i4 eDrive40 Msport 24hr Test Drive
Discussion
Did around 300 miles in it over the 24 hours and here are my thoughts
for clarity my usual drive is an f40 m135i, other half has an eniro 4 64 and we also covered 70,000 miles in an i3 between 2017-2020
Headlines from the test drive:
0-60 brutal, feels a lot quicker than the claimed times.
60+ felt far less impressive
Range - 270 ish real world
brakes - amazing
Damping - perfect for UK roads
Boot - simply huge
Rear seats - not much leg room for the overall size of the car
Equipment - tech to the teeth, massive screens which are beautiful
Seats - extremely comfortable
Feel - quality, compliant, like a 'normal' premium car
Frustrations:
Turning circle was crap
middle rear headrest made what little you could see out of the back window completely useless
BMW have got rid of the shortcut buttons (1-8)
Most functions are by the touch screen which are at least a sub menu away (inc heated seats)
This model is RWD and if you want the dual motor it's another £10k
Normal bundled functions like radar guided cruise have the hardware installed, but you have to 'activate' it by stumping up yet more money.
The m50 goes head to head with the Tesla Model 3 performance, and if that was my choice, i'd go for the BMW, but the next model down for both the tesla 3 LR just smashes the e40 to pieces.
I really wanted the car to make sense, the tesla m3LR is just so damn plain to look at, i wanted to love this car and i do, but i just can't justify the massive void.
i4 eDrive 40
0-60 - 5.6
Range 270miles
drive train RWD
top speed 120mph
Lease cost pm - £590
T3LR
0-60 - 4.2 (upgradable to 3.7)
Range 370miles
drive train AWD
top speed 140mph
Lease cost pm - £470
Access to the supercharging network
for clarity my usual drive is an f40 m135i, other half has an eniro 4 64 and we also covered 70,000 miles in an i3 between 2017-2020
Headlines from the test drive:
0-60 brutal, feels a lot quicker than the claimed times.
60+ felt far less impressive
Range - 270 ish real world
brakes - amazing
Damping - perfect for UK roads
Boot - simply huge
Rear seats - not much leg room for the overall size of the car
Equipment - tech to the teeth, massive screens which are beautiful
Seats - extremely comfortable
Feel - quality, compliant, like a 'normal' premium car
Frustrations:
Turning circle was crap
middle rear headrest made what little you could see out of the back window completely useless
BMW have got rid of the shortcut buttons (1-8)
Most functions are by the touch screen which are at least a sub menu away (inc heated seats)
This model is RWD and if you want the dual motor it's another £10k
Normal bundled functions like radar guided cruise have the hardware installed, but you have to 'activate' it by stumping up yet more money.
The m50 goes head to head with the Tesla Model 3 performance, and if that was my choice, i'd go for the BMW, but the next model down for both the tesla 3 LR just smashes the e40 to pieces.
I really wanted the car to make sense, the tesla m3LR is just so damn plain to look at, i wanted to love this car and i do, but i just can't justify the massive void.
i4 eDrive 40
0-60 - 5.6
Range 270miles
drive train RWD
top speed 120mph
Lease cost pm - £590
T3LR
0-60 - 4.2 (upgradable to 3.7)
Range 370miles
drive train AWD
top speed 140mph
Lease cost pm - £470
Access to the supercharging network
When you see the stats like that it’s hard to ignore the Tesla however to go with it would need to be a head over heart decision as the Tesla looks horrendous IMO.
Via SS I’m getting an M50 for £600 per month therefore I haven’t even considered the M3 performance.
Based upon the looks of the Tesla it would need to be ridiculously cheap on the monthlies for me to consider it.
I think I am the target market for the I4, EV drive train but conventional BM looks, with the added benefit of ridiculous performance. Only managed a 20 min test drive but was blown away.
Via SS I’m getting an M50 for £600 per month therefore I haven’t even considered the M3 performance.
Based upon the looks of the Tesla it would need to be ridiculously cheap on the monthlies for me to consider it.
I think I am the target market for the I4, EV drive train but conventional BM looks, with the added benefit of ridiculous performance. Only managed a 20 min test drive but was blown away.
The 40 is a tough sell. If you want the Msport model with a few options to bring it roughly inline with how the M50 is equipped as standard (19" wheels, metallic paint, leather interior etc.) you are looking at a close to £60k car, so only £4k cheaper than the M50 and the same as an TM3P. You'd really have to be desperate for the 10% of extra range to see any value in that.
