840i M Sport Lease Deal
Discussion
Funk said:
DeltonaS said:
Funk said:
Nothing depreciates like a big BMW...! I may well get out of my 530 and back into an 8 if they keep coming down (which is likely).
What's your experience so far with both ? Comparable, or 8 series much more special ?Edit: My thoughts as requested...
First thing to comment on is that my 5 is already 4.5 years old whereas I drove the 8 from new for nearly 2 and a half years so there's clearly going to be a delta between them in that regard. I've only had the 5 for around six weeks and was driving the 8 for the first two weeks of that. Second thing to point out is that my 5 has had....erm....a few issues since I bought it - I've been a little more familiar with the service dept at the dealer than I'd have liked. However that's not really relevant to the comparison as those problems are specific to my car rather than all 5-series in general - but I mention it as it could result in a little subconscious negative bias toward the 5 so bear that in mind!
Design-wise I think the 8 GC is one of BMW's best of the recent designs and doesn't really have a bad angle - most stuff from BMW of late looks, frankly, like a dog's dinner of a mess. The newest facelift 5 still escapes the MASSIVE GOPPING GRILLE, the G60 which will replace it it might not.. That said, I'm a fan of the G30 design too, it's a nicely-balanced look that actually belies the car's size (it's nearly as big as the 8 GC which is only 129mm longer and 64mm wider).
What the 5 has is loads more space inside than the 8 which for such an enormous car manages to have relatively little room inside - and the coupé's even worse! You'll struggle to get 4 adults in it comfortably and don't even think about trying to use the rear centre seat which is rendered moot by the massive console in the back. Whilst we're talking about the interior, have a look back over the thread about the B-pillar which constantly gets knocked adrift to the point of irritation. I eventually learned how to get in 97% of the time without knocking it out of place but passengers getting in the other side frequently did it and were mortified they'd damaged it. It's utter s
t design. It feels like you sit lower in the 8 than the 5 which I prefer, although that may just be a trick of the lower roofline perhaps.The boots on both are enormous but access to the 5's is slightly better as it seems to be a larger, better-shaped aperture. Access to the rear seats of the 5 is miles better than the 8 which is compromised by the sloping roofline. The 8 comes with premium leather as standard (Merino) and you can really feel the difference between that and the cheaper Dakota in the 5 although I'm sure the 5 can have the option of better leather too.
The iDrives are different generations but weirdly I think I actually prefer the layout of the earlier one in the 5 (iDrive 6 I think, the 8 is iDrive 7) although I would love to have wireless Android Auto in the 5 (the 8 has it). I think the 5 actually has the nicer dash too, especially at night:
The digital dash on the 8 is better than the 5's though (and so it should be, being much newer). Neither is as good as Audi's Virtual Cockpit though.
My 5 is an SE (on 18s) where the 8 can only be had as an M-Sport (on 20s) - as such my 5 is way more comfortable and relaxing to drive but the 8 would run rings round it handling-wise. It would be interesting to see how things narrow between the 8 and a 5 on M-Sport suspension with a diff and bigger wheels etc - it'd probably be much closer and a 540i is slightly lighter than an 840i GC.
Built in 2017, my 5 is one of the earlier G30s and frankly it still feels more solid than the 2020 8 did when it left me - even at nearly five years old there's not a rattle or squeak to be heard from the 5's interior which wasn't something I could say about the 8 series at even a year old. The 5 gives a muted 'whump' over road imperfections where the 8-series got a bit crashy and noisy. In a blind test I'd probably actually perceive the 5 as the more premium of the two in that regard. I've said before that in my opinion the 8's 'Comfort' setting on the adaptive suspension is a little too firm and could do with dialling back further; there's surprisingly little difference between Comfort, Standard and Sport to be honest. I guess the 20" rims on the 8 don't help much (although Alpina for example manage to make their cars on 20s ride beautifully...).
