Swapping my 420d for a 430i or 440i...Thoughts?

[david-j8694]

Picked up a 420d about 5 months back as I've always loved the look of the 4 series, but I needed a sensible engine due to the very high number of motorway miles I was doing. It's done all that flawlessly with some insane mpg figures, so I can't complain.

However, a job change has meant I no longer do anywhere near that kind of mileage, so I'm thinking why not get the same car but with a spicier engine. With the exception of the 8 series, nothing much in BMW's range floats my boat, hence I'm sticking with the 4 series.

The M4 is too much of a jump for me I think - part financial and part I just don't think I'd feel like I'd be exploiting what it's capable of.

This leaves me thinking that the 440i makes a lot of sense, if all I want is a faster version of my current car. 2018 plates with under 10k miles are floating about online for £25k, which is also enticing.

I've pondered the 430i. It seems acceptably fast, and way quicker than the 420d obviously, but if I'm going through the effort of changing cars, it needs to be a significant jump and I'm not sure the 430i will keep me excited for long enough.

Thoughts?

[ashenfie]

Why not try the 430d Auto, think it's going to be better than a petrol

[c3m]

david-j8694 said:

The M4 is too much of a jump for me I think - part financial and part I just don't think I'd feel like I'd be exploiting what it's capable of.

This leaves me thinking that the 440i makes a lot of sense, if all I want is a faster version of my current car.

I've pondered the 430i. It seems acceptably fast, and way quicker than the 420d obviously, but if I'm going through the effort of changing cars, it needs to be a significant jump and I'm not sure the 430i will keep me excited for long enough.

For context, I went from an F30 340i to an M4 CP. Don't bother with the 430i, the B58 engine in the 440i is just amazing, pulls like a train and it's economical, too (all things are relative, the S55 drinks a lot more petrol).

In some ways, I regret moving to the M4 CP: the comfort level is way down, there's a lot of interior noise. It's a much more raw experience, for me, the 340i was a much better normal car.

You can never exploit the capabilities of the M4 on the public road unless you're an absolute lunatic and want to risk your life/other people's lives. A hot 4x4 hatch will usually be faster than an M3/M4 around B-roads, especially when greasy, so forget about "racing" Golf Rs / Focus RSs / Merc A45s.

I'm still keeping the M4 because I only drive it once a week and I enjoy the raw experience. If I were you, I'd definitely go for the 440i.

By the way, I was out with a friend in an M240i and it had the same pace on the public road as the M4 CP up until sensible speeds. The M240i had MPS4S and the auto ZF8, my M4 CP is a manual one on MPSS.

[Court_S]

I too wouldn’t bother with the 430.

I’d go 440. The B58 is a bloody good engine; it’s capable of being pretty frugal but it’s also capable of making fuel vanish pretty quickly.

I’ve been getting tempted by an M car but went for an early drive on Sunday and my little M140i is more than fast enough. I’m also much happier with it after a proper alignment.

[mr sagman]

B58 all day long.. Its an absolute peach of an engine... I have a 340 Touring with the BMW MPPSK power and noise upgrade and it is literally all the car I

ever need.

[david-j8694]

Good to hear so many positive things about the B58. Seems like everyone loves it, whatever car it's in. Are there any known issues to look out for?

c3m said:

In some ways, I regret moving to the M4 CP: the comfort level is way down, there's a lot of interior noise. It's a much more raw experience, for me, the 340i was a much better normal car.

You can never exploit the capabilities of the M4 on the public road unless you're an absolute lunatic and want to risk your life/other people's lives. A hot 4x4 hatch will usually be faster than an M3/M4 around B-roads, especially when greasy, so forget about "racing" Golf Rs / Focus RSs / Merc A45s.

By the way, I was out with a friend in an M240i and it had the same pace on the public road as the M4 CP up until sensible speeds. The M240i had MPS4S and the auto ZF8, my M4 CP is a manual one on MPSS.

That's pretty much exactly what I was referring to. I want my 4 series with a beefy engine, maybe not something as raw as the M4.

The fast 2 series is such a thorn in my side lol - in reality the M240i or even the M2 are the cars I should be looking at, but it looks like it was cut off too sharply at the back. Almost like it's unfinished. It's not off the table, but I don't like looking at it as much as the F32.

[Smuler]

Are you looking at the M2 in pictures / video or in the flesh ?I don’t like it too much in the former , and remember a sales video where seeing the side profile I was almost dissuaded from going to test drive and yet in the flesh and in particular in my favourite colour I thought wow.

I’ve the B58 in my 340i touring and it’s great engine. Much better than the (comparatively) ordinary chassis it’s paired with. That’s what I like about the M2. It has a great engine ( best iteration of N55) and with a chassis worthy of it .