The M50 at the moment is approx £150 a month more than the TM3P on a 3 year/36k lease and suffers with exactly the same issues as your 40/LR comparison on paper. Slower, less range, no supercharger network etc,
I'm finding the Polestar 2 AWD with 20" wheels, Plus + Pilot packs and the performance boost to 476hp for < £55k a very compelling package at the minute. A similarly equipped M50 would cost around £70k and offer very little extra in comparison.
You could even add the Performance pack to the Polestar with the trick Ohlins adjustable dampers, big brakes and 20" wheels for a car still costing < £60k. As a value proposition it blows the TM3P and M50 out of the water for me and even makes stuff like the AWD Kia EV6 GTLine S look very expensive.
The M50 at the moment is approx £150 a month more than the TM3P on a 3 year/36k lease and suffers with exactly the same issues as your 40/LR comparison on paper. Slower, less range, no supercharger network etc,
I'm finding the Polestar 2 AWD with 20" wheels, Plus + Pilot packs and the performance boost to 476hp for < £55k a very compelling package at the minute. A similarly equipped M50 would cost around £70k and offer very little extra in comparison.
You could even add the Performance pack to the Polestar with the trick Ohlins adjustable dampers, big brakes and 20" wheels for a car still costing < £60k. As a value proposition it blows the TM3P and M50 out of the water for me and even makes stuff like the AWD Kia EV6 GTLine S look very expensive.
zj2016 said:
When you see the stats like that it’s hard to ignore the Tesla however to go with it would need to be a head over heart decision as the Tesla looks horrendous IMO.
Via SS I’m getting an M50 for £600 per month therefore I haven’t even considered the M3 performance.
Based upon the looks of the Tesla it would need to be ridiculously cheap on the monthlies for me to consider it.
I think I am the target market for the I4, EV drive train but conventional BM looks, with the added benefit of ridiculous performance. Only managed a 20 min test drive but was blown away.
Who is SS ?! - @ £600 is really tempting - the M50 would be perfect at that price. what is the deal in full please?Via SS I’m getting an M50 for £600 per month therefore I haven’t even considered the M3 performance.
Based upon the looks of the Tesla it would need to be ridiculously cheap on the monthlies for me to consider it.
I think I am the target market for the I4, EV drive train but conventional BM looks, with the added benefit of ridiculous performance. Only managed a 20 min test drive but was blown away.
SWoll said:
Salary sacrifice. Not available to all and even for those that can get into a scheme the costs seem decidedly variable.
ahh f
k, of course.We run our own limited company as a side business to our main employment but it would be a tough sell to the accountant (and HMRC) to explain why we needed a car to do an online business we run and operate from home
The 40 is basically the M50 with things missing imo. Essentially it's a way of saving £10k on an M50 but the bits you sacrifice are worth more than the saving. As mentioned by pixel, some of the missing 'kit' (or just not switched on at a software level..) is just plain stingy. This is stuff they have taken away from the M50 simply to create a lower cost car to, presumably, increase the perceived value of the M50 itself.
The M50 is the car, as it was surely designed to be. The 40 is a detraction from that car and really not in its own right a competitively good offering.
On the flip side, in a few years time the 40 could be a bit of a bargain.
The M50 is the car, as it was surely designed to be. The 40 is a detraction from that car and really not in its own right a competitively good offering.
On the flip side, in a few years time the 40 could be a bit of a bargain.
TheDeuce said:
The 40 is basically the M50 with things missing imo. Essentially it's a way of saving £10k on an M50 but the bits you sacrifice are worth more than the saving. As mentioned by pixel, some of the missing 'kit' (or just not switched on at a software level..) is just plain stingy. This is stuff they have taken away from the M50 simply to create a lower cost car to, presumably, increase the perceived value of the M50 itself.
The M50 is the car, as it was surely designed to be. The 40 is a detraction from that car and really not in its own right a competitively good offering.
On the flip side, in a few years time the 40 could be a bit of a bargain.
It's missing an entire motor and AWD so a substantially different car. It's not just options.The M50 is the car, as it was surely designed to be. The 40 is a detraction from that car and really not in its own right a competitively good offering.
On the flip side, in a few years time the 40 could be a bit of a bargain.
Pixelpeep 135 said:
ahh fk, of course.