I won't compare performance as my 5 has the B48 2.0 with around 250-ish HP whereas the 335HP B58 3.0 is the entry point in the 8 series. It's a great engine with plenty of shove to get the 8 moving along rather quickly and the long wheelbase and standard M-differential makes it a bit too easy to hang the arse out coming off even a mildly-moist roundabout if you're so inclined...
All that said, a lot of the things I prefer about the 8 could easily be optioned in the 5 (B58 engine, Merino leather, adaptive suspension, adaptive LED headlights etc) and you can have some stuff on the 5 that you can't on the 840i GC (such as xDrive and a passenger in the middle of the rear seat). I suspect a well-specced 2020 540i M-Sport would make the choice of an 8 much harder.
In the end I think it comes down to looks, space requirements and rarity; the 8 GC is by far the better looking car and you'll rarely see another one on the road. I had to get used to people stopping to ask what it was. However the 5 is much more practical and the more comfortable of the two in my opinion - the extra space inside is evident.
In a straight choice between a 2017 530i SE and the 2020 840i GC I would take the 8 of course. However, if the 5 was a well-specced 2020 model with all the same kit as the 8 in a more 'like-for-like' scenario that would be a trickier decision. But with prices of used 8s continuing to fall it'd probably still just about be my choice over a 5.
All that said, as mentioned earlier I've had several issues with my car specifically since purchase - I've only just got it back today from its latest dealer visit and it's (hopefully) sorted. It's had a complete re-code of the iDrive as for some unknown reason the HU decided it had been stolen and was in the 'wrong' car. As part of that the dealer's updated pretty much every module on the car which is something that wouldn't usually be done in the general course of servicing/maintenance - and it's added a couple of new features to the iDrive that weren't there before, even when I updated it with the official latest BMW update. It's had a new coolant tank today (as the sensor was suspect) and with the new engine mounts from a few weeks ago it's extremely smooth which rectifies all the stuff I complained about further up this thread. The ominous 'don't turn it off, it won't restart' warning and drivetrain fault didn't actually log any codes at all which is bizarre. The dealer's said to call immediately if it does it again.
The only thing left to do is the brake pads. Despite them still having plenty of meat left they're all being changed at the back end of this week in a bid to resolve the horrendous squealing - if it doesn't I'll change the discs too. Once that's done, I'm hoping it'll finally rectify the things that have irked me about this particular car and I can get on with enjoying it. I have to say that the dealer has been great getting stuff sorted under warranty and I'm very glad I went the Approved Used route.
Hope that helps somewhat in comparing the two cars!
Edited by Funk on Wednesday 14th December 00:43
The 5 serie M-sport suspension can be quite crashy as well, although far, far less so than a 3 series (G20) M-sport on 19 inch RF's. I've got 20 inch RF wheels in combination with the M-sport pack. A G30 SE with 18 inch is quite a bit more comfortable as I regularly get to experience in a G30 from a family member.
Mine just got a clean bill of health by the end-of-lease inspection. They did flag the lack of owners manual and wallet but unless I'm going mad I'm pretty sure it didn't come with one as the owners manual is accessed via the infotainment. I quibbled it but it's only £25 so not a big deal really.
Did any leasys customers receive the wallet and manual?
Did any leasys customers receive the wallet and manual?
mackie1 said:
Mine just got a clean bill of health by the end-of-lease inspection. They did flag the lack of owners manual and wallet but unless I'm going mad I'm pretty sure it didn't come with one as the owners manual is accessed via the infotainment. I quibbled it but it's only £25 so not a big deal really.
Did any leasys customers receive the wallet and manual?
Yep, mine came with one. It's a service booklet that you don't get any more, that's in the infotainment (as is a digital version of the manual to be fair).Did any leasys customers receive the wallet and manual?
After about 8 months away from the 840i (and in the extreme contrast of a GR Yaris) I'm fairly certain I'm going back to a B58 in the form of a M340i. Will certainly not be as bargainous as the GC but I'm pretty excited at the prospect. I'm even liking the new style slab of screens on the dash, tho less so the absence of a proper gear selector...
