M240i Convertible or M4 Convertible
Discussion
The car I really want is an M2 Competition Convertible, but BMW didn't make one. 
So the obvious choice after that is an M4, but now I'm considering an M240i. It's not a proper M car but seems to get decent reviews. Would be looking to spend no more than 35k, which will get me an older M4, or a very low mileage, high spec and recent M240i. I've test driven an M4 and loved it! Haven't yet driven an M240i though, but plan to as soon as I can.
The car won't be a daily so fuel costs don't really matter, although I don't imagine there's much between them. It's sole purpose will be as a road trip car, trips up to Scotland and trips across europe. Nothing is more enjoyable than driving mountain roads in a good convertible imo. The open top just makes the experience all the more enjoyable with the mountain views and the engine sounds.
Which would you go for? And if you've driven both, how do they compare?
So the obvious choice after that is an M4, but now I'm considering an M240i. It's not a proper M car but seems to get decent reviews. Would be looking to spend no more than 35k, which will get me an older M4, or a very low mileage, high spec and recent M240i. I've test driven an M4 and loved it! Haven't yet driven an M240i though, but plan to as soon as I can.The car won't be a daily so fuel costs don't really matter, although I don't imagine there's much between them. It's sole purpose will be as a road trip car, trips up to Scotland and trips across europe. Nothing is more enjoyable than driving mountain roads in a good convertible imo. The open top just makes the experience all the more enjoyable with the mountain views and the engine sounds.
Which would you go for? And if you've driven both, how do they compare?
Not a fully direct comparison, but I had an M140i and moved to an M4 Coupe earlier this year. I don't regret the change at all.
The M4 is a significantly better car to drive; chassis set up is such a noticeable improvement over the M lite. I never really felt all that confident in corners in the 1 series, whereas love the way the M4 corners.
The M4 is a significantly better car to drive; chassis set up is such a noticeable improvement over the M lite. I never really felt all that confident in corners in the 1 series, whereas love the way the M4 corners.
ladderino said:
Not a fully direct comparison, but I had an M140i and moved to an M4 Coupe earlier this year. I don't regret the change at all.
The M4 is a significantly better car to drive; chassis set up is such a noticeable improvement over the M lite. I never really felt all that confident in corners in the 1 series, whereas love the way the M4 corners.
Yeah, I figure the M4 will be the better car. Also since asking this, I realise the M240i doesn’t have a head up display option, and that’s a feature I really like. So looks like it’s an M4.The M4 is a significantly better car to drive; chassis set up is such a noticeable improvement over the M lite. I never really felt all that confident in corners in the 1 series, whereas love the way the M4 corners.
cerb4.5lee said:
I test drove a F83 M4 Convertible back in 2016 and I really liked it. So the M4 would be the direction that I'd go in.
Yeah I have test driven one too. I do really like it. I also test drove a C43 which was crap! Shame as I really wanted to like it. Just totally numb and not a drivers car at all.Looks like it’ll be an M4.
Question now is, what colour? Austin Yellow, Yas Marina Blue or San Marino Blue are my favourites, and maybe Sakhir Orange.
I’m going against the grain here
I drove a M4 convertible back to back with a M240i convertible. Was very disappointed with the M4 which felt too big, too heavy and little feel on a B road blast. Masses of power which you felt you couldn’t use. On the other hand loved the M240i. Preferred the exhaust note, felt to be a nice small compact tight drive and decent steering.
M4 feels like a GT car and not a sports car.
I drove a M4 convertible back to back with a M240i convertible. Was very disappointed with the M4 which felt too big, too heavy and little feel on a B road blast. Masses of power which you felt you couldn’t use. On the other hand loved the M240i. Preferred the exhaust note, felt to be a nice small compact tight drive and decent steering.
M4 feels like a GT car and not a sports car.
rex said:
I’m going against the grain here
I drove a M4 convertible back to back with a M240i convertible. Was very disappointed with the M4 which felt too big, too heavy and little feel on a B road blast. Masses of power which you felt you couldn’t use. On the other hand loved the M240i. Preferred the exhaust note, felt to be a nice small compact tight drive and decent steering.
M4 feels like a GT car and not a sports car.
Agree and the M4 is a pretty big car to be fair. Neither the M240i or M4 are sports cars though for me, and BMWs tend to be quite cruiser in their nature I always think. The LSD in the M4 sells it to me over the M240i without one though. I drove a M4 convertible back to back with a M240i convertible. Was very disappointed with the M4 which felt too big, too heavy and little feel on a B road blast. Masses of power which you felt you couldn’t use. On the other hand loved the M240i. Preferred the exhaust note, felt to be a nice small compact tight drive and decent steering.
M4 feels like a GT car and not a sports car.
rex said:
I’m going against the grain here
I drove a M4 convertible back to back with a M240i convertible. Was very disappointed with the M4 which felt too big, too heavy and little feel on a B road blast. Masses of power which you felt you couldn’t use. On the other hand loved the M240i. Preferred the exhaust note, felt to be a nice small compact tight drive and decent steering.
M4 feels like a GT car and not a sports car.
I do know where you’re coming from. To be honest I want a car that toes the line between GT and sports. As I say it’ll be road trips mainly. For outright fun I have an R53 Mini Cooper S track prepped car just for track days. Proper fun little car it is! So I think the GT nature might appeal. I will be test driving the M240i though before I buy anything. My friend’s adamant I try a Boxster too, although they don’t really appeal to me. And a little too small inside.I drove a M4 convertible back to back with a M240i convertible. Was very disappointed with the M4 which felt too big, too heavy and little feel on a B road blast. Masses of power which you felt you couldn’t use. On the other hand loved the M240i. Preferred the exhaust note, felt to be a nice small compact tight drive and decent steering.
M4 feels like a GT car and not a sports car.
cerb4.5lee said:
Agree and the M4 is a pretty big car to be fair. Neither the M240i or M4 are sports cars though for me, and BMWs tend to be quite cruiser in their nature I always think. The LSD in the M4 sells it to me over the M240i without one though.
You could always put a LSD in the 240i. Seems to be a popular route to go downcerb4.5lee said:
Yes and that is a good shout. I do like the compact feeling nature of the 240i, because the M4 is a pretty big car in comparison.
The LSD would be a must if I got an M240i. I feel all that power is useless without one to be honest. I could do with driving the M4 on some country roads before buying, but my local BMW dealership is in the middle of a city which isn’t ideal for test drives.I had an M240i convertible for 2 years and loved it ... the power delivery is great. It is just the right level of power for fun but the suspension is sadly lacking ... and having had a Z4M roadster the difference was significant. It you want engine more than control then ok .. but if you want both then try the M4 Convertible as you will have the handling and more power than the M240i.
- This all said, I regret selling the M240i convertible as it was a hoot !
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