with a few work colleagues before when comparing BMW and VAG interiors. The VAG stuff tends to look better when you are sitting still, the BMW versions are far more useable when you're actually driving. Even the dated old thing in my non I-Drive E82 might not look great, but everything is within easy reach - and more importantly - easy to use without taking your eyes off the wheel.

Although I must say, I'm looking at the complaints about the M140i dash being dated, looking at the Dot Matrix display on my radio and muttering something about "Bloody luxury" hehe
I think a lot of the new stuff looks whizzy in a showroom but to use is another story. The latest A Class is one of the worst offenders for me. I much prefer BMW’s interiors. Not as flash but better made abs far easier to use.

I’ve gone from an M140 to an E81 130 and I don’t mind the older tech. I actually like the classic orange dials / lighting at night. It’s relaxing.

Matt..

3,586 posts

188 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
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If I get a ~2018 car from BMW used with <30,000 miles and drive ~6k/yr mostly sensibly, what would realistic running costs be?

Court_S

12,764 posts

176 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
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Matt.. said:
If I get a ~2018 car from BMW used with <30,000 miles and drive ~6k/yr mostly sensibly, what would realistic running costs be?
My M140i was a late car.

VED was £155 a year, my long term fuel economy was 28mpg the really kicker for me was insurance at £790 per year (it only ever seemed to go up but my car did have a few cosmetic mods).

Tyres were cheap enough; last rears (MPSS) were £130 each and seemed to last about 18k (still lots of tread left but once close to 3mm they were crap). Fronts cheaper and last an age.

Servicing; I had the service pack which £299. First service is oil and filter and is about £300 or so. Second service with plugs is about £750 from a dealer. Although cheaper if it’s on their value service. Servicing is variable; mine had the first service at just over 18k.

Discs and pads aren’t horrible but they’re not cheap.

Deep Thought

35,724 posts

196 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
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Matt.. said:
If I get a ~2018 car from BMW used with <30,000 miles and drive ~6k/yr mostly sensibly, what would realistic running costs be?
Quite reasonable in my experience.

(EDIT: and it seems in line with Court_S's experience too!)

2019 M140i bought new, March 2019.

Rear tyres lasted us 16,000 miles of reasonably enthusiastic driving, £160 each for Michelin replacements.

Front tyres are at 18,000 miles so far, and look good for another 3-5,000.

First BMW service was at 17,000 miles and that was £290. We get interim services done on our cars via our local indy, so had one done at 8,000 miles for £150 or so IIRC.

Fuel consumption - around 28mpg and we run ours on unleaded, not superunleaded. Apparently running on superunleaded only sees an advantage on hot summers days, the rest of the time there is no difference in power output.

Contrasting that with our previous bought new A45....

Rear tyres at 9K, £250 each
Front tyres at 18K, £250 each

First service £500.

Fuel consumption, broadly similar.

HM-2

12,467 posts

168 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
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I'd concur with pretty much all of what's been said above.

28mpg average. ~£250 minor service. Think my major was a little under £600 rather than £750. Tyres £100 a corner fronts, and £140 a corner rears, or thereabouts, for something decent. Not had to change brakes yet.

My insurance this year is £375 for 12k miles, including breakdown cover, legal cover and business mileage, but I have 10 years NCB and live in a low risk area.

Matt..

3,586 posts

188 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
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Insurance is horrific where I live. £800-£1k. The joys of inner city living. I'm even old with decades of NCB.

It's interesting to see the running costs are similar to my Scirocco GT. That went through front tyres FAST, way under 10,000 miles a set, but similar size as a 140i, so similar cost.

Worryingly the more I look at this the more reasonable this option becomes.


I will certainly mildly off-road it. I go hiking every week and it will be parked on grass/slightly rough parking frequently. Does this make it a terrible idea? I definitely wouldn't get the 19inch wheels. I did all this with zero problems in a Scirocco so it's clearly not even vaguely real off-road, but definitely a little bumpy/rough.

Court_S

12,764 posts

176 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
quotequote all
Matt.. said:
Insurance is horrific where I live. £800-£1k. The joys of inner city living. I'm even old with decades of NCB.

It's interesting to see the running costs are similar to my Scirocco GT. That went through front tyres FAST, way under 10,000 miles a set, but similar size as a 140i, so similar cost.

Worryingly the more I look at this the more reasonable this option becomes.


I will certainly mildly off-road it. I go hiking every week and it will be parked on grass/slightly rough parking frequently. Does this make it a terrible idea? I definitely wouldn't get the 19inch wheels. I did all this with zero problems in a Scirocco so it's clearly not even vaguely real off-road, but definitely a little bumpy/rough.
Mine was used to lug mountain bikes about a fair bit so go driven fine some of Forestry England’s finest forest roads. It was fine, had to take it easy.


Matt..

3,586 posts

188 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
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It does seem crazy that the difference between a 2018 M140i and 2020 M135i on BMW used is £5k. I do hope the pricing somewhat correct itself but am not optimistic it will be soon.

Matt..

3,586 posts

188 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
quotequote all
Court_S said:
Mine was used to lug mountain bikes about a fair bit so go driven fine some of Forestry England’s finest forest roads. It was fine, had to take it easy.

Yeah that's mostly what I'll do. Perhaps a little more rough at times, but if it's rough it's for very short distances. Ground clearance is ~1cm different to my Scirocco, so it would likely be a similar experience.

Court_S

12,764 posts

176 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
quotequote all
Matt.. said:
Court_S said:
Mine was used to lug mountain bikes about a fair bit so go driven fine some of Forestry England’s finest forest roads. It was fine, had to take it easy.

Yeah that's mostly what I'll do. Perhaps a little more rough at times, but if it's rough it's for very short distances. Ground clearance is ~1cm different to my Scirocco, so it would likely be a similar experience.
Mines was lowered too; H+R -15mm springs.