PCP via Berry/TRL. List is now just shy of £60k and coupled with 6.9% APR even a decent discount still makes it a chunky cost over the term, but then what isn't in today's climate! I'm hoping there might be a slither of equity at the end which sways me towards PCP over lease this time.
rix said:
After about 8 months away from the 840i (and in the extreme contrast of a GR Yaris) I'm fairly certain I'm going back to a B58 in the form of a M340i. Will certainly not be as bargainous as the GC but I'm pretty excited at the prospect. I'm even liking the new style slab of screens on the dash, tho less so the absence of a proper gear selector...
Don't blame you. I'd love a touring one with cognac leather. Quote fancy the new 240 coupe now I've seen a few as well. I'm not taken by this mk8 gti clubsport at all really
rix said:
PCP via Berry/TRL. List is now just shy of £60k and coupled with 6.9% APR even a decent discount still makes it a chunky cost over the term, but then what isn't in today's climate! I'm hoping there might be a slither of equity at the end which sways me towards PCP over lease this time.
Are they doing much discount from list on the M340i? They certainly look a strong all rounder simonwhite2000 said:
Don't blame you. I'd love a touring one with cognac leather. Quote fancy the new 240 coupe now I've seen a few as well.
I'm not taken by this mk8 gti clubsport at all really
I had an M240i on order to replace my 8, but I ended up asking for my deposit back as it kept getting delayed and having bits of spec removed due to the chip shortage. The Mexico factory seems to be struggling to keep up with the demand for them. I'm not taken by this mk8 gti clubsport at all really
va1o said:
rix said:
PCP via Berry/TRL. List is now just shy of £60k and coupled with 6.9% APR even a decent discount still makes it a chunky cost over the term, but then what isn't in today's climate! I'm hoping there might be a slither of equity at the end which sways me towards PCP over lease this time.
Are they doing much discount from list on the M340i? They certainly look a strong all rounder 
For me, the 840i was never a car I would have chosen purely on its own merits - I would never have afforded , or at least valued, the car at what it would have cost me to buy/PCP at the time. I was drawn in by 'the deal', and the bargain opportunity that presented! That said, it was a brilliant experience and I really enjoyed the ownership and no regrets. It was still slightly on the big side (for parking in a multistorey every day) and despite its size, the lack of a hatch/estate wasn't hugely practical for my use. If a big saloon suits your needs then I would heartedly recommended it at today's prices, particularly the '40i which for me was a perfect blend of performance/economy.
rix said:
For me, the 840i was never a car I would have chosen purely on its own merits - I would never have afforded , or at least valued, the car at what it would have cost me to buy/PCP at the time. I was drawn in by 'the deal', and the bargain opportunity that presented! That said, it was a brilliant experience and I really enjoyed the ownership and no regrets. It was still slightly on the big side (for parking in a multistorey every day) and despite its size, the lack of a hatch/estate wasn't hugely practical for my use. If a big saloon suits your needs then I would heartedly recommended it at today's prices, particularly the '40i which for me was a perfect blend of performance/economy.
I think that's a pretty good summary.Interesting to see these are hitting around 36k in some cases. I'm currently looking for a 17/18 plate 6 series but in no rush. Hard to find a decent 6 coupe so just thinking if it would be better to stretch to an 8. Anyone able to compare the two? I'm assuming the 8 series trumps the 6 in many ways but I still kind of prefer the looks (and interior) of the older car!
Depends if you want a coupé or Gran Coupé. The GCs were the lease ones now flooding the market although it's possible they could pull coupé prices down as well. The coupé's packaging and interior space is even worse than the GC's despite being only slighlty smaller in dimensions.
As I'm sure you're aware, the 8 is essentially the new 6 - not sure why BMW changed it other than making the 8 seem more upmarket and therefore being able to charge more for it?
As I'm sure you're aware, the 8 is essentially the new 6 - not sure why BMW changed it other than making the 8 seem more upmarket and therefore being able to charge more for it?
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