428i ?? How’s it compare to its bigger brothers?

[chan61922]

Forgive for even saying this, but would a 428i remapped even half compare to a 430, 435i ,m140 or m135, Purely out of curiosity as I’ve seen a nice one sitting in a dealer. Is the 2 litre turbo 4cylinder engine simply no match for the 3 litre 6’s. The figures seem impressive for what it is, just under 250 bhp and under 6 seconds to 60, is it simply just a remapped 420d? It’s getting extremely frustrating finding an AUC for a 3 door 140i, auto, pro nav with quite a few toys on it for 20k. I beginning to wander to other models

Anyone own a 428? Is it a capable car? Reliable? Economical?

Any input appreciated

[stevemcs]

I've driven a few 428i (and its essentially the same engine in our Mini) and also the M4 and 435i ...... for me as an everyday car the 435i is the one to go for. The 428i is a very good car but lacks the silkiness of the 6 cylinder. If you can hang on for one.

With that said if the perfect 4 series came up and it was a 428i i wouldn't be dissapointed.

[chan61922]

Thanks for input, does seem to have impressive figures, and for my budget I seem I can get a fully loaded one which hasn’t been to the moon and back, but I think your right just won’t feel as refined as a silky smooth 6. Is the 2 litre engine nowadays reliable I know the older 20i engines in the 3 series (e9x) were very troublesome. Has strapping a turbo to it made it a recipe for disaster? I’m coming from a n53 325(3.0), would it just feel the same as that, or are the 2 incomparable. Anyone remapped these particular engines? I think I basic map would see it reaching 300 horses which I think is plenty for my needs

[cerb4.5lee]

chan61922 said:

Is the 2 litre turbo 4cylinder engine simply no match for the 3 litre 6’s.

Imo they are but I suppose that it depends on how you like the power/performance to be delivered. I got a little frustrated at times in my E90 330i because all the performance was at the top of the revs, whereas now I have a Mini Cooper S(with the same engine albeit detuned) and I like how punchy it is low down in comparison.

I've also driven a G30 530i with the same 4 cyl turbo engine and I really liked how smooth/refined it was. So I personally wouldn't hesitate in buying a 428i/430i for sure. The 4 cyl turbo isn't as free revving as the old 3 litre N/A engine granted...but It is far from a poor relative imo.

[helix402]

chan61922 said:

Forgive for even saying this, but would a 428i remapped even half compare to a 430, 435i ,m140 or m135, Purely out of curiosity as I’ve seen a nice one sitting in a dealer. Is the 2 litre turbo 4cylinder engine simply no match for the 3 litre 6’s. The figures seem impressive for what it is, just under 250 bhp and under 6 seconds to 60, is it simply just a remapped 420d? It’s getting extremely frustrating finding an AUC for a 3 door 140i, auto, pro nav with quite a few toys on it for 20k. I beginning to wander to other models

Anyone own a 428? Is it a capable car? Reliable? Economical?

Any input appreciated

The 428i isn’t a remapped 420d. It’s a petrol engine. The 420d is a diesel.

[chan61922]

Very good point, my previous car wouldn’t really give you a shove up the bum and get going until it hit higher up in the Rev ranges as you mentioned, I do kind of want something with that instant poke now, which I think a turbo charged engine can provide. But I do also like a nice chilled cruise when you can’t be bothered and something that will happily sit at 70 and waft along all day.

[chan61922]

Lol yes my mistake, I was hoping no one spotted my error I know it’s a turbo charged 4 cylinder 2.0 petrol engine

[rayyan171]

If you want a faster 420i, then the 428i is what you want to go for. If you want a 435i and can't stretch to it and have to compromise, then you won't like the 428i as you will always know that it isn't the straight 6 car that you always wanted. A good alternative is to go slightly older and pick up a 335i F30 or even E90 LCI as they had little difference in between other than gearboxes and adaptive suspension. We were looking at the F30 328i over a tidy LCI E90 330i or even possibly a 335i and felt that it wasn't quite the performer. Moving up a segment, felt the same about the A6 with the 2.0TFSI. Met no compromise in the end with the 3.0T as it has the same performance as the 4.2 but is lighter and understeers less.

If you are looking at a 4 series petrol, consider a 640i. There is little difference in price, albeit higher running costs, but you get what you pay for. 6 series is a true luxury grand tourer, a 4 series is simply a coupé 3 series! And the last thing you would want is a 4 series that has the same 0-60 as our old smelly diesel X5!

I wouldn't worry about mileage on any of the cars mentioned either, none have real reliability issues. A visit to the dealer today made me glad that we got an X5 pre facelift over facelift, as I saw someone having to give their rental back whilst their car hadn't even had the parts arrive!