The 440i has only a great engine. Unless you need a bigger car , it’s seems a poor choice over a M2.

[MarkJS]

david-j8694 said:

Picked up a 420d about 5 months back as I've always loved the look of the 4 series, but I needed a sensible engine due to the very high number of motorway miles I was doing. It's done all that flawlessly with some insane mpg figures, so I can't complain.

However, a job change has meant I no longer do anywhere near that kind of mileage, so I'm thinking why not get the same car but with a spicier engine. With the exception of the 8 series, nothing much in BMW's range floats my boat, hence I'm sticking with the 4 series.

The M4 is too much of a jump for me I think - part financial and part I just don't think I'd feel like I'd be exploiting what it's capable of.

This leaves me thinking that the 440i makes a lot of sense, if all I want is a faster version of my current car. 2018 plates with under 10k miles are floating about online for £25k, which is also enticing.

I've pondered the 430i. It seems acceptably fast, and way quicker than the 420d obviously, but if I'm going through the effort of changing cars, it needs to be a significant jump and I'm not sure the 430i will keep me excited for long enough.

Thoughts?

I don’t think I’d actually make the change from a 420d to a 430i as the difference wouldn’t be great enough in everyday use.

However, the 440i is a different kettle of fish. You won’t be disappointed - but also rest drive a few different cars to make a proper decision.

[david-j8694]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

All great stuff to know. Especially the tuning bit - that would be a massive jump over the 320bhp stock figure.

Smuler said:

Are you looking at the M2 in pictures / video or in the flesh ?I don’t like it too much in the former , and remember a sales video where seeing the side profile I was almost dissuaded from going to test drive and yet in the flesh and in particular in my favourite colour I thought wow.

I’ve the B58 in my 340i touring and it’s great engine. Much better than the (comparatively) ordinary chassis it’s paired with. That’s what I like about the M2. It has a great engine ( best iteration of N55) and with a chassis worthy of it .

The 440i has only a great engine. Unless you need a bigger car , it’s seems a poor choice over a M2.

The M2 in the flesh is a good looking car. They've done enough tweaks on the exterior to reduce the odd slab-sided nature on the rear 3/4 and the cut off nature at the back. But the M2 is getting up there price wise. Really good examples are £35k, which is kinda beyond what I wanted to spend really. The M240i is bang in the price range, but it's quite bland outside and has the aforementioned styling problems. I say problems, it's probably just my eyes, but to me it looks ill-proportioned. It's not all about looks, obviously, but I want a car I enjoy looking back at. I can't get that with any 2 that isn't an M2.

I guess if I was looking for a £35k sports car I'd be looking at the M2, F-Type or a 718 Cayman. But I'm not quite looking for an out and out sports car. I like my F32 for the time being, I just don't need it to have a 2.0 litre diesel anymore lol.

[Smuler]

Fair enough.
I’d probably go 440i over 240i.
I suspect the B58 is underrated by BMW , my 340i tourer feels faster than the numbers suggest.

I’m not sure how similar a 4 series is in spec , but M Sport plus to have upgraded brakes and Adaptive M Sport suspension I find essential to enhance the driving experience.

[david-j8694]

Smuler said:

Fair enough.
I’d probably go 440i over 240i.
I suspect the B58 is underrated by BMW , my 340i tourer feels faster than the numbers suggest.

I’m not sure how similar a 4 series is in spec , but M Sport plus to have upgraded brakes and Adaptive M Sport suspension I find essential to enhance the driving experience.

Ah, I really like the 340i. I was going to try and hold out for the G20 M340i, but it's a bit pricey at the moment.

Just watched Joe Achilles' review of the 440i and he was of a similar opinion as you - I think he said he wouldn't buy a BMW without Adaptive M Sport suspension.

Just requested a settlement figure for the PCP, and they want £16500. I've checked WBAC and they'll buy it off me for £17750. Seems like an easy deal... and like I'm missing something at the same time lol.

[Smuler]

Try and negotiate up with WBAC , I’ve managed that twice. They want cars now , so worth a try.

[david-j8694]

Smuler said:

Try and negotiate up with WBAC , I’ve managed that twice. They want cars now , so worth a try.

Ok nice, I didn't think of that. I'll give it a go. Cheers.

Just a sanity check for me, if I can buy the car from the finance company for 16.5, then sell it on for 17.5 to WBAC, I'm a grand better off and I can search for a new car in slow time. This all seems a bit too easy and like I'm missing something? Would there be any (financial) disadvantges to clearing this PCP early? I can't envisage any really.

I live in London, and the misses has a car anyway, so I don't desperately need a car day to day. I can go a few weeks/even months without one.

[Smuler]

None I can think of. If you read these forums , a lot of people have done it.