We run our own limited company as a side business to our main employment but it would be a tough sell to the accountant (and HMRC) to explain why we needed a car to do an online business we run and operate from home
I don't think it has to be a need case. It's just a convenient way of encouraging people into electric vehicles on a decent scale.k, of course.We run our own limited company as a side business to our main employment but it would be a tough sell to the accountant (and HMRC) to explain why we needed a car to do an online business we run and operate from home
SWoll said:
TheDeuce said:
The 40 is basically the M50 with things missing imo. Essentially it's a way of saving £10k on an M50 but the bits you sacrifice are worth more than the saving. As mentioned by pixel, some of the missing 'kit' (or just not switched on at a software level..) is just plain stingy. This is stuff they have taken away from the M50 simply to create a lower cost car to, presumably, increase the perceived value of the M50 itself.
The M50 is the car, as it was surely designed to be. The 40 is a detraction from that car and really not in its own right a competitively good offering.
On the flip side, in a few years time the 40 could be a bit of a bargain.
It's missing an entire motor and AWD so a substantially different car. It's not just options.The M50 is the car, as it was surely designed to be. The 40 is a detraction from that car and really not in its own right a competitively good offering.
On the flip side, in a few years time the 40 could be a bit of a bargain.
But yes, add up the value in terms of driver appeal and capability of the car of the missing options + motor + overall power + traction and it's clearly not worth 'saving' the £10k.
Basil Brush said:
Pixelpeep 135 said:
ahh fk, of course.
We run our own limited company as a side business to our main employment but it would be a tough sell to the accountant (and HMRC) to explain why we needed a car to do an online business we run and operate from home
I don't think it has to be a need case. It's just a convenient way of encouraging people into electric vehicles on a decent scale.k, of course.We run our own limited company as a side business to our main employment but it would be a tough sell to the accountant (and HMRC) to explain why we needed a car to do an online business we run and operate from home
I suppose the only problem would be if you made the ltd insolvent by putting the expense of the car through it. You still have an overriding responsibility as a Director to act in the best interests of the company. But it would only ever be an issue in the first place if the company absolutely can't afford the car. Assuming it can, the car (if an EV) is typically one of the very best ways you can take money out of the company.
Pixelpeep 135 said:
0-60 brutal, feels a lot quicker than the claimed times.
Range - 270 ish real world
brakes - amazing
Damping - perfect for UK roads
Boot - simply huge
Equipment - tech to the teeth, massive screens which are beautiful
Seats - extremely comfortable
Feel - quality, compliant, like a 'normal' premium car
The stuff you like are all weaknesses of the Tesla. Range - 270 ish real world
brakes - amazing
Damping - perfect for UK roads
Boot - simply huge
Equipment - tech to the teeth, massive screens which are beautiful
Seats - extremely comfortable
Feel - quality, compliant, like a 'normal' premium car
The seats in the Tesla are comfy in a settee kind of way, there's no lateral support to speak of.
The range... don't forget Tesla say avoid the top 10% and 270 real world is enough for most people.
You do pretty much have to accept that it's either a lightly spec'd 40 or you may as well go for a 50 as spending any money on the 40 and you could have the 50 which has many things as standard.
BMW gets the vote from me.
Gweeds said:
And as a comparison to your F40?
I'm also in an F40 M135i (and honestly, it's all the car I need) but looking at your comments it seems like Tesla wins but like you the looks (and Musk) are a barrier for me.
The Tesla wins on paper but having run one for 2 years previously there are a number of areas where it falls short. No adaptive damping so ride quality is poor, unsupportive fake leather seats, lots of useless gadgets but no carplay/AA etc, not very refined at speed. The drivetrain and charging network are brilliant, the rest of the package is decent but nothing special essentially.I'm also in an F40 M135i (and honestly, it's all the car I need) but looking at your comments it seems like Tesla wins but like you the looks (and Musk) are a barrier for me.
The looks/Musk are subjective of course, not sure why the owner of the company would affect a buying decision but each to their own.
JonnyVTEC said:
Have you also drove the M3LR?
The only difference being the ride is improved on the 18's with softer suspension, but it's still far from great. All the other isues mentioned are identical.
The M3P really needs adaptive suspension and better seats to justify the its price IMHO. Bigger wheels and brakes, lower suspension and a dinky spoiler don't come close to cutting it for the £10k asked over the LR and £3k saving over the M50.
Polestar offer 20" forged wheels, Brembo brakes, expensive trick Ohlins adjustable suspension and a few styling tweaks for £5k on the P2 and the 476hp upgrade is £1k extra.
Interesting. BMW USA has the starting price of the M40 set at $55k while the UK it’s 51K GBP. Packages will be different, but I can’t help thinking the M40 model is more competitive as a result. And finance is cheaper here too, so it does make it a different proposition.
Tesla is cheaper here too, but the recent price increases have changed things.
Tesla is cheaper here too, but the recent price increases have changed things.
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