[chan61922]

Thanks for input mate, by no means is the 428i my first choice car, but as a all round package it does seem a worthy shout, it offers a decent amount of poke with the added bonus of decent fuel economy, tax insurance etc. I’m currently in the market for a 140i as previously mentioned but it’s proving a task to find a decently specced up auto 3 door one for 20k. I wouldn’t go for a e90 as I’m coming from one, and I wouldn’t go for a 640i, I’m assuming your referring to the older v8 one? That would be far too thirsty for my liking. I did consider a 640d but it’s pointless to me now as I live in London and the new emission laws have come in. I’ve just come Across a decent 435i just this evening, opinions?


https://www.jamespaul.co.uk/bmw-435i-m-sport-conve...

[rayyan171]

chan61922 said:

Thanks for input mate, by no means is the 428i my first choice car, but as a all round package it does seem a worthy shout, it offers a decent amount of poke with the added bonus of decent fuel economy, tax insurance etc. I’m currently in the market for a 140i as previously mentioned but it’s proving a task to find a decently specced up auto 3 door one for 20k. I wouldn’t go for a e90 as I’m coming from one, and I wouldn’t go for a 640i, I’m assuming your referring to the older v8 one? That would be far too thirsty for my liking. I did consider a 640d but it’s pointless to me now as I live in London and the new emission laws have come in. I’ve just come Across a decent 435i just this evening, opinions?


https://www.jamespaul.co.uk/bmw-435i-m-sport-conve...

Budget certainly doesn't dictate a E90, you can get much more for that. The 640i I am referring to is the newer generation F13 6 series. The V8 is now in the 650i (engine to avoid, few issues), and the 640i now uses the same engine in the 435i/M135i/335i/535i etc. (N55 engine). Certainly a good engine, and does get good fuel economy in the 6 series. Very advanced suspension setup in the 6 series too, most came with VDC at least and some came with adaptive drive which is a really trick setup of suspension with adjustable roll bars alongside variable dampers.

Saying this, that 435i convertible is very nice. It seems to have the special M seats as well with the blue stitching and M stripes. I can't think of any option that car doesn't have, it seems to have a full spec. And it also has active cruise and many other options too. If you are set on a 4 series, that is probably the one to go for, and I would get a deposit on it quick before someone else takes it as that has essentially all the options possible.

[Maracus]

I had the 28i in my F31 328i. It can be very economical if you want it to be, and is quick enough when needed. The internals are different in the 28i v the 20i, so it can remap to circa 300BHP if that's your thing.

As said above, a 435i is the one to have for silkiness, but the 4 pot is very smooth in itself.

Good point above about the 6 series, similar price bracket, but more luxury.

[stevemcs]

I've never had the love for a 6 series, they are just too big and offer very little over a 5 series. I'd take a 435i GC with dark paint and oyster leather with the extended leather dash.

[cerb4.5lee]

stevemcs said:

I've never had the love for a 6 series, they are just too big and offer very little over a 5 series. I'd take a 435i GC with dark paint and oyster leather with the extended leather dash.

Have you been in a G30 5 series and they're pretty big to be fair. I agree that the 6 series is a big car, but they feel more special inside compared to the 5 series and to my eyes the 6 series looks much better. You also have the added bonus of the 6 series being a much more rare car.

I wouldn't say no to a 435i GC in that colour combo either though.

[stevemcs]

Never been in the new 5, plenty of the old 5's though i never liked the M6 either ... i'd save the money and take the M5.

[Pistonheader101]

Go for the 440i if possible

[smashy]

on a Tangent this is the new 2ltr petrol version in the new 3 series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8McJFfuD5A

[Batfink]

This is the same dilema that I was having except with the saloon. I wanted a 6 pot but budget meant the 328 was going to only be in budget.
Its a very capable engine and with the fake cabin sounds piped in it sounds meatier than a four pot could.
I made sure I didnt test drive the bigger brothers so I wouldnt know what I was missing, drove my car and realised it would be a very good jack-of-all-trades car which is what I need currently.

Get a test drive. You will know pretty quickly whether you can live with the poor pub quiz scoring.

[imuir]

428i convertible for me was a compromise, I do 20000 miles a year so I wanted reasonable economy 40 mpg is achievable as most of my driving is on the motorways. I wanted to move away from diesel and didnt want an x drive car. 440i would be my next choice but the 428i is a good compromise, smooth engine and reasonable performance.I have looked at remapping as most of my previous diesels had been remapped and gave good performance gains without hurting the mpg too much. 300bhp is quoted by a few remapping companies, still undecided.